An example medical device for treating a body lumen is disclosed. The medical device includes an expandable scaffold including first and second regions, each of the first and second regions include a plurality of interstices located therein. The medical device also includes a covering spanning each of the plurality of interstices of the first region. The second region is free of the covering. A biodegradable gripping material is disposed on an outer surface of the covering. Further, the expandable scaffold is configured to shift from a collapsed state to an expanded state and the second region is configured to contact an inner surface of the body lumen in the expanded state. Additionally, the gripping material is designed to initially prevent migration of the expandable scaffold upon implantation in the body lumen until the second region is secured to the inner surface of the body lumen.

A medical product comprises a biodegradable filament and a non-biodegradeable coating. The biodegradable filament forms a stent body having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The middle portion extends between the first and second end portions. The non-biodegradeable coating encapsulates the at least one biodegradable filament along the middle portion of the stent body. The non-biodegradeable coating forms a barrier such that the non-biodegradeable coating prevents degradation of the at least one biodegradable filament along the middle portion. The first and second end portions are uncoated. After implantation, the end portions of the stent may biodegrade. The middle portion will not biodegrade due to its encapsulation by the non-biodegradeable coating.

A stent includes a tubular body possessing a plurality of gaps. The tubular body includes a plurality of circumferentially extending linear struts. The stent includes a plurality of links connecting the linear struts. At least one of the links has first and second connection portions. The first connection portion is integrally formed with one strut, and the second connection portion is integrally formed with an adjacent strut. The stent includes a biodegradable material between the first connection portion and the second connection portion to connect the first and second connection portions to each other. The biodegradable material restrains the one strut and the adjacent strut from moving to their original shapes. The first and second connection portions move relative to one another in a separation direction when a connection by the biodegradable material is released so that the original shapes of the struts are restored.

A disposable device for absorbing urine and/or bodily fluids in the urethra having a cylindrical body about 4-8 mm in diameter by about 3-5 cm in length and having a top and bottom end. The body is made of absorbent material that expands upon contact with urine and bodily fluids and includes a string connected to the bottom end of the body for removing the device from the urethra. The device can be used to treat urinary incontinence and/or erectile dysfunction by inserting into the urethra and removing the device after it has been impregnated with fluid. The device can be included in a kit with a plunger for insertion.

An ocular implant comprising a shunt and a fluid absorbing conduit for reducing intraocular pressure, and optionally comprising a biodegradable ring.

Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A docking element is implanted within the subject's left atrium such that no portion of the docking element extends through the subject's mitral valve. The docking element includes a ring having a smaller size than that of the subject's mitral annulus, and which configured to be implanted within 15 mm of the mitral annulus. A frame extends upwardly from the ring, a portion of the frame being configured to be disposed in a vicinity of the mitral annulus and to generate tissue ingrowth from the subject's atrial walls in the vicinity of the mitral annulus. A material disposed between the portion of the frame and the ring is configured to form a seal between atrial walls in the vicinity of the mitral annulus and the ring. Other applications are also described.

A method of effecting a tendon repair in a patient comprising providing a suture tape, using the suture tape to connect tendon tissue to bone of the patient such that the suture tape lays flat on the tendon, and permitting ingrowth of the tendon tissue into the suture tape as the absorbable fibers are absorbed into the patient's tissue. The suture tape is a flat braid of elastic, absorbable fibers and high strength fibers, the tape being at least 1 mm wide and 2 cm long, and less than 1 mm high. The suture tape includes at least 4 absorbable fibers and at least 4 high strength fibers. Further, the suture tape is capable of being stretched at least 10% from its shortest length to the length at which it breaks and is capable of withstanding a load of at least 260 Newtons before breaking.

According to an aspect, pelvic implants optionally including the ability to engage a spreader tool for spreading the implant within the patient, also optionally including a frame, exemplary implants being capable of being used to treat pelvic floor disorders, for example by supporting of levator tissue, and methods of surgically placing pelvic implants.

The present disclosure provides surgical implants that are useful for nipple-areola complex (NAC) or facial reconstruction in a subject, and methods for fabricating and using the same. The surgical implants of the present technology comprise minced or zested cartilage that is encaged by an external biocompatible scaffold.

A fabric or mesh construct, and process for making same, which allows for early wound stability and then transitions to a more compliant state exhibiting a substantially constant macro-porous pore structure through the life of the implant to promote good tissue incorporation without bridging.