An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.

A first method of forming a blood access hole includes: cutting a blood vessel; and connecting the cut blood vessel to a skin. A second method of forming a blood access hole includes: forming an opening in a skin; and connecting a blood vessel, at least a part of which is incised, to the opening. A third method of forming a blood access hole includes: connecting a blood vessel, at least a part of which is incised, to a skin, to open a part of an inner wall of the blood vessel to the atmosphere. A blood access hole 1 in which a blood vessel 10 inside a human body is directly connected to the skin 20 of the human body.

A system for testing sutures includes a test bench having a rotatable table, a framework supporting the test bench and the rotatable table above a surface, and a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine mounted on the rotatable table. The CPM machine is configured to rotate between a first position in which the CPM machine is upright and located above the rotatable table and a second position in which the CPM machine is inverted and located below the rotatable table. The system includes a fluid supply subsystem for directing an infusion fluid toward the CPM machine, a pump for circulating the infusion fluid in the fluid supply subsystem, a heat exchanger for heating the infusion fluid, a fluid collection tray located below the CPM machine and the rotatable table, and a pressure monitoring subsystem for monitoring a pressure level of the infusion fluid.

Disclosed herein are an implant with an attachment feature and a method for attaching to the same. The implant may include a cavity with a porous layer disposed within a non-porous layer wherein the non-porous layer defines a chamber. The chamber may receive and confine liquefiable material and direct liquefiable material to permeate through the porous layer. A method of attaching a device to the implant may include liquefying a liquefiable portion of the device and allowing the liquefied material to interdigitate with the second layer and then solidify to prevent pullout.

A surgical or arthroscopic method for resurfacing at least one surface of a hip joint of a human patient, using a medical device comprising an artificial hip joint surface, wherein the hip joint surface comprising an acetabulum surface and a caput femur surface, said method comprising the steps of: creating at least one hole passing into the hip joint, dissecting and preparing the hip joint, introducing at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising at least one of an artificial acetabulum surface and an artificial caput femur surface, wherein said at least one artificial hip joint surface, comprising a first sealing member, creating a sealed hollow space between said first sealing member and one of the acetabulum surface or said artificial acetabulum surface and one of the caput femur surface or said artificial caput femur surface, selecting at least one artificial hip joint surface and injecting a material into said hollow space.

A suturing apparatus and method thereof using autotransfer are provided. The suturing apparatus includes a tube that has a rod movable there within and a needle that has an insertion portion. A suture engages with a tip of the needle or the tube. The insertion portion of the needle is inserted through a material prior to engagement with the suture and is withdrawn with the suture back through the material. The suturing system allows for single hand operation, thus simplifying a suturing process.

A knotless instability anchor having an anchor having a first side and a second side with a suture material passing therethrough from the first side to the second side. The suture material has an adjustable loop extending from the first side of the anchor and a first limb and a second limb extending from the second side of the anchor. A splice is formed in the first limb between a first end of the first limb and the anchor. A self-collapsing loop is formed in the first limb between the first end and the splice. The second limb extends through the splice in the first limb.

A suture device comprises at least one weft strand interwoven with a plurality of warp strands to define a body region. The body region has a substantially open mesh construction and at least a first elongate end region axially extending from and being one part with the body region having a substantially closed mesh construction. The width of the end region is substantially less than a width of the body region.

Methods for whip-stitching soft tissue with a needle and a looped suture avoid placing the tissue graft through the suture loop, which also eliminates the need for passing a tissue clamp through the suture loop. The methods described herein can also include combinations of the techniques described.

A suture construct that is elongate along a longitudinal direction and configured to change in size from a first configuration to a second configuration includes an outer layer of material that extends along the longitudinal direction and has a plurality of intertwined fibers that comprise a first sub-set of fibers crossed by a second sub-set of fibers at respective intersections, such that the first subset of fibers and the second subset of fibers are configured to reorient relative to each other in a manner causing the outer layer of material to change in one or more of surface texture and visual appearance as the suture construct changes between the first and second configurations.