In various embodiments, a tissue thickness compensator can comprise one or more capsules and/or pockets comprising at least one medicament therein. In at least one embodiment, staples can be fired through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules. In certain embodiments, a firing member, or knife, can be advanced through the tissue thickness compensator to rupture the capsules.

An electrical discharge irrigation device and method is described. An electrical discharge irrigation device includes a power source, a circuit coupled to the power source, and an output tip coupled to the circuit. The output tip includes a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis extending between them, an electrode located in an interior space of the output tip configured to receive an electrical charge from the circuit and to release an electric discharge, and a ground return including an inner surface of the output tip, wherein a space between the electrode and the ground return comprises a conductive medium, the conductive medium being in contact with the electrode and the ground return to produce the electric discharge.

An electrical discharge irrigation includes a power source to produce a first voltage, a circuit coupled to the power source to convert the first voltage to a second voltage, a discharge capacitor to receive the second voltage from the circuit, a transistor and/or a controlled rectifier coupled to the discharge capacitor to receive the second voltage, and an output tip. This tip is coupled to a transistor and/or a controlled rectifier and includes a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between them, an electrode located in an interior space of the tip to receive an electrical charge from the a transistor and/or a controlled rectifier and to release an electric discharge, and a ground return. The ground return is an outside surface of the tip. A space between the electrode and the ground return holds a conductive medium in contact with the electrode and the ground return.

A needle shield remover is presented having a generally tubular body with a longitudinal extension and a number of grip elements arranged at a distal area of the body, where the grip elements extend radially inwards from a circumference of the body. At least one longitudinally extending cut-out in the body and adjacent to the grip elements engage an outer surface of a needle shield when the needle shield remover is pushed onto the needle shield, where the at least one cut-out enables a generally radial outwardly bias of the grip elements during the pushing action to facilitate mounting of the needle shield remover on the needle shield.

A tissue thickness compensator may generally comprise a first layer comprising a first biocompatible material sealingly enclosed in a water impermeable material and a second layer comprising a second biocompatible material comprising at least one encapsulation, wherein the first biocompatible material expands when contacted with a fluid. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a haemostatic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic agent, anti-microbial agent, an anti-adhesion agent, an anti-coagulant agent, a medicament, and/or pharmaceutically active agent. The encapsulation may comprise a biodegradable material to degrade in vivo and/or in situ. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a hydrogel. The reaction product may comprise a fluid-swellable composition. Articles of manufacture comprising the tissue thickness compensator and methods of making and using the tissue thickness compensator are also described.

A tissue repair assembly for attachment of tissue to bone or tissue to tissue having a soft anchoring implant 100 with a length of suture 120 there through for tensioning the implant and facilitating attachment of other tissue. The implant 100 is a soft, flexible, three-dimensional structure that has a resident volume 200. An inserter tube 310 facilitates the placement of the implant 100 into bone or adjacent soft tissue where it may be deployed. Upon deployment, the soft anchoring implant 100 shortens axially and expands radially, achieving a larger diameter than the hole through which it was placed, thus resisting pull out.

The present invention relates to the contacting of one or more surfaces of an implantable medical device with one or more diketopiperazines (DKPs).

The present disclosure describes a surgical retractor system and method. The surgical retractor includes an elongate element defining an operational axis, a first blade secured to the elongate element and comprising a blade face, a second blade moveably secured to the elongate element, wherein the second blade defines a reference point located thereon, and wherein a movement of the second blade moves the reference point in a linear direction parallel to the operational axis and orthogonal to the blade face. A guide element may be removably located within an opening located on either the first blade or the second blade.

Some embodiments relate in part to endovascular prostheses and delivery catheter systems and methods for deploying same. Embodiments may be directed more specifically to graft bodies having self-expanding members, including inflatable graft bodies, and catheters and methods for deploying same within the body of a patient.

A detent mechanism for controlling translation between two components in a longitudinal direction includes a resilient beam on one of the components and a rhomboid ramp member on the other component. The resilient beam is essentially straight when relaxed and has a first beam head and is arranged to interact in a ramped engagement with respectively one of two ramps. Each ramp is on one longitudinal side of the rhomboid ramp member such that application of a translative force between the components in one longitudinal direction with the first beam head engaged to one of the ramps in a first state deflects the resilient beam in one transversal direction and such that application of a translative force between the components in the other longitudinal direction with the first beam head engaged to the other one of the ramps deflects the resilient beam in the other transversal direction.