Packaged hydrophilic medical devices

1. A packaged medical product, comprising:

a package defining a cavity, the cavity including a first compartment and a second compartment wherein the first and second compartments are separated by a vapor permeable, liquid impermeable barrier;

a hydrophilic medical device contained within the first compartment, the hydrophilic medical device including a hydrophilic material that becomes lubricious when hydrated;

a liquid contained in the second compartment, the liquid producing a vapor that migrates through the vapor permeable, liquid impermeable barrier into a first compartment, whereby the vapor hydrates the hydrophilic material; and

wherein the second compartment has a pressure that is greater than a pressure in the first compartment.

2. The packaged medical product of claim 1 , wherein the second compartment includes a pressure increasing mechanism.

3. The packaged medical product of claim 2 , wherein the pressure increasing mechanism comprises components that react with each other to produce a gas.

4. The packaged medical product of claim 3 , wherein the components comprise a first component and a second component, and wherein one of the first and second components comprises an acid and the other of the first component and the second component comprises a carbonate.

5. The packaged medical product of claim 4 , wherein the acid comprises citric acid and the carbonate comprises sodium bicarbonate.

6. The packaged medical product of claim 4 , wherein the first component is in a first solution and the second component is in a second solution, and the first solution and the second solution are mixed to form the liquid.

7. The packaged medical product of claim 4 , wherein the first component is in solid form and the second component is in the liquid.

8. The packaged medical product of claim 4 , wherein the first component and the second component are in solid form.

9. The packaged medical product of claim 4 , wherein the gas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen.

10. The packaged medical product of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic medical device comprises a urinary catheter.

11. A method of making a packaged medical product, comprising:

placing a hydrophilic medical device in a first compartment of a package;

placing a vapor producing liquid in a second compartment of the package, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are separated by a vapor permeable, liquid impermeable barrier;

closing the package; and

increasing pressure in the second compartment.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including the step of placing a pressure increasing mechanism in the second compartment.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pressure increasing mechanism comprises components that react with each other to produce a gas.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the components comprise a first component and a second component, and wherein one of the first and second components comprises an acid and the other of the first component and the second component comprises a carbonate.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the acid comprises citric acid and the carbonate comprises sodium bicarbonate.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first component is in a first solution and the second component is in a second solution, and the first solution and the second solution are mixed to form the liquid.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first component is in solid form and the second component is in the liquid.

18. The method of any claim 14 , wherein the first component and second component are in solid form.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the gas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hydrophilic medical device comprises a urinary catheter.