Abstract: The invention relates to a device for damping the movement of a movable element (1) relative to a fixed element (3). The device comprises means for generating an electric current changing with the speed of movement of the movable element (1) relative to a fixed element (3). According to the invention, the device also comprises means (20 to 25) for modifying the mechanical properties of a fluid situated between the movable element (1) and the fixed element (3) by means of the electric current. The means (4 to 7, 8, 10) for generating an electric current comprise a generator comprising a rotor (4 to 7) and a stator (8, 10), the rotor (4 to 7) being fixedly attached to the movable element (1) and the stator (8, 10) being fixedly attached to the fixed element (3). Advantageously a magnetorheological fluid, bathed in a magnetic field generated by the electric current, is used.

Abstract: A method for preparing a human or animal tissue by applying a compressive force to a stack of sheets of living tissue thereby inducing adjacent layers to fuse or adhere to each other. The force is applied in direction normal to the surface of the tissue. A multi-layer tissue produced by the method described above can also possess at least two different types of sheets and/or consist essentially of between two and twelve sheets of living tissue. The method can also be used to prepare a planar tissue that can further be incorporated in a multi-layer tissue construct. The methods and tissues described herein are useful for the preparation of engineered tissues.

Abstract: A method for preparing a human or animal tissue by applying a compressive force to a stack of sheets of living tissue thereby inducing adjacent layers to fuse or adhere to each other. The force is applied in direction normal to the surface of the tissue. A multi-layer tissue produced by the method decribed above can also possess at least two different types of sheets and/or consist essentially of between two and twelve sheets of living tissue. The method can also be used to prepare a planar tissue that can further be incorporated in a multi-layer tissue construct. The methods and tissues described herein are useful for the preparation of engineered tissues.

Abstract: The tissue-engineered heart valve of the present invention is comprised of elements, such as leaflets, formed from self-supporting human engineered tissue. Such self-supporting tissue is comprised of living biological cells and extracellular matrix without the presence of nonviable scaffolding structures. Thus, the tissue-engineered heart valve of the present invention consists of totally living human tissue which could theoretically function like a native biological structure with the potential to grow, to repair and to remodel.