Abstract: A hair implant suitable for subcutaneous implantation is provided having an anchor comprising an anchor body, and at least one collagen receiving structure selected from the group consisting of at least one tunnel disposed through the anchor body and an external surface feature of the anchor body. The anchor further comprises at least one hair strand projecting from a distal end of the anchor body, wherein the at least one collagen receiving structure is configured to support collagen ligature growth after subcutaneous implantation of the hair implant so as to anchor the anchor to a hair implant recipient, and the collagen receiving structure is free of hair.

Abstract: The disclosure lies in the field of regenerative medicine and relates to an implant having a matrix material, and a method for manufacturing an implant having matrix material. The disclosure further relates to a crimped implant.

Abstract: An artificial hair implant device is disclosed. The artificial hair implant device according to the present invention has: a body part having a hollow body; a head part in which a head is coupled and fixed to the body, an implant needle is provided to be able to enter and exit the head and has an artificial hair fitted around an end portion thereof that is drawn out from the head, and a return spring is provided between the implant needle and the head and returns the implant needle drawn out from the head back to an original position; and a button part in which a button is movably provided on the body, and a pressing shaft is provided under the button and enters and exits the body, thereby pressing the implant needle, such that the implant needle is drawn out from the head.

Abstract: Described herein are implants (e.g., medical textiles/biotextiles) that include stitched gripping filaments to increase gripping, and methods of forming and using them. In some configurations these apparatuses may be configured as surgical grafts that may be used for soft tissue reconstruction, regeneration, or repair.

Abstract: An implant comprising an implant body, wherein the implant body comprises one or more regions of macro-texturisation on a surface of the implant body. Various methods of making an implant comprising one or more regions of macro-texturisation on a surface of the implant body are described, the methods being (i) making an implant comprising forming a shell on a mandrel, wherein the mandrel is shaped to form regions of macro-texturisation in the shell and filling the shell with a core material; (ii) making an implant comprising securing a scaffold comprising a silicone polymer to a surface of an implant body or (iii) making an implant comprising extruding a material that will form regions of macro-texturisation onto an implant body or (iv) making an implant comprising laser etching a surface on an implant body to form regions of macro-texturisation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in in establishing an improved AV loop with the use of a pulley/snare device at the base of a ventricle of a heart. In some methods described herein, a pulley/snare device is established to create a path with inherent concentricity to the aortic and mitral valves, allowing the valves to function normally during an interventional procedure in the heart, without impeding the motion of any leaflets. The pulley/snare device described herein minimizes the forces that are applied on the valves or associated cardiac tissue to “make the turn” from the aortic valve to the mitral valve.

Abstract: Absorbable implants for breast surgery that conform to the breast parenchyma and surrounding chest wall have been developed. These implants support newly lifted breast parenchyma, and/or a breast implant. The implants have mechanical properties sufficient to support a reconstructed breast, and allow the in-growth of tissue into the implant as it degrades. The implants have a strength retention profile allowing the support of the breast to be transitioned from the implant to regenerated host tissue, without significant loss of support. Three-dimensional implants for use in minimally invasive mastopexy/breast reconstruction procedures are also described, that confer shape to a patient's breast. These implants are self-reinforced, can be temporarily deformed, implanted in a suitably dissected tissue plane, and resume their preformed three-dimensional shape. The implants are preferably made from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) and copolymers thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthesis for supporting a breast implant comprising: a reinforcement part configured to receive a curved lower portion of a breast implant, the reinforcement part having an elongation under 50N in the vertical direction of E1, a fixation part intended to be fixed to the pectoral muscle, the fixation part having an elongation under 50N in the vertical direction of E2, and a transition part connecting together the reinforcement part and the fixation part, said transition part having an elongation under 50N in the vertical direction of E3, wherein E3 is greater than E1 and greater than E2.

Abstract: A reconstruction support includes an upper half, a lower half joined to the upper half, a plurality of alignment perforations disposed on at least one of the upper half and the lower half, and a plurality of fenestrations disposed on at least one of the upper half and the lower half, the plurality of fenestrations configured to facilitate selective expansion of at least one of the upper half or the lower half, where the reconstruction support is inserted above muscle to facilitate breast reconstruction.

Abstract: An endoluminal valve (30) for controlling fluid flow during a surgical procedure is integrated into an access branch (24) of a tubular prosthetic device (10), the access branch (24) receiving a delivery system (100) including a shaft (110), a housing (112) with a depressible finger actuator (122) configured to contact a resilient wall surface (38) of inwardly tapering closure elements (40) of the integrated valve (30), and a fluid venting plug (133) on the shaft (110) which removably seats in an access opening (34) at the proximal end (32) of the endoluminal valve (30), wherein the proximal end (32) is secured within a lumen (26) of the access branch (24) and a distal end (36) of the endoluminal valve (30) located within the lumen (26) comprises self-sealing edges (42) coming together to form a flow-inhibiting seal.

Abstract: Devices and methods for trimming a stent to a desired length with an outer tube and an inner tube having a distal end and a diameter configured to receive a portion of the stent in excess of the desired length. The inner tube may move within the outer tube and the distal end may include an end effector configured to trim the portion from the stent while the device and stent are within a patient.

Abstract: Typically, surgical intervention is required to remedy abnormalities of the vocal cords. However, surgical intervention often causes a laryngeal web, or glottic web, to form which impairs the sound quality of the vocal cords. The prosthesis and methods of the invention effectively eliminate regrowth of a laryngeal web after surgery over all other prior art devices and methodologies. During the operative procedure, the prosthesis may be inserted through a surgically created hole in a laryngeal web allowing a laryngeal bridge to assist in holding the prosthesis in position. Following surgery, after the vocal cords heal, the prosthesis may then be removed, and the laryngeal bridge also removed. In the case of an anterior procedure, the prosthesis produces a sharp anterior commissure without any glottic web. The prosthesis and method greatly reduce the recurrence of a laryngeal web.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing fixation of soft tissue (for example, ligament) to bone by employing a novel multi-piece device. The novel multi-piece device is a ligament fixation system consisting of a larger collar that is initially impacted into a bone aperture, and a smaller plug/bullet-shaped part that is impacted into the larger collar. During ligament repair/reconstruction, the graft is inserted into a bone tunnel with sutures from the graft extending outside the tunnel. The sutures are passed through a collar of the multi-part device and the collar is then inserted into the bone tunnel. The graft suture strands may be tensioned. Subsequently, the smaller plug/bullet-shaped part is impacted into the collar thereby maintaining the tension on the graft sutures. The plug/bullet-shaped part is tightened after the desired tension on the suture is achieved.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve forming template having an annulus stitching part to be stitched to a mitral annulus, a papillary muscle stitching part to be stitched to papillary muscles, the prosthetic valve forming template including: one base line; two drooping lines suspending from both ends of the base line; two sidelines extending respectively downward and inward in a semi-parabolic manner from lower ends of the two drooping lines; two first horizontal lines extending respectively inward and horizontally from lower ends of the two sidelines; two first curved lines extending respectively upward in a parabolic manner from inner ends of the two first horizontal lines; two second horizontal lines extending respectively inward and horizontally from inner ends of the two first curved lines; and one second curved line extending upward in a parabolic manner from inner ends of the two second horizontal lines.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating blood flow regurgitation through a native heart valve (16) includes a selective occlusion device sized and configured to be implanted in the native heart valve (16) and selectively operating with at least one of the first or second native leaflets (16a, 16b) to allow blood flow through the native heart valve (16) when the heart cycle is in diastole and reduce blood flow regurgitation through the native heart valve (16) when the heart cycle is in systole. A clip structure (50) is coupled with the selective occlusion device. The clip structure (50) is configured to be affixed to a margin of at least one of the first or second native leaflets (16a, 16b) to secure the selective occlusion device to the native heart valve (16).

Abstract: Provided herein are human arterial endothelial cell-seeded polymeric vascular grafts suitable for replacing or bypassing natural blood vessels and exhibiting increased long term patency rates and reduced leukocyte adhesion relative to grafts comprising venous endothelial cells. Methods for generating the human arterial endothelial cell-seeded vascular grafts and therapeutic uses of the same are also described.

Abstract: Tubes (e.g., catheters, endotracheal or chest tubes and bypass grafts) are provided, comprising a catheter and a plurality of sensors.

Abstract: This document relates to methods and materials for treating urinary calculi. For example, ureteral orifice devices and methods for using ureteral orifice devices to treat urinary calculi present within a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis, collared or uncollared, which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

Abstract: A pancreatic stent includes a main body convertible between a compressed configuration for delivery and an expanded configuration once deployed, the main body including an inner surface defining a stent lumen and an outer surface. A plurality of drainage features are formed within the outer surface of the main body, the plurality of drainage features permitting placement of the pancreatic stent within a patient's pancreas without blocking side branches of the pancreas.