Having a piece of plastic or metal inserted into your body is never going to feel like a warm blanket wrapping around you, but it is possible to make sure that these vital instruments are doing their job while not causing any damage or unnecessary pain in the process. Surface engineering is key for medical devices like tubing, catheters, and stents that are implanted in the human body.

The role of lubricious, hydrophilic coatings on the surface of implantable medical devices is to provide this pain- and damage-reducing service. Manufacturers of these devices are far removed from the actual use of the medical products in the surgery rooms and hospitals. However, they are looking for better ways to control the performance of the coatings so that everyone involved can be completely assured that: