In some aspects, a surgical procedure for the removal of a prostate gland is provided. The procedure comprises: (a) positioning an implant material within the urethra, (b) removing the prostate, thereby cresting a urethral stump and a bladder neck, wherein the implant material occupies the urethral stump, the bladder neck, or both, and (c) securing the bladder neck to the urethral stump in an anastomosis procedure to establish a path of urine flow from the bladder to an external urethral opening (e.g., the meatus). Subsequently, the implant material is removed from the urethra, for example, by natural urine voiding or by flowing a removal fluid through and/or around the implant material in the urethra. In other aspects, a medical kit is provided.

An inferior vena cava filter (340) for use in the inferior vena cava (4) to capture thrombus (8) passing through the inferior vena cava (4) towards the heart and lungs to prevent pulmonary embolism comprises a proximal support hoop (302), a distal support hoop (312) and a plurality of support struts (303) extending between the proximal support hoop (302) and the distal support hoop (312). The filter (340) also comprises a plurality of capture arms (121) which are movable from a capturing configuration to an open configuration. The capture arms (121) are biased towards the open configuration. A biodegradable suture holds the capture arms (121) in the capturing configuration.

An inferior vena cava filter (340) for use in the inferior vena cava (4) to capture thrombus (8) passing through the inferior vena cava (4) towards the heart and lungs to prevent pulmonary embolism comprises a proximal support hoop (302), a distal support hoop (312) and a plurality of support struts (303) extending between the proximal support hoop (302) and the distal support hoop (312). The filter (340) also comprises a plurality of capture arms (121) which are movable from a capturing configuration to an open configuration. The capture arms (121) are biased towards the open configuration. A biodegradable suture holds the capture arms (121) in the capturing configuration.

Provided is a synthetic resin stent that has resistance to pressure externally applied from the radial direction while in an enlarged diameter state even when the synthetic resin fibers are thin. The synthetic resin stent comprises: a stent main section that is formed by synthetic resin fibers into a cylinder and that can deform from a reduced diameter state to an enlarged diameter state; and a restricting mechanism that keeps the stent main section in the enlarged diameter state by restricting the stent main section from reducing in diameter when in the enlarged diameter state. The synthetic resin stent preferably further comprises a diameter enlarging mechanism that is connected to the stent main section and that deforms the stent main section from a reduced diameter state to an enlarged diameter state.

In one embodiment, a system includes a small-diameter tube having an elongated body, a distal tip, and an inner lumen that extends the length of the tube, the distal tip including a magnetic element that generates a strong focal magnetic field, and a crossing wire having an elongated body and a distal tip, the distal tip of the crossing wire including a ferromagnetic element that is magnetically attracted to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube when the distal tip of the crossing wire is placed in proximity to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube so as to facilitate alignment of the distal tips.

In one embodiment, a system includes a small-diameter tube having an elongated body, a distal tip, and an inner lumen that extends the length of the tube, the distal tip including a magnetic element that generates a strong focal magnetic field, and a crossing wire having an elongated body and a distal tip, the distal tip of the crossing wire including a ferromagnetic element that is magnetically attracted to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube when the distal tip of the crossing wire is placed in proximity to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube so as to facilitate alignment of the distal tips.

A wire stent assembly that has a first ring defining one end of the stent assembly, a second ring defining the second end of the stent assembly. Each ring is formed of wire. The wire of each ring also has a second section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and perpendicular to the rings. Each of the rings has a loop that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the rings. The stent assembly may form the support structure for a stent graft.

A wire stent assembly that has a first ring defining one end of the stent assembly, a second ring defining the second end of the stent assembly. Each ring is formed of wire. The wire of each ring also has a second section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and perpendicular to the rings. Each of the rings has a loop that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the rings. The stent assembly may form the support structure for a stent graft.

Provided herein is a drug delivery system comprising: a. substrate; b. a plurality of components combined with the substrate to form the drug delivery system; wherein at least one components comprises a bioabsorbable polymer and at least one other component comprises one or more active agents; wherein at least part of the active agent is in crystalline form.

Provided herein is a drug delivery system comprising: a. substrate; b. a plurality of components combined with the substrate to form the drug delivery system; wherein at least one components comprises a bioabsorbable polymer and at least one other component comprises one or more active agents; wherein at least part of the active agent is in crystalline form.