Abstract: Demineralized bone particles are obtained by demineralizing whole bone and thereafter subdividing the demineralized bone to provide the demineralized bone particles.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a plurality of injectable hollow particulate fillers suspended in a biocompatible fluid carrier to significantly improve the clumping resistance and injectability of the composition. The hollow particulate fillers have a lower effective density and are able to suspend in the carrier without precipitation. The loss of skin volume as a result of aging, diseases, weight loss, and injury can lead to uneven skin surface (e.g. wrinkle, etc.). The uneven skin can be repaired by injecting appropriate amount of hollow fillers underneath the skin. Some cases of urinary incontinence occur when the resistance to urine flow has decreased excessively. Continence is restored by injecting the present invention to the urethra tissue to increase resistance to urine outflow. Similarly, the present invention allows for the control of gastric fluid reflux by submucosal injections of the fillers to the esophageal-gastric and gastric-pyloric junction.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring are provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal. The appliance, when so placed is effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example in maintaining openness of an oropharyngeal region of a human or animal during natural sleep. Preferably, the appliance is non-circumferential in form and includes rounded, spaced apart end portions.

Abstract: A bone replacement material for use in a treatment for repairing a vertebral body compression fracture is formed into a pellet having a roughly polyhedral shape. Each pellet having the roughly polyhedral shape has a pair of opposite surfaces, in which one of the opposite surfaces is inclined with respect to the other surface for a predetermined angle. The angle is preferably in the range of 10 to 60°. Further, the volume of each pellet of the bone replacement material 1 is in the range of 13 to 239 mm3. Furthermore, the bone replacement material is formed of calcium phosphate based compound having the Ca/P ratio of 1.0 to 2.0. By using such a bone replacement material, it is possible to carry out packing operation of the bone replacement material into a collapsed vertebral body smoothly, reliably and safely.

Abstract: A medical device and system capable of providing on-demand delivery of biologically active material to a body lumen patient, and a method of making such medical device. A first coating layer comprising a biologically active material and optionally a polymeric material is disposed on the surface of the medical device. A second coating layer comprising magnetic particles and a polymeric material is disposed on the first coating layer. The second coating layer, which is substantially free of a biologically active material, protects the biologically active material prior to delivery. The system includes the medical device and a source of energy, such as an electromagnetic or mechanical vibrational energy. When the patient is exposed to the energy source, the magnetic particles move out of the second coating layer and create channels therein through which the biologically active material can be released.

Abstract: A pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining the airway is treated by selecting an implant dimensioned so as to be implanted at or beneath a mucosal layer of the pharyngeal wall and extending transverse to said wall. The implant has mechanical characteristics for the implant, at least in combination with a fibrotic tissue response induced by the implant, to stiffen said pharyngeal wall to resist radial collapse. The implant is implanted into the pharyngeal wall transverse to a longitudinal axis of the airway.

Abstract: A soft tissue implant material is formed from biologically-compatible polymeric particles. The particles may have a diameter of up to about 500 microns and intraparticulate pores sized for ingrowth of soft tissue. The particles may have an inner core of a first biologically-compatible polymeric material and an outer layer generally surrounding the inner core, with the outer layer comprised of a second biologically-compatible polymeric material being hydrophilic and having a composition different from the composition of the first polymeric material. The material may be utilized with collagen or other matrix materials. This material may be used in a method of reforming soft tissues by implanting the material within soft body tissues to modify soft tissue defects such as wrinkles or oral gingival tissue defects and reshape soft tissue, e.g., for urinary bladder inconvenience.

Abstract: A hybrid medical implant having a biocompatible, nonabsorbable core portion and a bioabsorbable textured outer surface portion overlying the core portion. The hybrid implant is useful as a prosthesis for tissue augmentation and/or reconstruction. The core portion of the implant includes a body formed from a nonabsorbable, biocompatible implantable material such as silicone or urethane elastomer. The core portion may be either a solid body, a viscous gel body or a fluid-filled shell. The textured outer surface portion envelops the core portion and presents an irregular, bioabsorbable textured surface to the exterior environment. As a capsule forms around the implant following implantation, the irregular contour of the outer surface of the implant disorients structural proteins in the capsule to impede spherical contraction thereof. Either during the formation of the capsule and/or after the capsule is formed, the outer bioabsorbable surface portion of the implant is absorbed by the body of the host.

Abstract: An implantable material for deployment in select locations or select tissue for tissue regeneration is disclosed. The implant comprises collagen, ceramics, and or other bio-resorbable materials or additives, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. Additionally, the implant may be “matched” to provide the implant with similar physical and/or chemical properties as the host tissue.

Abstract: Bioresorbable blends are presented for use in the manufacture of surgical implants. The blends comprise a bioresorbable copolymer and a further bioresorbable polymer.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the field of medical implants, and more specifically to biodegradable injectable implants and their methods of manufacture and use. The injectable implants disclosed herein comprise glycolic acid and bio-compatible/bio-absorbable polymeric particles containing a polymer of lactic acid. The particles are small enough to be injected through a needle but large enough to avoid engulfment by macrophages. The injectables of this invention may be in a pre-activated solid form or an activated form (e.g., injectable suspension or emulsion).

Abstract: Novel methods for the delivery of biocompatible material to intraosseous spaces are provided comprising accessing a space, placing a first aliquot of restorative material into the space, and after a period of time sufficient for first aliquot to set, placing a second aliquot into the space.

Abstract: There is described a bio-compatible aqueous slurry for forming a fluid-tight barrier on a surface of a porous implantable article. This aqueous slurry includes a self-aggregating protein comminutate having a substantially uniform particle size, a bio-compatible plasticizer and water. This aqueous slurry is further characterized by having a viscosity of about 8,000 centipoise to about 60,000 centipoise at 25° C. and a pH sufficient to maintain the protein suspended in the slurry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injectable soft tissue filler composition and methods of preparing the composition.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked, decellularized and purified mammalian tissue (e.g., bovine pericardium) having particular use as an implantable resorbable material. The material is treated by alkylating its primary amine groups in a manner sufficient to reduce the antigenicity of the tissue, permitting the treated tissue to be used in vivo and without crosslinking, and in turn, permitting it to be resorbable. The material can be used in surgical repair of soft tissue deficiencies for a certain period of time while the implant itself is gradually remodeled or absorbed by the host. Also provided are a method of preparing such a material, as well as a method of using such a material for surgical repair.

Abstract: An enhanced visibility composition for implantation from a remote source, so that the composition can be readily observed under fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques. The compositions include a biocompatible matrix, such as a hard tissue implant material for example, and radiopaque particles mixed in the matrix. The radiopaque particles have a particle size between about 120&mgr; and 2200&mgr;, more preferably bout 350&mgr; and 2200&mgr;, even more preferably between about 450&mgr; and 1600&mgr;, and most preferably between about 570&mgr; and 1150&mgr;. Preferably the hard tissue implant and the radiopaque particles are formed or prepared in a slurry. Optionally, the enhanced visibility composition may further include additional radiopaque particles or contrast particles mixed in with the composition, which have a particle size between about 120&mgr; and 350&mgr;, preferably between about 120&mgr; and 250&mgr;.

Abstract: The present invention uses and implants a composition under the area of the skin where wrinkles occur, said composition being substantially non-absorbable and not subject to rejection or allergic reaction. The composition of the present invention is a colloidal suspension composed of a colloid of carboxygluconate lactic of magnesium and sterile methacrylate microspheres.

Abstract: An enhanced visibility composition for implantation from a remote source, so that the composition can be readily observed under fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques. The compositions include a biocompatible matrix, such as a hard tissue implant material for example, and radiopaque particles mixed in the matrix. The radiopaque particles have a particle size between about 120&mgr; and 2200&mgr;, more preferably about 350&mgr; and 2200&mgr;, even more preferably between about 450&mgr; and 1600&mgr;, and most preferably between about 570&mgr;0 and 1150&mgr;. Preferably the hard tissue implant and the radiopaque particles are formed or prepared in a slurry. Optionally, the enhanced visibility composition may further include additional radiopaque particles or contrast particles mixed in with the composition, which have a particle size between about 120&mgr; and 350&mgr;, preferably between about 120&mgr; and 250&mgr;.