There are provided tissue repair laminates containing at least two biodegradable polyurethane foam layers and a polyurethane structural layer. The biodegradable polyurethane is derived from biodegradable polyols. The laminates resist shrinkage under in vivo conditions and possess desirable mechanical properties such as high tensile strength. The laminates find use in, for example, the repair of tissue or muscle wall defects.

A deformable or flexible suture anchor having apertures secures a suture to a skeletal structure via holes drilled through the skeletal structure, and passing the suture therethrough. A deformable structure permits the anchor to resiliently deform or bend for passing through an aperture, and resume a size larger than the passed aperture for securement on an opposed side of the aperture.

A fixation device. At least one example embodiment is a bone anchor comprising: a proximal head; a bollard coupled to the proximal head; a first barb coupled to the bollard, the first barb extends outward a first distance measured perpendicularly from an anchor central axis, the first distance greater than half the transverse dimension of the bollard, and the first barb extends outward at a first radial from the anchor central axis; and a second barb coupled to the first barb, the second barb extends outward a second distance measured perpendicularly from the anchor central axis, the second distance greater than half the transverse dimension of the bollard, and the second barb extends outward at a second radial from the anchor central axis, the second radial at a second rotational orientation at least 36 angular degrees from the first radial.

Fixation device cartridges. At least one example embodiment is a cartridge including: a first tube; a second tube parallel to first tube; a first spacer coupled to the first tube and the second tube such that slots of the first and second tubes face each other; a second spacer coupled to the first tube and the second tube, the first and second spacers defining a suture volume between the slots of the first and second tubes, and the slot of the first tube and the slot of the second tube open into the suture volume; a first bone anchor disposed within the first tube, a first suture line associated with the first bone anchor and extending through the slot; and a second bone anchor disposed within the second tube and coupled to the first suture line.

Guide tools for installation of fixation devices. At least one example embodiment includes: a delivery tube, the delivery tube defines a slot that runs from the distal end to the proximal end; a guide tube coupled to the delivery tube; and a handle coupled to the proximal end of the delivery tube and coupled to the proximal end of the guide tube. The handle may include a first channel into an interior of the delivery tube through the slot, and a receptacle in operational relationship to the delivery tube and the first channel.

Methods of tissue repair. At least one example method includes: pulling a tissue in place over a bone location; abutting a distal end of a guide tool against the tissue at a first location, and driving a first bone anchor through a delivery tube of the guide tool, through the tissue, and into the bone at the first location, the first bone anchor coupled to a first suture line; abutting the distal end of the guide tool against the tissue at a second location displaced from the first location, and then driving a second bone anchor through the delivery tube, through the tissue, and into the bone at the second location, the second bone anchor associated with the first suture line; withdrawing the guide tool away from the tissue; and tightening the first suture line to create a first suture over the tissue.

The present invention relates to a soft actuator moving linearly against external stimuli whose expansion and contraction can be actively controlled, suggesting that the actuator of the invention overcomes the problems of the conventional soft actuators, The soft actuator of the present invention can be repetitively driven quickly and accurately by controlling heating and cooling by using thermoelectric effect and, the soft actuator of the present invention can realize bending, tensioning, compression, and rotational driving of a tubular device containing a driver.

Fixation device cartridges. At least one example embodiment is a cartridge including: a first tube; a second tube parallel to first tube; a first spacer coupled to the first tube and the second tube such that slots of the first and second tubes face each other; a second spacer coupled to the first tube and the second tube, the first and second spacers defining a suture volume between the slots of the first and second tubes, and the slot of the first tube and the slot of the second tube open into the suture volume; a first bone anchor disposed within the first tube, a first suture line associated with the first bone anchor and extending through the slot; and a second bone anchor disposed within the second tube and coupled to the first suture line.

A system and method for controlling a device, such as a prosthetic limb are provided. A biomimetic controller of the system comprises a signal processor and a musculoskeletal model. The signal processor processes M biological signals received from a residual limb to transform the M biological signals into N activation signals, where M and N are integers and M is less than N. The musculoskeletal model transforms the N activation signals into intended motion signals. A prosthesis controller transforms the intended motion signals into three or more control signals that are outputted from an output port of the prosthesis controller. A controlled device receives the control signals and performs one or more tasks in accordance with the control signals.

A deformable or flexible suture anchor having apertures secures a suture to a skeletal structure via holes drilled through the skeletal structure, and passing the suture therethrough. A deformable structure permits the anchor to resiliently deform or bend for passing through an aperture, and resume a size larger than the passed aperture for securement on an opposed side of the aperture.