Superhydrophobic coating for airway mucus plugging prevention

Abstract

A method for reducing mucus accumulation in an airway including disposing an implantable device within an airway, wherein the implantable device has a first end, a second end, and an inner surface defining a lumen extending from the first end to the second end; wherein at least a portion of the inner surface has a hydrophobic polymer coating thereon, wherein a polymer coating surface has dynamic water contact angles of 145 degrees or greater; and wherein the implantable device is constructed and arranged to maintain patency of the airway; wherein accumulation of mucus is reduced as compared to a similar implantable device without the hydrophobic portion of the inner surface. An implantable medical device having a superhydrophobic surface and a method of making an implantable medical device having a superhydrophobic surface are also provided. An implantable medical device having a micropatterned surface with enhanced adhesion to tissue, optionally in combination with other region(s) having a superhydrophobic surface and a method of making such a device. Methods and devices for prevention of bacterial adhesion to implanted medical devices.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.