Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an adhesion prevention material capable of exhibiting excellent adhesion preventive effect. This adhesion prevention material concurrently uses: (A) a peptide (A-1) having an amino acid sequence-(X-Pro-Y)n-[wherein X represents an arbitrary defined amino acid, Pro represents proline, Y represents hydroxyproline or proline, and n is an integer between 1 and 10] and/or a peptide (A-2) having an amino acid sequence-(Pro-Y)m-[wherein Pro represents proline, Y represents hydroxyproline or proline, and m is an integer between 1-10]; and (B) a gelatin gel. This adhesion prevention material exhibits a dramatically enhanced adhesion preventive effect as compared with the case where the abovementioned components are used individually, and in particular, has a markedly superior effect against adhesion of tendons.

A surgical device includes a substrate and a first coating that covers at least a portion of the substrate. The first coating includes a first polymer. The first coating having antibiotics dispersed in the first polymer such that the first polymer releases the antibiotics as the first polymer degrades. A second coating covers at least a portion of the first coating. The second coating includes a second polymer. The second coating has ellagic acid dispersed in the second polymer such that the second polymer releases the ellagic acid as the second polymer degrades. In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed.

In some aspects, the present invention provides surgical procedures that comprise applying compositions into and/or onto tissue, including supporting tissues (e.g., ligaments, connective tissue, muscles, etc.) for pelvic organs, among other tissues. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to compositions that are useful for performing such procedures. In still other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to kits that are useful for performing such procedures.

A double-layered medical membrane and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The double-layered medical membrane includes a hydrophilic material layer and a hydrophobic material layer disposed thereon. The hydrophilic material layer includes hydrophilic fibers, hydrophilic particles, or a combination thereof. The hydrophilic fibers and the hydrophilic particles include a hydrophilic polymer as a material. The method includes the following steps: using an electrospinning solution to form the hydrophilic material layer by electrospinning or using a hydrophilic solution to form the hydrophilic material layer; and producing the double-layered medical membrane that includes the hydrophilic material layer. The hydrophilic material layer includes the hydrophilic fibers, the hydrophilic particles, or the combination thereof. The hydrophilic fibers or the hydrophilic particles include the hydrophilic polymer as a material.

Provided is a thrombin-carrying hemostatic sheet that is suitable for hemostasis during surgery, in particular, for hemostasis during spine surgery, that is convenient without preparation before use, and that is bioabsorbable and can be embedded in the body as it is. The hemostatic sheet is composed of a gelatin sponge carrying an effective amount of thrombin, wherein (A) the density is 30 to 55 mg/cm.sup.3, and (B) the shape maintaining angle in wet conditions is 55 to 120°.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.

Systems and methods for imaging an object that are capable of capturing an image or images of the object using an imaging modality, automatically detecting and analyzing the image or images by way of converting the image or images to at least one binary image, and analyzing the at least one binary image to extract and/or segment regions-of-interest (ROIs) from the at least one binary image. The object can be or include an implantation, occlusion, medical device, body lumen, tissue, organ, duct, and/or vessel. The imaging modality can be or include X-ray, CT, MRI, PET, and/or ultrasound, or any combination thereof. Also included are compositions of soft, implantable materials with one or more carbon-based material, nanomaterial, and/or allotrope present in an amount sufficient as an ultrasound contrast agent effective for days, months, or years and which compositions are useful in the automated imaging methods of the invention.

In some aspects, the present invention provides surgical procedures that comprise applying compositions into and/or onto tissue, including supporting tissues (e.g., ligaments, connective tissue, muscles, etc.) for pelvic organs, among other tissues. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to compositions that are useful for performing such procedures. In still other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to kits that are useful for performing such procedures.

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for blood and other biological fluid purification using a membrane with cell containing vascular channel systems and filtration channel systems. Also disclosed are methods of making the apparatus as well as methods of making membranes.