Abstract: A soft tissue repair device can include a housing having a handle, a deployment system having an actuation member, and an insertion system having an inserter and a slider. The slider can be coupled to the actuation member and movable relative to the inserter between deployed and retracted positions. First and second anchors can be carried on an external surface of the slider such that the anchors are spaced apart and portions of the anchors are coaxial with the slider and each other. A flexible strand can couple the anchors. The insertion system can cooperate with the deployment system to move the slider to the deployed position to deploy the first anchor upon activating the actuation member a first time, and to move the slider to the deployed position from the retracted position to deploy the second anchor upon actuating the actuation member a second time after the first time.

Abstract: A joint dislocation reduction device includes an elongated flexible ribbon-like band extending along a central axis from a proximal end to a tapered distal end. A distal end coupling element is disposed at the distal end. A proximal end coupling element is disposed at the proximal end. A cord extends from the tapered distal end to a needle. In a form, the band includes a flexible metallic ribbon disposed within a surrounding flexible, insulating coating element, wherein the band includes one or more resilient shape-memory regions between the proximal and distal ends. With the band under applied axial tension, the proximal end and distal end coupling elements are adapted to form a coupling assembly coupling the proximal and distal ends, forming a closed loop around a clavicle and a coracoid process with a single 180° twist, whereby the band rests flush against the clavicle and the coracoid process.

Abstract: The invention presents devices for controlled descent from buildings. Such a device includes a housing having a primary spool about which a cord is wound, a payload coupler for attaching a harness assembly to the housing, and an unwind control assembly for controlling the rate of exit of the cord from the housing. An inventive device kit may include a convertible storage unit used to protectively store a device and which, upon deployment, may be used as a protective helmet. In using an inventive device, a user attaches the device to a fixture in a building, dons a harness and the converted helmet, attaches the device to the harness, and exits the building from a window or roof.

Abstract: A personal escape device which can be used by men, women, and children, including physically disabled persons, to descend in a controlled and secure manner from high structures such as office buildings, multistory homes, and the like. The device is designed for a relatively low-cost, small size which may be used by payloads of variable weights. The rescue device of the invention may be a single-use device or a multi-use device.

Abstract: An articular cartilage shell graft is designed to treat the arthritic population for which current biologic treatments are insufficient and as a biological-stage repair for intervention before prosthetic knee arthroplasty.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic bone xenograft (X) for the implantation into a defect (D) located in a bone portion (10) of a human. The invention further provides methods for preparing a bone xenograft (X) by removing at least a portion of bone from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft (X); washing the xenograft (X) in saline and alcohol; and subjecting the xenograft (X) to at least one of the treatments including exposure to ultraviolet radiation, immersion in alcohol, ozonic, and freeze/thaw cycling. In addition to or in lieu of the above treatments, the methods include a cellular disruption treatment, and digestion of the carbohydrate moieties of the xenograft (X) with a glycosidase followed by treatment for sialylation.

Abstract: A food supplement, either in the form of a snack bar or a beverage, which contains one or more cartilage enhancing supplements is provided. The cartilage supplements include chondroitin, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid. The food supplement may additionally be fortified with cetyl myristoleate. The beverage is a mixture of a juice drink base which may include a water-based fruit flavored juice prepared using a pasteurization process at a relatively high temperature and a cartilage supplement solution which includes a cartilage supplement prepared at a relatively low temperature. The beverage may be carbonated, non-carbonated or concentrated. The preferred cartilage supplement is glucosamine, preferably associated with a counter ion, more preferably as glucosamine HCl. The supplement also contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and calcium hydroxide powder.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic xenograft for implantation into humans. The invention also provides methods for preparing a xenograft by removing at least a portion of a soft tissue from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft; washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the xenograft to cellular disruption treatment; treating the xenograft with crosslinking agents, and digesting the xenograft with a proteoglycan-depleting factor and/or glycosidase. The invention further provides a method for sterilizing xenograft material, having the steps of obtaining substantially non-immunogenic xenograft material; treating the xenograft material with at least one crosslinking agent; and subjecting the crosslinked xenograft material to radiation treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides for the use of an improved xenograft bone particulate with respect to osteo-integration and bone remodeling, while diminishing the primate-to-pig immunological response using established bone-processing technique. Work was carried out using undecalcified bone to determine immunocompatibilty and bone remodeling potential of processed porcine bone struts following onlay graft implantation. New bone formation was evident, including the infiltration of cellular materials responsible for fusion and bone reconstruction.

Abstract: A personal escape device which can be used by men, women, and children, including physically disabled persons, to descend in a controlled and secure manner from high structures such as office buildings, multistory homes, and the like. The device is designed for a relatively low-cost, small size which may be used by payloads of variable weights. The rescue device of the invention may be a single-use device or a multi-use device.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic bone xenograft for implantation into humans. The invention further provides a method for preparing a bone xenograft by removing at least a portion of a bone from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft (X); washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the xenograft to a cellular disruption treatment; and treating the xenograft with a glycosidase to remove surface carbohydrate moieties. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the above identified method of invention. The invention further provides a bone xenograft for implantation into a human including a portion (10) of a bone from a nonhuman animal, wherein the portion has substantially no surface carbohydrate moieties which are susceptible to glycosidase digestion. Each xenograft of the invention has substantially the same mechanical properties as a corresponding native bone.

Abstract: The invention presents devices for controlled descent from buildings. Such a device includes a housing having a primary spool about which a cord is wound, a payload coupler for attaching a harness assembly to the housing, and an unwind control assembly for controlling the rate of exit of the cord from the housing. An inventive device kit may include a convertible storage unit used to protectively store a device and which, upon deployment, may be used as a protective helmet. In using an inventive device, a user attaches the device to a fixture in a building, dons a harness and the converted helmet, attaches the device to the harness, and exits the building from a window or roof.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic heart valve xenograft for implantation into humans. The invention further provides methods for preparing a heart valve xenograft by removing at least a portion of a soft tissue from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft; washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the xenograft to cellular disruption treatment; treating the xenograft with crosslinking agents, and digesting the xenograft with a proteoglycan-depleting factor and/or glycosidase. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the above-identified method of the invention. The invention further provides a heart valve xenograft for implantation into a human including a portion of a heart valve from a non-human animal, wherein the portion has extracellular components and substantially only dead cells. The extracellular components have reduced proteoglycan molecules.

Abstract: Matrix material for a substantially immunologically-compatible meniscal augmentation device of biocompatible and partially bioresorbable fibers is prepared by treatment with oc-galactosidase to eliminate oc-Gal epitopes. Upon implantation into a segmental defect of a meniscus, the composite of the meniscal augmentation device and the meniscus establishes a scaffold adapted for ingrowth of meniscal fibrochondrocytes.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic injectable collagen for implantation into humans. The invention further provides methods for preparing injectable collagen material by removing collagen-containing material from a non-human animal; washing in saline and alcohol; subjecting material to cellular disruption treatment; and digesting the material with a proteoglycan-depleting factor and/or glycosidase and optionally following with a capping treatment. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the method. The injectable collagen material of the invention are substantially non-immunogenic and have substantially the same mechanical properties as a corresponding native soft tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic bone xenograft (X) for implantation into a defect (D) located in a bone portion (10) of a human. The invention further provides methods for preparing a bone xenograft (X) by removing at least a portion of bone from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft (X); washing the xenograft (X) in saline and alcohol; and subjecting the xenograft (X) to at least one of the treatments including exposure to ultraviolet radiation, immersion in alcohol, ozonic, and freeze/thaw cycling. In addition to or in lieu of the above treatments, the methods include a cellular disruption treatment, and digestion of the carbohydrate moieties of the xenograft (X) with a glycosidase followed by treatment for sialylation.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic injectable collagen for implantation into humans. The invention further provides methods for preparing injectable collagen material by removing collagen-containing material from a non-human animal; washing in saline and alcohol; subjecting material to cellular disruption treatment; and digesting the material with a proteoglycan-depleting factor and/or glycosidase and optionally following with a capping treatment. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the method. The injectable collagen material of the invention are substantially non-immunogenic and have substantially the same mechanical properties as a corresponding native soft tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic bone xenograft for implantation into humans. The invention further provides a method for preparing a bone xenograft by removing at least a portion of a bone from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft (X); washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the xenograft to a cellular disruption treatment; and treating the xenograft with a glycosidase to remove surface carbohydrate moieties. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the above identified method of invention. The invention further provides a bone xenograft for implantation into a human including a portion (10) of a bone from a nonhuman animal, wherein the portion has substantially no surface carbohydrate moieties which are susceptible to glycosidase digestion. Each xenograft of the invention has substantially the same mechanical properties as a corresponding native bone.

Abstract: A method for preparing a soft tissue xenograft includes the steps of removing at least a portion of a soft tissue from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft; washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol: subjecting the xenograft to cellular disruption treatment; and either digesting the xenograft with a glycosidase or glycosidase digestion followed by treatment for sialylation. A soft tissue xenograft for implantation into a human includes a portion of a soft tissue from a non-human animal, wherein the portion has extracellular matrix and substantially only dead cells. The matrix and dead cells have substantially no surface &agr;-galactosyl moieties and have sialic acid molecules linked to at least a portion of surface carbohydrate moieties. Each of the xenografts of the invention has substantially the same mechanical properties as a corresponding native soft tissue.

Abstract: The invention provides a substantially non-immunogenic submucosal xenograft for implantation into humans. The invention further provides methods for preparing the xenograft by removing at least a portion of a submucosa from a non-human animal; washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the xenograft to cellular disruption treatment; and digesting the xenograft with a glycosidase to remove surface carbohydrate moieties. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the above-identified method. The invention further provides a submucosal xenograft for implantation into a human including a portion of a submucosal tissue from a non-human animal, wherein the portion has substantially no surface carbohydrate moieties that are susceptible to glycosidase digestion. Each of the xenografts has substantially the same mechanical properties as native soft tissue.