Abstract: Improved optical coherence tomography systems and methods to measure thickness of the retina are presented. The systems may be compact, handheld, provide in-home monitoring, allow the patient to measure himself or herself, and be robust enough to be dropped while still measuring the retina reliably.

Abstract: A bone graft substitute which combines substantially the high mechanical stability of spherical porous granules without the limitation of reduced intergranular space. The granules have a high porosity whilst maintaining high stability, and can be pushed into a defect without risking significant breakage of the granules and, simultaneously, bone cells can grow into the space between the granules. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the surface of the granules comprises indentations, when viewed from the exterior of the granules. An indentation increases the porosity within the implanted mass significantly and thus provides more space between the granules for tissue ingrowth. Due to the indentations on the granules, the granules have an irregular shape and thus an increase in the intergranular space is achieved, while mechanical stability is maintained. A biocompatible polymer, such as a collagen or gelatin, is disposed about at least some of the granules to form a coating thereon.

Abstract: A bone graft substitute which combines substantially the high mechanical stability of spherical porous granules without the limitation of reduced intergranular space, and a method for manufacturing the bone graft substitute. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the surface of the granules comprises indentations that increases the porosity within the implanted mass significantly and thus provides more space between the granules for tissue ingrowth. The indentations on the granules cause them to have an irregular shape and thus an increase in the intergranular space is achieved, while mechanical stability is maintained. An exemplary method according to the invention includes the steps of manufacturing the granules; mixing the granules with a porogen; pressing the porogen into the surface of at least a portion of the granules; and removing the porogen from the implant mass to form the indentations in the surface where the porogen was pressed into the granules.

Abstract: A bone graft substitute which combines substantially the high mechanical stability of spherical porous granules without the limitation of reduced intergranular space. The granules have a high porosity whilst maintaining high stability, and can be pushed into a defect without risking significant breakage of the granules and, simultaneously, bone cells can grow into the space between the granules. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the surface of the granules comprises indentations, when viewed from the exterior of the granules. An indentation increases the porosity within the implanted mass significantly and thus provides more space between the granules for tissue ingrowth. Due to the indentations on the granules, the granules have an irregular shape and thus an increase in the intergranular space is achieved, while mechanical stability is maintained. A biocompatible polymer, such as a polypeptide, is disposed about at least some of the granules to form a coating thereon.

Abstract: There is described a bone graft substitute which combines substantially the high mechanical stability of spherical porous granules without the limitation of reduced intergranular space. The structure inside the granules has a high porosity whilst maintaining high stability, so that the granules can be pushed into a defect without risking significant breakage of the granules and, at the same time, the bone cells can grow into the space between the granules. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the surface of the granules comprises indentations, when viewed from the exterior of the granules. An indentation increases the porosity within the implanted mass significantly and thus provides more space between the granules for tissue ingrowth. Due to the indentations on the granules, the granules have an irregular shape and thus an increase in the intergranular space is achieved, while mechanical stability is maintained.