Hercules Corporation

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Samuel Anthony Thompson

John M Ronan

Gary A Luzio

Arthur R Madenjian

Robert Alan Gelman

Douglas E Godshall

Anita N Chan

Kate Marritt Lusvardi

Herbert Thompson Conner

Patrick Joseph Cowan

Frank P Tise

Sheng Ping Zhong

Mary Jean Cash

Frank Peine Tise

Composites comprising porous polymeric membrane films meeting the following equation: 75 MPa<(longitudinal membrane tensile modulus&plus;transverse membrane tensile modulus)/2, wherein at least a portion of the porosity of the membrane is imbibed with resin and methods for making the same. The composites have unusually high resistance to fracture and catastrophic failure.

Porous polymeric membrane toughened composites

A method for producing derivatized microfibrillar polysaccharide, including but not limited to cellulose, derivatized by steric and/or electrostatic forces, where the electrostatic forces are provided by anionic charge or by a combination of both anionic and cationic charge, by stabilizing and/or microfibrillating a polysaccharide starting material. A method of modifying the rheological properties of a composition of matter using derivatized microfibrillar polysaccharide. Method of improving coatings, paper manufacture, and the stability of emulsions, dispersions, and foams using a derivatized microfibrillar polysaccharide. Compositions that include derivatized microfibrillar polysaccharide, including paper compositions, comestible compositions, non-comestible spreadable compositions, and emulsions, dispersion, and foams.

Derivatized microfibrillar polysaccharide

Shaped-medical devices, e.g. stents, having improved mechanical properties and structural integrity are disclosed. The devices comprise shaped polymeric hydrogels which are both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked and which exhibit improved structural integrity after selective removal of the crosslinking ions. Process for making such devices are also disclosed wherein an ionically crosslinkable polymer is both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked to form a shaped medical device. When implanted in the body, selective in-vivo stripping of the crosslinking ions produces a softer, more flexible implant having improved structural integrity.

Medical devices comprising ionically and non-ionically crosslinked polymer hydrogels having improved mechanical properties

The invention provides a means of boosting the mechanical performance of shaped shaped medical devices comprising polymer hydrogels, such as stents, so that they may be more easily inserted into or removed from the body. In one aspect, the invention provides shaped medical devices having increased mechanical strength and comprising both ionic and covalent crosslinks. In another aspect, the invention provides a shaped medical device having a heterogeneous polymer composition and a variable dissolution or degradation rate along its length. The shaped medical devices according to the present invention retain their shape and stiffness during insertion into the body and can swell and soften inside the body to enhance patient comfort.

Medical devices comprising hydrogel polymers having improved mechanical properties

Shaped medical devices, e.g. stents, having improved mechanical properties and structural integrity are disclosed. The devices comprise shaped polymeric hydrogels which are both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked and which exhibit improved structural integrity after selective removal of the crosslinking ions. Process for making such devices are also disclosed wherein an ionically crosslinkable polymer is both ionically and non-ionically crosslinked to form a shaped medical device. When implanted in the body, selective in-vivo stripping of the crosslinking ions produces a softer, more flexible implant having improved structural integrity.

Medical devices comprising cross-linked hydrogels having improved mechanical properties

The present invention provides medical devices comprised of ionically crosslinked polymer, especially, stents, catheter or cannula components, plugs, and constrictors. The medical devices of the present invention are prepared by treatment of ionically crosslinkable polymer compositions with crosslinking ion compositions to provide ionically crosslinked materials. An important aspect of the present invention is that these medical devices can be disintegrated in-vivo at a desired time through the exposure of the medical device to a chemical trigger which generally is described as an agent that acts to displace the crosslinking ion in the ionically crosslinked material through binding or simple replacement with a non-crosslinking ion.

Medical devices subject to triggered disintegration

The present invention provides a method for medical treatment comprising introducing into a human or animal a medical device selected from the group consisting of stents, catheters, cannulas, plugs and constrictors where the medical device comprises ionically crosslinked polymer. The invention further provides a method for medical treatment of humans and animals comprising introducing into them an ionically crosslinkable polymer and a crosslinking ion followed by crosslinking of the polymer to form a medical device selected from the group consisting of stents, catheters, cannulas, plugs and constrictors.

Medical treatment utilizing ionically crosslinked medical devices

Medical devices comprising ionically and non-ionically crosslinked

A process for impregnating a medical device made from a water absorbable polymer material, e.g., a hydrogel, with a medical compound having low solubility in aqueous solutions, e.g., an antiseptic or radiopaque compound, is disclosed. The device is first infiltrated with an aqueous solution containing a first water soluble, ionizable compound, and subsequently infiltrated with an aqueous solution containing a second water soluble, ionizable compound. The ionizable compounds are selected such that they react after mutual contact to form the medical compound in-situ within the device.

Medical devices containing in-situ generated medical compounds

Method for in vivo chemically triggered disintegration of medical device

A method for preparing a medical device having the steps: (1) treating an ionically crosslinked hydrogel to strip a substantial amount of the ionic crosslinks while retaining the hydrogel in a desired shape; and (2) ionically re-crosslinking the treated hydrogel of step (1) while retaining the hydrogel in the desired shape. In an exemplary embodiment, a ureteral stent is made by mounting a length of extruded calcium or barium alginate tubing onto a shaping jig and performing secondary shaping to form coil-shaped ends by soaking the mounted robing in a stirred potassium chloride bath, and then soaking it in a calcium chloride bath. The ends readily return after elastic deformation to their coil shapes, with the stent having a permanent memory imposed by the secondary shaping.

Secondary shaping of ionically crosslinked polymer compositions for

Disclosed is a method for providing radiopacity to a medical device comprising incorporating in said medical device metal-cation salt of anionic polymer, wherein the metal has atomic weight greater than about 40; radiopaque medical devices comprising the essentially water-insoluble metal-cation salts of anionic polymers; and a method for carrying out x-ray diagnostic procedures comprising administering to a subject a contrast agent comprised of the essentially water-insoluble metal-cation salts of anionic polymer.

Methods for preparing radiopaque medical devices

Elastically deformable medical devices, such as stents, having improved speed and degree of shape recovery are made by treating shaped hydrogels containing a polymer with a solution containing at least one elasticity agent, which may be nonionic or ionic. For example, polysaccharide-based hydrogels, such as barium alginate, are formed into tubing, shaped into pigtail stents, and exposed to an aqueous solution containing an elasticity agent such as potassium ions, sodium ions, sorbitol, glucose, citric acid, mannitol, dulcitol, or glycerol. The solution may also contain a crosslinking agent, such as calcium ions, to achieve the desired degree of elasticity.

Medical devices with improved elastic response

The present invention provides a method for making medical devices, especially stents, catheters, cannulas, plugs and constrictors, by treatment of ionically crosslinkable polymer compositions with crosslinking ions.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Samuel Anthony Thompson