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.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to a implantable polymer mesh for use in hernia and other soft tissue repair made using amino acid based poly(ester urea) (PEU) polymers. In some embodiments, the implantable polymer mesh is made using linear or branched L-valine based PEUs and displays mechanical properties similar to poly(propylene) (PP), but with significantly less fibrous capsule formation. In some embodiments, the implantable polymer mesh is made using L-valine-co-L-phenylalanine PEUs. In some embodiments, the implantable polymer mesh is made using these PEUs in a composite with an extracellular matrix (ECM). In various embodiments, these amino acid-based PEU materials can be formed into implantable polymer mesh having a conventional size and shape by a wide variety of techniques including conventional compression molding, vacuum molding, blade coating, flow coating, and/or solvent casting.

An apparatus includes an assembly and hollow templates. The assembly includes multiple hinges mounted thereon. The assembly is configured to rotate about a first axis, and each of the hinges is additionally configured to rotate about a respective second axis. The hollow templates are fitted on the respective hinges and are each configured to contain a balloon-based distal end of a medical instrument, each template having a patterned opening through which one or more electrodes are deposited on the distal end.

An apparatus includes an assembly and hollow templates. The assembly includes multiple hinges mounted thereon. The assembly is configured to rotate about a first axis, and each of the hinges is additionally configured to rotate about a respective second axis. The hollow templates are fitted on the respective hinges and are each configured to contain a balloon-based distal end of a medical instrument, each template having a patterned opening through which one or more electrodes are deposited on the distal end.

Biomaterials and methods and uses for repair or augmentation of tissues are provided. In particular, the invention provides a multi-layered, naturally occurring multi-axial oriented biomaterial comprising predominately type I collagen fibers. The invention further provides methods and uses for repair or augmentation of tissues using biomaterials of the invention.

Materials for soft tissue repair, and in particular, material for hernia repair. These materials may be configured as an implant, such as a graft, that may be implanted into a patient in need thereof, such as a patient having a hernia or undergoing a hernia repair surgical procedure. These grafts may include a first layer comprising a substrate (e.g., mesh) and a second layer comprising a sheet of anti-adhesive material. The layers may be attached with a plurality of relatively small attachment sites that are separated by regions in which the two layers are not attached, to provide a highly compliant graft.

A bioresorbable biopolymer stents can be deployed within a blood vessel and resorbed by the body over a predetermined time period after the blood vessel has been remodeled. A ratcheting biopolymer stent can include a ratcheting mechanism that allows the biopolymer stent to be deployed on a small diameter configuration and then expanded to a predefined larger diameter configuration wherein after expansion, the ratcheting mechanism locks the biopolymer stent in the expanded configuration. A folding biopolymer stent can be deployed in a folded, small diameter configuration and then expanded to an unfolded configuration having a larger diameter. The bioresorbable biopolymer can include silk fibroin and blend that include silk fibroin materials.

A bioactive filamentary structure includes a sheath coated with a mixture of synthetic bone graft particles and a polymer solution forming a scaffold structure. In forming such a structure, synthetic bone graft particles and a polymer solution are applied around a filamentary structure. A polymer is precipitated from the polymer solution such that the synthetic bone graft particles and the polymer coat the filamentary structure and the polymer is adhered to the synthetic bone graft particles to retain the graft particles.

The present invention relates to the production of endothelialized matrices and materials from immature endothelial cells using substrates to which particular peptides have been grafted. The resultant substrates can be used to capture and support immature endothelial cells. Further, the methods and compositions of the present invention provide viable cell delivery platforms that allow for production and provision of endothelialized medical devices and implants, including vascular grafts, stents, shunts, and valves, endothelialized surfaces and channels for in vitro testing devices, including microfluidic chips, and materials that support vascularization such as for use in engineered tissues. The present invention includes novel methods required for the successful production of cellularized substrates, systems and components used for the same, and methods of using the resultant cell and tissue compositions.

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.