Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating diseased or damaged tissue, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, e.g., Ulcerative Colitis, include tissue regeneration using stem cells or tissue grafts which stimulate stem cell migration to the damaged tissue. The tissue grafts can be extracellular matrix (ECM) material, such as tissue-specific extracellular matrix (TS-ECM). The methods can also include mucosal resection of the damaged or diseased tissue prior to placement of the graft.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating diseased or damaged tissue, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, e.g., Ulcerative Colitis, include tissue regeneration extracellular matrix hydrogel (ECMH) which stimulates stem cell migration to the damaged tissue. The tissue grafts can be extracellular matrix (ECM) material, such as tissue-specific extracellular matrix (TS-ECM). The methods can also include mucosal resection of the damaged or diseased tissue prior to placement of the graft.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating diseased or damaged tissue, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, e.g., Ulcerative Colitis, include tissue regeneration using stem cells or tissue grafts which stimulate stem cell migration to the damaged tissue. The tissue grafts can be extracellular matrix (ECM) material, such as tissue-specific extracellular matrix (TS-ECM). The methods can also include mucosal resection of the damaged or diseased tissue prior to placement of the graft.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating diseased or damaged tissue, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, e.g., Ulcerative Colitis, include tissue regeneration using stem cells or tissue grafts which stimulate stem cell migration to the damaged tissue. The tissue grafts can be extracellular matrix (ECM) material, such as tissue-specific extracellular matrix (TS-ECM). The methods can also include mucosal resection of the damaged or diseased tissue prior to placement of the graft.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating diseased or damaged tissue, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, e.g., Ulcerative Colitis, include tissue regeneration using stem cells or tissue grafts which stimulate stem cell migration to the damaged tissue. The tissue grafts can be extracellular matrix (ECM) material, such as tissue-specific extracellular matrix (TS-ECM). The methods can also include mucosal resection of the damaged or diseased tissue prior to placement of the graft.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for introduction of laparoscopic instruments into an anatomical cavity through tissue at an entry site. The apparatus includes a body with a frustoconical-shaped wall. The body defines an interior cavity, an open bottom, and a substantially closed top wall with openings from which a plurality of ports extend upward therefrom. The ports are adapted to receive the laparoscopic instruments for introduction through the interior cavity and open bottom of the body into the anatomical cavity. In the preferred embodiment, the frustoconical-shaped wall of the body is placed through an incision in the umbilicus. In one aspect of the invention, the body is a unitary one-piece molded structure. A reinforcing belt or plate formed from a relatively hard material can be integral to the body, and separately formed port caps each having a septum may be bonded to the ports.

Abstract: A stent-graft for insertion into a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, is utilized in order to repair such lumen. The stent-graft includes a substantially cylindrical hollow expandable stent comprising a plurality of interconnected struts. The stent has a distal end and a proximal end, and an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one strut of the stent has first and second apertures extending therethrough from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The stent-graft also includes a graft member covering a predetermined portion of least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the stent. In addition, the stent-graft further includes a staple for attaching the graft member to the stent. The staple has a crown and two legs extending therefrom. At least one of the legs of the staple extends through the graft material and through the first aperture. Both of the legs are bent inwardly towards said crown such that they evert back and extend through the second aperture.

Abstract: A method for producing ionically cross-linked gellan gum includes dissolving the material in a first liquid solution that includes a dissolving liquid. The first liquid solution is applied to a workpiece to form a polysaccharide-based coating on the workpiece. The coating is dried to remove a substantial portion of the dissolving liquid. Subsequent to drying, the coating is exposed to a second liquid solution that includes a compound that promotes ionic cross-linking of the coating. In the preferred embodiment, the dissolving liquid comprises water and possibly a polar solvent. The ionic cross-linking compound preferably comprises a divalent cation such as calcium (Ca2+), or possibly strontium (Sr2+), magnesium (Mg2+), barium (Ba2+), or other multivalent ions. Such a method forms a uniform ionically cross-linked film and/or coating for diverse applications, including medical devices such as implantable vascular grafts, stent-grafts and/or stents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for treating, repairing, and/or replacing an aneurysm, preferably an aortic aneurysm, and most preferably, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention include a first prosthesis or stent gasket, and at least one second prosthesis for bypassing the aneurysm. In preferred embodiments, the second prosthesis includes a branch leg that may be disposed and anchored in an either a cross artery or a downstream artery to facilitate fluid flow. In other preferred embodiments, at least one third prosthesis is provided for establishing a fluid flow channel through a second diseased artery to bypass an aneurysm disposed therein. In accordance with the invention, the first artery may be the abdominal aorta and the second artery may be an iliac artery.

Abstract: The invention is a system, apparatus, and method for treating, and/or repairing an aneurysm, preferably an aortic aneurysm, and most preferably, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention include a prosthesis assembly for establishing a fluid flow path between an upstream portion of an artery and at least one bifurcated downstream portion of the artery.

Abstract: An aneurysm neck covering device which is particularly useful for sealing the neck of an aneurysm located in the vicinity of a bifurcated blood vessel. The neck covering device includes a self-expanding stent for supporting and retaining a self-expanding neck cover which seals the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: An expandable stent having a covering which exhibits the characteristic of being normally dissolvable in blood, but upon being activated, becomes inert to blood. The stent may be placed across the neck of an aneurysm to seal the aneurysm and thereafter the portion of the covering of the stent across the neck of the aneurysm is activated to become inert to blood and the balance of the covering dissolves to permit blood to flow to adjacent vessels.

Abstract: An expandable stent having a covering which exhibits the characteristic of being normally dissolvable in blood, but upon being activated, becomes inert to blood. The stent may be placed across the neck of an aneurysm to seal the aneurysm and thereafter the portion of the covering of the stent across the neck of the aneurysm is activated to become inert to blood and the balance of the covering dissolves to permit blood to flow to adjacent vessels.

Abstract: An expandable stent having a covering which exhibits the characteristic of being normally dissolvable in blood, but upon being activated, becomes inert to blood. The stent may be placed across the neck of an aneurysm to seal the aneurysm and thereafter the portion of the covering of the stent across the neck of the aneurysm is activated to become inert to blood and the balance of the covering dissolves to permit blood to flow to adjacent vessels.

Abstract: An aneurysm neck covering device which is particularly useful for sealing the neck of an aneurysm located in the vicinity of a bifurcated blood vessel. The neck covering device includes a self-expanding stent for supporting and retaining a self-expanding neck cover which seals the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: An endoluminal aneurysm treatment system of an expandable bypass prosthesis and an extension prosthesis with a flared distal portion which, upon expansion, frictionally engages the proximal end of the bypass prosthesis.

Abstract: A stent-graft for insertion into a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, is utilized in order to repair such lumen. The stent-graft includes a substantially cylindrical hollow expandable stent comprising a plurality of interconnected struts. The stent has a distal end and a proximal end, and an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one strut of the stent has first and second apertures extending therethrough from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The stent-graft also includes a graft member covering a predetermined portion of least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the stent. In addition, the stent-graft further includes a staple for attaching the graft member to the stent. The staple has a crown and two legs extending therefrom. At least one of the legs of the staple extends through the graft material and through the first aperture. Both of the legs are bent inwardly towards said crown such that they evert back and extend through the second aperture.

Abstract: The invention is a system, apparatus, and method for treating, and/or repairing an aneurysm, preferably an aortic aneurysm, and most preferably, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention include a prosthesis assembly for establishing a fluid flow path between an upstream portion of an artery and at least one bifurcated downstream portion of the artery.

Abstract: The invention is a system, apparatus, and method for treating, repairing, and/or replacing an aneurysm, preferably an aortic aneurysm, and most preferably, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention include a first prosthesis or stent gasket, at least one second prosthesis for bypassing the aneurysm, and a third or extension prosthesis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for treating, repairing, and/or replacing an aneurysm, preferably an aortic aneurysm, and most preferably, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention include a first prosthesis or stent gasket, and at least one second prosthesis for bypassing the aneurysm. In preferred embodiments, the second prosthesis includes a branch leg that may be disposed and anchored in an either a cross artery or a downstream artery to facilitate fluid flow. In other preferred embodiments, at least one third prosthesis is provided for establishing a fluid flow channel through a second diseased artery to bypass an aneurysm disposed therein. In accordance with the invention, the first artery may be the abdominal aorta and the second artery may be an iliac artery.