The present invention provides an electromagnetic device comprising: a power circuit, and a contact initiated electro-magnet having an electrical coil in operable connection with the power circuit, wherein one end of the electrical coil is directly connected to the power circuit and the other is connected to the magnetic core of the electromagnet such that, in use, the magnetic core performs the dual purposes of (i) focusing the electromagnetic field created by the coil and (ii) forms part of the electrical circuit that energizes the magnetic core of the electromagnet. Multiple electromagnetic devices may be combined to form a kinetic device capable of creating an electrically-based movement device that mimics the form and function of the skeletal muscle through the use of multiple contact initiated electromagnets held within elastic tubes.

A quadricep graft suspension construct, having a button loop, including a generally rectangular button, defining four apertures, including an innermost pair of apertures; and a suture loop looping through the innermost pair of apertures. The construct also has a graft holding assembly, including a reinforcement of first fibers braided with two second fibers, and wherein the first fibers have a first and second lengthwise end and the second fibers continue separately, extending from the first lengthwise end to form a pair of first tails and from the second lengthwise end to form a pair of second tails and wherein the first tails are jointly swaged to a needle. And wherein the graft holding assembly is affixed to the suture loop at a position opposed to the button at least in part by the second tails being joined together about the suture loop and further including packaging holding the needle.

Systems and methods are provided for performing tensionable knotless surgical procedures. A suture locking device that includes a one-way locking mechanism may be utilized for tensioning and locking one or more strands of suture during the surgical procedure. The one-way locking mechanism may be established by one or more locking barbs of the suture locking device.

The present invention relates to a glucose-reactive artificial muscle, and more particularly, to a carbon nanotube, a hydrogel-based glucose-reactive artificial muscle which has a reversible volume change due to variations in glucose concentration, a method of forming the same, a rotary artificial muscle using the same, and a method of detecting glucose. The glucose-reactive artificial muscle according to the present invention may sense variations in glucose concentration with high sensitivity within a short time by providing reversible twisting using the swelling and shrinkage of hydrogels, which occur due to a change in internal anionic charges, caused by the bonding between a boronic acid introduced to the hydrogels and glucose.

A tendon repair implant for treatment of a partial thickness tear in the supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder is provided. The implant may incorporate features of rapid deployment and fixation by arthroscopic means that compliment current procedures; tensile properties that result in desired sharing of anatomical load between the implant and native tendon during rehabilitation; selected porosity and longitudinal pathways for tissue in-growth; sufficient cyclic straining of the implant in the longitudinal direction to promote remodeling of new tissue to tendon-like tissue; and, may include a bioresorbable construction to provide transfer of additional load to new tendon-like tissue and native tendon over time.

An apparatus is configured to be implanted within a biological structure. The apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic elements, an absorbable component, and a non-absorbable component. The plurality of magnetic elements are configured to transition the biological structure between an occluded state and an opened state. The plurality of magnetic elements are biased to encourage the biological structure toward the occluded state. The absorbable component includes a therapeutic substance. The absorbable component is configured to temporarily couple the plurality of magnetic elements with the biological structure when the apparatus is initially implanted within the biological structure.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a compression fixation between a first and further component. The apparatus comprises an elongate body having a head end and a tip end and comprising a screw thread including a first region in which the screw thread has a corresponding first pitch and a further region, extending from the tip end, in which the screw thread is tapered and has a corresponding further pitch that continually decreases away from the tip end.

A biphasic scaffold and devices and methods for making the scaffold are disclosed. An example scaffold may include (a) a first plurality of randomly-oriented nanofibers defining a first tab region, (b) a second plurality of randomly-oriented nanofibers defining a second tab region, and (c) a plurality of aligned nanofibers coupled to and extending between the first tab region and the second tab region, where the plurality of aligned nanofibers are suspended between the first tab region and the second tab region.

The present invention provides an actuator, comprising a fiber and a temperature regulator capable of at least one of heating and cooling the fiber. The fiber is twisted around a longitudinal axis thereof. The fiber is folded so as to have a shape of a cylindrical coil. The fiber is formed of linear low-density polyethylene. The following mathematical formula (I) is satisfied: D/d<1 (I), where D represents a mean diameter of the cylindrical coil; and d represents a diameter of the fiber.

Disclosed is a wedge for use during a reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The wedge can comprise a body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. The proximal surface and the distal surface can each extend from a distal end of the body to a proximal end of the body. The distal end can have a distal length and the proximal end can have a proximal length. The distal length can be shorter than the proximal length. The proximal surface can have a proximal curvature and the distal surface can have a distal curvature. The proximal curvature or the distal curvature can approximate a curvature of a deltoid muscle.