A hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle used to effectively deliver drug and biological material to tissue or organ sites. More specifically, a hydrogel binding matrix having a biopolymer backbone containing carboxyl groups. Tyramine may be substituted for at least a portion of the carboxyl groups, so that, when hydrogen peroxide is added, it causes creation of covalent bonds between tyramine molecules and cross-links the hydrogel binding matrix, thereby enabling the hydrogel binding matrix to transition from liquid to gel state. The hydrogel binding matrix, in its liquid form, is capable of encapsulating drug reservoirs to create a homogenous liquid with evenly distributed particles containing drugs or target molecules. As the hydrogel binding matrix solidifies into a gel state, the newly created cross-links do not disrupt or react with the drugs or target molecules contained within the drug reservoirs. This hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle can be used in several medical applications.

A hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle used to effectively deliver drug and biological material to tissue or organ sites. More specifically, a hydrogel binding matrix having a biopolymer backbone containing carboxyl groups. Tyramine may be substituted for at least a portion of the carboxyl groups, so that, when hydrogen peroxide is added, it causes creation of covalent bonds between tyramine molecules and cross-links the hydrogel binding matrix, thereby enabling the hydrogel binding matrix to transition from liquid to gel state. The hydrogel binding matrix, in its liquid form, is capable of encapsulating drug reservoirs to create a homogenous liquid with evenly distributed particles containing drugs or target molecules. As the hydrogel binding matrix solidifies into a gel state, the newly created cross-links do not disrupt or react with the drugs or target molecules contained within the drug reservoirs. This hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle can be used in several medical applications.

A flexible body-insertable cable includes conduits and cables. Each conduit has an antimicrobial material defining interior wall surfaces thereof. Each cable provides a function selected from the group consisting of mechanical functions, electrical functions, and optical functions. A solid antimicrobial material encases each of the conduits and each of the cables for retaining the conduits and cables in a spaced-apart and longitudinally-extending arrangement along a length of the solid antimicrobial material.

Methods to produce thermoformed implants comprising poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer, copolymer, or blend thereof, including surgical meshes, have been developed. These thermoforms are preferably produced from porous substrates of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer or copolymer thereof, such as surgical meshes, by vacuum membrane thermoforming. The porous thermoformed implant is formed by placing a porous substrate of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer or copolymer thereof over a mold, covering the substrate and mold with a membrane, applying a vacuum to the membrane so that the membrane and substrate are drawn down on the mold and tension is applied to the substrate, and heating the substrate while it is under tension to form the thermoform. The method is particularly useful in forming medical implants of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof, including hernia meshes, mastopexy devices, breast reconstruction devices, and implants for plastic surgery, without exposing the resorbable implants to water and without shrinking the porous substrate during molding.

A fecal catheter or ostomy pouch made of an odor barrier material including a thermoplastic elastomer, odor barrier modifier and an antiblocking agent.

A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of randomly oriented fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.

The invention relates to a rod-shaped body (1) comprised of one or more filaments (2) and of a non-ferromagnetic matrix material (3). The matrix material (3) surrounds the filament(s) (1) and/or adheres them to one another. The rod-shaped body is also comprised of a dopant consisting of particles that generate magnetic resonance tomographic artifacts that is introduced into the matrix material (3). Rod-shaped bodies of this type can be used to construct guide wires, catheters and other instruments to be used in minimally invasive surgical interventions.

Distal access aspiration guide catheter system and methods for delivering implantable devices, catheters, or substances in or near and/or restoring flow through body lumens, such as blood vessel lumens are described. A Distal access aspiration guide catheter having a proximal, medial, and distal possessing high flexibility, high resistance to kinking and a large lumen to wall thickness ratio.

Distal access aspiration guide catheter system and methods for delivering implantable devices, catheters, or substances in or near and/or restoring flow through body lumens, such as blood vessel lumens are described. A Distal access aspiration guide catheter having a proximal, medial, and distal possessing high flexibility, high resistance to kinking and a large lumen to wall thickness ratio.

A phacoemulsification cutting tip, including a rigid tubular portion and a flexible and expandable tip portion located distal to the rigid tubular portion. The flexible and expandable tip portion presents an axial length and an unexpanded radius and is formed such that the axial length shortens while the unexpanded radius increases when differential pressure due to an occlusion of an opening of the flexible tip portion exists.