In a connective-tissue body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprising a biological tissue including collagen, a fine surface layer formed more finely than the inside thereof is provided on the surface of the connective-tissue body.

A stent includes a tubular body formed of one or more interwoven wires, the tubular body having first and second opposing open ends and a lumen extending therebetween. The stent further includes a first anchor member disposed adjacent the first open end and a second anchor member disposed adjacent the second open end, the first and second anchor members each extending radially outward from the tubular body, the first and second anchor members each having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tubular body disposed between the first and second anchor members. A plurality of spacer members are disposed around the first open end and extending longitudinally beyond the first open end, wherein when a pulling force is applied to the spacer members, the outer diameter of the tubular body is not reduced.

The present invention relates to a bellows framework having a concave-convex structure on at least one of outer and inner sides using three-dimensional printing technology and a method of producing thereof, and an artificial tracheal replacement comprising an epithelium part formed on the inner side of the bellows framework and an annular cartilage part formed along the circumference of concave-convex grooves on the outer side and a method of producing thereof.

A flow control device for a lobar bronchial passageway including: a one-way valve; a braided wire structural frame, wherein the structural frame is expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration; and a sealing membrane mounted to at least a distal portion of the structural frame, wherein the sealing membrane forms an enclosed wall defining at least a portion of an airflow passage through the flow control device, and the one-way valve is included in the airflow passage.

Systems and methods of fabricating corrugated electrospun fiber assemblies are disclosed herein. The method can include placing an electrospun fiber scaffold on a corrugation rod, wherein the corrugation rod comprises a helical structure; applying a monofilament fiber about the electrospun fiber scaffold and the corrugation rod from a dispenser as the dispenser is translated longitudinally and the corrugation rod is rotated such that the monofilament fiber is wrapped about the electrospun fiber scaffold at a defined threads per inch (TPI) to form a wrapped electrospun fiber assembly; and longitudinally compressing the corrugated electrospun fiber assembly until it has been compressed from a first length to a second length to form the corrugated electrospun fiber assembly. The corrugated electrospun fiber assemblies can be kink-resistant as compared to conventional electrospun fiber scaffolds. The corrugated electrospun fiber assemblies can be used in, for example, biological applications within a subject.

A self-expandable stent (1) formed of a flexible, part-tubular body (2), anchoring portions (3) extending from each end of the body (2) and an array (4) of holes or perforations (40, 41, 42) through the body (2) and anchoring portions (3). The body (2) includes an open side (20) and a pair of axial edges (21) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) of the stent (1). The body (2) also includes a central portion (5) and a pair of axial edge portions (6) joining the central portion (5) to the axial edges (21). The central portion (5) of the body (2) is invertible from a relaxed, part-tubular condition to a flexed, inverted part-tubular condition in which the axial edges (21) overlap or converge toward one another for insertion and release in a lumen (TR, TET) to expand, bear against and support a wall of the lumen (TR, TET).

A method for treating an intestine with an expandable scaffolding expanded within the intestine. After placing the expandable scaffolding at a target location, such as across a fistula, the first and second end portions of the expandable scaffolding are radially expanded such that the first and second end portions contact an inner surface of the intestine on opposing sides of the fistula, anchoring the first and second end portions to the intestine. Radially expanding the first and second end portions foreshortens the medial portion along the longitudinal axis such that the first and second end portions are drawn closer together along the longitudinal axis as the medial portion foreshortens to close the fistula.

Tubular prostheses are provided for use in airways, upper digestive, and urinary tracts. Each of these uses has its own specific sets of biological specifications, based on what it must contain and exclude and the physical and chemical pressures and stresses to which it is subjected. The prostheses may be made from allogeneic cells. Thus they can be manufactured and stored prior to an individual's personal need arising.

Methods of treating airway stenosis are provided. Methods include gradually dilating the stenotic region of a patient's airway lumen with sequentially implanted customized airway stents. The airway stents are sequentially implanted until the diameter of the stenotic region of the patient's airway has substantially the same diameter as the diameter of an adjacent healthy region of the patient's airway lumen.

A composition comprising a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments comprising at least one polymer, a plurality of electrospun fiber fragment clusters comprising at least one polymer, and, optionally, a carrier medium, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a kit comprising a first component of a plurality of electrospun fiber fragments, and a second component of a carrier medium. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments, a carrier medium, and, optionally, a plurality of cells. Also disclosed is a biocompatible textile comprising a plurality of micronized electrospun fiber fragments. Also disclosed is a biocompatible suture comprising at least one electrospun fiber. Also disclosed is a method for making a biocompatible suture, comprising electrospinning a polymer solution onto a receiving surface, forming one or more non-overlapping nanofiber threads, removing the nanofiber threads from the receiving surface, and cutting the nanofiber threads into one or more biocompatible sutures.