In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise one or more capsules and/or pockets comprising at least one medicament therein. In at least one embodiment, staples can be fired through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules. In certain embodiments, a firing member, or knife, can be advanced through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules.

The present application discloses a method of forming a hydrogel-coated substrate, wherein the hydrogel has antifouling and antimicrobial properties. The method comprises applying an aqueous pre-hydrogel solution to a substrate, polymerizing the aqueous pre-hydrogel solution, thereby forming a coated substrate having a conformal hydrogel coating and a non-conformal hydrogel coating, contacting the coated substrate with a swelling agent, and removing the non-conformal hydrogel coating from the coated substrate, thereby leaving the conformal hydrogel coating on the substrate to form the hydrogel-coated substrate. The aqueous pre-hydrogel solution comprises a monomer with antimicrobial activity, a monomer with antifouling activity, and either a polymer, oligomer, or macromer which, when polymerized together, form a hydrogel. Also disclosed is a coated substrate and a hydrogel coating.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.

A medical device includes a surgical needle, an elongated suture, and an intervening segment. The elongated suture has a first end proximate to the needle and a second end located away from the needle. The elongated suture also includes a plurality of fibers defining a mesh wall between the first and second ends. A plurality of pores extend through the mesh wall, at least some which are in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns for facilitating tissue integration when introduced into a body. The intervening segment is disposed between and connected to either or both ends of the elongated suture and the needle. The intervening segment includes one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers and has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mesh wall such that the intervening segment facilitates indirect attachment of the elongated macroporous mesh suture to the needle.

A medical device includes a surgical needle, an elongated suture, and an intervening segment. The elongated suture has a first end proximate to the needle and a second end located away from the needle. The elongated suture also includes a plurality of fibers defining a mesh wall between the first and second ends. A plurality of pores extend through the mesh wall, at least some which are in the macroporous size range of greater than 200 microns for facilitating tissue integration when introduced into a body. The intervening segment is disposed between and connected to either or both ends of the elongated suture and the needle. The intervening segment includes one or more fibers of the plurality of fibers and has a cross-sectional dimension smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the mesh wall such that the intervening segment facilitates indirect attachment of the elongated macroporous mesh suture to the needle.

Provided herein are organobismuth (III) phosphinate complexes, which comprise a phosphinate group and an aromatic carbocyclyl or aromatic heterocyclyl group. The complexes find use as antibacterial agents, and accordingly also provided herein are products, devices, compositions and materials comprising the complexes, for example medical products such as wound dressings and bandages.

Copper ion treatments for dermatological areas of the body include solutions, creams, lotions, gets, foams, wound dressings, skin patches and suture material, each containing copper ions that bring about therapeutic effects when the copper ion treatments are applied to dermatological tissue. Methods of treating dermatological areas of the body include treatments for use on the skin and nails to treat conditions including disease, infection, inflammation, damaged or injured tissue, tissue needing to be sutured, rashes and other undesirable dermatological conditions.

Ophthalmic suture materials made from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers with high tensile strength for use in drug delivery, methods of making them, and method of using them for ocular surgery and repair have been developed. The suture materials are made from a combination of a biodegradable, biocompatible polymer and a hydrophilic biocompatible polymer. In a preferred embodiment the suture materials are made from a poly(hydroxyl acid) such as poly(1-lactic acid) and a polyalkylene oxide such as poly(ethylene glycol) or a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer. The sutures entrap (e.g., encapsulate) one or more therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents and provide prolonged release over a period of at least a week, preferably a month.

Novel, lubricious coatings for medical devices are disclosed. The coatings provide improved lubricity and durability and are readily applied in coating processes a low temperatures that do not deform the device. The present invention is also directed to a novel platinum catalyst for use in such coatings. The catalyst provides for rapid curing, while inhibiting cross-linking at ambient temperatures, thereby improving the production pot life of the coatings.

A composition comprising a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments comprising at least one polymer, a plurality of electrospun fiber fragment clusters comprising at least one polymer, and, optionally, a carrier medium, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a kit comprising a first component of a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments, a carrier medium, and, optionally, a plurality of cells. Also disclosed is a biocompatible textile comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments. Also disclosed is a biocompatible suture comprising at least one electrospun fiber. Also disclosed is a method for making a biocompatible suture, comprising electrospinning a polymer solution onto a receiving surface, forming one or more non-overlapping nanofiber threads, removing the nanofiber threads from the receiving surface, and cutting the nanofiber threads into one or more biocompatible sutures.