A carbon nanotube (CNT) artificial muscle valve includes a hollow CNT tube including: a plurality of CNT sheets wrapped in the form of a hollow tube; and a guest material disposed between the CNT sheets and that permeates the CNT sheets. At least one portion of the hollow CNT tube collapses in response to a pressure of a fluid in the hollow CNT tube exceeding a predetermined pressure. The at least one portion of the hollow CNT tube collapses because the at least one portion of the hollow CNT tube generates a torque non-uniformity relative of a remaining portion of the hollow CNT tube.

Implants are provided, comprising the implant and a plurality of sensors. Briefly stated, implants (also sometimes referred to as devices or medical devices) are provided comprising an implant along with one or more sensors to monitor the integrity, position and efficaciousness of the implant. The sensors may be positioned on the inside of the implant, within the body of the implant, or on the outer surface (or surfaces) of the implant, and/or between the implant and any device that might be utilized to deliver the implant (e.g., another implant, catheter, tunneling catheter, endoscope, balloon implant, or other medical device).

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 an arthroscopic approach 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.

Disclosed herein are muscle implants and methods of making muscle implants comprising one or more decellularized muscle matrices. The muscle matrices can, optionally, be joined to one or more decellularized dermal matrices. The muscle implants can be used to enhance muscle volume or to treat muscle damage, defects, and/or disorders. The decellularized muscle matrices in the implants retain at least some of the myofibers found in a muscle tissue prior to processing.

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.

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 carbon nanotube (CNT) muscle device includes a first CNT yarn. The first CNT yarn includes: one or more first CNT sheets wrapped in the form of a tube; and a first guest actuation material infiltrating the one or more first CNT sheets.

The present invention is directed to a composition comprising a matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising defatted, shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier and dried in a predetermined shape. Also disclosed is a tissue graft or implant comprising a matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising defatted, shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier and dried in a predetermined shape. The composition and/or tissue graft or implant of the invention is usable in combination with seeded cells, a tissue growth factor, and/or a chemotactic gent to attract a desired cell.

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 implant for assisting contraction and/or extension of a muscle that includes a stem with an adhesion resistant segment and an anchoring segment wherein at least a portion of each of the adhesion resistant segment and the anchoring segment is configured to be implantable within a muscle and the anchoring segment is positioned on a distal portion of the stem and the adhesion resistant segment is positioned proximally on the stem relative to the anchoring segment.