Abstract: A plunger for use with a dispensing syringe to dispense a biomaterial is disclosed. The plunger includes a plunger body having a plunger head at its distal end and a plunger base at its proximal end. The plunger body defines a plunger passageway extending through the plunger body from the proximal end to the distal end. The plunger head is received within a syringe passageway of the dispensing syringe, and the plunger passageway receives a stylet.

Abstract: In a blow/fill/seal packaging machine, aseptic environment is provided by a telescoping fill station shroud through which a sterile curtain gas flows. The telescoping fill station shroud includes an open-ended lower sleeve, an open-ended upper sleeve slidably coacting with the open-ended lower sleeve, and a manifold plate mounted over a proximal end portion of the upper sleeve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for preparing and delivering medical material are disclosed. A material delivery apparatus includes a sheath that defines a lumen therethrough, a trough having an inner surface that defines a material receptacle, the trough being configured to slidably pass into the lumen, and a stylet configured to slidably pass into the material receptacle. The shape of the stylet complements the inner surface of the trough and a portion of the lumen when the trough is in the lumen of the sheath.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and kits for preparing a medical mixture are disclosed. A method of preparing the medical mixture includes introducing a material into a tray, transferring the material from the tray to a scooper, releasably securing the scooper to the tray, and introducing a tubular member defining a lumen into the scooper such that the material within the scooper enters the lumen. A mixing apparatus includes a tray comprising a body defining a mixing receptacle configured to receive a material, a scooper having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, and a connector configured to releasably secure the scooper to the tray. A kit includes a tubular member, a stylet, a tray, and a scooper.

Abstract: Smoke and particulate matter generated as an extruded parison segment is severed by a hot wire, and the like, is gathered by an entrainment device mounted to the head portion of an extruder. The entrainment device is a hollow housing in which a gas jet generates a region of pressure less than ambient pressure at the extruder head. As a result, smoke and particulate matter at the extruder head portion are drawn into the hollow housing and are exhausted to a location away from the extruder head portion.

Abstract: In a blow/fill/seal packaging machine, aseptic environment is provided by a telescoping fill station shroud through which a sterile curtain gas flows. The telescoping fill station shroud includes an open-ended lower sleeve, an open-ended upper sleeve slidably coacting with the open-ended lower sleeve, and a manifold plate mounted over a proximal end portion of the upper sleeve.

Abstract: A plunger for use with a dispensing syringe to dispense a biomaterial is disclosed. The plunger includes a plunger body having a plunger head at its distal end and a plunger base at its proximal end. The plunger body defines a plunger passageway extending through the plunger body from the proximal end to the distal end. The plunger head is received within a syringe passageway of the dispensing syringe, and the plunger passageway receives a stylet.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining or providing a sheet of material; forming from the material a member comprising a plurality of switchback portions that zigzag about a loop; and shaping the member such that the plurality of switchback portions are elastically deformable and zigzag and curve about the loop.

Abstract: An assembly includes a dispensing syringe device configured to receive an amount of biomaterial and to dispense the biomaterial. The dispensing syringe device includes a syringe barrel for receiving the biomaterial, a discharge outlet for dispensing the biomaterial from the syringe barrel, and a plunger received in the syringe barrel. The plunger has a plunger body and a plunger passageway extending therethrough configured to receive a stylet. The assembly further includes a cannulus device configured to be coupled with the dispensing syringe device, to receive biomaterial from the dispensing syringe device, and to dispense the biomaterial. The cannulus device includes a cannulus passageway configured to receive the biomaterial and a dispensing opening configured for dispensing the biomaterial.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and kits for preparing a medical mixture are disclosed. A method of preparing the medical mixture includes introducing a material into a tray, transferring the material from the tray to a scooper, releasably securing the scooper to the tray, and introducing a tubular member defining a lumen into the scooper such that the material within the scooper enters the lumen. A mixing apparatus includes a tray comprising a body defining a mixing receptacle configured to receive a material, a scooper having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, and a connector configured to releasably secure the scooper to the tray. A kit includes a tubular member, a stylet, a tray, and a scooper.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for hydrating a particulate biomaterial with a liquid biomaterial includes a vacuum device and a valve for withdrawing a gas from the particulate biomaterial and introducing the liquid biomaterial. The valve includes a hub, a valve body, a particulate port, a vacuum port, and a liquid port. The valve body selectively moves between first and second positions. The valve body at least partially defines a first passage and a second passage. The particulate port, the vacuum port, and the liquid port are each configured to fluidly connect to a particulate container, the vacuum device, and the liquid container, respectively. In the first position, the first passage fluidly connects the vacuum port to the particulate port for withdrawing the gas from the particulate container. In the second position, the second passage fluidly connects the liquid port to the particulate port for hydrating the particulate biomaterial.

Abstract: A ferrule for an implantable medical device (IMD) can employ stamped metal portion including an electrically-conductive ferrule portion. The stamped ferrule portion can be affixed to a wall of a housing of the IMD. The resulting ferrule can provide cost savings or higher production throughput over a ferrule employing machined ferrule portion.

Abstract: A dispensing assembly includes a syringe body having a barrel and a dispensing tip. The dispensing assembly further includes a mixing and plunging assembly configured for coupling with the syringe body and comprising a mixer and a plunger. The mixer is configured for mixing material in the barrel and has a rod and a mixing element removably connected with the rod. The plunger is configured to dispense material from the barrel through the dispensing tip. Also, the rod is configured to be detached from the mixing element and used to push material out of the dispensing tip.

Abstract: A ferrule for an implantable medical device (IMD) can employ stamped metal portion including an electrically-conductive ferrule portion. The stamped ferrule portion can be affixed to a wall of a housing of the IMD. The resulting ferrule can provide cost savings or higher production throughput over a ferrule employing machined ferrule portion.

Abstract: An example includes an apparatus for use within a header of an implantable medical device, the apparatus including a substantially annular spring, sized and shaped to be disposed in the header, the spring defining a loop extending about a central axis, the spring including a plurality of elastically deformable switchback portions that both zigzag and curve transversely about the loop to define a surface that at least partially encompasses the loop.