A method for replicating a structure of a biological tissue provides a plastically deformable film that is subjected to a pressure in order to press it into a mold. The mold comprises formations for pit-like depressions, recesses and notches. The recesses each border on at least one of the pit-like depressions and are opened up. The notches form at least one film hinge in the film. The shaped film is folded into a stack having at least two layers of film, the film hinge forming the folding edge for the folding process. The pit-like depressions are closed along their direction of extension by a neighboring layer of the stack and form each time a capillary. At least two of the opened recesses are arranged one on top of another and form a canal arranged perpendicular to the plane of extension of the film.

A medical device may include a plurality of links reciprocally movable between a loose configuration having a first rigidity and a compact configuration having a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity, wherein application of a force to a distalmost link of the plurality of links when the plurality of links are in the loose configuration causes the plurality of links to change orientation relative to one another, and application of the force to the distalmost link when the plurality of links are in the compact configuration does not cause the plurality of links to change orientation relative to one another.

A medical device comprising a compressed, inflatable, detachable balloon attached to a catheter and methods of use for occluding blood vessels or treating vascular aneurysms are disclosed. The balloon may be configured such that it can be detached from the catheter by mechanical means. The surface of the balloon may be configured to promote the growth of tissue into the wall of the balloon and to release drugs or pharmacologically active molecules, so that vessel occlusion or the sealing of an aneurysm will be maintained over time.

A transfer device includes an elongate tube defining a lumen configured to support an organism and an obstruction positioned along the elongate tube. The obstruction is configured to prevent the organism from moving proximally past the obstruction, such that the obstruction defines a distal end region of the elongate tube in which the organism can move along the lumen of the elongate tube.

A lateral retractor system for forming a pathway to a patient's intervertebral disc space includes a single dilator and a retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly. The dilator may feature a narrow rectangular body for insertion at an insertion orientation parallel to the fibers of the patient's psoas muscle, at an approximate 45-degree angle to the patient's spine. The retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly consists of only two blade subassemblies, each having a blade bordered by adjustable wings, along with built-in lighting and video capabilities. The dual-tapered-blade assembly may be passed over the single dilator at the insertion orientation and rotated approximately 45-50 degrees to a final rotated orientation parallel to the intervertebral disc space before the two blade subassemblies are retracted away from one another to create the surgical pathway, while simultaneously and continuously assessing for encroachment upon one or more nerve structures within 360-degrees of the instrument. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A package (10a) for containing a medical device (12a) including a front sheet (14a) and a back sheet (15a) wherein each includes a top edge (18a, 23a), a bottom edge (19a) and opposed first (20a, 24a) and second side edges (21a, 25a), the sheets being sealed to each other by a peelable peripheral seal (26a), having a top seal zone (27a), bottom seal zone (28a), and opposed first (29a) and second side seal zones (30a), the sheets being separated to open the package by at least partially peeling the sheets apart along the first and second side seal zones; a first peel-stop (31a) located in the first side seal zone and a second peel-stop (32a) located in the second side seal zone of the peripheral seal, wherein the first and second peel-stops limit peeling of the first and second side seal zones of the peripheral seal.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a device includes an anchor, a repair filament, and a connecting filament that is coupled to the repair filament, is in contact with the anchor's distal end, and is effective to connect the repair filament to the anchor such that the repair filament slides with respect to the anchor. The anchor can be rigid, and can include an axial bore extending therethrough. At least one of the repair filament and the connecting filament can extend through at least a portion of the axial bore, and the bore can be sized such that a portion of the filament extending therethrough barely fits to help maintain the connection between the anchor, repair filament, and connecting filament. Embodiments of the systems and devices disclosed can be used in a number of methods for repairing soft tissue.

A dual-motion rotation and retraction system for forming a pathway to a patient's intervertebral disc space includes a dilator, retractable dual-blade assembly, and dual-motion retractor. The dilator may feature a narrow rectangular, elliptical, or elongated configuration body for insertion parallel to the fibers of the psoas muscle, including an angle of 0 to 90 degrees to the patient's spine. The dual-blade assembly includes opposing blade subassemblies, each having a blade bordered by adjustable wings, along with built-in lighting and video capabilities. The dual-blade assembly may be passed over the dilator at the insertion orientation. The dual-motion retractor may be disposed about the dual-blade assembly and dilator and employed to both rotate the dual-blade assembly and the dilator 0 to 90 degrees to a final rotated orientation parallel to the intervertebral disc space and to retract the opposing blade subassemblies away from one another to create the surgical pathway. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Strength of a front end part having a sharp point of a medical suture needle is maintained and resistance when piercing tissue is reduced. There is provided a medical suture needle having a triangular cross section made of austenitic stainless steel having a fibrously extending structure, having two first slanted surfaces (11) ground and sandwiching a ridge (20), and a bottom surface (13) sandwiched between the two first slanted surfaces and ground. The ridge is formed comprising a first cutting blade (1) that is formed by the two first slanted surfaces (11) intersecting, a ridge part (20) that is formed on a body part side of the first cutting blade without the first slanted surfaces (11) intersecting, and a second cutting blade (2) that is formed by two second slanted surfaces (12) ground, intersecting and sandwiching the first cutting blade (1) on a front end side of the first cutting blade (1). Length L2 of the first cutting blade is within a range of 3 to 20 times length L1 of the second cutting blade (2), and a front end (3) of the second cutting blade (2) is positioned deviating from the material center.

A method of providing a channel in nervous tissue filled with an aqueous gel for implantation of a microelectrode or other medical device lacking sufficient physical stability for direct implantation by insertion, comprises providing an apparatus comprising an oblong rigid pin covered by a dry gel forming agent; locating a target in the tissue; defining a straight insertion path a desired tissue insertion point and the target; aligning the pin with its end foremost with the insertion path; inserting the pin into the tissue to a position near or at the target; allowing sufficient time to pass for a gel to be formed around the pin, withdrawing the pin. Also disclosed is a corresponding channel; a method of implantation of a microelectrode or microprobe into nervous tissue via the channel; a corresponding method of implantation of living cells; a corresponding apparatus for forming the channel.