Tissue expanders and methods of use. In some embodiments the tissue expanders are adapted to reduce wear on one or more components.

A delivery device configured to deliver a medical device into a patient is provided. The delivery device includes a distal ring and a transition tunnel. The transition tunnel is sized to receive a medical device. The transition tunnel is coupled to the distal ring. The delivery device also includes a proximal chute that has an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. The inner perimeter of the proximal chute is coupled to the transition tunnel. The proximal chute is configured to transition between opened and closed conditions. The outer perimeter of the proximal chute in the opened condition is spread radially outward from the transition tunnel and defines an opening for receiving the medical device. The proximal chute in the closed condition is configured to at least partially prevent the medical device from egressing the delivery device.

A plug is configured to maintain position within a Eustachian tube of a patient. The plug includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a first body dimensioned bear radially outwardly against the Eustachian tube of the patient. The distal portion includes an anchoring assembly that is configured to lock the plug in the Eustachian tube of the patient. The plug may be formed of a bioabsorbable material.

A system and method may be used to evaluate soft tissue. A knee arthroplasty soft tissue evaluation may use an adjustable spacer, such as varying sized physical spacers or an inflatable bladder, along with a sensor to measure force, pressure, gap distance, or the like during a range of motion test. A method may include maintaining an equal pressure or gap distance for a medial component and a lateral component of an adjustable spacer during a range of motion test. Information, including, for example a maximum or minimum gap distance or pressure may be determined during the range of motion test. The determined information may be output for display or used to update a surgical plan.

Surgical tools and kits for performing methods include a grommet with cylindrical shaft, cutting tip, annular flange with suture retaining anchoring fixture; a grommet jig for extending between adjacent grommets and guiding a needle therebetween; a family of needles with single and double pointed ends, reinforced eyelets, stops to limit inadvertent exiting, double shaft construction with a longitudinal gap and sharpened, slicing ends, including a “J” shape embodiment; a bone anchor with ring to secure sutures about a patient's clavicle; a tissue dissector having radially extending cones to nick taut connecting tissues; a tissue rasp having a series of crisscrossing grooves along an end; a tissue mesher comprising one or more blocks having a matrix of holes for clamping a plurality of needles and a supporting framework; and a kit device and a method of surgically inserting an internal mesh brassiere under the breast skin.

Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are directed to efficient and accurate removal of tissue from a three-dimensional anatomic structure, such as a breast, of a patient. For example, a cup can be positioned on the patient's breast to conform the breast (e.g. via suction) to a known three-dimensional contour, and a cutting tip can be moved along the three-dimensional contour at one or more predetermined distances from at least one surface of the cup. The cutting tip can remove tissue along the three-dimensional contour to form a skin envelope. As compared to a manual process performed by a surgeon, formation of the envelope through controlled movement of the cutting tip along the three-dimensional contour can improve control over dimensions of the envelope, thus, facilitating achievement of consistent outcomes by reducing the likelihood of complications associated with an envelope that is too thick, too thin, or uneven.

A tissue expander can be configured to collect extracellular fluid from within a patient’s body cavity. The tissue expander can be implanted into a subdermal cavity during a procedure, such as a breast reconstruction procedure, and facilitate the expansion of the subdermal cavity in preparation for placement of a final implant.

A tissue expander comprising: a port assembly including a drain port and a fill port, a magnet housing assembly fitted to the port assembly, the magnet housing assembly including a single magnet having a magnetic field that is detectable on an exterior surface of a biological tissue of a patient; a shell defining the interior cavity of the tissue expander; and a drain assembly in fluidic communication with the drain port via the drain tubing.

A passive stent for retaining an organ in an expanded state configured to adhere and substantially conform to an external surface of the organ may include an inner layer, an outer layer, and a middle layer that is enclosed by the inner layer and the outer layer, comprising a plurality of components configured to interlock and maintain the organ in an expanded state upon application of a vacuum. A method for retaining an organ in an expanded state may include applying at least one force to the organ to place the organ in the expanded state; applying a passive stent to an external surface of the organ; and applying a vacuum to the passive stent sufficient to cause a plurality of components of at least one layer of the passive stent to interlock, where the at least one layer is configured to maintain the organ in the expanded state after interlocking.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for facilitating stretching of a biological tissue by forming a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue. Each micro-slit can be less than about 2 mm or less than about 1.5 mm long, or even less than about 1 mm, such that small gaps that can heal quickly can be formed when the tissue is stretched. The micro-slits can be formed using a plurality of cutting arrangements or an ablative laser. The micro-slits can be formed in various patterns, including staggered rows, circular or spiral patterns, or random patterns.