Abstract: An electrode of an implantable medical lead is coated with a polymeric composition that includes (i) a terpolymer formed from monomer subunits consisting essentially of vinyl acetate, alkyl methyl acrylate and n-vinyl pyrrolidone; (ii) a copolymer formed from monomer subunits consisting essentially of vinyl acetate and alkyl methacrylate; and (iii) polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The coating does not substantially adversely affect impedance properties of the electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed are lactation assistive devices. The lactation assistive device may include a stimulation component and a controller. The stimulation component may include electrical components or mechanical components to stimulate a breast. The stimulation component may be sized to fit within a garment worn about the breast and may define an opening to be located proximate a nipple of the breast when the garment is worn. The controller may be configured to control stimulation of the breast by the stimulation component.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compounds, such as silanol or alcohol, include a protecting or leaving group that can protect the compound from degradation during the process of preparing a medical device containing the compound or reduce the volatility of the compound relative to its counterpart without the leaving group. Nearly any hydrolysable leaving group may be employed. The leaving group may be an agent that may serve a therapeutic function in addition to protecting or retaining the antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: An electrode of an implantable medical lead is coated with a polymeric composition that includes (i) a terpolymer formed from monomer subunits consisting essentially of vinyl acetate, alkyl methyl acrylate and n-vinyl pyrrolidone; (ii) a copolymer formed from monomer subunits consisting essentially of vinyl acetate and alkyl methacrylate; and (iii) polyvinyl pyrrolidone. The coating does not substantially adversely affect impedance properties of the electrode.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compounds, such as silanol or alcohol, include a protecting or leaving group that can protect the compound from degradation during the process of preparing a medical device containing the compound or reduce the volatility of the compound relative to its counterpart without the leaving group. Nearly any hydrolysable leaving group may be employed. The leaving group may be an agent that may serve a therapeutic function in addition to protecting or retaining the antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compounds, such as silanol or alcohol, include a protecting or leaving group that can protect the compound from degradation during the process of preparing a medical device containing the compound or reduce the volatility of the compound relative to its counterpart without the leaving group. Nearly any hydrolysable leaving group may be employed. The leaving group may be an agent that may serve a therapeutic function in addition to protecting or retaining the antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: Methods are provided for surface modifying a hydrophobic polymer substrate to increase wettability comprising the steps of pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a radio frequency (RF)-generated first plasma and a RF-generated second plasma wherein the first plasma and the second plasma are applied sequentially, coating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a hydrophilic coating; and polymerizing the hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic polymer substrate by exposure to a RF-generated third plasma.

Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices having textured surfaces and related methods for texturing. Methods of surface texturing using gas-phase plasma provide medical devices with myriad complex surface morphologies.

Abstract: Methods are provided for surface modifying a hydrophobic polymer substrate to increase wettability comprising the steps of pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a radio frequency (RF)-generated first plasma and a RF-generated second plasma wherein the first plasma and the second plasma are applied sequentially, coating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a hydrophilic coating; and polymerizing the hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic polymer substrate by exposure to a RF-generated third plasma.

Abstract: Methods are provided for surface modifying a hydrophobic polymer substrate to increase wettability comprising the steps of pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a radio frequency (RF)-generated first plasma and a RF-generated second plasma wherein the first plasma and the second plasma are applied sequentially, coating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a hydrophilic coating; and polymerizing the hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic polymer substrate by exposure to a RF-generated third plasma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for enhancing ingrowth of host bone comprising: modifying a bone graft structure to provide an ionic gradient to produce a modified bone graft structure; and implanting the modified bone graft structure. The present invention also relates to a method of enhancing the binding of growth factors and cell cultures to a bone graft structure comprising: applying ex vivo an effective quantity of an ionic force change agent to the surface of a bone graft structure to produce a binding-sensitized bone graft structure; implanting the binding-sensitized bone graft structure into a host bone; and administering to the binding-sensitized bone graft structure a molecule, a cell culture or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Antimicrobial compounds, such as silanol or alcohol, include a protecting or leaving group that can protect the compound from degradation during the process of preparing a medical device containing the compound or reduce the volatility of the compound relative to its counterpart without the leaving group. Nearly any hydrolysable leaving group may be employed. The leaving group may be an agent that may serve a therapeutic function in addition to protecting or retaining the antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: Methods are provided for surface modifying a hydrophobic polymer substrate to increase wettability comprising the steps of pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a radio frequency (RF)-generated first plasma and a RF-generated second plasma wherein the first plasma and the second plasma are applied sequentially, coating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a hydrophilic coating; and polymerizing the hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic polymer substrate by exposure to a RF-generated third plasma.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead with a tip-ring assembly optimized to resist damage during extraction. The lead includes an elongated plastic tube and at least two elongated conductors mounted in the plastic tube. A tip-ring assembly is mounted to the distal end of the tube, the tip-ring assembly including a ring electrode coupled to one of the conductors, a tip electrode located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to another of the conductors and two molded plastic components separately fabricated of a plastic harder than the plastic tube, adhered to one another and together defining a circumferential groove in which the ring electrode is located and mechanically coupled to the tip electrode. The tip electrode may be provided with a proximally extending electrode shank covered by a tine sleeve which is fabricated of a plastic softer than the molded plastic components and is adhered to more distally located molded plastic component.

Abstract: Coating an implantable device, such as micro electromechanical devices, is highly desirable to protect the implantable device from corrosion. A coating method includes depositing, preferably by plasma glow discharge, a reactant monomer on at least one surface of an implantable device, preferably at ambient temperature. The method will likely decrease the manufacturing time required for assembling such devices because completely assembled devices can be coated.

Abstract: Coating an implantable device, such as micro electromechanical devices, is highly desirable to protect the implantable device from corrosion. A coating method includes depositing, preferably by plasma glow discharge, a reactant monomer on at least one surface of an implantable device, preferably at ambient temperature. The method will likely decrease the manufacturing time required for assembling such devices because completely assembled devices can be coated.

Abstract: An elongate elastomeric structure having controlled surface texture. Plasma deposition is used to create controlled features, such as ridges, on the external surface of an elongate elastomeric surface, such as the external surface of silicone tubing. The invention has particular applicability in the medical device field, such as the fabrication of implantable leads, catheters, and medical devices incorporating them.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modifying a pyrolytic carbon surface to improve adhesion between it and a subsequently added polymer and/or a bio-active compound. In particular, plasma depositing an oxygen-containing, silicon-containing film forming monomer on a pyrolytic carbon surface improves adhesion of a polymer thereto, wherein the modified pyrolytic carbon surface and silicone rubber has a wet adhesion peel force greater than the wet adhesion peel force between an unmodified pyrolytic carbon and silicone rubber as measured by ASTM D 903-49 after 28 days in an aqueous environment, typically, at least 10 times greater.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead with a tip-ring assembly optimized to resist damage during extraction. The lead includes an elongated plastic tube and at least two elongated conductors mounted in the plastic tube. A tip-ring assembly is mounted to the distal end of the tube, the tip-ring assembly including a ring electrode coupled to one of the conductors, a tip electrode located distal to the ring electrode and coupled to another of the conductors and two molded plastic components separately fabricated of a plastic harder than the plastic tube, adhered to one another and together defining a circumferential groove in which the ring electrode is located and mechanically coupled to the tip electrode. The tip electrode may be provided with a proximally extending electrode shank covered by a tine sleeve which is fabricated of a plastic softer than the molded plastic components and is adhered to more distally located molded plastic component.

Abstract: An elongate elastomeric structure having controlled surface texture. Plasma deposition is used to create controlled features, such as ridges, on the external surface of an elongate elastomeric surface, such as the external surface of silicone tubing. The invention has particular applicability in the medical device field, such as the fabrication of implantable leads, catheters, and medical devices incorporating them.