Abstract: A biomedical material is prepared through a plasma method. The material is a film containing titanium oxide onto polymer sheet. The film is hydrophilic, bacterial inactivated and biocompatible. The present invention can be applied to artificial guiding tube and wound dressing material.

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing the effectiveness of a treatment on a porous material. For example, the porous material can include a porous low dielectric constant material. In particular, the method can utilize FTIR spectroscopy to characterize the porosity of materials, and assess the effectiveness of sealing pores in the material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing a porous, hydrophobic polymer with a hemocompatible substance and to the materials produced thereby. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the providing of expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) with one or more complexes of heparin, typically containing heparin in combination with a hydrophobic counter ion. The hemocompatible substance is dissolved in a mixture of solvents in which a first solvent wets the polymer to be coated and the second solvent enhances the solubility of the hemocompatible substance material in the solvent mixture. Typical first solvents wetting hydrophobic polymers include non-polar such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons. Typical second solvents include polar solvents such as organic alcohols and ketones. Azeotropic mixtures of the second solvent in the first solvent are used in some embodiments of the present invention although second solvents may be employed in a range of concentration ranges from less than 0.1% up to saturation.

Abstract: Methods for adhesive bonding are disclosed. The methods includes contacting a substrate with an activator composition which includes a reactive solvent, such as methyl ethyl ketone or acrylic-based monomers, and a reducing agent, such that the treated substrate has a working time of greater than about four weeks, and contacting the substrate with adhesive compositions to result in adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A plunger is used for applying an adhesive to a honeycomb structure. The plunger includes a receptacle, a plunger covering, a metering unit and a chamber. The chamber being delimited by the receptacle and the metering unit and the plunger covering is located on a side of the metering unit facing away from the chamber. The plunger is used in conjunction with a device for applying an adhesive to a honeycomb structure, in particular a metal catalyst support for purifying the exhaust gas of mobile internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A stent mandrel fixture and method for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided.

Abstract: Methods of modifying properties such as degradation rate and drug release rate of polymer stents with radiation are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relate to a balloon expandable stent mounted on a balloon catheter, the entire assembly being overcoated with a coherent polymer coating, which is preferably substantially continuous over the circumference and, more preferably, axial length of the stent on the balloon. The polymer coating improves retention of the stent on the balloon during delivery and does not adversely effect the deployment characteristics, nor the balloon failure characteristics. The product is made by mounting the stent on the balloon and coating the assembly with a liquid coating composition containing a suitable polymer followed by curing of the coating. The polymer is biocompatible and preferably crosslinkable in the coating composition, and crosslinked in the final product. A suitable polymer is formed from monomers including a zwitterionic, preferably a phosphoryl choline, group, and monomers including a trialkoxysilyl group.

Abstract: A method for producing a zirconia-layered orthopedic implant component includes depositing zirconium onto the orthopedic implant component, thereby forming a zirconium-layered component, and converting at least a portion of the zirconium into a substantially monoclinic zirconia surface layer unaccompanied by a substantial underlying ?-phase. A method for producing a zirconia-layered orthopedic implant component includes depositing zirconium onto the orthopedic implant component by ion bombardment and deposition in a vacuum to form a zirconium-layered component including an intermix zone at least 1000 ? thick and a zirconium layer about 3-5 ?m thick, and heat treating the zirconium-layered component at a temperature of about 500-600° C. in an atmosphere containing oxygen.

Abstract: A process for producing a cosmetic-impregnated sheet which comprises applying and infiltrating a cosmetic base to and into a base sheet having on the surface thereof a retentive sheet capable of absorbing and retaining the cosmetic base at a shear rate of 102 to 106 s?1, the cosmetic base being applied to and infiltrated into the retentive sheet of the base sheet, and the cosmetic base, when subjected to a steady shear deformation at a shear rate of 2 s?1 for 100 seconds followed by a steady shear deformation at a stepwise increased shear rate of 20 s?1, showing no shear stress growth or showing such a shear stress growth that the difference between the peak shear stress B at a shear rate of 20 s?1 and the equilibrium shear stress A at the same shear rate, B?A, is 20% or smaller of the equilibrium shear stress A in the transition between the two shear rates.

Abstract: Water soluble, gelatin-free dip coatings for pharmaceutical solid dosage forms such as tablets comprising HPMC and xanthan gum, carrageenan, and mixtures thereof, or HPMC and castor oil or maltodextrin.

Abstract: An adherent bioactive calcium phosphate coating is formed on a titanium or titanium alloy substrate by immersing the substrate in an acidic calcium phosphate solution to form a non-apatitic calcium phosphate coating on the substrate. In a second step the coated substrate can be converted to a less reactive coating by being immersed into a basic or neutral solution to convert the coating into an apatite. However if a relatively reactive coating is desired, the second step can be dispensed with.

Abstract: System and method for coating a medical appliance is provided. In accord with one embodiment, a system for applying a coating to a medical appliance having accessible patterned surfaces is provided. The system may include: a processor, an appliance support, and a solenoid type fluid dispensing head having an electromagnetically controlled valve. In the system, the appliance support may be adapted to hold the medical appliance and to provide direct access for a coating to contact the exposed external patterned surfaces of the medical appliance. The solenoid type fluid dispensing head in this system may move with respect to the medical appliance and may be in communication with a source of coating and with the processor. The processor in this system may contain commands that instruct the solenoid type fluid dispensing head to force coating onto the accessible patterned surfaces of the medical appliance in a pattern that correlates with the accessible patterned surfaces of the medical appliance.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating medical devices at the point of care with a polymer and/or therapeutic agent comprising an environmentally controlled device coating chamber in which the device may be delivered by the manufacturer as the device packaging, or the device may be placed into the chamber at the point of care. The environmentally controlled chamber can provide a sterile enclosure in which the polymer and/or a therapeutic agent can be applied to an uncoated or previously coated device and converted to another form (such as a liquid to a film or gel) if desired, under controlled and reproducible conditions. The environmentally controlled chamber can accommodate and provide for coating the device by immersion, spray and other methods of covering the device surface with a liquid or powder. The chamber can provide for energy sources, both internally, such as heat produced by film heaters, and externally, such as UV light or microwave passing through the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of making catheters is disclosed in which various additives are consolidated into polymer walls of the catheters. The method includes providing a core, spraying a base polymer material over the outer surface of the core, spraying an additive material over or together with the base polymer material, and consolidating the additive material and the base polymer material together to form the catheter wall. The base polymer material and additive material are each applied as a fine particulate powder or solution of fine particulate, which can be sprayed over an outer surface of the core and the catheter wall as the catheter is formed. The additive material can be selected from several therapeutic agents, diagnostic agents, and/or polymers for modifying the base polymer materials. The additive material can be consolidated with the base polymer material throughout the polymer wall or primarily on the outer surface of the polymer wall.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods to create medical devices and medical devices including bioactive composite structures. The methods include using template-assisted electro- or electroless deposition or codeposition methods for providing implantable medical devices coated with bioactive composite structures and also include layering deposited or codeposited metal layers with layers of bioactive materials. In one use, the implantable medical devices of the present invention include stents with bioactive composite structure coatings.

Abstract: A method for coating a rollable device including a device rotator having a pair of rollers and spray nozzle is described. The spray nozzle produces a spray of coating material that is directed towards a gap that is between the rollers of the pair. The majority of any spray not deposited on the rollable device during a coating process passes through the gap between the rollers.

Abstract: The present invention provides orthopedic prosthesis having at least one metallic component that includes a metallic substrate on which an integrally formed nano-crystalline coating is formed. The coating and the substrate have at least one metallic constituent in common having an average atomic concentration in the coating that differs from an average atomic concentration in the substrate by less than about 10 percent. Further, the nano-crystalline coatings includes crystalline grains with an average size in a range of about 1 to 999 nanometers, and more preferably in a range of about 10 to 200 nanometers. A transition region that exhibits a graded reduction in average grain size separates the coating from the substrate. The coating advantageously exhibits an enhanced hardness, and a high degree of resistance to corrosion and wear. In one application, the nano-crystalline coatings of the invention are utilized to form articulating surfaces of various orthopedic devices.

Abstract: A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone is disclosed. The method comprises the act of roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a roughened surface. The method further comprises the act of depositing discrete nanoparticles on the roughened surface though a one-step process of exposing the roughened surface to a solution. The nanoparticles comprise a material having a property that promotes osseointegration.

Abstract: Nanoparticles of a deposited bioactive agent can be obtained by selecting a solvent composition, selecting a deposition substrate, preparing a solution of the bioactive agent in the solvent composition, and applying the solution to a substrate as a plurality of droplets, such that evaporation of the applied solution produces nanoparticles of the bioactive agent.