The present invention relates to an orally administrable intragastric balloon encapsulated so that, once it is in the stomach, the capsules dissolves and increases its volume thanks to the presence, inside thereof, of a superabsorbent edible polymer able of absorbing the water contained in the stomach.

Medical devices are disclosed. For example, a medical device includes an elongated member. The medical device includes a hole forming surface along a portion of the elongated member. The medical device includes an open cell element in physical communication with the elongated member. The open cell element is configured to house at least a first portion of a biocompatible substance.

Disclosed is a microneedling device and a method for the microneedling of human or animal tissue. The method comprises the following steps; (a) providing a microneedling device having an electrically conductive microneedle and an electrically conducting nosepiece assembly spaced apart from the electrically conductive microneedle and acting as a counter electrode; (b) placing the electrically conductive microneedle and nosepiece assembly into contact with the tissue to be microneedled; (c) measuring the electrical impedance between the microneedle tip and the nosepiece or the current through the microneedle motor; (d) commencing insertion of the microneedle and moving the microneedle toward the tissue surface; (e) starting a step counter when the impedance reduces or the microneedle motor current increases; (f) incrementing the step counter with every step of the vertical drive motor until the step count reaches the prespecified value thereby controlling the depth of the hole microneedled.

The present invention provides for microneedle arrays and related systems and methods. Particularly, microneedle arrays that are configured to deliver active agents, including nucleic acids and vaccines, are provided. Additional related methods of vaccinating and minimizing the amount of vaccine necessary for effective inoculation are also provided.

The present invention provides for microneedle arrays and related systems and methods. Particularly, microneedle arrays that are configured to deliver active agents, including nucleic acids and vaccines, are provided. Additional related methods of vaccinating and minimizing the amount of vaccine necessary for effective inoculation are also provided.

A barrier layer and corresponding method of making provide anti-inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and anti-adhesion functionality for a medical device implantable in a patient. The barrier layer can be combined with a medical device structure to provide anti-adhesion characteristics, in addition to improved healing, non-inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory response. The barrier layer is generally formed of a naturally occurring oil, or an oil composition formed in part of a naturally occurring oil, that is at least partially cured forming a cross-linked gel. In addition, the oil composition can include a therapeutic agent component, such as a drug or other bioactive agent.

An object of the present invention is to provide an adhesion preventing material capable of preventing adhesion safely and efficiently. The present invention provides an adhesion preventing material comprised of a cell sheet containing mesothelial cells; an adhesion preventing method and organ regeneration promoting method each using the cell sheet containing mesothelial cells.

Disclosed are devices for delivering a rheumatoid arthritis drug across a dermal barrier. The devices include microneedles for penetrating the stratum corneum and also include structures fabricated on a surface of the microneedles to form a nanotopography. A random or non-random pattern of structures may be fabricated such as a complex pattern including structures of differing sizes and/or shapes. The pattern of structures on the surface of the microneedles may include nano-sized structures.

Disclosed are devices for delivering a rheumatoid arthritis drug across a dermal barrier. The devices include microneedles for penetrating the stratum corneum and also include structures fabricated on a surface of the microneedles to form a nanotopography. A random or non-random pattern of structures may be fabricated such as a complex pattern including structures of differing sizes and/or shapes. The pattern of structures on the surface of the microneedles may include nano-sized structures.

A sheet structure comprising two joined extracellular matrix (ECM) tissue or sheet layers and a physiological sensor disposed therebetween; the ECM tissue being derived from a mammalian tissue source that includes small intestine submucosa (SIS), urinary bladder submucosa (UBS), stomach submucosa (SS), urinary basement membrane (UBM), liver basement membrane (LBM), amniotic membrane, mesothelial tissue, placental tissue and cardiac tissue.