Abstract: Radially expandable stents having hydrogel coating layers thereon, and methods of preparing such stents are disclosed. The methods include coating a wire with a solution that includes a solvent and a water soluble polymer in the solvent, evaporating the solvent to provide a polymeric coating on the wire, and crosslinking the polymeric coating to provide a hydrogel coating layer on the wire. The coated wire can be fabricated into stents, which preferably have substantially uniform coatings with low surface roughness. Preferably the coatings have hydrophilic properties and provide a biocompatible surface. The coatings may also provide for the delivery of biologically active agents into the body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods, compositions, systems, and medical devices for fusing bone.

Abstract: Methods for making crosslinked material, such as collagen-based material, and bioprosthetic devices. The crosslinked material includes hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, and amine groups prior to crosslinking. The methods include removing at least a portion of the zero-length ester crosslinks in a crosslinked material and/or blocking at least a portion of the amine groups that are reactive with carboxyl groups and form zero-length crosslinks.

Abstract: Radially expandable stents having hydrogel coating layers thereon, and methods of preparing such stents are disclosed. The methods include coating a wire with a solution that includes a solvent and a water soluble polymer in the solvent, evaporating the solvent to provide a polymeric coating on the wire, and crosslinking the polymeric coating to provide a hydrogel coating layer on the wire. The coated wire can be fabricated into stents, which preferably have substantially uniform coatings with low surface roughness. Preferably the coatings have hydrophilic properties and provide a biocompatible surface. The coatings may also provide for the delivery of biologically active agents into the body.

Abstract: Methods for making crosslinked material, such as collagen-based material, and bioprosthetic devices. The crosslinked material includes hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, and amine groups prior to crosslinking. The methods include removing at least a portion of the zero-length ester crosslinks in a crosslinked material and/or blocking at least a portion of the amine groups that are reactive with carboxyl groups and form zero-length crosslinks.

Abstract: An implantable device for reducing restenosis includes a structure including a polyamino acid component, wherein the polyamino acid component can be in the form of a coating or a film on the structure or it can be an integral part of the structure.

Abstract: Biological tissue adhesives can be in the form of a gel that is applied to biological tissue as a “glue” or supported on a backing or substrate to form an article such as a self-sticking patch or pad. Adhesive articles can include such biological tissue adhesives or be functionalized to directly adhere to biological tissue without the biological adhesive.

Abstract: A temporary cardiac electrical stimulating lead is disclosed having a stimulating electrode mounted in or on an electrode mounting pad disposed at a distal end of the lead, the pad having a biodegradable adhesive disposed thereon and/or therewithin. The adhesive, and preferably also the electrode mounting pad, are capable of biodegradably dissolving over time in human body fluids. The adhesive permits the electrode mounting pad to be attached to a patient's epicardium without the use of sutures, or with fewer sutures than have heretofore been required to suitably affix an electrode mounting pad to a patient's heart. In a preferred embodiment, when the lead body is pulled away from the electrode mounting pad and removed from a patient, any portion of the electrode mounting pad and the adhesive remaining within the patient dissolves over time and disappears.

Abstract: A method for coating a medical device with a hydrophilic polymer is provided. One method of the present invention includes chemically binding under appropriate reaction conditions a hydrophilic polymer to a biomaterial surface. Another method of the present invention includes chemically binding under appropriate reaction conditions a hydrophilic polymer to a primer located on a biomaterial surface. Another method of the present invention includes chemically binding under appropriate reaction conditions a biomolecule to a hydrophilic polymer located on a biomaterial surface.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surface characteristics of a substrate having a surface with an amide-functional polymer thereon. The method involves contacting the amide-functional polymer with a source of hydroxide ions and a source of hypohalite ions at a temperature of at least about 20° C. for a time effective to convert at least a portion of the amide-functional groups to amine-functional groups to form a substrate surface comprising an amine-functional polymer, wherein the hydroxide ions are present in a molar excess relative to the hypohalite ions and at a concentration of no more than about 0.1 M, based on the total volume of the reaction mixture. A biomolecule is attached to the resultant amine-functional polymer.

Abstract: A catheter having a multiple locking mechanism for connecting a proximal portion of the catheter shaft to a distal portion of the catheter shaft is provided. Also provided is a method for connecting a catheter shaft employing the multiple locking mechanism of the invention. The multiple locking mechanism permits a proximal shaft to be joined with a distal end portions, while simultaneously ensuring integrity of the connection between the proximal shaft and the distal end portion.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surface characteristics of a substrate, particularly a polymeric material. The method involves grafting ethylenically unsaturated monomers and attaching biomolecules, such as heparin, to the surface of the substrate, such as a polymeric material, in one step using an oxidizing metal, such as ceric ions.

Abstract: Bioprosthetic devices made of collagen-based material having collagen amine groups and collagen carboxyl groups are provided as well as methods for their formation. The methods comprise combining an epoxy functionalized crosslinking agent with the collagen-based material in an aqueous medium at an acidic pH to react a portion of the collagen carboxyl groups with the epoxy functionalized crosslinking agent to form crosslinked collagen-based material comprising residual collagen carboxyl groups.

Abstract: A method for making a medical device having a biomolecule immobilized on a substrate surface is provided. The method includes coating the substrate surface with an amino-functional polysiloxane; and contacting the amino-functional polysiloxane coated surface with a biomolecule under conditions effective to immobilize the biomolecule.

Abstract: A medical device having a surface graft matrix comprising carboxyl-functional groups located on the device, the surface graft matrix comprising an outer portion; and one or more biomolecules covalently coupled to the surface graft matrix, wherein a majority of the biomolecules are located in the outer portion of the surface graft matrix. The surface graft matrix can also be loaded with a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A medical device having a surface graft matrix comprising carboxyl-functional groups located on the device, the surface graft matrix comprising an outer portion; and one or more biomolecules covalently coupled to the surface graft matrix, wherein a majority of the biomolecules are located in the outer portion of the surface graft matrix. The surface graft matrix can also be loaded with a pharmaceutical agent.

Abstract: A medical article having a metal or glass surface with the surface having an adherent coating of improved biocompatibility. The coating is made by first applying to the surface an silane compound having a pendant vinyl functionality such that the silane adheres to the surface and then, in a separate step, forming a graft polymer on the surface with applied vinylsilane such that the pendant vinyl functionality of the vinylsilane is incorporated into the graft polymer by covalent bonding with the polymer. Biomolecules may then be covalently attached to the base layer.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient with a medical device having immobilized heparin on a blood-contacting surface in which the covalently attached heparinized surface is provided with an adsorbed protein which may be activated by the immobilized heparin to block the coagulation of fibrinogen. Antithrombin III is the preferred adsorbed protein. The adsorbed protein is maintained on the immobilized heparin surface until the medical device is placed into contact with the patient's blood. When in contact with the patient's blood, the adsorbed protein will prevent initial thrombin formation at the biomaterial-blood interface. The preadsorption of ATIII is accomplished under conditions advantageous to maximum heparin/ATIII binding. When the preadsorbed surface comes in contact with whole blood, the maximum advantage of prophlactic properties of ATIII/heparin are obtained.

Abstract: A medical lead having a lead body and a biocompatible cuff and especially suitable for use as a nerve electrode. In the preferred bipolar embodiment the lead body has two conductors running therethrough. The distal end is coupled to a pulse generator, the proximal end is coupled to the biocompatible cuff. The biocompatible cuff is cylindrical and is constructed from collagen. Preferably the collagen is multi-layer, i.e. the first portion is cross-linked to an amount greater than the second portion. Through such a construction the collagen promotes tissue ingrowth in the region proximate a nerve and does not permit tissue ingrowth in the region away from the nerve, e.g. the exterior of the cuff.

Abstract: An improved spacer material for improving the biocompatibility of a biomaterial and a method for making it in which a polyalkylimine is covalently attached to an aminated substrate and combined with a crosslinking agent which is at least difunctional in aldehyde groups. The polyalkylimine can be for example, polyethyleneimine and the crosslinking agent can be, for example, glutaraldehyde. Preferably, the crosslinking agent is applied in dilute solution and at a pH suitable to accomplish light crosslinking of the polyalkylimine and also provide aldehyde linkages at the interface between the biomolecule and the spacer.