This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a lacrimal implant insertable at least partially into a lacrimal punctum. The lacrimal implant comprises an implant core, and an implant body. The implant body includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the implant core. At least one of the implant core and the implant cavity includes a detection device configured to allow automatic detection of the lacrimal implant with a separate detector device.

Disclosed herein are compositions to facilitate bone growth, formation, and/or repair. Methods of using and making the compositions are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to an injection formulation composition for use as a filler or a drug carrier through a click chemistry reaction. More specifically, the present invention relates to an injection formulation composition comprising: a first liquid comprising a first biopolymer having a first click chemistry functional group introduced thereinto; and a second liquid comprising a second biopolymer having a second click chemistry functional group introduced thereinto, wherein the first click chemistry functional group is chemically linkable with the second click chemistry functional group, to a method for preparing an injection formulation hydrogel using the composition, and to a medical filler, an in-vivo injection type supporter, or a drug carrier using the composition.

Disclosed herein is a transplantation graft for transplanting cells into a patient. In an aspect, the graft may include a first graft layer having a generally cylindrical configuration defining a lumen therethrough, a coating layer surrounding the first graft layer, and a plurality of cells or vectors implanted in either the first graft layer or the coating layer. Further disclosed herein is a method for transplanting cells into a patient and a method of treating a patient in need thereof. The transplantation graft may be implanted in the patient in an arteriovenous configuration and the coating layer protects the implanted cells from the patient's immune system. The plurality of cells in the transplantation graft may release a biologically active agent in response to a biological factor in blood flowing through the lumen of the transplantation graft.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a hydrogel having a favorable shape stability not only after releasing an anionic drug contained but also in the process of releasing such an anionic drug, compared with the conventional techniques; and an anionic drug-containing ophthalmic device obtained by applying the hydrogel. The objective can be achieved by an anionic drug-containing ophthalmic device comprising: (1) an anionic drug; and (2) a copolymer which comprises a cationic monomer and a monomer capable of copolymerizing with the cationic monomer, wherein the cationic monomer comprises, as a structural component, a condensation product of (meth)acrylic acid with an aminoalkyl quaternary ammonium compound having a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, or a salt of the condensation product; and the like.

An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.

A non-synthetic, hydrophilic, biodegradable, biocompatible polysaccharide based non-toxic anti-adhesion hydrogel barrier is disclosed herein. The barrier of the present invention is formed by constructing a unique interpenetrating, crosslinked network with a unique porosity. Furthermore, the barrier of the present invention is comprised of tunable biopolymers for controllable mechanical robustness and degradation. The barrier of the present invention effectively reduces unwanted adhesions using non-synthetic components.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for making resorbable ear tubes including the steps of providing a silk fibroin solution, and forming a silk ear tube from the silk fibroin solution, wherein the silk ear tube is less than 2 mm in length and has an outer diameter of less than 1.5 mm, and wherein the silk ear tube is resorbable. In some embodiments, the present invention also provides methods for treating otitis media including the step of introducing a silk ear tube into the ear canal of a subject, wherein the silk ear tube is less than 2 mm in length and has an outer diameter of less than 1.5 mm, and wherein the silk ear tube is resorbed by the subject.

The present invention relates to a device for coating the inside of an artificial blood vessel and, to explain more specifically, to a device for coating the inside of an artificial blood vessel inserted into the body of a human for a medical purpose, which is configured to be able to selectively coat just the inside of a lumen of the artificial blood vessel with a bioactive substance for inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia, in order to prevent a side effect, such as angiostenosis or inflammation, from occurring in an area connecting the artificial blood vessel and a blood vessel in the body.

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for healing tissue, said pharmaceutical composition comprising adherent cells originating from mesenchymal tissue treated with a physiologically active polypeptide or an LPS, or culture supernatant thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a method for producing the pharmaceutical composition.