A laser tube-cutting machine is disclosed. The tube-cutting machine may include a processing station where raw material enter the machine, a holding and positioning station configured to hold and position the raw material, at least one combined measurement and laser cutting station including a laser and at least one sensor configured to measure various aspects of the tube both before and after cutting, and an outflow processing station where cut material exit the machine.

Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly comprising an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilatation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium. The encapsulated stents may also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

A tapered implantable device includes an ePTFE tubular member having a tapered length portion. The tapered length portion provides rapid recovery properties. The tapered length portion can feature a microstructure that includes a multiplicity of bent fibrils.

The present invention relates to a prosthesis (1) for hernia repair comprising a reinforcement layer (2), a first barrier layer (3) of anti-adhesion material covering at least a part of a surface of the reinforcement layer, and a second barrier layer of anti-adhesion material covering a remaining part of the surface of the reinforcement layer, the second barrier layer being formed of one or more flap member(s) (4).

An implantable device includes an adjustable spacer and at least one anchor. The adjustable spacer is configured to be positioned between native heart valve leaflets to reduce regurgitation therebetween. The adjustable spacer can comprise a first side and a second side opposite the first side. Each side can be adjustable between a first width and a second width. Each side can be independently moved between the first width and the second width. The adjustable spacer can be made from a sponge material.

Medical constructs with collagen fibers and gelatin and related collagen fibers. The collagen fibers can be derived from extruded soluble dermal collagen and can include a gelatin film attached to the at least one collagen fiber. The gelatin film can include one or more minerals and has a gelatin concentration of between about 0.1% to about 40% weight per volume.

Disclosed are methods, devices and materials for the in situ formation of a nerve cap and/or a nerve wrap to inhibit neuroma formation following planned or traumatic nerve injury. The method includes the steps of identifying a severed end of a nerve, and positioning the severed end into a cavity defined by a form. A transformable media is introduced into the form cavity to surround the severed end. The media is permitted to undergo a transformation from a first, relatively flowable state to a second, relatively non flowable state to form a protective barrier surrounding the severed end. The media may be a hydrogel, and the transformation may produce a synthetic crosslinked hydrogel protective barrier. The media may include at least one anti-regeneration agent to inhibit nerve regrowth

A stent indwelling device includes a guide catheter and a pusher catheter. The guide catheter includes: a core section; an outer layer section surrounding an outer circumference of the core section; a stent protection section disposed between the core section and the outer layer section, being longer than a dimension of a tube stent, having stiffness resisting compression inward in a radial direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide catheter, and having flexibility in a direction in which the guide catheter is curved; and a stopper configured to allow expansion of the stent protection section in a direction along the longitudinal axis and restrict movement of the stent protection section in the direction with respect to the core section.

Implants for prevention of cold welding, corrosion and tissue overgrowth on surfaces between medical implant components include a first medical implant component having a first implant contact surface, a second medical implant component having a second implant contact surface positionally interfacing with the first implant contact surface of the first medical implant and a separation coating material on at least one of the first implant contact surface and the second implant contact surface. Methods for prevention of cold welding and/or corrosion between and/or tissue/bone overgrowth on implant components and methods of sealing an interface between a first implant component and a second implant component in a prosthesis system are also disclosed.

A catheter device (2) is provided for implanting an anchor (9) into body tissue to attach a line (14) to the body tissue. The catheter device (2) comprises: a housing section (4), (8) extending from a distal end of the catheter device (2) along the length of the catheter device (2) toward the proximal end of the catheter device, the housing section (4), (8) comprising a distal part (8) at the distal end of the catheter device (2) and a proximal part 4 located on the proximal side of the distal part (8). An anchor deployment mechanism (106), (110) is provided at the distal part (8) of the housing section (4), (8) for deployment of the anchor (9) for attachment of the anchor (9) to the body tissue. The anchor (9) is held in its stowed position by the anchor deployment mechanism (106, 110) in the distal part (8) prior to deployment, and the anchor (9) comprises a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue and having a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that the hooks (62) can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied, and wherein the hooks (62) are held in the folded position whilst the anchor (9) is in the stowed position within the distal part (8). The distal part (8) of the housing (4), (8) has a non-circular shape (118), (117) for engagement with a corresponding non-circular form (28), (108) of the anchor (9) and/or the anchor deployment mechanism (106), (110), such that when the anchor (9) is held in the distal part (8) movement of the anchor (9) is restrained with respect to rotation of the anchor (9) about a longitudinal axis of the distal part (8) due to engagement between the non-circular shape (118), (117) and the non-circular form (28), (108).