Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermoplastic body having regions with varied material composition and/or porosity. Powder blends comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a sacrificial porogen and an inorganic reinforcement or filler are molded to form complementary parts with closely toleranced mating surfaces. The parts are formed discretely, assembled and compression molded to provide a unitary article that is free from discernible boundaries between the assembled parts. Each part in the assembly has differences in composition and/or porosity, and the assembly has accurate physical features throughout the sections of the formed article, without distortion and nonuniformities caused by variable compaction and densification rates in methods that involve compression molding powder blends in a single step.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with both knotless and knotted suture attachment capabilities, as well as methods for loading the suture in knotless and knotted configurations. Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with an inner implant body with a spreader that slides in relation to an outer expandable collar, such that pushing the expandable collar distally with an inserter causes the spreader to expand the collar against the surrounding bone to secure the suture anchor in place. Such embodiments may also include a detachment or breakaway feature between the inserter and the suture anchor to permit separation after anchor deployment. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods for deploying such suture anchors and expanding the expandable collars and/or detaching the inserter tools. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in various orthopedic applications such as, for example, shoulder repair.

Abstract: A dental blank holder for the manufacture of dental articles. The dental blank holder can include a frame configured to cooperate with a blank holder of a dental mill. The frame can includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery including a plurality of receiving walls forming receiving spaces, each receiving space configured to receive a dental blank. The dental blank holder may also include a movable arm configured to form a plurality of locking walls, each locking wall configured to enclose a corresponding receiving space, the movable arm including at least one biasing member configured to apply an individual force toward each receiving space such that each of the dental blanks is held in the receiving spaces for a milling process.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with both knotless and knotted suture attachment capabilities, as well as methods for loading the suture in knotless and knotted configurations. Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with an inner implant body with a spreader that slides in relation to an outer expandable collar, such that pushing the expandable collar distally with an inserter causes the spreader to expand the collar against the surrounding bone to secure the suture anchor in place. Such embodiments may also include a detachment or breakaway feature between the inserter and the suture anchor to permit separation after anchor deployment. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods for deploying such suture anchors and expanding the expandable collars and/or detaching the inserter tools. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in various orthopedic applications such as, for example, shoulder repair.

Abstract: A dental blank holder for the manufacture of dental articles. The dental blank holder can include a frame configured to cooperate with a blank holder of a dental mill. The frame can includes an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery including a plurality of receiving walls forming receiving spaces, each receiving space configured to receive a dental blank. The dental blank holder may also include a movable arm configured to form a plurality of locking walls, each locking wall configured to enclose a corresponding receiving space, the movable arm including at least one biasing member configured to apply an individual force toward each receiving space such that each of the dental blanks is held in the receiving spaces for a milling process.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with both knotless and knotted suture attachment capabilities, as well as methods for loading the suture in knotless and knotted configurations. Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with an inner implant body with a spreader that slides in relation to an outer expandable collar, such that pushing the expandable collar distally with an inserter causes the spreader to expand the collar against the surrounding bone to secure the suture anchor in place. Such embodiments may also include a detachment or breakaway feature between the inserter and the suture anchor to permit separation after anchor deployment. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods for deploying such suture anchors and expanding the expandable collars and/or detaching the inserter tools. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in various orthopedic applications such as, for example, shoulder repair.

Abstract: An arthroscopic suture cutting device according to embodiments of the invention includes an outer tube; an inner rod including an outer surface and an aperture, a distalmost edge of a second distal opening located distally of a distalmost edge of a first distal opening, the inner rod can receive a suture extending through both distal openings; in a loading position, the inner rod extends distally of the outer tube to receive the suture; in an intermediate position, the distal openings are closer to the outer tube, such that the suture is permitted to slide through the aperture without release; and in a cut position, the distalmost edges of the distal openings are within the outer tube. Moving from intermediate position to cut position draws the suture between outer tube and inner rod, urging the inner rod radially toward the second distal opening, cutting the suture between the outer tube and the distalmost edge of the second distal opening.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with both knotless and knotted suture attachment capabilities, as well as methods for loading the suture in knotless and knotted configurations. Some embodiments of the present invention include a suture anchor with an inner implant body with a spreader that slides in relation to an outer expandable collar, such that pushing the expandable collar distally with an inserter causes the spreader to expand the collar against the surrounding bone to secure the suture anchor in place. Such embodiments may also include a detachment or breakaway feature between the inserter and the suture anchor to permit separation after anchor deployment. Some embodiments of the present invention include methods for deploying such suture anchors and expanding the expandable collars and/or detaching the inserter tools. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in various orthopedic applications such as, for example, shoulder repair.

Abstract: A system for suture passage through a tissue according to embodiments of the present invention includes a suture snare, the suture snare comprising a resilient anchor element and a suture capture element, a substantially rigid passer tube, an actuator rod, a snare enclosure formed by the passer tube and actuator rod, the actuator rod movable to move the snare enclosure between a closed configuration which completely captures a portion of the suture snare and an open configuration which does not completely capture the portion of the suture snare, and a piercing tip configured to form a hole through the tissue, wherein at least one dimension of the resilient anchor element in an undeformed state is larger than a largest dimension of the hole, and the anchor element deforms during insertion of the resilient anchor element through the hole and substantially resumes its prior shape after passing through the hole.

Abstract: An arthroscopic suture cutting device according to embodiments of the invention includes an outer tube; an inner rod including an outer surface and an aperture, a distalmost edge of a second distal opening located distally of a distalmost edge of a first distal opening, the inner rod can receive a suture extending through both distal openings; in a loading position, the inner rod extends distally of the outer tube to receive the suture; in an intermediate position, the distal openings are closer to the outer tube, such that the suture is permitted to slide through the aperture without release; and in a cut position, the distalmost edges of the distal openings are within the outer tube. Moving from intermediate position to cut position draws the suture between outer tube and inner rod, urging the inner rod radially toward the second distal opening, cutting the suture between the outer tube and the distalmost edge of the second distal opening.

Abstract: Methods are provided for hermetically sealing an opening in a reservoir of a containment device. The method comprises applying a polymeric material to an opening in a reservoir of a containment device, the reservoir comprising reservoir contents (such as a drug or a sensor) to be hermetically isolated within the reservoir, the applied polymeric material closing off the opening and forming a temporary seal; and adhering a hermetic sealing material onto the polymeric material to hermetically seal the opening. The reservoir can be a micro-reservoir. The containment device can comprises an array of two or more of reservoirs, and the method comprises hermetically sealing each of the two or more reservoirs.