A nerve regeneration system includes a nerve guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The system includes nerve growth factor configured to enhance the growth of axons and associated nerve tissue. The nerve growth factor has a first concentration nearer to a proximal end and a second growth factor concentration nearer to a distal end. The second growth factor concentration is higher than the first growth factor concentration. The system includes myelination factor configured to enhance myelination of the grown axons. The myelination factor has a first myelination factor concentration nearer to the proximal end, a third myelination factor concentration nearer to the distal end, and a second myelination factor concentration between the first myelination factor concentration and the third myelination factor concentration. The second myelination factor concentration is higher than the first myelination factor and higher than the third myelination factor concentration.

A biomimetic tissue scaffold for repairing an elongated tissue in need of repair can comprise a plurality of coiled flexible polymeric ribbons having a surface on which is formed an array of nanofibers, the ribbons forming a tubular body defining a first open end in which a first end of the elongated tissue is receivable, a second open end in which a second end of the elongated tissue is receivable, and a lumen extending between the first and second open ends.

A biomimetic tissue scaffold for repairing an elongated tissue in need of repair can comprise a plurality of coiled flexible polymeric ribbons having a surface on which is formed an array of nanofibers, the ribbons forming a tubular body defining a first open end in which a first end of the elongated tissue is receivable, a second open end in which a second end of the elongated tissue is receivable, and a lumen extending between the first and second open ends.

A biomimetic tissue scaffold for repairing an elongated tissue in need of repair can comprise a plurality of coiled flexible polymeric ribbons having a surface on which is formed an array of nanofibers, the ribbons forming a tubular body defining a first open end in which a first end of the elongated tissue is receivable, a second open end in which a second end of the elongated tissue is receivable, and a lumen extending between the first and second open ends.

The present invention provides a method of nerve repair using localized delivery of heat. The method involves localized induction of hyperthermia for end-to-end attachment of severed peripheral nerves by delivering stimulus responsive materials and exposing them to an excitation source under conditions wherein they emit heat. The generation of heat effects the joining of the nerve ends.

A capture-tool for manipulation of tissue utilizes vacuum to hold the tissue in place. An extension attached to a vacuum source at one end and a vacuum arm at another end creates a vacuum force through the extension and vacuum arm. The vacuum arm has a support surface with ports therein at which low pressure areas are formed by the vacuum force. The low pressure areas draw tissue against the supporting surface to hold it in place, as long as the vacuum force is active.

Tissue-engineered electronic peripheral nerve interface (TEENI) devices, methods of using TEENI devices, and systems using TEENI devices are provided. In particular, TEENI devices include a support member having a length, at least one thread set comprising a plurality thread set arms having a plurality of electronic leads running through the thread set arms and being fully encapsulated within the support member, and a plurality of electrodes fixed to the plurality of thread set arms.

A device comprises at least one processor and a memory comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to: generate a first signal that causes a vibration device to vibrate, the vibration device being in force-transmitting contact with a first anatomical element; receive, from a sensor, a second signal based on sensed vibration in a second anatomical element proximate the first anatomical element; and determine, based on the second signal, an amount of mechanical coupling between the second anatomical element and the first anatomical element.

Neurosupportive materials that possess strong tissue adhesion were synthesized by photocrosslinking two polymers, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and methacryloyl-substituted tropoelastin (MeTro). The engineered materials exhibited tunable mechanical properties by varying the GelMA/MeTro ratio. In addition, GelMA/MeTro hydrogels exhibited 15-fold higher adhesive strength to nerve tissue ex vivo compared to traditionally used fibrin-based materials. Furthermore, the composites were shown to support Schwann cell (SC) viability and proliferation, as well as neurite extension and glial cell participation in vitro, which are essential cellular components for nerve regeneration. Finally, subcutaneously implanted GelMA/MeTro hydrogels exhibited slower degradation in vivo compared with pure GelMA, indicating its potential to support the growth of slowly regenerating nerves. Thus, GelMA/MeTro composites may be used as clinically relevant biomaterials to regenerate nerves and reduce the need for microsurgical suturing during nerve reconstruction.

Provided is an anastomosis arrangement for joining two opposite stumps of a tubular organ in a streamlined anastomosis procedure. The arrangement includes a pair of axially symmetric stump-coupling members that accommodate pairs of counterpart suturing needles, linked together by common suturing threads, and manipulable by a needle-manipulation element to extract the needles tips from the stump-coupling members for piercing walls of the stump.