Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain and/or inflammation from tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, bursitis and/or an oral-facial disease are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of at least one alpha adrenergic agonist at or near a target site, one can reduce, prevent or treat pain and/or inflammation from tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, bursitis and/or an oral-facial disease.

Abstract: Effective treatments of acute pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots at or near a target site wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of clonidine formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots at or near the target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain that accompanies post-operative surgeries are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of a combination of bupivacaine and clonidine at or near a target site, one can alleviate or prevent pain. This administration of bupivacaine and clonidine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof is particularly useful following surgery.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain and/or inflammation for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of sulindac or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof at or near a target site, one can relieve pain and/or inflammation caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days, at least twenty-five days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices; in particular and without limitation, to unique electrodes and/or electrical lead assemblies for stimulating cardiac tissue, muscle tissue, neurological tissue, brain tissue and/or organ tissue; to electrophysiology mapping and ablation catheters for monitoring and selectively altering physiologic conduction pathways; and, wherein said electrodes, lead assemblies and catheters optionally include fluid irrigation conduit(s) for providing therapeutic and/or performance enhancing materials to adjacent biological tissue, and wherein each said device is coupled to or incorporates nanostructure or materials therein. The present invention also provides methods for fabricating, deploying, and operating such medical devices.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of baclofen formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of a benzodiazepine, such as midazolam, formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain, such as chronic pelvic pain, for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of bupivacaine formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods including polymers having biologically active agents therein are disclosed. The medical devices can be useful as implantable devices such as orthopedic implants.

Abstract: This invention provides for using a locally delivered low dose of a corticosteroid to treat pain caused by any inflammatory disease including sciatica, herniated disc, stenosis, mylopathy, low back pain, facet pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteolysis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tarsal tunnel syndrome. More specifically, a locally delivered low dose of a corticosteroid can be released into the epidural space, perineural space, or the foramenal space at or near the site of a patient's pain by a drug pump or a biodegradable drug depot.

Abstract: Compounds that include silicon-containing groups, and optionally urethane groups, urea groups, or combinations thereof (i.e., polyurethanes, polyureas, or polyurethane-ureas), as well as materials and methods for making such compounds.

Abstract: A process for making an implantable material comprising a composite of a biocompatible polymer and a bioactive agent. The composite combines desirable mechanical properties of polymers and the bioactivity of tissue or one or more component of tissue. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to methods for the manufacture of implantable materials, devices and components via a powder molding process.

Abstract: Methods of modifying polyurethanes using surface treated clay are disclosed herein. Such methods can be useful for controlling the surface concentration of one or more additives in the polyurethane, which can be useful for fabricating medical devices therefrom.

Abstract: Compounds that include diorgano groups having quaternary carbons and optionally urethane groups, urea groups, or combinations thereof (i.e., polyurethanes, polyureas, or polyurethane-ureas), as well as materials and methods for making such compounds.

Abstract: A guide catheter has properties that promote enhanced visibility of the guide catheter using fluoroscopic or ultrasonic imaging techniques. The tip of the guide catheter may incorporate a material that is both fluoro and echo visible. The first material also may be provided in various amounts along the length of the guide catheter. In addition, the guide catheter may incorporate a reinforcing braid that includes one or more strands of a second material that is radio-opaque. As a result, the result guide catheter achieves improved radio-opacity and echogenicity.

Abstract: Compounds that include silicon-containing groups, and optionally urethane groups, urea groups, or combinations thereof (i.e., polyurethanes, polyureas, or polyurethane-ureas), as well as materials and methods for making such compounds.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a medical device, such as a medical electrical lead, comprising a biomaterial formed from a polymer comprising urethane groups and saturated linear polyethylene moieties wherein the saturated linear polethylene moieties have greater than 12 carbon atoms per moiety. In another aspect, the present invention relates medical devices comprising a biomaterial formed from segmented polymers or polymers having an elongation of greater than 50%. Exemplified polymers contain compounds of the formula HO—(CH2)n—OH wherein n is greater than 12.

Abstract: A biostable polymeric substrate of an implantable medical device unit includes a demand-release bioactive composition including one or more bioactive agents covalently bound to surface-modifying end groups of the substrate. Certain cellular activities, in proximity to the polymeric substrate, release substances reacting with the end groups such that the end groups release the one or more bioactive agents, which modify the certain cellular activities.

Abstract: The present invention provides active agent delivery systems for use in medical devices, wherein the active agent delivery systems include an active agent and a hydrophilic miscible polymer blend that includes an active agent and a miscible polymer blend comprising a hydrophilic polymer (preferably, a polyurethane) and a second polymer having a different swellability in water at 37° C.