A hydrogel stent for cerebral aneurysm includes a hydrogel polymer, and a stent body wrapping at least a portion of the hydrogel polymer. The stent body is expandable in a cerebral aneurysm of a blood vessel. The stent body is provided in a mesh type surrounding at least a portion of the hydrogel polymers. An embolization device for cerebral aneurysm, includes a hydrogel stent for cerebral aneurysm; a micro-conduit providing a movement path for guiding the hydrogel stent to a cerebral aneurysm of a blood vessel; and a pusher wire connected to the hydrogel stent to be movable in the movement path.

A device for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a micrograft having an absorbent polymeric structure with a lumen of transporting blood. The micrograft has a series of peaks and valleys formed by crimping. The occluding device is sufficiently small and flexible to be tracked on a guidewire and/or pushed through a microcatheter to a site within the vasculature of the patient. Delivery systems for delivering the micrografts are also disclosed.

Treatment of palatal defects is accomplished through devices that have controlled start time. The devices expand directionally to provide appropriate levels of stress and strain to a target tissue to promote tissue growth over the course of days or weeks, even as the defect repairs itself.

Vaso-occlusive apparatuses, including implants, and methods of using them to treat aneurysms. For example, described herein are expandable vaso-occlusive implants that include one or more soft and expandable braided member coupled to a pushable member such as a coil that maybe inserted and retrieved from within an aneurism using a delivery catheter. In particular, the expandable implants described herein are configured to allow relatively soft and elongate implants to be pushed out of a cannula without binding up within the cannula.

A bristle device for delivery into a body lumen comprises a longitudinally extending stem 1 and a plurality of bristles extending generally outwardly from the stem for anchoring the device in a body lumen. There may be at least two bristle segments and in some cases there are flexible sections between the segments. The flexible sections articulate to enable the device to pass through a catheter placed in a tortuous anatomy or to be deployed in a curved vessel, or across a bifurcation. In some cases at least some of the bristle segments are spaced-apart to accommodate bending of the bristles.

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.

A patient tracking device for insertion into an oral cavity includes a sensor housing comprising a first surface shaped to correspond to a pallet within the oral cavity. At least a portion of the first surface affixes the sensor housing to the oral cavity. An electromagnetic sensor is coupled to the sensor housing.

Apparatus for sealing a vascular wall penetration disposed at the end of the tissue tract comprises a shaft, an optional occlusion element, a hydratable hemostatic implant, and a protective sleeve. The apparatus is deployed through the tissue tract with the occlusion element optionally occluding the vascular wall penetration and inhibiting backbleeding therethrough. The hydratable hemostatic implant, which will typically be a biodegradable polymer such as collagen carrying an anti-proliferative agent or coagulation promoter, will then be deployed from the sealing apparatus by retracting the protective sleeve and left in place to enhance closure of the vascular wall penetration with minimum scarring. The hydratable implant will be protected from premature hydration and swelling by a soluble plug covering the implant's distal end prior to sleeve retraction.

A method of inducing retrograde blood flow may include extending a sheath through opposite walls of one of an artery and a vein of a subject and through a wall of the other of the artery and the vein such that a distal end of the sheath may be positioned within one of the artery and the vein. The method may include inducing retrograde blood flow in the artery and delivering the induced retrograde blood flow into the vein of the subject via the sheath.

Methods, devices and materials are for in situ formation of an implant for treating a nerve. A treatment site is positioned within a cavity defined by a form. The form may facilitate placement of a nerve stimulating device adjacent to the nerve to facilitate nerve regeneration. An in situ forming gel may be delivered in the form to surround the nerve. Access to the nerve treatment site may be open surgical or percutaneous.