Focal, Inc.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Semprus Biosciences Corporation

Pykus Therapeutics, Inc.

Genzyme Corporation

Arrow International Limited

Laurence A Roth

Stephen Jack Herman

Patrick K Campbell

Jeffrey Alan Hubbell

Amarpreet S Sawhney

Chandrashekhar Prabhakar Pathak

Arthur J Coury

Peter K Jarrett

Kevin M Berrigan

Chad Cori Huval

Zheng Zhang

Christopher R Loose

Michael A Bouchard

Farhad Khosravi

Edward L Sinofsky

David A Melanson

James Anthony Stefater, Iii

Michael G Dumont

Tomasz Pawel Stryjewski

Jun Li

Jacob Y Wong

John C Spiridigliozzi

Matt Skinner

Carl R Turnquist

Eric W Marchese

Douglas W Dickinson

Jeffrey A Hubbell

Abby N Deleault

Robert Reed

Douglas Weaver

Charles Sidoti

Kelsey-Ann Leslie

Michael Bouchard

The invention provides methods and polymer compositions for treating ocular disorders, where the methods and compositions comprise polymer that can form a hydrogel in the eye of a subject. The hydrogel is formed by reaction of (i) a nucleo-functional polymer that is a biocompatible polymer, such as a thiolated hyaluronic acid polymer, containing a plurality of thio-functional groups —R—SH wherein Ris hydrolyzable and (ii) an electro-functional polymer that is a biocompatible polymer, such as a poly(ethylene glycol) polymer, containing at least one thiol-reactive group.

Hydrogel formulations and methods and devices for administration of the same

Provided are formulations, methods, and devices for providing a hydrogel. The formulations and resulting hydrogels may be used for treating various disorders, including ocular disorders. In certain embodiments, the hydrogel is formed from formulations comprising (a) a nucleo-functional polymer that is a biocompatible polyalkylene polymer substituted by (i) a plurality of —OH groups, (ii) a plurality of thio-functional groups —R—SH wherein Ris an ester-containing linker, and (iii) optionally one or more —OC(O)—(C-Calkyl) groups, such as a thiolated poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer; (b) an electro-functional polymer that is a biocompatible polymer containing at least one thiol-reactive group, such as a poly(ethylene glycol) polymer containing alpha-beta unsaturated ester groups; and (c) one or more pharmaceutically active agents. In certain embodiments, the hydrogel is formed at a targeted sited using methods and/or devices for focal administration of the formulations and/or hydrogels described herein.

Hydrogel formulations and methods and devices for focal administration of the same

Catheters and a method of preparation thereof, the catheter comprising a catheter body, a juncture hub, extension lines and connectors, the catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface, a tip region having a length of 10 cm measured from the distal end of the catheter body, and at least two lumen, each of the catheter body lumen having a proximal end, a distal end, a Lumen Aspect Ratio of at least 3:1, and an intraluminal surface, the distal ends of the at least two catheter body lumen being (i) non-coterminus or (ii) laser-cut, the exterior surface of the catheter body in the tip region or the intraluminal surface of the two catheter body lumen comprising a hydrophilic polymer layer having an Average Dry Thickness of at least about 50 nanometers.

Surface modification for dialysis catheters

Processes are described herein for preparing medical devices and other articles having a low-fouling surface on a substrate comprising a polymeric surface. The polymeric surface material may possess a range of polymeric backbones and substituents while providing the articles with a highly efficient, biocompatible, and non-fouling surface. The processes involve treating the substrate to reduce the concentration of chemical species on the surface of or in the substrate without altering the bulk physical properties of the device or article, and thereafter forming a grafted polymer layer on the treated substrate surface.

Articles having non-fouling surfaces and processes for preparing the same including pretreatment of articles

Delivery of bioactive molecules such as nucleic acid molecules encoding a protein can be significantly enhanced by immobilization of the bioactive molecule in a polymeric material adjacent to the cells where delivery is desired, where the bioactive molecule is encapsulated in a vehicle such as liposomes which facilitates transfer of the bioactive molecules into the targeted tissue. Targeting of the bioactive molecules can also be achieved by selection of an encapsulating medium of an appropriate size whereby the medium serves to deliver the molecules to a particular target. For example, encapsulation of nucleic acid molecules or biologically active proteins within biodegradable, biocompatible polymeric microparticles which are appropriate sized to infiltrate, but remain trapped within, the capillary beds and alveoli of the lungs can be used for targeted delivery to these regions of the body following administration to a patient by infusion or injection.

Targeted delivery via biodegradable polymers

A method and apparatus for molding polymeric structures in vivo is disclosed. The structures comprise polymers that may be heated to their molding temperature by absorption of visible or near-visible wavelengths of light. By providing a light source that produces radiation of the wavelength absorbed by the polymeric material, the material may be selectively heated and shaped in vivo without a corresponding heating of adjacent tissues or fluids to unacceptable levels. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a shaping element positioned near its distal end. An emitter provided with light from at least one optical fiber is positioned within the shaping element. The emitter serves to provide a moldable polymeric article positioned on the shaping element with a substantially uniform light field, thereby allowing the article to be heated and molded at a desired treatment site in a body lumen.

Apparatus and methods for intraluminal photothermoforming

Methods for intraluminal photothermoforming

Devices for providing polymeric layers on the interior surface of body lumens and spaces are disclosed. The devices can include proximal and distal occlusion elements to define the treatment space and an optical emitter to provide light for a photopolymerization procedure. The devices may include a molding member for providing a thick polymeric gel. Alternatively, devices without a molding member may be used to carry out an interfacial polymerization procedure.

Devices and methods for application of intraluminal photopolymerized gels

Polymeric article for intraluminal photothermoforming

Methods for application of intraluminal photopolymerized gels

Apparatus for intraluminal photothermoforming

A catheter having optical fibers for delivering laser energy to a blood vessel to remove obstructions in the blood vessel is adapted to be guided controllably and selectively by a guide wire to the site to be treated. The catheter includes a central lumen which is open at the distal end of the catheter and which receives the guide wire so that the catheter may be advanced over the guide wire. A relatively few number of optical fibers are contained within and extend longitudinally of the catheter wall. The distal tip of the catheter is provided with a cylindrical optically transparent end cap and means are provided to securely mount the distal ends of the optical fibers with respect to the end cap so that the light emitted from the ends of the fibers passes through the cylindrical wall of the end cap and is emitted at the distal emissions face of the end cap. The catheter embodies a special construction of an inner catheter core and a surrounding sheath which provides for a high degree of flexibility to enable the catheter to be passed through tortuous passages in a patient's vasculature. The inner core is formed from a plurality of articulated segments and is surrounded by a thin flexible sheath. Longitudinal flutes formed along the articulated segments of the core receive and retain the optical fibers in a manner which permits the fibers, sheath and core to shift longitudinally with respect to each other to provide a very high degree of flexibility for the composition catheter.

Wire guided laser catheter

A catheter for delivering radiant energy, such as a laser beam, is used in a technique to controllably apply the radiant energy in a patient's body, such as in a blood vessel. The radiant energy is applied in a manner which erodes biological material and may be used to drill through vascular obstructions. The catheter emits the radiant energy from its distal end in a pattern which defines a relatively small working region in which the energy density level is sufficiently high to remove the biological material. The energy distribution is substantially uniform across the beam. Distally beyond the working region, the energy density of the beam decays sharply so that biological material beyond the working region is not removed.

Catheter system for controlled removal by radiant energy of biological

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Windham, NH, United States of America

Laurence A Roth