Abstract: A method of producing a metallized polymeric foam that produces an anti-microbial material using an advanced method of metallizing polymeric foam with a metal, such as silver. The foam material may be polyurethane, polyester, polyether, or a combination thereof. The method provides a 3-dimensional surface coating of the metal. The metallized substrate is durable and highly adherent. Such metallized foam is a highly effective filter and/or an anti-microbial product. The mechanism of filtration is mainly due to Vander Der Wal attraction. The anti-microbial activity may be due, in part, to the release of select metal ions as a response to stimuli.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for delivering therapeutic agents and a method of making such a device is disclosed. The device includes an inflatable balloon having a plurality of holes formed in the wall of the balloon. A microporous coating covers a portion of the outer surface of the wall of the balloon. The thickness of the coating and the size of the micropores can permit controlled delivery of a substance from the micropores of the coating and into the tissue of a patient's lumen.

Abstract: A method of controlling flow includes treating a region of a surface to have a non-wettable surface characteristic or a wettable surface characteristic in the region.

Abstract: An interventional device for delivery of beneficial agent to a lumen and methods of loading and manufacture of the same, which include a prosthesis loaded with beneficial agent to provide a controlled dosage concentration of beneficial agent to the lumen. The beneficial agent is loaded onto the prosthesis by a fluid-dispenser having a dispensing element capable of dispensing the beneficial agent in discrete droplets, each droplet having a controlled trajectory. The method of loading beneficial agent includes dispensing beneficial agent in a raster format and/or an off-axis format along a dispensing path.

Abstract: A method for forming a randomly textured surface on an implantable device such as soft tissue prosthesis. The textured surface has numerous cavities, interstices and passageways or tunnels and is thus referred to as a microporous surface texture. The surface is formed by two or more applications of polymeric particles and a polymeric dispersion.

Abstract: A stent having a multi-layered coating adhered to its surface which can prevent restenosis and thrombosis at the implant site. The stent coating is comprised of two layers. The first layer is a polymeric coating with one or more biologically active agent(s) dispersed therein. The second layer is comprised of a hydrophobic heparinized polymer that inhibits blood coagulation and provides a hydrophilic surface for reducing the friction between stent and lesion site. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the multi-layered stent is effective in deterring restenosis and thrombosis at the implant site. In these same preferred embodiments, the multi-layered stent is capable of reducing the burst release of the biologically active agents from the first layer and sustaining a release of an effective amount of these agents for a relatively extended period of time. Methods of applying the multi-layered coating to the stent surface are also part of this invention.

Abstract: An implantable endoluminal device which is fabricated from materials which present a blood or body fluid and tissue contact surface which has controlled heterogeneities in material constitution. An endoluminal stent which is made of a material having controlled heterogeneities in the stent material along the blood flow surface of the stent and the method of fabricating the stent using vacuum deposition methods.

Abstract: Biocompatible polymers are manufactured to include an amino acid mimetic monomer and one or more hydrophobic acrylate monomers. The amino acid mimetic monomers are selected to mimic the side chain of the amino acids asparagine or glutamine. The amino acid mimetic monomer can be a methacryloyl or acryloyl derivative of 2-hydroxyacetamide, 3-hydroxypropionamide, alaninamide, lactamide, or glycinamide. These amide functional groups offer the advantage of moderate hydrophilicity with little chemical reactivity. The amino acid mimetic monomer can be copolymerized with one or more hydrophobic acrylate monomers to obtain desired coating properties.

Abstract: A method of coating an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes applying a formulation on a first polymer layer containing a therapeutic substance to form a second layer. The formulation can contain a highly hydrophobic polymer or a solvent which is a poor solvent for the drug or the polymer of the first layer. The formulation can have a low surface tension value or a high Weber number value.

Abstract: A coating can be applied to an endolumenal wall of a medical device by positioning an optical fiber within the lumen, providing a photo-activated chemical to contact the endolumenal wall, supplying the optical fiber with radiation capable of activating the chemical within the lumen, and withdrawing the optical fiber from the lumen at a controlled rate while the radiation is being emitted from the optical fiber to activate the chemical in close proximity to the endolumenal wall.

Abstract: A method of coating a medical device, such as a stent is provided. The method can include forming a polymer layer containing a drug on the device, applying a polymer melt free from any solvents to the polymer layer to form a topcoat layer, wherein the during the application of the polymer melt the migration of the drug from the polymer layer is prevented or significantly minimized.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as stents, having a surface, a coating layer comprising a polymer disposed on at least a portion of the surface, and a composition comprising a biologically active material injected into or under the coating layer at one or more locations in the coating layer to form at least one pocket containing a biologically active material are disclosed. The composition may be injected using a nanometer- or micrometer-sized needle. Methods for making such medical devices are also disclosed. Using this method, a precise amount of the biologically active material may be disposed accurately and efficiently on the medical device at predefined locations.

Abstract: A method for modifying an ePTFE surface by plasma immersion ion implantation includes the steps of providing an ePTFE material in a chamber suitable for plasma treatment; providing a continuous low energy plasma discharge onto the sample; and applying negative high voltage pulses of short duration to form a high energy ion flux from the plasma discharge to generate ions which form free radials on the surface of the ePTFE material without changing the molecular and/or physical structure below the surface to define a modified ePTFE surface. The step of applying the high voltage pulses modifies the surface of the ePTFE without destroying the node and fibril structure of the ePTFE, even when the step of applying the high voltage pulses etches and/or carburizes the surface of the ePTFE. The modified surface may have a depth of about 30 nm to about 500 nm. The ions are dosed onto the ePTFE sample at concentrations or doses from about 1013 ions/cm2 to about 1016 ions/cm2.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing and controlling the internal diameters, conical angles, and morphology of tubular carbon nano/micro structures. Different morphologies can be synthesized included but not limited to cones, straight tubes, nozzles, cone-on-tube (funnels), tube-on-cone, cone-tube-cone, n-staged structures, multijunctioned tubes, Y-junctions, dumbbell (pinched morphology) and capsules. The process is based on changing the wetting behavior of a low melting metals such as gallium, indium, and aluminum with carbon using a growth environment of different gas phase chemistries. The described carbon tubular morphologies can be synthesized using any kind of gas phase excitation such as, but not limited to, microwave excitation, hot filament excitation, thermal excitation and Radio Frequency (RF) excitations. The depositions area is only limited by the substrate area in the equipment used and not limited by the process.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying adhesive to the flutes of a corrugated sheet web. An applicator roll is provided with a uniform thin coating of adhesive by a metering rod. Exposed crests of the flutes are brought into contact with a coating of adhesive that has been applied to a surface of an applicator roll in order to provide a uniform bead of adhesive on the flute crests. The flutes are compressed against the applicator roll surface in a forward direction relative to the direction in which the web is moving adjacent the applicator roll surface. In one embodiment, the applicator roll has a surface linear velocity greater than the speed at which the web is traveling.

Abstract: A method of forming an alignment layer with a multi-domain is provided. The alignment layer is formed on a substrate. A mask having a transmission part and a shielding part is aligned over the substrate. First and second alignment directions in the alignment layer are formed by irradiating an ion beam onto the substrate at different irradiation angles. Using the aforementioned ion-beam irradiation process eliminates the need for multiple rubbing processes to create the multi-domain alignment layer.

Abstract: A wire guide includes a mandrel that has a proximal portion and a distal portion. A first coating with a low coefficient of friction is disposed on the proximal portion of the mandrel. A second coating is disposed on the distal portion of the mandrel, where the second coating provides a sub-structure. A third coating is disposed on the second coating, where the third coating comprises a surface that allows for easy maneuverability of the wire guide. The first coating on the proximal portion provides enough lubricity to keep the wire guide from becoming bound or stuck in a catheter or medical device while still allowing a user to have a good grip of the wire guide. The second coating on the distal portion provides lubricity for the wire guide, which allows the user to easily maneuver the wire guide through a vascular anatomy.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of modifying a mechanical, physical and/or electrical property of a dielectric layer comprises exposing the dielectric layer to a first dose of electron beam radiation at a first energy level; and thereafter, exposing the dielectric layer to a second dose of electron beam radiation at a second energy level that is different from the first energy level.

Abstract: A phase changeable memory element is formed by conformally forming a phase changeable material film in a contact hole on a substrate so as to create a void in the phase changeable material film in the contact hole. A capping film is formed on the phase changeable material film, and the void is at least partially closed by a thermal treatment that is sufficient to reflow the phase changeable material film in the void.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a biological material for examination with a microscope, comprising the steps of: applying a UV laser light absorbing transparent film onto a surface of the biological material for smoothing out irregularities on the surface of the biological material in order to improve visual characteristics of the biological material; and cutting the biological material together with the UV laser light absorbing transparent film with a UV laser, thereby preparing the biological material for examination.