Abstract: A tissue retraction system for a bioprosthetic cardiac valve base configured for attachment to a separate leaflet set includes a plurality of retraction shields releasably attached to the valve base. The retraction shields are configured to restrain tissue within a surgical site. The retraction shields may be flexible and transparent. Shield extenders can be attached to the retraction shields and used to further secure the retraction shields to a device for providing tissue retraction during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe 5 bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof, The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional 10 pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of 15 blood out of the wound site.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of polyacrylic acid is placed in a mold, frozen, and freeze-dried to form a sponge-like polyacrylic acid structure. The sponge-like polyacrylic acid structure is compressed by the application of heat and pressure to reduce the thickness and increase the density of the sponge-like polyacrylic acid structure to form a densified polyacrylic acid structure. The densified polyacrylic acid structure is preconditioned by heating to form a wound dressing. The wound dressing can be applied to control severe, life-threatening bleeding from a wound at a wound site of a person.

Abstract: This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe 5 bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof, The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional 10 pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of 15 blood out of the wound site.

Abstract: This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe 5 bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof, The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional 10 pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of 15 blood out of the wound site.

Abstract: An aqueous solution of polyacrylic acid is placed in a mold, frozen, and freeze-dried to form a sponge-like polyacrylic acid structure. The sponge-like polyacrylic acid structure is compressed by the application of heat and pressure to reduce the thickness and increase the density of the sponge-like polyacrylic acid structure to form a densified polyacrylic acid structure. The densified polyacrylic acid structure is preconditioned by heating to form a wound dressing. The wound dressing can be applied to control severe, life-threatening bleeding from a wound at a wound site of a person.

Abstract: This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof. The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of blood out of the wound site.

Abstract: This invention is directed to advanced hemorrhage control wound dressings, and methods of using and producing same. The subject wound dressing is constructed from a non-mammalian material for control of severe bleeding. The wound dressing for controlling severe bleeding is formed of a biomaterial comprising chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, a polyacrylic polymer or a combination thereof. The kind of severe, life-threatening bleeding contemplated by this invention is typically of the type not capable of being stanched when a conventional gauze wound dressing is applied with conventional pressure to the subject wound. The wound dressing being capable of substantially stanching the flow of the severe life-threatening bleeding from the wound by adhering to the wound site, to seal the wound, to accelerate blood clot formation at the wound site, to reinforce clot formation at the wound site and prevent bleed out from the wound site, and to substantially prohibit the flow of blood out of the wound site.

Abstract: The invention provides an orthotic insert for an article of footwear, which includes a cupped heel portion, the cupped heel portion having a concave upper bearing surface that extends above a most posterior cephalad portion of a calcaneous; and a heat-malleable mid-foot portion continuously coupled to the heel portion, the mid-foot portion having a medial longitudinal arch and a heat-deformable upper bearing surface. The invention also provides a method of treating a podiatric condition with an orthotic insert and a method of manufacturing a heat-malleable orthotic insert for an article of footwear.

Abstract: The invention provides an orthopedic insole for a diabetic shoe, as well as a method of manufacturing an orthopedic insole for a diabetic shoe. The orthopedic insole includes a cupped heel portion, the cupped heel portion having a concave upper bearing surface that extends above a most posterior cephalad portion of a calcaneous; a mid-foot portion continuously coupled to the cupped heel portion, the mid-foot portion having a medial longitudinal arch and a curvilinear upper bearing surface; and a heat-malleable forefoot portion coupled to the mid-foot portion, the forefoot portion having a heat-deformable upper bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention provides an innersole system for an article of footwear, including an orthopedic intermediary support member and a user-selectable exchangeable innersole. The orthopedic intermediary support member includes a cupped heel portion having a concave upper bearing surface and a midfoot portion having a medial longitudinal arch support with a curvilinear upper bearing surface. The exchangeable innersole mates with the orthopedic intermediary support member to provide a user-selected orthopedic correction factor.

Abstract: The invention involves a method and apparatus for processing biological material, such as heart valves and vascular grafts.

Abstract: A stent for receiving and supporting a tissue heart valve for ultimate implantation into a human, the heart valve including tissue leaflets joined at circumferentially spaced commissures, wherein the stent includes at least one commissure support post and at least one sinus support structure each sinus support structure being disposed between but not functionally connected to an adjacent commissure support post.

Abstract: The invention involves a method and apparatus for processing biological material, such as heart valves and vascular grafts.

Abstract: This invention relates to bioprosthetic heart valve stents that are fashioned of bioresorbable materials. Such stents may be configured as sheaths or frames contoured to the shape of a valvular graft. The stents are eventually resorbed by the patient, leaving a functional "stentless" valve with improved hemodynamic characteristics compared to stented valve implants.

Abstract: A stent for receiving and supporting a tissue heart valve for ultimate implantation into a human, the heart valve including tissue leaflets joined at circumferentially spaced commissures, wherein the stent includes at least one commissure support post and at least one sinus support structure each sinus support structure being disposed between but not functionally connected to an adjacent commissure support post.

Abstract: A xenograft replacement ligament to replace a damaged anterior cruciate or other human ligament includes a ligament of suitable size and strength that has been harvested from a donor animal with a bone piece at least one end to preserve intact a substantial portion of a first natural ligament-to-bone attachment structure of the donor animal. Once harvested, it may be tanned and otherwise processed with glutaraldehyde solution. Installation includes pinning and otherwise attaching the bone piece at the natural attachment site of the patient to more closely replicate the natural ligament-to-bone attachment structure being replaced. The replacement ligament may be harvested with a bone piece at each end for this purpose, with each of the bone pieces then being attached at a natural attachment site of each of two bones of the patient.

Abstract: Flexible prostheses of predetermined shapes are derived from bone. The process includes machining of a bone segment into the desired shape, demineralization to impart the desired degree of flexibility, and tanning to render the material non-antigenic, biocompatible, and stabilized.

Abstract: A bone grafting material is derived from allogenic or xenogenic bone by a process that includes tanning with glutaraldehyde. The bone may be pulverized, used as a large block, or machined into a precise pre-determined shape, depending on the bone defect to be repaired. Glutaraldehyde tanning of bone yields a stabilized, highly biocompatible, and non-antigenic material which becomes incorporated into host bone when placed adjacent to it.

Abstract: A method of treating a bone fracture which involves interposing a barrier layer of soft biological tissue at the interface of the bone and surrounding tissue.