An ablatable corneal inlay for correction of refractive errors and/or presbyopia, and a method of correcting refractive errors and presbyopia in an eye of a patient using an ablatable corneal inlay is disclosed herein.

Porous implantable devices for housing one or more therapeutic agents are disclosed herein. The implantable devices include a porous outer wall defining an interia or void. The interior void houses a carrier material carrying a first therapeutic agent. The implantable devices are made by patterning at least a portion of a polymerizable substrate into a polymerized three-dimensional porous outer wall surrounding an interior void. This can be achieved by two-photon polymerization techniques. A first therapeutic agent is then added to the interior void, which is then sealed. Methods of treating diseases using the implantable devices are disclosed herein. The methods include implanting the implantable device at a target area and locally releasing a therapeutically effective dosage of a first therapeutic agent from the interior void. The implantable devices can also be used in methods of screening potentially therapeutic agents for desired biological responses.

Artificial heart valves, their manufacture, and methods of use are described. Generally, artificial heart valves can be deployed to replace or supplement defective heart valves in a patient. These artificial heart valves can comprise a frame with an inner skirt and leaflets. These inner skirt and leaflets can be generated from regenerative tissue to allow integration of the tissue with the body of a patient, while the frame can be generated from bioabsorbable material to allow dissolution of the frame over time. This combination of materials may allow for the artificial valve to grow with a patient and avoid costly and potentially dangerous replacement for patients receiving artificial valves.

The invention relates to an endoprosthesis (1), in particular a vascular stent or a heart stent, comprising at least one body (3) part. At least one area (5,6) of an outer surface, preferably the whole outer surface, of the at least one body part (3) is provided with thrombogenic fibers (2). The invention further relates to methods of manufacturing endoprostheses (1).

A fluidic bridging tube (1), for bridging membranes in the human or animal body allowing the passage of fluid, has a proximal flange (2), an inter lumen connector (3) with a lumen (5) and a distal flange (4). The tube comprises a metal skeleton or scaffold structure (51) and a surrounding polymer which is softer than the scaffold structure. The scaffold structure (51) has a tubular mesh providing structural strength to the inter lumen connector. The tubular mesh has members (61) defining substantial rectangular mesh apertures, and distal crowns (64). At its proximal end the scaffold structure comprises spines (68) extending from a proximal tubular mesh rim (63). The spines provide structural strength to the proximal flange (2). In the preferred embodiment the tube is a tympanostomy tube. A method of manufacturing the tube comprises providing the scaffold structure and over-moulding the outer material to form the shape of the proximal flange, the inter lumen connector with a lumen, and the distal flange.

Disclosed are an artificial esophageal structure having a multi-layer structure using three-dimensional bio-printing, and a manufacturing device and manufacturing method therefor. The artificial esophageal structure having a multi-layer structure according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first layer in the shape of a hollow column and having a circular cross section; a second layer which is disposed inside the first layer and which is a column structure that simulates the mucosal layer of the esophagus; and an interlayer support part which is disposed between the first layer and the second layer and which maintains a gap between the layers, wherein the first layer and second layer each comprise: a plurality of column parts disposed at predetermined intervals; and a plurality of strands formed between the plurality of column parts by a dragging technique, and may have a porous structure due to pores between the plurality of strands.

A suture thread for use in a lifting procedure according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: fixed portions composed of non-stretchable medical thread, wherein the medical thread is formed on both sides thereof and is fixed to the skin; and a variable portion that is positioned between the fixed portions and imparts structural elasticity, wherein the fixed portions and the variable portions are connected continuously, without a separate connecting structure, to form a single integrated medical thread.

An intraocular lens includes an optical body having a geometric center point through which a longitudinal axis extends and a second main axis extends as a transverse axis. The transverse axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A flat first and a second haptic body are each adjacent to the optical body. The first and second haptic bodies are arranged point-symmetrically to the geometric center. An outer radius of the intraocular lens about the geometric center and a radial distance from the geometric center to an intersection point of the transverse axis with a circumferential line of the intraocular lens have a ratio to one another from 1:0.5 to 1:0.9. The first haptic body has a recess on the left of the longitudinal axis and another recess on the right thereof. The two recesses each have a length and a width, the length being greater than the width.

A stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient includes an inner tube comprising a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) material and defining a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the stent; and an outer tube comprising a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) foam material and disposed around an entirety of the inner tube, the outer tube extending along the longitudinal axis of the stent. The stent is configured to exhibit an auxetic behavior in response to a deformation of the stent. An outer surface of the second portion is configured to apply a pressure to an inner surface of the vessel when the stent is implanted into the vessel and the deformation is removed.

A disposable device for treating a condition of a ureter or kidney having a cylindrical body about 1-2 mm in diameter by about 5 to 10 mm in length and having a top and bottom end. The body is made of absorbent material that expands upon contact with pharmaceutical agent and bodily fluids and includes a string connected to the bottom end of the body for removing the device. The device can be used to treat a condition of the ureter or kidney by inserting into the ureter or kidney, delivering a pharmaceutical agent, and removing the device after it has been impregnated with fluid. The device can be included in a kit with an insertion device and/or appropriate pharmaceutical agents.