Abstract: The current invention provides a method of forming polymeric microspheres loaded with therapeutic agent, comprising: a. exposing porous polymeric microspheres to an organic solvent comprising a dissolved therapeutic agent thereby creating microspheres loaded with therapeutic agent, b. separating the microspheres loaded with therapeutic agent from the organic solvent, c. washing the microspheres loaded with therapeutic agent with water, and d. drying the washed microspheres. The microspheres are particularly useful in embolization therapy.

Abstract: This invention is in the area of medical devices, in particular in the area of medical devices for drug delivery, more in particular for controlled release of drugs to the eye. Delivery of drugs to the anterior side of the eye is routinely done with eye drops, but this method results in low bioavailability and low patient compliance. Devices that address these problems have been described for the delivery of drugs to the eye. One of such devices, called the OphthaCoil, consists of a thin metallic wire, which is coiled and carries a drug-loaded adherent hydrogel coating on its surface. Surprisingly it has now been found that the drug loading capacity can be dramatically increased by filling the lumen of the coil with micro-particles such as microspheres that contain the drug of choice.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an implant comprising an envelope filled with a core filling material, such as breast implants and implants for aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, comprising at least one biocompatible gel material and evenly dispersed through the gel material at least one particulate radiopaque, MRI and/or ultra-sound visible material, wherein the core filling material is viscoelastic at 37° C., having a viscosity in the range of 10 to 108 cP.

Abstract: The invention is directed to embolic material comprising spherical, homogeneous and substantially non-porous radiopaque polymer particles based on at least one hydrophilic monomer and at least one radiopaque monomer according to general formula wherein R is H, methyl or ethyl, and R1 is I, Br or wherein R2 is O, NH, O—[CH2—CH2—O]p—C(O)—, O—[CH2]m—O—C(O)—, O—[CH2]p—, NH—[CH2—CH2—O]p—C(O)—, NH—[CH2]m—O—C(O)- or NH—[CH2]p— wherein m>1 and p?1, R3 is I or Br and n is 1, 2 or 3, the iodine and/or bromine content being at least 5 wt. % based on the dry weight of the particle, the said particles having an average particle diameter of at least 10 ?m and being able to imbibe water up to a volume increase of the particle of at least 10%.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intrinsically radio-opaque two component bone cement, comprising a first component which contains at least one acrylate monomer and a second component which contains at least one initiator for the polymerisation of said acrylate monomer, wherein the at least one iodine containing radio-opacity providing polymer is present in at least one of the two components and wherein the cement, when mixed into a slurry has a viscosity, which is sufficiently low to allow injection of the cement slurry through a needle with a diameter in the range of 10-15 G used in percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Abstract: This invention is in the area of medical devices, in particular in the area of medical devices for drug delivery, more in particular for controlled release of drugs to the eye. Delivery of drugs to the anterior side of the eye is routinely done with eye drops, but this method results in low bioavailability and low patient compliance. Devices that address these problems have been described for the delivery of drugs to the eye. One of such devices, called the OphthaCoil, consists of a thin metallic wire, which is coiled and carries a drug-loaded adherent hydrogel coating on its surface. Surprisingly it has now been found that the drug loading capacity can be dramatically increased by filling the lumen of the coil with micro-particles such as microspheres that contain the drug of choice.

Abstract: Wire, tube or catheter coated with at least one layer of a hydrophilic biocompatible material comprising a pharmacologically active compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wire for medical use comprising a substrate provided with a first layer and a polymer layer applied thereto, whereby said first layer is polyether sulphone and said polymer layer is a hydrophilic copolymer built up of an N-vinyl lactam compound and an alkyl (meth)acrylate compound. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing the same and to the copolymer to be used therefor.