Abstract: A defined peak region residing between about 3.2 and 3.4 ppm of a proton NMR spectrum of an in vitro biosample is electronically evaluated to determine a level of trimethylamine-N-oxide (“TMAO”). The biosample may be any suitable biosamples including human serum with a normal biologic range of between about 1-50 ?M or urine with a normal biologic range of between about 0-1000 ?M.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: A wound closure device for repairing perforations and tissue wall defects is disclosed herein. The wound closure device has a barbed elongate body and a plug member. The wound closure device may further include a foam structure. The wound closure device may also include an inner member which may be a tissue scaffold. A method for closing tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a handle, an elongated tube extending distally from the handle, and a suction tip at a distal end portion of the elongated tube. The suction tip has a cavity formed therein. A cutting blade is positioned at least partially within the cavity and rotatable across the cavity to sever tissue, the cavity dimensioned to receive the severed tissue for removal from a patient's body.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a handle, an elongated tube extending distally from the handle, and a suction tip at a distal end portion of the elongated tube. The suction tip has a cavity formed therein. A cutting blade is positioned at least partially within the cavity and rotatable across the cavity to sever tissue, the cavity dimensioned to receive the severed tissue for removal from a patient's body.

Abstract: A tissue buttress is provided on at least a first and second jaw of a surgical stapling apparatus. The tissue buttress comprises an electrophilic component and a nucleophilic component. At least a portion of the tissue buttress may be disposed within either or both of the staple pockets and staple forming pockets, securing the tissue buttress to at least one of the staple jaws.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a surgical treatment for treating a tissue inside a vertebral column by forming a low-swelling biodegradable hydrogel in situ adherent to a tissue inside the vertebral column and substantially exterior to a theca in the vertebral column.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a handle, an elongated tube extending distally from the handle, and a suction tip at a distal end portion of the elongated tube. The suction tip has a cavity formed therein. A cutting blade is positioned at least partially within the cavity and rotatable across the cavity to sever tissue, the cavity dimensioned to receive the severed tissue for removal from a patient's body.

Abstract: A surgical device comprising a handle, an elongated tube extending distally from the handle, and a suction tip at a distal end portion of the elongated tube. The suction tip has a cavity formed therein. A cutting blade is positioned at least partially within the cavity and rotatable across the cavity to sever tissue, the cavity dimensioned to receive the severed tissue for removal from a patient's body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions suitable for use as medical devices and/or coatings thereon. In embodiments, the compositions may be used to adhere and/or seal tissue. In other embodiments, coatings may be used to at least temporarily affix a medical device to tissue. The coatings may affix a medical device to tissue without the need for additional fixation devices or, in embodiments, may be used with other fixation devices to affix a medical device to tissue.

Abstract: A wound closure device for repairing perforations and tissue wall defects is disclosed herein. The wound closure device has a barbed elongate body and a plug member. The wound closure device may further include a foam structure. The wound closure device may also include an inner member which may be a tissue scaffold. A method for closing tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wound closure device for repairing perforations and tissue wall defects is disclosed herein. The wound closure device has a barbed elongate body and a plug member. The wound closure device may further include a foam structure. The wound closure device may also include an inner member which may be a tissue scaffold. A method for closing tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drug delivery device including a biodegradable housing and a hydrogel within the biodegradable housing. The housing, the hydrogel, or both, may include a bioactive agent. Also disclosed is a method of drug delivery including the steps of forming the biodegradable housing, in embodiments a hydrogel, suspending a bioactive agent in the hydrogel, and introducing a second hydrogel and/or precursors of a second hydrogel into the biodegradable housing.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: Crosslinked polymers, methods for their preparation and use, are described in which the crosslinked polymers are formed from at least two polymer precursors, one of which is designed, upon degradation of the crosslinked polymer, to release the second polymer precursor in its original, unmodified chemical form.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, a surgical buttress, and a low molecular weight bioabsorbable adhesive. The cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples and a tissue contacting surface defining staple retaining slots. The anvil assembly includes a tissue contacting surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The surgical buttress is disposed on at least one of the tissue contacting surfaces of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. The low molecular weight bioabsorbable adhesive releasably retains the surgical buttress on the at least one of the tissue contacting surfaces of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drug delivery device including a biodegradable housing and a hydrogel within the biodegradable housing. The housing, the hydrogel, or both, may include a bioactive agent. Also disclosed is a method of drug delivery including the steps of forming the biodegradable housing, in embodiments a hydrogel, suspending a bioactive agent in the hydrogel, and introducing a second hydrogel and/or precursors of a second hydrogel into the biodegradable housing.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for forming tissue-adherent hydrogels using substantially dry precursors. The dehydrated precursors are premixed prior to in situ therapy and utilize naturally-occurring body fluids as an aqueous environment that initiates transformation, which causes dissolution and nearly simultaneous crosslinking of the precursors, thus forming an insoluble hydrogel implant. The dehydrated precursor-based hydrogels may be used as sealants for fluid leaks from tissue, as adherent drug delivery depots, as means for augmenting and/or supporting tissue, and as means for serving a variety of other useful medical and surgical purposes.