Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a medical device element by means of extrusion or injection moulding and to medical devices comprising such extruded or injection moulded medical device elements. The medical device elements (e.g. tubes, wires, lines, stents, catheters, guides, endodontic instruments, needles, trocars for e.g. laparoscopic surgery, laparoscopic accessories, surgical instruments, guide wires) are characterized by a prefabricated shaped article or a thermoplastic substrate polymer having thereon a layer of a covalently cross-linked coating composition of a thermoplastic matrix polymer and a hydrophilic polymer. The method involves a coating composition comprising a thermoplastic matrix polymer, a hydrophilic polymer, and one or more photo-initiator(s), e.g. covalently linked to molecules of the thermoplastic matrix polymer and/or to molecules of the hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical device having a substrate polymer surface carrying thereon a hydrophilic coating comprising a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer and p-toluenesulfonamide, and a method for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The application discloses a method for the preparation (by extruding, injection moulding or powder coating and subsequent cross-linking by irradiation with UV or visible light) of a medical device element involving a coating composition comprising: a) as the only polymer constituent(s), at least 50% by weight of poly(ethylene oxide)(s) optionally in combination with non-thermoplastic hydrophilic polymer(s), and b) low molecular weight scaffold(s) having a plurality of photo-initiator moieties covalently linked thereto and/or covalently incorporated therein, wherein the photo-initiator moieties constitute 0.01-20% by weight of the combined amount of the poly(ethylene oxide)(s), any non-thermoplastic hydrophilic polymers and the low molecular weight scaffolds.