Aspects of the disclosure relate to storage assemblies including at least part of a delivery device and an implant. The storage assemblies are configured to trap sterilizing ethylene oxide gas using its high water solubility and converting the escaped ethylene oxide to less detrimental ethylene glycol and ethylene chlorohydrin to protect the implant from damage. In one example, the storage assembly includes an inner container housing the implant and sterilizing fluid and an outer container positioned over the inner container, wherein the outer container is at least partially filled with aqueous water. The implant may be a prosthetic heart valve. Aspects of the disclosure also relate to methods of sterilizing the storage assemblies of the disclosure.

An edentulous mouth insert appliance for mounting upon the edentulous gum of a patient, comprises a u-shaped frame formed of a rigid flexible material, with a portion to embrace the gum and a portion extending beyond the gum with an exposed surface to replicate a bite aligned with the corresponding occlusal plane. The frame has a base supporting a pair of inner and outer side walls spaced apart by the base a distance allowing the frame to encircle and cover the edentulous gum with a space between inner surfaces of the frame and the gum. A fill within the frame fills the space between the frame and the gum upon which the appliance is fitted, providing a void-free seal between the apparatus and the gum.

Trays and packaging systems for a prosthesis delivery device that permit conversion from a packaged, storage/or shipping configuration to a loading configuration for the loading of a prosthesis. The prosthesis may be a prosthetic heart valve. In the packaged configuration, the delivery device can be supported within the tray, which includes a recess and at least one clip maintaining the delivery device within the recess. In the loading configuration, the delivery device can be arranged for loading of the prosthesis within a bath area of the tray. Optionally, the delivery device can be stored in the packaged configuration in a U-shape. Some embodiments include an additional recess for positioning an indeflator fluid line or tubing. Methods of use are also disclosed.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

Ophthalmic tissue delivery devices that include an injector and injector carriers and methods for endothelial keratoplasty surgical procedures are provided. Injectors include a conduit sized to accommodate ophthalmic tissue. One end of the injector is configured for insertion into a patient's eye to inject ophthalmic tissue. Injector carriers include a container, a cap configured to seal an opening of the container. The injector can be coupled to a pressure actuated valve and a syringe where activating the syringe opens the value and allows fluid to flow from the syringe, through the valve, and through the injector to dispense ophthalmic tissue from the injector into a patient's eye without the need to physically contact the ophthalmic tissue.

The present invention relates to a prosthesis (100) comprising an openworked three-dimensional knit (101) comprising a front face and a rear face, each face being formed with one or more laps of yarns defining pores on said face, the front face being bound to the rear face by connecting yarns defining a spacer, characterized in that the connecting yarns are distributed so that they define an entanglement of yarns crossing each other at the spacer, without obstructing the pores of the front and rear faces.

Expandable absorbable implants have been developed that are suitable for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The implants can be implanted in the vicinity of a tissue expander, for example, by suturing to the detached edge of the pectoralis major muscle to function as a pectoralis extender, and used to form a sling for a tissue expander. The implants, which permit tissue-ingrowth and slowly degrade, can be expanded in the breast using a tissue expander in order to form a pocket for a permanent breast implant. After expansion, the tissue expander can be removed and replaced with a permanent breast implant. The expandable implants help reduce patient discomfort resulting from tissue expansion, and avoid the need to use allografts or xenografts to create the pocket for the tissue expander. The expandable absorbable implant preferably comprises poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer thereof.

Cartilage support implants for nasal valve support and delivery systems are described. The cartilage support implant can include one or more elongate bodies comprising one or more anchors. The cartilage support implant can be designed to be a permanent implant extending along the midline of a patient's nose, from the nasal bone to the lower lateral cartilage. Methods of placing the cartilage support implant and retrieving the cartilage support implant are also described.

A device that facilitates preparation of corneal grafts, including an illuminated base; and a corneal graft holder that can be selectively coupled to the illuminated base to illuminate a portion of donor cornea to facilitate preparation of the corneal graft.

Prosthesis (1) comprising a patch (2) made of biocompatible material, said patch having a generally plane geometric shape that defines two opposite faces, a centre, a length and a width of said patch, characterized in that said patch is provided, on one (2a) of its faces, with a single marking means (3) designed to indicate both the centre (C) of the patch and also the longitudinal direction of said patch.