Functionalized Implant-Delivery Funnels and Methods

Abstract

An implant-delivery funnel can include a funnel body, a funnel opening, and a funnel exit, the funnel opening and exit at opposite ends the funnel body. The funnel body can include an outer base layer and an inner coating layer anchored to a functionalized mating face of the outer base layer. The inner coating layer can be hydrophilic so as to form a lubricious coating with retained water. The funnel opening can be sized to receive an implant therethrough without any permanent deformation of the implant. The funnel exit can be adjustably sized to deliver the implant squeezed therethrough with a temporary reduction in size of the implant. A method of making an implant-delivery funnel can include functionalizing the outer base layer and applying the inner coating layer over a functionalized mating face of the outer base layer, thereby anchoring the inner coating layer to the outer base layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.