A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator comprising a lyophilized foam having an anti-microbial agent embedded therein.

A delivery member is provided for delivering and deploying an intravascular medical device. The delivery member includes a flexible distal portion including a wound wire coil surrounded by a flexible sleeve and inhibited from extending lengthwise by a stretch resistant member positioned through the lumen of the coil. The delivery member can include hypotubes positioned on either side (distally and proximally) from the wound wire coil to which the stretch resistant member and the wound wire coil can be attached.

Devices for treating vascular defects and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, for example, an occlusive device for treating an aneurysm includes a tubular structure having a first end portion with a first opening, a second end portion with a second opening, and a mesh surface extending between the first and second end portions. The occlusive device also includes a plurality of spiral struts coupled to the first end portion of the tubular structure and extending over the first opening. When the occlusive device is deployed within the aneurysm, the tubular structure and the plurality of spiral struts can be configured to self-expand such that the plurality of spiral struts span a neck of the aneurysm substantially within a single plane and the mesh surface of the tubular structure engages a wall of the aneurysm near the neck.

A self-expanding retractor is described for placement within the vaginal canal of a post-partum female to aid in performing a vaginal repair. The retractor provides improved exposure and enhanced visualization of an episiotomy or vaginal laceration repair site. The retractor is typically in the form of a foldable, trapezoidal frame defining a central aperture, and includes anterior stability posts at its corners and a panel spanning the central aperture. The panel is typically in the form of a surgical gauze pad for absorbing blood and fluids entering the surgical field. The retractor can be folded by a user for placement within the vaginal canal and then released, which allows it to expand to hold back swollen tissues from obstructing the repair site. The retractor is typically lightweight and compact and is configured to minimize slippage during use.

Vascular compression devices with an inflatable chamber are disclosed. The inflatable chamber of the vascular compression devices can be inflated and then deflated with a liquid with ultrasound properties similar to biological tissues. Ultrasound waves may be applied to the vascular compression device and may propagate through the vascular compression device and into the biological tissue of the patient to produce an ultrasound image to determine the patency of the vessel.

Surgical instruments for use in membrane peeling in treatments of different macular surface diseases are disclosed herein. Membrane forceps may include a forceps extension and forceps jaws extending from a distal termination of the forceps extension. The forceps jaws may include a first jaw and a second jaw. Each of the first jaw and the second jaw may include a gripping tip that abuts one another when the forceps jaws are in a closed configuration so as to grasp a membrane The first jaw and the second jaw may each include a coating at a distal end of the forceps jaws configured to increase a frictional force between the membrane and the forceps jaws.

Tissue plugs for occlusion of hollow anatomical structures and methods for their use are provided.

Implantable materials for use with end effectors like surgical stapling devices, and methods for using the same, are generally provided. In some embodiments, adjunct materials for use with surgical staplers are provided. For example, a kit for stapling tissue is provided that can include a surgical stapler having an end effector. The end effector can have first and second jaws. The kit can include an adjunct material having hydrophobic surface regions and hydrophilic surface regions and the adjunct material can be configured to mate to at least one of the jaws of the end effector. Other implants, devices, and methods for surgical stapling are also provided.

A delivery member is provided for delivering and deploying an implantable medical device. The delivery member includes a distal hypotube, a flexible tubular section, a proximal hypotube, a lumen extending through the distal hypotube, flexible tubular section, and proximal hypotube, a stretch resistant member, and a flexible sleeve. The stretch resistant tube can be positioned outside of the lumen, affixed to the proximal and distal hypotubes, and extending along at least a portion of an outer surface of the flexible tubular section. The flexible sleeve can comprise one or more stretch resistant fibers positioned within a wall of the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve can cover at least a majority of an outer surface of the flexible tubular section.

An apparatus and method are disclosed for a biofunctional molecular imprint medical device configured to remain in permanent or temporary contact with a body comprising a supportive structure, a surface material that receives and retains a molecular imprint and that is positioned to contact a body tissue or other substance during use, a molecular imprint of a bioactive molecule wherein an imprinted cavity is of a bioactive molecule that catalyzes the promotion or suppression biological processes and at least one of a semiconductor, a nanoparticle quantum dot, a nano-island, and a quantum wire, wherein the nanoparticle quantum dot, nano-island, or quantum wire produces an electron wave function configuration that dynamically reconfigures the electron charge distribution within the molecular imprint, enabling tuning of the imprinted cavity.