Abstract: A suture assembly and a method for making the same is provided. The suture assembly includes a plurality of unbarbed filamentary elements intertwined with one another and at least one barbed filamentary element having a longitudinal axis and having plurality of barbs extending outwardly therefrom in a first direction less than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis. According to exemplary embodiments, the at least one barbed filamentary may be intertwined along its length with the plurality of unbarbed filamentary elements, and the plurality of barbs extending outwardly beyond the unbarbed filamentary elements, or the primary outer periphery of the at least one barbed filamentary element may be contained within the intertwined unbarbed filamentary elements with the plurality of barbs extending through and outwardly from the plurality of unbarbed filamentary elements.

Abstract: A suture assembly and a method for making the same is provided. The suture assembly includes a plurality of unbarbed filamentary elements intertwined with one another and at least one barbed filamentary element having a longitudinal axis and having plurality of barbs extending outwardly therefrom in a first direction less than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis. According to exemplary embodiments, the at least one barbed filamentary may be intertwined along its length with the plurality of unbarbed filamentary elements, and the plurality of barbs extending outwardly beyond the unbarbed filamentary elements, or the primary outer periphery of the at least one barbed filamentary element may be contained within the intertwined unbarbed filamentary elements with the plurality of barbs extending through and outwardly from the plurality of unbarbed filamentary elements.

Abstract: Various methods are provided for forming tissue holding devices having predetermined shapes suitable for use in surgical applications, and devices formed in accordance with such methods are also provided. These methods include press forming methods, and press forming methods in combination with profile punching. Tissue holding devices formed in accordance with such methods include various configurations for a core and a plurality of tissue holding elements extending outwardly from the core.

Abstract: Various methods are provided for forming tissue holding devices having predetermined shapes suitable for use in surgical applications, and devices formed in accordance with such methods are also provided. These methods include press forming methods, and press forming methods in combination with profile punching. Tissue holding devices formed in accordance with such methods include various configurations for a core and a plurality of tissue holding elements extending outwardly from the core.

Abstract: Various methods are provided for forming tissue holding devices having predetermined shapes suitable for use in surgical applications, and devices formed in accordance with such methods are also provided. These methods include press forming methods, and press forming methods in combination with profile punching. Tissue holding devices formed in accordance with such methods include various configurations for a core and a plurality of tissue holding elements extending outwardly from the core.

Abstract: A surgical element carrier and method for use is provided, wherein the surgical element carrier includes a housing dimensioned to contain therein a plurality of surgical elements, and dimensioned for insertion through a surgical port used in minimally invasive surgeries. The housing further includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion movable relative to the first housing portion between a closed position wherein the surgical elements are substantially surrounded by the housing, and an open position wherein the surgical elements are at least partially exposed and removable from the housing.

Abstract: A surgical element carrier and method for use is provided, wherein the surgical element carrier includes a housing dimensioned to contain therein a plurality of surgical elements, and dimensioned for insertion through a surgical port used in minimally invasive surgeries. The housing further includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion movable relative to the first housing portion between a closed position wherein the surgical elements are substantially surrounded by the housing, and an open position wherein the surgical elements are at least partially exposed and removable from the housing.

Abstract: A method of producing a cylindrical shell in which a billet of circular, transverse cross-section is provided with of first and second sections formed of steel and a liner insert material, respectively. The first section has an end portion and a recess defined within the end portion. The second section is shaped to nest within the recess of the end portion of the first section. The billet is extruded into a cylindrical shell by a billet piercing operation so that the first section produces an outer cylindrical form and the second section produces a liner insert for the cylindrical form. The recess and therefore the second section (forming the liner insert) can be a frustum of a cone. The material for the liner insert may be a corrosion resistant nickel or nickel alloy, Hastalloy C-22, tantalum, titanium, gold or platinum.

Abstract: A burner construction having a body portion fabricated from a base material and coating material covering the base material. The base material is formed of copper or copper alloy having a conductivity of no less than about 100 watts/meter/.degree. C. Alternatively the base material can be silver. The coating material comprises nickel or nickel based alloy which can be an autocatalytic plating.

Abstract: A method of forming a seamless cylinder shell in which a layer of nickel is electroplated on a steel sheet so that a composite sheet is formed. The composite sheet is then preferably cut into a circular blank before further processing. The circular blank is subjected to an oxalic acid pretreatment for the nickel side and a zinc phosphate pretreatment for the steel side to retain a lubricant on the two opposed surfaces thereof and is thereafter lubricated with the lubricant. The circular blank is preferably cupped, relubricated, and drawn into the seamless cylinder shell. The seamless cylinder shell can be finished into a seamless gas cylinder by spinning one end of the cylinder into a cylinder head, internally threading the formed cylinder head, and then heat treating the cylinder.

Abstract: A method of forming a seamless cylinder shell in which a nickel sheet is clad to a steel sheet so that the sheets are uniformly bonded throughout and a composite sheet is formed. The cladding is preferably effectuated by explosive cladding. The composite sheet is then preferably cut into a circular blank before further processing. The circular blank is subjected to an oxalic acid pretreatment to retain a lubricant on the two opposed surfaces thereof and is thereafter lubricated with the lubricant. The circular blank is preferably cupped, relubricated, and drawn into the seamless cylinder shell. The seamless cylinder shell can be finished into a seamless gas cylinder by spinning one end of the cylinder into a cylinder head, internally threading the formed cylinder head, and then heat treating the cylinder.

Abstract: An articular surface prosthesis composed of a porous material that is substantially noncorrodible and nonbiodegradible by body fluids. The prosthesis serves as a replacement of, for example, a femoral cap. The prosthesis fits over the femur which is shaped, typically, to a right circular cylinder outline, to receive the replacement which has a similarly shaped cavity. The prosthesis fits snugly over the femur and presents at the bone prosthesis interface coarse pores (e.g., 100 to 500 micrometers) to permit bone ingrowth; the pores are graded toward smaller or fine sizes (e.g., <50 micrometers) to prevent bone ingrowth and permit cartilage ingrowth at the articulating side of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A flexible enclosure is applied to a prosthetic joint to isolate wear particles which are produced by interengagement between the components of the joint. The enclosure overlies the joint, and is sealingly affixed to the respective joint components proximate to its ends. The enclosure may be impermeable to fluids and contain a synthetic synovial fluid for lubrication of the joint. Alternatively, the enclosure may be porous having pores of a size ranging between 0.1 and 100 microns across so as to maintain larger wear particles which the body cannot assimilate.

Abstract: A flexible enclosure is applied to a prosthetic joint to isolate wear particles which are produced by interengagement between the components of the joint. The enclosure overlies the joint, and is affixed to the respective joint components proximate to its ends. The enclosure may be impermeable to fluids and contain a synthetic synovial fluid for lubrication of the joint. Alternatively, the enclosure may be porous having pores of a size ranging between 0.1 and 100 microns across so as to maintain larger wear particles which the body cannot assimilate.

Abstract: A prosthetic device composed of a porous material that is non-corrodable and non-biodegradable by body fluids. The device has interstitial interconnecting pores in the size range between about 100 and 500 micrometers and a compression strength greater than 20,000 psi.