Abstract: A swellable, resilient interspinous implant is provided that includes a swellable polymeric medium, said polymeric medium being dispersed throughout the implant, the implant being dimensioned and configured to fit between two spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae and buttress the space between the two adjacent vertebrae. In embodiments, the implant has a first configuration of reduced size such that it can be inserted into the patient in a minimally invasive manner. Once inserted to an application point within the patient, the implant expands in size to dynamically maintain the adjacent spinous processes in beneficial alignment. Also provided is a method of making a swellable, resilient interspinous implant as described herein. Also provided is a method of treating a degenerative condition of a spine which includes creating an incision and inserting, through the incision, between two spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae, a swellable, resilient interspinous implant as described herein.

Abstract: A device for dimensioning a circumference of a cavity includes a body with a lumen and a distal aperture. The device also includes a longitudinal member extending through the lumen with a distal end and a proximal end. The longitudinal member is capable of slidable movement through the body between retracted and advanced positions. The device also includes a flexible member adapted to conform to a circumference of a cavity contained, e.g., in an intervertebral disc space. The flexible member is operatively connected to a longitudinal member such that upon retraction of the longitudinal member the flexible member retracts into the lumen. When the longitudinal member is moved toward the advanced position, the flexible member is advanced out of the lumen and expands to conform to a dimension which approximates the circumference of the cavity.

Abstract: A trapezium prosthesis is provided which includes a body having a frustocylindrical shape, the frustocylindrical shape including a frustum and an oppositely disposed planar base, the frustum being canted relative to a planar base. The prosthesis may be made of a swellable fluid absorbing polymer which imparts flexibility and/or resiliency to the prosthesis. The swellable fluid absorbing polymer may also provide the surface of the prosthesis with lubricity. In embodiments, the prosthesis has a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration being of reduced size relative to the second configuration. The prosthesis may also include a reinforcement member. In embodiments, the prosthesis includes a stem projecting outwardly from the frustum.

Abstract: A radially compressed xerogel spinal nucleus implant is manufactured and utilized for implantation into an intervertebral disc space. The implant has an optimized cross-sectional ellipsoid configuration which facilitates insertion of the implant through a minimal incision in the annulus. Radial compression is achieved by exerting substantially equilateral circumferential compression on an object contained within a radially collapsible member for exerting substantially equilateral circumferential compression on the object. Radial compression may also be achieved by exerting substantially equilateral circumferential compression force on a spinal nucleus implant via gas pressure in a sealed chamber.

Abstract: A radially compressed xerogel spinal nucleus implant is manufactured and utilized for implantation into an intervertebral disc space. The implant has an optimized cross-sectional ellipsoid configuration which facilitates insertion of the implant through a minimal incision in the annulus. Radial compression is achieved by exerting substantially equilateral circumferential compression on an object contained within a radially collapsible member for exerting substantially equilateral circumferential compression on the object. Radial compression may also be achieved by exerting substantially equilateral circumferential compression force on a spinal nucleus implant via gas pressure in a sealed chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a prosthetic for replacement of at least a part of the nucleus of a intravertebral disc. The prosthetic device is composed of at least two essentially parallel soft layers of an elastically deformable hydrogel and at least one rigid layer, the rigid layer having less compressibility than the soft layers, being adjacent to the soft layers, parallel to them, and firmly attached to them. In some embodiments, the soft layers have the same thickness and composition. Typically, the prosthesis has more than one rigid layer and these rigid layers have the same thickness and composition. The number of soft layers is usually one more than the number of rigid layers, with, e.g., at least three soft layers.

Abstract: The present invention is a prosthetic for replacement of at least a part of the nucleus of a intravertebral disc. The prosthetic device is composed of at least two essentially parallel soft layers of an elastically deformable hydrogel and at least one rigid layer, the rigid layer having less compressibility than the soft layers, being adjacent to the soft layers, parallel to them, and firmly attached to them. In some embodiments, the soft layers have the same thickness and composition. Typically, the prosthesis has more than one rigid layer and these rigid layers have the same thickness and composition. The number of soft layers is usually one more than the number of rigid layers, with, e.g., at least three soft layers.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of making a multiblock copolymer containing two or more types of sequences of derivatives of acrylic acid with at least one derivative being acrylic acid salt and at least one being acrylamide. The method includes: (e) in sequence, a first step being a catalytic reaction of nitrile groups in polyacrylonitrile dissolved in an inorganic aqueous solvent of polyacrylonitrile; and, (f) at least one subsequent step being at least one catalytic reaction of nitrile groups in absence of polyacrylonitrile solvents. The present invention also pertains to the products resulting from the method.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of making a multiblock copolymer containing two or more types of sequences of derivatives of acrylic acid with at least one derivative being acrylic acid salt and at least one being acrylamide.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of making a multiblock copolymer containing two or more types of sequences of derivatives of acrylic acid with at least one derivative being acrylic acid salt and at least one being acrylamide. The method includes: (e) in sequence, a first step being a catalytic reaction of nitrile groups in polyacrylonitrile dissolved in an inorganic aqueous solvent of polyacrylonitrile; and, (f) at least one subsequent step being at least one catalytic reaction of nitrile groups in absence of polyacrylonitrile solvents.The present invention also pertains to the products resulting from the method.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method of making a multiblock copolymer containing two or more types of sequences of derivatives of acrylic acid with at least one derivative being acrylic acid salt and at least one being acrylamide.

Abstract: The present invention is a spinal nucleus implant for replacement of at least a portion of nucleus pulposus tissue removed from a spinal disc of a living vertebrate to restore function of the spinal disc and related vertebral joint. The implant is an anisotropically swellable, biomimetic xerogel plastic, having a two phase structure with a hydrophobic phase having high crystallinity and low water content and with hydrophilic phase having low crystallinity and high water content and having a negatively charged lubricious surface. The xerogel plastic is capable of rehydration and of osmotic movement of liquid therethrough in response to osmotic pressure change to thereby increase and decrease liquid content in its hydrated state. The present invention also relates to surgical implant procedures utilizing this spinal nucleus implant.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making acrylonitrile copolymers having multi block structure comprising acrylic acid, acryl amids and acrylamidine hydrophilic groups in hydrophilic blocks and residual nitrile groups in hydrophobic blocks, by partial hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile to a predetermined hydrolysis conversion at which the hydrolysis is self terminating by a process that improves quality and reduces product heterogeneity.

Abstract: The present invention is a bioreactor wound dressing which includes a first layer, being a transport layer, in direct contact with a wound. It includes at least one layer of a permeable polymeric media containing, in equilibrium with body fluids, at least 40% by weight of liquid, and is impermeable for infectious agents of any kind and being permeable to water soluble substances having molecular weight up to at least 1000 Daltons. There is a second layer, being a fluid reservoir layer that is adjacent to the transport layer and is capable of containing between 40% and 100% of its volume of an aqueous liquid, wherein the transport layer and reservoir layer are permeably interconnected for aqueous solutions and are in a substantial osmotic equilibrium. The invention also includes a method of wound treatment utilizing the bioreactor wound dressing.

Abstract: The present invention is a spinal nucleus implant for replacement of at least a portion of nucleus pulposus tissue removed from a spinal disc of a living vertebrate to restore function of the spinal disc and related vertebral joint. The implant is an anisotropically swellable, biomimetic xerogel plastic, having a two phase structure with a hydrophobic phase having high crystallinity and low water content and with hydrophilic phase having low crystallinity and high water content and having a negatively charged lubricious surface. The xerogel plastic is capable of rehydration and of osmotic movement of liquid therethrough in response to osmotic pressure change to thereby increase and decrease liquid content in its hydrated state. The present invention also relates to surgical implant procedures utilizing this spinal nucleus implant.