Abstract: Medical implants comprising biocompatible materials and having surface features that may assist in biocompatibility upon implantation in the body are described. Methods for manufacturing such implants are also described. The manufacturing process may include applying a biocompatible material to a texturized surface of a mold. The implants may include various features to assist their positioning, fixation, and/or identification during and/or after implantation.

Abstract: Features useful for locating a medical implant in a patient in a non-invasive manner are described. Such features may include an integrated port with a housing that includes a first portion coupled to a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise different materials, and a cover over an opening into the housing. The first portion may face the cover and allow transmis-mission of electromagnetic signals through the second portion in a direction away from the cover.

Abstract: A medical device may include a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft may include a lumen therein. The medical device may include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and may include a mode selector. The mode selector may be adapted to transition between a first mode and a second mode of the medical device. The medical device may further include a compressed fluid source. In the first mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a negative pressure in at least a portion of the lumen. In the second mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a positive pressure in the at least a portion of the lumen.

Abstract: Medical implants comprising biocompatible materials and having surface features that may assist in biocompatibility upon implantation in the body are described. Methods for manufacturing such implants are also described. The manufacturing process may include applying a biocompatible material to a texturized surface of a mold. The implants may include various features to assist their positioning, fixation, and/or identification during and/or after implantation.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in various embodiments, a breast implant with an RFID transponder embedded therein, so that the implant can be conveniently identified while inside the human body, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Tissue expanders and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A tissue expander shell according to the present disclosure may include a shape and topography that facilitates uniform or substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the tissue expander. In at least one example, the shell may include a series of topographical features, such as ridges, grooves, channels, valleys, canals, protrusions, pleats, creases, or folds. In some embodiments, these features may have a curved or wavy cross sectional profile. For example, the shell may include a series of concentric curved ridges.

Abstract: Methods of processing images, such as ultrasound images, to determine integrity of an implant are described. The method may include receiving an ultrasound image of an implant in a body of a subject; determining one or more characteristics of a surface of the implant based on an intensity of pixels of the ultrasound image; generating a predicted status of the implant based on the one or more characteristics by comparison of the one or more characteristics with a database of image data; and displaying the predicted status of the implant. The implant may be a breast implant, for example, wherein the method is useful for analyzing the presence or probability of extracapsular ruptures, contractures, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A medical device may include a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft may include a lumen therein. The medical device may include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and may include a mode selector. The mode selector may be adapted to transition between a first mode and a second mode of the medical device. The medical device may further include a compressed fluid source. In the first mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a negative pressure in at least a portion of the lumen. In the second mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a positive pressure in the at least a portion of the lumen.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in various embodiments, a breast implant which can have a shell with an opening. A patch can cover the opening. A silicone gel can be disposed within the shell and an RFID transponder can be embedded within the silicone gel, so that the implant can be conveniently identified while inside the human body.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a medical implant introducer (100) and methods of its use. The introducer (100) may include a handle (120), an implant-holding cavity disposed distally from the handle (120), a fluid supply conduit (122) fluidly coupled to an interior portion of the implant-holding cavity, and a distal nozzle (110) having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a middle portion in between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the middle portion having a tapered profile such that the proximal portion is larger than the distal portion, and a distal opening (112), wherein an implant in the implant-holding cavity may be expelled from the introducer (100) through the distal opening (112).

Abstract: Implants having symmetry are described. The implant may comprise a biocompatible material and have at least two planes of symmetry, including symmetry about an equator of the implant. The implant may be a body contouring implant, wherein a posterior side of the implant is symmetric about the equator to an anterior side of the implant.

Abstract: Implantable transponders comprising no ferromagnetic parts for use in medical implants are disclosed herein. Such transponders may assist in preventing interference of transponders with medical imaging technologies. Such transponders may optionally be of a small size, and may assist in collecting and transmitting data and information regarding implanted medical devices. Methods of using such transponders, readers for detecting such transponders, and methods for using such readers are also described.

Abstract: A medical device may include a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft may include a lumen therein. The medical device may include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and may include a mode selector. The mode selector may be adapted to transition between a first mode and a second mode of the medical device. The medical device may further include a compressed fluid source. In the first mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a negative pressure in at least a portion of the lumen. In the second mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a positive pressure in the at least a portion of the lumen.

Abstract: Implantable transponders comprising no ferromagnetic parts for use in medical implants are disclosed herein. Such transponders may assist in preventing interference of transponders with medical imaging technologies. Such transponders may optionally be of a small size, and may assist in collecting and transmitting data and information regarding implanted medical devices. Methods of using such transponders, readers for detecting such transponders, and methods for using such readers are also described.

Abstract: Tissue expanders and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A tissue expander shell according to the present disclosure may include a shape and topography that facilitates uniform or substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the tissue expander. In at least one example, the shell may include a series of topographical features, such as ridges, grooves, channels, valleys, canals, protrusions, pleats, creases, or folds. In some embodiments, these features may have a curved or wavy cross sectional profile. For example, the shell may include a series of concentric curved ridges.

Abstract: Systems, method, and devices useful in medical procedures, such as, e.g., aesthetic and/or reconstructive surgeries, are described. The system may be at imaging system that includes a database and a computer system configured to create, modify, and/or display three-dimensional images created from digital image data of an anatomical region of a subject. The digital image data maybe obtained with an imaging device such as a scanner.

Abstract: Implantable transponders comprising no ferromagnetic parts for use in medical implants are disclosed herein. Such transponders may assist in preventing interference of transponders with medical imaging technologies. Such transponders may optionally be of a small size, and may assist in collecting and transmitting data and information regarding implanted medical devices. Methods of using such transponders, readers for detecting such transponders, and methods for using such readers are also described.

Abstract: Medical implants including sensors are described. The implant may have a flexible shell with a base, wherein the plurality of sensors may be incorporated onto and/or into the shell. The plurality of sensors may be distributed at different locations of the shell. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors may be configured to measure one or more parameters such as, e.g., temperature and/or pressure, and may comprise an electromagnetic coil useful for wireless transmission of data. Each sensor may be configured to transmit data at a frequency different from the frequency of one or more of the other sensors, may be configured to transmit data at a time different from a time data is transmitted by one or more of the other sensors, and/or may include a device identifier different from the device identifier of one or more of the other sensors.

Abstract: A medical device may include a shalt extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft may include a lumen therein. The medical device may include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and may include a mode selector. The mode selector may be adapted to transition between a first mode and a second mode of the medical device. The medical device may further include a compressed fluid source. In the first mode, the compressed fluid source may he coupled with the shaft so as to impart a negative pressure in at least a portion of the lumen. In the second mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a positive pressure in the at least a portion of the lumen.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a medical implant introducer (100) and methods of its use. The introducer (100) may include a handle (120), an implant-holding cavity disposed distally from the handle (120), a fluid supply conduit (122) fluidly coupled to an interior portion of the implant-holding cavity, and a distal nozzle (110) having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a middle portion in between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the middle portion having a tapered profile such that the proximal portion is larger than the distal portion, and a distal opening (112), wherein an implant in the implant-holding cavity may be expelled from the introducer (100) through the distal opening (112).