Abstract: Soft, flexible highly lubricious coatings for polymeric IOL insertion cartridges that allow IOLs to be easily inserted through small bore cartridges suitable for use with small (less than 3 mm) incisions are provided. These lubricious coatings allow IOLs to be inserted into the eye of a patient without the risk of lens damage or transfer of lubricants to the lens surface during implantation. Specifically, polymeric coatings comprising a matrix polymer having an equivalent weight greater than 5000 g/eq are used to form interpenetrating networks (IPN) on the surface of hydrophobic structural polymers. The IPNs thus formed entrap highly lubricious hydrophilic compounds within the IPN using multi-functional cross linkers.

Abstract: A polymer material useful for manufacturing an intraocular lens (IOL) suitable for insertion through an IOL inserter barrel having an inner diameter of less than 3 mm is provided. Specifically, acrylic-silicone hybrids having a tensile strength of approximately 100 psi to 400 psi and a percent elongation at break of between 50% and 400% are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of making and using apparatus, for inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) are disclosed. The apparatus includes a hollow tube having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an intraocular lens may be passed from the open space into an eye. A lubricity enhancing component is covalently bonded to the hollow tube at the interior wall in an amount effective to facilitate the passage of the intraocular lens through the hollow space. The lubricity enhancing component includes a substituent component effective to reduce hydrolysis of said lubricity enhancing component relative to an identical lubricity enhancing component without the substituent component.

Abstract: A polymeric material with a variable modulus of elasticity is described herein. The polymeric material described herein is useful for forming implantable medical devices (e.g. ophthalmic lenses, breast implants, and body augmentation devices). In addition, medical devices formed from the polymer material can be used to controllably release a therapeutic agent. Also, the polymeric material may be used to prepare topical compositions or other applications or devices where control of a mechanical property such as material modulus is important.

Abstract: A polymeric material with a molecular response time that makes it suitable for use near fragile body tissues. The polymeric material is useful for both low modulus and high modulus applications thereby simplifying the multi-part polymeric article manufacturing process and creating better integrated multi-part polymeric articles. Cross-linked polymers with different moduli may be obtained utilizing the same or similar starting materials but modifying the amount of catalyst, the amount of cross-linking agent, and/or the amount of methyl vinyl cyclics.

Abstract: Biocompatible polymers useful for making anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC-IOL) are provided. The biocompatible polymers are generally composed of one or more acrylate monomers, crosslinked with at least one diacrylate ester and may include one or more additional components such as ultraviolet light and/or blue-violet light absorbing dyes. The AC-IOLs made using the biocompatible polymers disclosed herein are suitable for placement in phakic or aphakic eyes and are intended for refractive correction including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatisms.

Abstract: Apparatus, and methods of making and using apparatus, for inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) are disclosed. The apparatus includes a hollow tube having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an intraocular lens may be passed from the open space into an eye. A lubricity enhancing component is covalently bonded to the hollow tube at the interior wall in an amount effective to facilitate the passage of the intraocular lens through the hollow space. The lubricity enhancing component includes a substituent component effective to reduce hydrolysis of said lubricity enhancing component relative to an identical lubricity enhancing component without the substituent component.

Abstract: Biocompatible surfaces on medical devices, particularly those formed of synthetic materials, are produced by providing coating compounds having crosslinked regions capable of entrapping biocompatible molecules on the surfaces of medical devices in order to form a stable base layer. The crosslinked base layer is lubricious and is able to function as an entrapping or coupling site for additional biocompatible agents, which agents may be stably incorporated into its crosslinked lattice. Thus, the coatings of the present invention have enhanced lubricity and may also have antimicrobial, protein-repelling, and/or antithrombotic properties. The present invention thus discloses novel, stable, biocompatible coating compositions, devices coated with the compositions of the present invention, methods of making and applying such compounds, and methods of preparing and using devices and apparatus coated with such compositions.

Abstract: Universal, biocompatible coating platforms for articles intended to contact physiological fluids or tissues and associated methods of production are disclosed. The coating platforms of the present invention are composed of a polyelectrolyte molecular film containing one or more biologically active compounds. The molecular film is further complexed with the surface of an article by a crosslinked interpenetrating network (IPN) made from at least one multifunctional molecule and at least one crosslinking agent. The IPN may entrap additional biologically active compounds within the coating platform, or additional biologically active compounds may be bound to its outer surface. The coating platform of the present invention is ideally suited for providing medical devices with anti-thrombogenic coatings.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for harvesting adipose tissue so as to preserve an increased population of viable microvascular endothelial cells. Adipose tissue containing microvascular endothelial cells is harvested using a collection apparatus incorporating an elongate cannula having apertures with tissue cutting edges. A sub-ambient pressure is applied to a lumen in the cannula to draw the adipose tissue through the aperture where it is then severed using the cutting edge to disrupt the connective adipose matrix. This harvesting provides a cleaner, more homogeneous sample of adipose tissue, thereby increasing the population of viable microvascular endothelial cells obtained through further processing. Rapid and easy methods for the further homogenization of the harvested adipose tissue are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solution containing a nonpolymeric epoxy compound for cross linking biological tissues and bioprosthetic materials prepared thereby. The nonpolymeric epoxy compound has the general structural formula:R.sub.1 --CH.sub.2 --O--X--O--CH.sub.2 --R.sub.2wherein, X is a straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least four (4) and no more than five (5) carbon atoms bonded directly to one another, said straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon being devoid of side branches and having terminal carbon atoms at either end thereof, the terminal carbon atoms at the ends of said straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbon being bonded to the oxygen atoms shown in the foregoing general formula, wherein at least one of the terminal groups R.sub.1, or R.sub.2 is an epoxy group and the other of said terminal groups R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is either a) an epoxy group, or b) an aldehyde group. One preferred crosslinking agent of the above general formula is 1,4, butanediol diglycidyl ether.

Abstract: An apparatus for sodding onto the inner lumenal surface of a synthetic graft of harvested and concentrated microvessel endothelial cells from liposuctioned fat tissues, which harvested cells are formed into a "pellet" of isolated endothelial cells in loose aggregations, includes a sodding tube having a single rigid outer wall bounding a sodding chamber. A filter pack assembly is provided to communicate the pellet of cells from a processing vessel to the graft. This filter pack assembly includes a series of successively finer filter members cooperatively defining a series of turbulent-flow chambers in which aggregations of cells too large to pass through a particular filter are exposed to liquid flow turbulence which is effective to break up the aggregations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for harvesting adipose tissue so as to preserve an increased population of viable microvascular endothelial cells. Adipose tissue containing microvascular endothelial cells is harvested using a collection apparatus incorporating an elongate cannula having apertures with tissue cutting edges. A sub-ambient pressure is applied to a lumen in the cannula to draw the adipose tissue through the aperture where it is then severed using the cutting edge to disrupt the connective adipose matrix. This harvesting provides a cleaner, more homogeneous sample of adipose tissue, thereby increasing the population of viable microvascular endothelial cells obtained through further processing. Rapid and easy methods for the further homogenization of the harvested adipose tissue are also disclosed.

Abstract: A processing vessel for isolating microvessel endothelial cells from liposuctioned fat tissues includes a fat-receiving basket defined by polyester screen material. Fat tissue removed from a patient by liposuction is received into the basket and is rinsed and digested with an enzymatic solution. The freed microvessel endothelial cells from the fat tissues are separated from the fat cells, and from blood cells and other materials which may be present in the basket by centrifuging. A bottom chamber of the processing vessel is configured to define a "pellet" of isolated endothelial cells which may be removed from the processing vessel for deposition on the inner lumenal surface of a synthetic graft which the fat-donor patient is to receive.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyurethaneurea having free amino groups is the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a fluorinated polyol, a non-fluorinated polyol and a polyamine. The invention includes a shaped polymeric support structure having the thermoplastic polyurethaneurea coated thereon and a medical article comprising the coated support and heparin covalently bonded to the free amino groups of the coated support. In another aspect of the invention, a method for preparing the heparinized medical article is provided.

Abstract: An article has a blood-contacting hemocompatible surface layer of a urethane-siloxane copolymer on a thermoplastic polymeric base material. The copolymer has siloxane segments prepared from hydroxyalkyl terminated polysiloxane glycols. The article is prepared by coextrusion of the base material and the copolymer.

Abstract: A thermoplastic polyurethaneurea having free amino groups is the reaction product of a diisocyanate, a fluorinated polyol, a non-fluorinated polyol and a polyamine. The invention includes a shaped polymeric support structure having the thermoplastic polyurethaneurea coated thereon and a medical article comprising the coated support and heparin covalently bonded to the free amino groups of the coated support. In another aspect of the invention, a method for preparing the heparinized medical article is provided.

Abstract: Melt processable polyurethaneureas are prepared from a diisocyanate, a macroglycol, a diol chain extender and a diamine chain extender. Water may be included as a reactant, and the polymer may contain an additive such as a radiopaque material. The invention includes a one-pot bulk polymerization method for preparation of the polymers.

Abstract: An article has a blood-contacting hemocompatible surface layer of a urethane-siloxane copolymer on a thermoplastic polymeric base material. The copolymer has siloxane segments prepared from hydroxyalkyl terminated polysiloxane glycols. The article is prepared by coextrusion of the base material and the copolymer.

Abstract: A method for heparinizing a substrate includes applying a coating of ammonium salt to a substrate by steeping the substrate in a solution of the salt at an alkaline pH and contacting the coated substrate with a solution of a salt of heparin.