A soluble needle (100) for hair transplantation, wherein the soluble needle (100) comprises a fixing plate (30) and a plurality of micro-needles (20) made of water-soluble polymers arranged on the fixing plate (30), wherein each of said micro-needle (20) comprises a needle wall (21) to penetrate scalps and a needle cavity (22) confined by the needle wall (21) and configured for accommodating a hair follicle. A method of manufacturing a soluble needle (100) for hair transplantation, wherein the method includes: dissolving water-soluble polymers in water to prepare a molding solution (S101); delivering the molding solution into a mold (S102); letting the molding solution settle in the mold to shape (S103); and separating and removing the mold to produce the soluble needle (S104). The soluble needle (100) effectively shortens the time of surgery, reduces the pain of the patients, and increases the viability rate of transplanted hair follicles.

The disclosure includes a catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end located opposite the proximal end, an outer surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and an inner surface located opposite the outer surface, wherein the inner surface is configured to also extend between the proximal end and the distal end. In some embodiments, each of the outer and inner surfaces is coated in a hydrophilic coating. The hydrophilic coating may be configured to reduce surface tension and increase the lubricity of the catheter.

A stapling assembly comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises a body portion comprising a porous material and a plurality of cavities defined in the body portion, wherein the cavities are aligned with forming surfaces of an anvil such that fasteners of a fastener cartridge are configured to at least one of the cavities when the fasteners are ejected from the fastener cartridge or capture the cavities and compress the cavities within the tissue thickness compensator when the fasteners are ejected from the fastener cartridge and formed by forming surfaces of the anvil. The stapling assembly further comprises at least one medicament positioned within each cavity prior to firing the stapler, wherein the medicament is different than the porous material.

Polymeric compositions, methods, and delivery devices for inhibiting bleeding are disclosed. The method includes applying a dried material topically to a wound site, where the material may include a cross-linked biologically compatible polymer which forms a hydrogel when exposed to blood and where the material may not include an active agent such as thrombin. A spring-loaded delivery device as described herein may be used to apply the dried material.

A staple cartridge comprising a tissue thickness compensator is disclosed. The tissue thickness compensator comprises an uncompressed height, a compressed height, an outer encasement, and tubular structures aligned along the longitudinal axis. The tubular structures are configured to collapse when pressure is applied to the tissue thickness compensator by tissue during the firing motion.

A lithotripter tip configured for use within an invasive lithotripter probe may include a lithotripter tip body dimensioned and configured to be threaded through a human vein or artery of a patient and delivered to a position directly adjacent to a concretion within the patient. The lithotripter tip body may define an interior region in communication with an aperture at a distal end of the lithotripter tip body and the lithotripter tip body may define at least one port in communication with the interior region that is configured to receive a liquid and provide a path for the liquid to flow into the interior region of the body. A first electrode and a second electrode are positioned within the interior region of the lithotripter tip such that such that when liquid from the at least one port is within the interior region and an electric arc occurs between the ends of the first and second electrodes, a gaseous bubble forms within the interior region and a resulting shockwave travels out of the aperture at the distal end of the lithotripter tip body and impacts the concretion positioned directly adjacent to the lithotripter tip body.

A stapling assembly includes a cartridge, an anvil, and an adjunct. The cartridge has rows of staples disposed therein for deployment into tissue. The cartridge includes a knife slot extending therethrough between the rows for receiving a knife to cut tissue. The anvil is positioned opposite the cartridge. The adjunct is releasably retained on the cartridge or the anvil. The adjunct can be delivered to tissue by deployment of the staples from the cartridge. The adjunct can have a first shape, and a first adjunct portion can exhibit first expansion behavior in response to receipt of a volume of fluid, and a second adjunct portion can exhibit second expansion behavior in response to receipt of the volume of fluid such that the adjunct adopts a second shape. The difference between the first and second expansion behavior applies different pressures to different portions of tissue having the adjunct stapled thereto.

A suture anchor for fixation within an anatomical structure includes an actuation member in contact with an anchor body at a first location thereof. The anchor body is elongate along a direction of elongation and defines a central axis. In a neutral configuration, the anchor body is flat and defines a thickness along a transverse direction and a width along a lateral direction, the width being greater than the thickness. The anchor body has first and second tails that are braided together along a portion of the actuation member from the first location to a second location of the anchor body. The actuation member is configured to apply a force to the braided anchor body so as to actuate the anchor body in a manner increasing its maximum thickness along a second direction that is angularly offset from the direction of elongation.

A method for treating a site within a patient from which tissue has been removed includes providing at least one press-formed marker body formed of polysaccharide and a suitable binder; and placing the at least one of the press-formed marker body within the site where tissue has been removed so as to provide hemostasis therein.

Systems and methods can remove material of interest, including blood clots, from a body region, including but not limited to the circulatory system for the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cerebrovascular embolism, and other vascular occlusions.