Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is to be applied to an assisted circulation apparatus, the assisted circulation apparatus being connected to a living body, transferring blood removed from the living body to a membrane lung by a blood transfer pump, and gas-exchanging and oxygenating the blood in the membrane lung in parallel with a native lung, and the monitoring apparatus includes a calculation unit that calculates a blood gas-exchanging state index indicating a gas-exchanging state of blood by the assisted circulation apparatus.

Abstract: An anchoring system for a knee ligament reconstruction that can secure a graft within a bone tunnel. The anchor system includes an anchor having a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. A conical head is fixed to the distal end of the tubular body. A series of expandable segments are positioned along the tubular body and moveable along the body into a compacted, deployed position where the segments expand radially to engage the inside of a bone tunnel. A threaded drive member may move the segments to the deployed configuration once the anchor and graft are positioned in the bone tunnel. A drive tool may be used to advance the drive member and can include a moveable shaft that pushes a strike plate out of the rear of the handle to provide an indication whether the anchor has been fully deployed.

Abstract: An article includes multiple layers of polyaryletherketone (PAEK), in which each layer is composed of a continuous length of PAEK, in which the continuous length of PAEK in at least one of the layers includes an interior portion, and an exterior surface including crystalline regions, in which a crystallinity of the exterior surface is higher than a crystallinity of the interior portion. The cross-sectional area of the continuous length of PAEK is non-uniform within each layer. Each layer defines a plane, and a portion of the continuous length of PAEK in each layer extends out of the plane defined by the layer. The multiple layers of PAEK define a network of interconnected pores.

Abstract: A constraint arrangement for a stent-graft loaded onto a delivery system having a suture extending circumferentially around a surface of a graft from a first fixed end fixed to a stent-graft to a positionable region, and through the graft at a first constraining perforation into the lumen and returning out of the lumen to the surface of the graft at a second constraining perforation to a second fixed end fixed to the stent-graft, thereby forming a loop of the suture within a lumen of the graft, the loop wrapped circumferentially around a cannula such that a pair of legs of the loop hold the positionable region with respect to the cannula, wherein a bight of the loop extends through a gap between the legs and wherein the release wire extends through the bight thereby capturing the bight and releasably securing the loop around the cannula.

Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets of particular shapes that control bending character. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve has a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a central region and two side regions on opposite sides of the central region. The central region is defined by a shape of an isosceles triangle defined by two central region sides, the leaflet base and the leaflet free edge, wherein the two central region sides converge from the leaflet base. Each of the two side regions has a shape of a triangle and each is defined by one of the central region sides, one of the leaflet sides, and the leaflet free edge.

Abstract: A method for non-surgically treating an internal nasal valve of a patient comprising, injecting a working device into the internal nasal valve of the patient, wherein the injected working device in the nasal tissue causes an alteration of an internal or external nasal valve. A device introduced by injection into the nose, allowing for structural support or filling of defects in the nose, and causing a change in external shape of the nose. The device and inserts and implants described also have use in cosmetic applications relating to the facial tissue.

Abstract: A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

Abstract: The invention broadly provides an implantable medical device comprising a liquid rope coil scaffold. The implant may consist essentially of the scaffold, where the scaffold is the implant and pores in the scaffold may incorporates one or more agents (i.e. drugs, growth factors), or the scaffold may comprise only part of the medical device, for example an implant that is partly or fully covered with a layer of the scaffold. The porosity of the scaffold may be tailored to suit the application, for example a porosity that is tailored to hold and release drug or biological molecules in vivo, a porosity to provide a surface roughness that is conducive to promotion of in-vivo bio-integration (for example vascularisation) or prevention of fibrosis, or a porosity that provides structural strength. The scaffold may be essentially tubular, or may be provided as a planar structure, or may be any shape and can be used to coat, fully or partially any shape or size of medical implant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prosthetic fabric comprising an arrangement of yarns defining at least two faces for said fabric, said fabric comprising, on at least one of its faces, one or more barbs that protrude outwards relative to said face, characterized in that said barbs are covered with a coating made of a water-soluble biocompatible material. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining such a fabric and to prostheses obtained from such a fabric.

Abstract: A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating bone fractures. In particular, provided herein are systems comprising carbon fiber sleeves and biocompatible polymers and the use of such systems in treating or preventing bone fractures.

Abstract: An orthopedic fixation system includes an implant and an implant insertion device. The implant transitions between a natural shape and an insertion shape and includes a bridge and first and second anchoring members extending from the bridge. The first and second anchoring members each include a segment extending exterior to the bridge to provide an engagement point. The implant insertion device moves between loaded and unloaded positions. The implant insertion device in its loaded position by-passes the bridge and engages the segment of the first anchoring member at its engagement point and the segment of the second anchoring member at its engagement point such that the implant insertion device constrains the implant in its insertion shape. The implant insertion device in its unloaded position releases the implant.

Abstract: A hybrid graft and method for implantation in a blood vessel of a patient is described. The hybrid graft may include a graft portion having proximal and distal ends and an expandable mesh secured to the distal end of the graft portion. The expandable mesh is configured to transition from an insertion to a deployed diameter. The hybrid graft may also include a tubular sleeve having a lumen configured to receive a part of the graft portion and the expandable mesh and a suture cuff positioned adjacent the expandable mesh. During deployment, the distal end of the hybrid graft is inserted through an opening in the blood vessel wall or an end of the vascular graft and expanded from the insertion to the deployed diameter to secure the hybrid graft within the blood vessel or vascular graft. The suture cuff is sutured to the blood vessel or vascular graft.

Abstract: A prosthesis used for long-term treatment of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) comprising an upper thin ring mesh for incorporation in the esophageal wall with a lower tubular part to block reflux and a method where a temporary ring is placed to exert compression laterally on a thin ring supporting a tubular or slit valve to treat GERD to help the thin ring incorporate in the esophageal wall.

Abstract: A stemless humeral component for replacing the humeral head of a patient's humerus includes a support flange having a number of cantilevered legs extending distally away from a bottom surface thereof. Instruments and methods for surgically installing the stemless humeral component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A disposable device for absorbing urine and/or bodily fluids in the urethra having a cylindrical body having a top and bottom end. The body is made of absorbent material that expands upon contact with urine and bodily fluids and includes a string connected to the bottom end of the body for removing the device from the urethra. The device can include a vasodilator in or on a surface of the body and can be used to treat urinary incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction by inserting into the urethra and removing the device after it has been impregnated with fluid. The device can be included in a kit with a plunger for insertion.

Abstract: A stemless humeral anchor (10) includes a first end (12) configured to be embedded in a proximal portion of a humerus and a second end (14); a mating portion (16) for an articular component; a transversely extending collar (20); and a rotation control feature (22, 22A) for resisting rotation when the stemless humeral anchor is implanted. A void filling protrusion (24) can extend circumferentially from rotation control feature and can include a porous shell (26), in which a void filling component (28) can be disposed. The rotation control feature can comprise arms. One or more arms (22A) can have a larger radial extent than the others (22). A prosthesis assembly includes a base member (104) that has a helical structure (224) and one or more pathways (300). The pathway is accessible from a proximal end and is directed distally through the helical structure. The pathway is located inward of an outer periphery of the helical structure.

Abstract: A system and method for an improved connective tissue repair option that reduces disadvantages of conventional fixation options. Biologic press fit fixation of a connective tissue unit may include in situ expansion of a pre-compressed connective tissue unit within a prepared bone tunnel of a portion of bone. An external opening accessing a cavity of the prepared bone tunnel may be smaller than that of the cavity such that expansion of the installed/compressed connective tissue unit increases lateral fixation forces exerted by the expanding/decompressing compressed connective tissue unit within the bone tunnel.

Abstract: This document describes systems and method of embedded printing for additive manufacturing. A print material is printed into a support material. The print material and the support material each have a fluid phase and a solid phase. The print material transitions from the fluid phase to the solid phase based on a fluid-fluid interaction with the support material. One or more parameters of the support material can be adjusted to cause a diffusion rate of the print material into the support material during the fluid-fluid interaction to be less than a threshold value. Multiple print materials can be printed into the support material simultaneously.

Abstract: The present invention provides an artificial blood vessel that can achieve a balance between cell penetration efficiency and crush resistance and can regenerate a blood vessel at very high efficiency. Provided is an artificial blood vessel having a tubular shape, including: a foam containing a bioabsorbable material; a reinforcement A containing a bioabsorbable material; and a reinforcement B including threads containing a bioabsorbable material, the foam being reinforced with the reinforcements A and B, wherein the reinforcement A is a non-woven fabric, a film, or a weft-knitted, warp-knitted, or woven fabric made of knitted or woven fibers, the reinforcement B includes monofilament threads each having a cross-sectional diameter of 0.