Abstract: Medical articles formed from ionically bonding an ionic compound and an active agent provide enhanced properties. The ionic compound comprises an ionic additive incorporated into a base polymer. The ionic additive may be one or more of an anionic additive, a cationic additive, and a zwitterionic additive. Medical articles herein have antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or antithrombotic characteristics.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from ionically bonding an ionic compound and an active agent provide enhanced properties. The ionic compound comprises an ionic additive incorporated into a base polymer. The ionic additive may be one or more of an anionic additive, a cationic additive, and a zwitterionic additive. Medical articles herein have antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or antithrombotic characteristics.

Abstract: A method for determining tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in cigarette smoke using one-step clean-up coupled with LC-MS/MS is provided, including the following steps: collecting a particulate matter of mainstream cigarette smoke with a Cambridge filter pad, mixing the particulate matter of mainstream cigarette smoke, an internal standards solution and water in a 50 mL plastic centrifuge tube, and vortexing the resulting mixture at room temperature to allow extraction; transferring an extraction solution after filtration to a new centrifuge tube, adding dichloromethane, and vortexing the resulting mixture; centrifuging to collect a dichloromethane extraction solution in a lower layer to another centrifuge tube, and placing the centrifuge tube in a water bath to remove dichloromethane; dissolving the resulting extraction solution in water, and transferring the resulting solution to an autosampler vial for LC-MS/MS analysis.

Abstract: A method for determining tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco using one-step clean-up coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is provided, including the following steps: destemming flue-cured tobacco or sun-cured tobacco, drying, milling, and passing through a sieve; mixing the resulting tobacco, an internal standards solution and water in a plastic centrifuge tube, and vortexing the resulting mixture at room temperature to allow extraction; transferring an extraction solution after filtration to a new centrifuge tube, adding dichloromethane, and vortexing the resulting mixture; centrifuging to collect a dichloromethane extraction solution in a lower layer to another centrifuge tube, and placing the centrifuge tube in a water bath to remove dichloromethane; dissolving the resulting extraction solution in water, and transferring the resulting solution to an autosampler vial for LC-MS/MS analysis.

Abstract: A device to couple a vascular access device to a medical device may include a body, a spring, and a housing. The body may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end. The proximal end of the body may include a connector. The housing may be coupled to a proximal end of the spring and may enclose the connector. A distal end of the spring may be coupled to the body. The housing may include a flap, which may include an antimicrobial compound. When the housing is disposed in a proximal position, the flap may cover the connector, the antimicrobial compound may contact the connector, and the spring may be uncompressed. In response to movement of the housing from the proximal position to a distal position, the spring may be compressed and the flap may open.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from ionically bonding an ionic polymer and an active agent provide enhanced properties. The ionic polymer may be one or more of an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, and a zwitterionic polymer. The device may also include a nonionic polymer. Medical articles herein have antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or antithrombotic characteristics.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from ionically bonding an ionic polymer and an active agent provide enhanced properties. The ionic polymer may be one or more of an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer, and a zwitterionic polymer. The device may also include a nonionic polymer. Medical articles herein have antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or antithrombotic characteristics.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including a modifying oligomer provide enhanced properties. A modifying oligomer incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin formed by a diisocyanate, a polyglycol, and a diol chain extender has at least one, preferably two, alcohol moieties (C—OH) and a functional moiety. Exemplary modifying oligomers are: a diol-containing perfluoropolyether incorporated into the backbone, a monofunctional polysiloxane (e.g., monodialcohol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane) incorporated as the side chain, and combinations thereof. Medical articles herein are self-lubricating and/or anti-fouling.

Abstract: A device to couple a vascular access device to a medical device may include a body, a spring, and a housing. The body may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end. The proximal end of the body may include a connector. The housing may be coupled to a proximal end of the spring and may enclose the connector. A distal end of the spring may be coupled to the body. The housing may include a flap, which may include an antimicrobial compound. When the housing is disposed in a proximal position, the flap may cover the connector, the antimicrobial compound may contact the connector, and the spring may be uncompressed. In response to movement of the housing from the proximal position to a distal position, the spring may be compressed and the flap may open.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including a modifying oligomer provide enhanced properties. A modifying oligomer incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin formed by a diisocyanate, a polyglycol, and a diol chain extender has at least one, preferably two, alcohol moieties (C—OH) and a functional moiety. Exemplary modifying oligomers are: a diol-containing perfluoropolyether incorporated into the backbone, a monofunctional polysiloxane (e.g., monodialcohol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane) incorporated as the side chain, and combinations thereof. Medical articles herein are self-lubricating and/or anti-fouling.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including an ionically-charged modifier provide enhanced properties. The polyurethane-based resin is a reaction product of ingredients comprising: a diisocyanate; a diol chain extender; a polyglycol; and a cationic modifier incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin. Exemplary cationic modifier includes bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride (BHDAC). Medical articles herein either have inherent antimicrobial and/or anti-fouling characteristics or can easily bond anionic active agents to provide desirable material properties, including antimicrobial and anti-fouling.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including an ionically-charged modifier provide enhanced properties. The polyurethane-based resin is a reaction product of ingredients comprising: a diisocyanate; a diol chain extender; a polyglycol; and an ionically-charged modifier incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin. Embodiments include the ionically-charged modifier is a combination of anionic and cationic modifiers. Embodiments include the ionically-charged modifier is zwitterionic. Medical articles herein either have inherent antimicrobial and/or anti-fouling characteristics or can easily bond ionic active agents to provide desirable material properties, including antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or radiopacity.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including an ionically-charged modifier provide enhanced properties. The polyurethane-based resin is a reaction product of ingredients comprising: a diisocyanate; a diol chain extender; a polyglycol; and an anionic modifier incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin. Exemplary anionic modifier includes 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid (BHMBA) and/or bis-1,4-((2-hydroxypropoxy)-2-propoxy)-butane sulfonate sodium salt (SULFADIOL®-7Q). Medical articles herein either have inherent antimicrobial and/or anti-fouling characteristics or can easily bond cationic active agents to provide desirable material properties, including antimicrobial, anti-fouling, and/or radiopacity.

Abstract: A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end of the catheter adapter and the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter assembly may include a catheter extending distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter assembly may include an introducer needle extending through the catheter. An anti-thrombogenic material may be extruded through a die and/or molded to form one or more portions of the catheter assembly. Additionally or alternatively, inner surfaces and/or outer surfaces of one or more portions of the catheter assembly may be coated with an anti-thrombogenic coating that includes the anti-thrombogenic material.

Abstract: A device to couple a vascular access device to a medical device may include a body, a spring, and a housing. The body may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end. The proximal end of the body may include a connector. The housing may be coupled to a proximal end of the spring and may enclose the connector. A distal end of the spring may be coupled to the body. The housing may include a flap, which may include an antimicrobial compound. When the housing is disposed in a proximal position, the flap may cover the connector, the antimicrobial compound may contact the connector, and the spring may be uncompressed. In response to movement of the housing from the proximal position to a distal position, the spring may be compressed and the flap may open.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including a modifying oligomer provide enhanced properties. A modifying oligomer incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin formed by a diisocyanate, a polyglycol, and a diol chain extender has at least one, preferably two, alcohol moieties (C—OH) and a functional moiety. Exemplary modifying oligomers are: a diol-containing perfluoropolyether incorporated into the backbone, a monofunctional polysiloxane (e.g., monodialcohol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane) incorporated as the side chain, and combinations thereof. Medical articles herein are self-lubricating and/or anti-fouling.

Abstract: Medical articles formed from a polyurethane-based resin including a modifying oligomer provide enhanced properties. A modifying oligomer incorporated into a backbone, as a side chain, or both of the polyurethane-based resin formed by a diisocyanate, a polyglycol, and a diol chain extender has at least one, preferably two, alcohol moieties (C—OH) and a functional moiety. Exemplary modifying oligomers are: a diol-containing perfluoropolyether incorporated into the backbone, a monofunctional polysiloxane (e.g., monodialcohol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane) incorporated as the side chain, and combinations thereof. Medical articles herein are self-lubricating and/or anti-fouling.

Abstract: A method to estimate range to a moving rigid body from a moving platform using a monocular camera. The method does not require the camera platform to maneuver in order to estimate range. The method relies on identification and tracking of certain principal features of the object. The method extracts a silhouette of an object from an obtained image and identifies two principal linear components of the silhouette. A normalized distance between the point of intersection of the two linear components and a centroid of the silhouette is computed, compared to a data set and used to determine a direction of movement of the object.

Abstract: A method to estimate range to a moving rigid body from a moving platform using a monocular camera. The method does not require the camera platform to maneuver in order to estimate range. The method relies on identification and tracking of certain principal features of the object. The method extracts a silhouette of an object from an obtained image and identifies two principal linear components of the silhouette. A normalized distance between the point of intersection of the two linear components and a centroid of the silhouette is computed, compared to a data set and used to determine a direction of movement of the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovery of a precious metal catalyst from an organosilicon product-containing liquid reaction medium containing precious metal catalyst.