Abstract: Disclosed are several methods of parting rubber from an underlying surface. Polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, starch derivatives and dextran are all suitable parting agents of rubber. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone is a paticularly effective parting agent for use in the formation of balloon-type medical catheters; it is also useful as a parting agent in the formation of synthetic membranes, blood vessels and conduits. The invention includes the method of use of these parting agents as well as the products formed by the disclosed process(es). Also disclosed is a method of forming a synthetic blood vessel of a polymer material, e.g., polyurethane.

Abstract: Disclosed are several methods of parting rubber from an underlying surface. Polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose, starch derivatives and dextran are allsuitable parting agents for rubber. Polyvinyl pyrrolidine is a particularly effective parting agent for use in the formation of balloon-type medical catheters; it is also useful as a parting agent in the formation of synthetic membranes, blood vessels andconduits. The invention includes the method of use of these parting agents as well as the products formed by the disclosed process(es). Also disclosed is a method of forming a synthetic blood vessel of a polymer material, e.g., polyurethane.

Abstract: An appliance for draining bodily wastes from the natural bladder of a patient, or from an artificial bladder, through a surgically-created stoma, includes a tube insertable into the bladder through the stoma, and an inflatable balloon enclosing a substantial portion of the length of the tube. The balloon has a corrugated tubular portion terminating in a bulbous tip portion. The tip is located at the end of the tube to be received in the bladder, while the corrugated portion extends along the length of the tube which is received in the passage from the bladder created by the stoma. An inflation fluid is introduced into the interior of the balloon through an inlet in an external retainer plug and through fluid passages and ports in the tube. The balloon has an expandable wall which is thicker in the tip portion than in the corrugated portion, so that the corrugated portion can be substantially fully inflated before the tip portion inflates.