A method of preventing or reducing the occurrence and/or development of a hernia within a subject at risk of developing a hernia includes implanting a graft material in contact with an opening in an abdominal wall. The graft material promotes healing of the abdominal wall and includes placental or placental derived tissue.

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.

This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

A stent scaffold combined with amniotic tissue provides for a biocompatible stent that has improved biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The amnion tissue can be variously modified or unmodified form of amnion tissue such as non-cryo amnion tissue, solubilized amnion tissue, amnion tissue fabric, chemically modified amnion tissue, amnion tissue treated with radiation, amnion tissue treated with heat, or a combination thereof. Materials such as polymer, placental tissue, pericardium tissue, small intestine submucosa can be used in combination with the amnion tissue. The amnion tissue can be attached to the inside, the outside, both inside and outside, or complete encapsulation of the stent scaffold. In some embodiments, at least part of the covering or lining comprises a plurality of layers of amnion tissue. The method of making the biocompatible stent and its delivery and deployment are also discussed.

The technology concerns a construct comprising at least one tissular region and at least one polymeric region for use as an implant.

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.

The present invention relates to plasma-based films and in particular to flexible plasma-based films. The invention further relates to and to methods of making and using the flexible plasma-based films. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed for making flexible plasma-based films useful as a hemostat in the treatment and/or prevention of mild to severe as well as arterial bleedings, as an anti-adhesive sheet to reduce or prevent development of surgery-induced adhesions, as a wound healing patch, as a wound dressing, or as a film useful in hernia repair. Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to these applications. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

A biodegradable in vivo supporting device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a coated stent device includes a biodegradable metal alloy scaffold made from a magnesium alloy, iron alloy, zinc alloy, or combination thereof, and the metal scaffold comprises a plurality of metal struts. The metal struts are at least partially covered with a biodegradable polymer coating. The biodegradable scaffold includes a radio-opaque marker made of a substance that blocks radiation. A cavity is manufactured in the scaffold and the radio-opaque marker is accommodated by the cavity.

A biodegradable in vivo supporting device is disclosed. The in vivo supporting device comprises a biodegradable metal scaffold and a biodegradable polymer coating covering at least a portion of the biodegradable metal scaffold, wherein the biodegradable polymer coating has a degradation rate that is faster than the degradation rate of the biodegradable metal scaffold.