A method for producing an intraluminal endoprosthesis. The method forms a sheath on a support structure of the endoprosthesis from polymer fibres. A polymer solution is dispensed from a nozzle by f electrospinning. The polymer solution includes at least one biodegradable polymer polymer and at least one additive. The additive is selected from the group consisting of: 1,3-dioxan-2-one, 1,4-dioxan-2-one, triethyl citrate, glycerol triacetate, n-butyryl tri-n-hexyl citrate, polyethylene glycol, L-α phosphatidylcholine.

The present disclosure provides copolymers useful in medical devices. For example, the disclosure provides copolymers comprising the polymerization product ester block, ether blocks and diisocyanates. In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides a medical copolymer for implantation comprising ester blocks and ether blocks, wherein: the ester blocks comprise a negative free energy transfer and the ether blocks comprise a positive free energy transfer, the ether and ester blocks are less than 1/10 the length of said copolymer, and, the blocks are distributed such that no domain of contiguous blocks possessing the same polarity of free energy transfer are less than ⅓ of the molecular weight of the copolymer. The disclosure further provides methods of making the aforementioned polymers, and medical devices comprising the polymers.

A connective or supportive sheath comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a hollow tube having a circumferential or perimeter wall, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall comprising interconnected, radially projecting, partitions, the partitions forming radially extending pores, the pores extending from said inner surface through said outer surface, and wherein the tube is comprised of, consists of, or consists essentially of a flexible or elastic polymer.

Provided are methods, devices and compositions for reducing and/or inhibiting postsurgical tissue adhesion using a hydrogel film disposed onto a target tissue, thereby providing an adhesion barrier that remains over said target tissue for a prescribed period of time. In some embodiments, the hydrogel film is formed by the gelation of a pre-gel mixture applied onto the target tissue as a plurality of particles having an average maximum dimension, such as diameter, of at most about 500 μm. In some embodiments, the hydrogel film has a minimum storage modulus of 100 Pa. In some embodiments, the pre-gel mixture comprises an ECM digest having a collagen to carbohydrate ratio (by mass) of at least 70:1.

Stents comprising a first region and a second region are provided, where at least the second region comprises one or more phase transforming cellular materials configured to move the outlet between an open configuration and a closed configuration in response to certain triggers. Such stents can also comprise one or more analog for a shape memory alloy (ASMA) unit cells on an inner surface of the first region such that, in response to resistive forces, the ASMA unit cells exert controllable motion to clear the stent. Methods of treatment of cancer, jaundice, and other diseases are also provided.

According to the invention there is provided inter alia a medical device for delivering a paclitaxel to a tissue, the device the device having a coating layer applied to a surface of the device, the coating layer comprising components i), ii) and iii), wherein component i) is a therapeutic agent which is paclitaxel; and component ii) is urea or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a urea derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and component iii) is succinic acid, glutaric acid or caffeine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any one thereof.

The present disclosure provides a method for producing a multifunctional implantable structure, the method having: preparing an implantable base; coating a polymer layer on the base, wherein the polymer layer is partially curable; curing the polymer layer such that the polymer layer has cured and non-cured portions; and dry-etching the polymer layer to remove the non-cured portion thereof, to allow the polymer layer to have a nano-turf structure having pores defined therein.

A method for controlling generation of biologically desirable voids in a composition placed in proximity to bone or other tissue in a patient by selecting at least one water-soluble inorganic material having a desired particle size and solubility, and mixing the water-soluble inorganic material with at least one poorly-water-soluble or biodegradable matrix material. The matrix material, after it is mixed with the water-soluble inorganic material, is placed into the patient in proximity to tissue so that the water-soluble inorganic material dissolves at a predetermined rate to generate biologically desirable voids in the matrix material into which bone or other tissue can then grow.

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.

A flexible implantable contraceptive disc device is disclosed which can be inserted inside the female body, such as inside the uterus, is disclosed. The disc device can be bent and inserted into a laparoscopy tube, which allows it to be delivered to an appropriate location inside a female subject. The disc device has three layers, a central core silicon reservoir containing an active ingredient, such as a contraceptive progesterone, which is sandwiched and encased by upper and lower porous silicon casings. The casings are porous to the contraceptive, allowing controlled release over a prolonged period of time. The lower casing has a series of micro-hooks around a circumference, allowing the disc device to be attached to a desired tissue by rotating the disc device such that the hooks engage with the desired tissue. Such a device is easier to insert, and to remove, than a rod-like rigid plastic T-shape IUDs which are considerably larger, also and more expensive to manufacture.