Hydrophilic coatings offered for catheters and guidewires.

Two new solvent-free coatings have been developed for manufacturers of medical devices. The coatings, produced by Biocoat Inc. (Fort Washington, PA; 215/654-1377) are based on emulsion polymer technology and adhere well to stainless steel and other metallic and polymeric substrates. Because the coatings contain no organic solvents, they can be applied to plasticized PVC and other polycarbonate substrates normally prone to solvent erosion. In addition, these coatings are lubricious, durable, and biocompatible. They allow easy cleanup, are not flammable, and do not require high-temperature curing primers. Bicoat's Hydak coatings are based on hyaluronan, a biopolymer naturally present in all human tissues and biofluids. As a result, surgeons reportedly see improved performance characteristics when using devices coated with Hydak products.