Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions, which in turn contain at least one block copolymer. The block copolymer includes (a) at least one high Tg (glass transition temperature) polymer block that contains at least one high Tg vinyl ether monomer and (b) at least one low Tg polymer block that contains at least one low Tg vinyl ether monomer.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers, to methods of making such copolymers and to medical devices that contain such polymers. According to certain aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment, an additional polymeric segment that is not a polyisobutylene segment, and a segment comprising a residue of a diisocyanate. According to other aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment and end groups that comprise alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl-chain-containing end groups.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers, to methods of making such copolymers and to medical devices that contain such polymers. According to certain aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment, an additional polymeric segment that is not a polyisobutylene segment, and a segment comprising a residue of a diisocyanate. According to other aspects of the invention, polyisobutylene urethane, urea and urethane/urea copolymers are provided, which comprise a polyisobutylene segment and end groups that comprise alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl-chain-containing end groups.

Abstract: A block or graft copolymer includes a first block, and a second block different from the first block, wherein the first block is a poly(lactide-glycolide) copolymer. The polymers may be formulated in compositions with drug components for use in coating medical devices such as stents. Different blocks of the block or graft copolymer degrade in the body at different rates. The drug release profile from the coating is a combination the individual release rates of the different blocks and so can be controlled by controlling the selection and relative amounts of the respective blocks.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided that contain at least one covalently crosslinked polymeric region, which contains at least one block copolymer comprising at least one low Tg block and at least one high Tg block.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, polymers that have a plurality of well defined polymer segments linked by disulfide linkages are provided. When these disulfide linkages are broken, multiple smaller polymers of lower molecular weight are produced. According to another aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided that contain polymers that have a plurality of well defined polymer segments linked by disulfide linkages.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the invention, methods of forming medical articles are provided, which comprise (a) preparing a melt phase that comprises a molten polymer and a supercritical fluid, (b) forming a polymeric region from the melt phase, and (c) cooling the polymeric region. In certain embodiments, the supercritical fluid is formed from chemical species (e.g., CO2, propane, etc.) that are gases at room temperature (25° C.) and atmospheric pressure (1 atm). According to another aspect of the present invention, medical articles are provided which comprise melt-processed polymeric materials. The polymeric materials have a composition that cannot be melt processed without the use of melt-viscosity reducing additives due to thermal degradation, and yet the polymeric material does not contain such additives.

Abstract: A medical device comprising: (a) a substrate having first and second surfaces, (b) a therapeutic-agent-eluting polymeric layer disposed over the first substrate surface and (c) a textured polymeric layer that is textured to promote cell attachment, cell growth, or both, disposed over the second surface.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions. These polymeric regions, in turn, contain one or more polymers, at least one of which is a copolymer that includes a styrene monomer and an isobutylene monomer. Moreover, the styrene monomer content of the copolymer typically ranges from 25 to 50 mol %.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, long term medical articles are provided which include the following: (a) first and second body contacting (e.g., tissue and/or body-fluid contacting) porous polymeric layers; (b) a polymeric barrier layer disposed between the first and second porous polymer layers; and (c) a reinforcement element. According to another aspect of the present invention, tubular medical articles for long term implantation are provided, which comprise: (a) a reinforcement element; (b) a blood contacting porous polymeric layer having a surface energy ranging between 20 and 30 dynes/cm disposed over an inner surface of the reinforcement element; and (c) an additional porous polymeric layer formed over an outer surface of the reinforcement element.

Abstract: A medical device having a coating of cell adhesion polypeptides to enhance endothelial cell adhesion onto the medical device. The cell adhesion polypeptides may be any of the proteins of the extracellular matrix which are known to play a role in cell adhesion or derivative peptides such as RGD or YIGSR. The polypeptides may be incorporated into the backbone of a polymer such as polyurethane, or grafted onto a polymer such polybisphosphonate. The polypeptides may also be carried on antibodies or displayed on bacteriophages. The polypeptides may also be modified to have adhesive amino acid sequences. In certain embodiments, the medical device further comprises a temporary barrier that protects the polypeptides from biofouling. The temporary barrier may be formed of a biodegradable polymer and be constructed as a coating over the polypeptides or as a plurality of micelles encapsulating the polypeptides.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided that contain at least one covalently crosslinked polymeric region, which contains at least one block copolymer comprising at least one low Tg block and at least one high Tg block.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions, which in turn contain at least one block copolymer. The block copolymer includes (a) at least one high Tg (glass transition temperature) polymer block that contains at least one high Tg vinyl ether monomer and (b) at least one low Tg polymer block that contains at least one low Tg vinyl ether monomer.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, internal medical devices are provided, which contain at least one surface region that comprises a polymer brush. The polymer brush, in turn, contains one or more types of hydrophobic polymer chains and one or more types of hydrophilic polymer chains.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor is designed for use in detecting a concentration of an analyte in a sample solution. The sensor to have a longer useful lifetime, improved stability and improved response time for single or multiple use applications. In one aspect, some of these goals are achieved by providing the multilayer enzyme electrode membrane having both nonporous and microporous layers. The microporous layer is formed from a polymer binder, a polymer powder, a surfactant and a mineral powder. In another aspect, certain of these goals are achieved by the use of a layer comprised of an enzyme disposed within a polymer matrix. In certain embodiments, the multilayer enzyme electrode membrane includes an outermost layer which is capable of dissolving in the sample solution such that the interface between the multilayer enzyme electrode membrane and the sample solution is continually renewed.