A bending actuator and methods for making and using the same. A beam of anisotropic polymer material, such as nylon, characterized by a greater degree of molecular orientation along a longitudinal axis than transverse to the longitudinal axis, has a heating element in thermal contact with at least one of a pair of opposing faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam. The heating element in certain embodiments provides for photothermal activation of the bending actuator.

An apparatus for use in a surgical procedure for delivering a prosthetic implant comprises a flexible sleeve configured with a first end and a second end, the flexible sleeve being tapered such that a width of a region at the second end is relatively smaller than a width of a region at the first end, and an interior surface of the flexible sleeve that form an interior cavity, the interior cavity being sized to receive the prosthetic implant; one or more surface active coatings are applied to the interior cavity. The flexible sleeve is manipulatable such that when the prosthetic implant is positioned within the interior cavity, a manually applicable directional pressure in the direction of the second end causes the prosthetic implant to extrude from the second end.

An extraocular muscle clip (22) for correcting strabismus includes upper and lower plates (24, 26) which are couplable together to sandwich and grasp extraocular muscle (42). A delivery tool (50) delivers the clip (22) and includes a shaft (52) and a muscle hook (56) that is slidable underneath the extraocular muscle (42) to position the lower plate (26) of the clip (22) underneath the muscle (42). An integrated blade (60) of the tool (50) cuts the extraocular muscle (42) subsequently to grasping of the muscle (42) by the upper and lower plates (24, 26) of the clip (22). One or more sutures (30) are coupled to the upper plate (24) and/or the lower plate (26) of the clip (22) and facilitate recoupling of the extraocular muscle (42) to a globe of the eye (40) following cutting of the extraocular muscle (42). Other embodiments are also described.

An apparatus for use in a surgical procedure for delivering a prosthetic implant comprises a flexible sleeve configured with a first end and a second end, the flexible sleeve being tapered such that a width of a region at the second end is relatively smaller than a width of a region at the first end, and an interior surface of the flexible sleeve that form an interior cavity, the interior cavity being sized to receive the prosthetic implant; one or more surface active coatings are applied to the interior cavity. The flexible sleeve is manipulatable such that when the prosthetic implant is positioned within the interior cavity, a manually applicable directional pressure in the direction of the second end causes the prosthetic implant to extrude from the second end.

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.

Artificial muscles comprising a body of dielectric elastomer, wherein the body contains a pair of microfluidic networks are presented. Each microfluidic network includes a plurality of channels fluidically coupled via a manifold. The channels of the microfluidic networks are interdigitated and filled with conductive fluid such that each set of adjacent channels functions as the electrodes of an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator. By using the manifolds as compliant wiring to energize the electrodes, artificial muscles in accordance with the present disclosure mitigate some or all of the reliability problems associated with prior-art artificial muscles.

A method for making a biocompatible implantable areal device that is formed by a plurality of thread sections that are separated by a plurality of spaces that define a linear distance. The method includes the steps of configuring a range of the linear distance length and selecting thread sections with maximal diameter that maintain a ratio such that for maximal diameter of 200 nanometers linear distance of 5 microns, maximal 1 micron distance of 5 to 40 microns, maximal 10 microns distance of 40 to 200, maximal 40 microns distance of 200 microns to 1 millimeter, maximal 120 microns distance of 1 to 2 millimeters, maximal 400 microns distance of 2 to 5 millimeters, maximal 1.4 millimeters distance of 5 to 10, maximal 2.5 millimeters distance of 10 to 20, maximal 5 millimeters distance of 20 to 40, and maximal 10 millimeters distance greater than 40 millimeters.

A device for attaching soft tissue to a prosthetic implant. The device includes a body that includes a frame and a porous section disposed within the frame, wherein the porous section permits the passage of body fluids therethrough to encourage the healing of the soft tissue as well as the growth of soft tissue into and through the porous section.

An additive manufacturing (AM) device for biomaterials comprises a reservoir, a shaft, and a material delivery head. The device can be used for intracorporeal additive manufacturing. Material within the reservoir can be expelled by a mechanical transmission element, for example a syringe pump, a peristaltic pump, an air pressure pump, or a hydraulic pressure pump. The reservoir can be a barrel, a cartridge, or a cassette. The reservoir can narrow into the shaft, and the shaft can terminate into the nozzle. The shaft can house an inner tube. The device can have an actuator joint capable of being mechanically linked to a robotic surgical system. The actuator joint can have a motor that drives the mechanical transmission element.

A hydraulic muscle comprises a hollow carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn tube comprising: a plurality of CNT sheets twisted and wrapped in form of a hollow tube; and a binding agent infiltrated in the plurality of CNT sheets that binds the plurality of the CNT sheets together. A method of manufacturing a hydraulic muscle comprises: twisting and wrapping a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets around a core fiber; infiltrating a binding agent in between the plurality of CNT sheets, wherein the binding agent binds the plurality of the CNT sheets together; and removing the core fiber from the plurality of CNT sheets.