Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.

Provided are intraoperative devices, the devices comprising a substrate having a plurality of discontinuous cuts formed therein, the plurality of discontinuous cuts being formed such that when the substrate is subjected to deformation, the substrate is capable of deformation beyond an initial state so as to achieve a first shaped three-dimensional state. Through design of the cut patterns in 2D, one can locally control the stretchability and elasticity within the substrate. The substrate can then be deformed into a 3D structure that can provide shape and support to reconstructed tissue in the desired regions while also minimizing operative time and cost. Also provided are related methods of using the disclosed devices; the devices can be used in autologous tissue donation procedures as well as prosthetic procedures.

Soft tissue repair grafts are provided for supporting, covering, and/or retaining an implant positioned in the body of a subject. The grafts are particularly suitable for use for pre-pectoral breast reconstruction with a breast implant or tissue expander. The grafts include positional notches for more accurate positioning in a subject. The grafts also include at least one cuff element which is folded to form a reinforced folded edge for suturing the graft more securely to adjacent tissues than previously known grafts. The grafts also include a plurality of arcuate slots which form a plurality of circular patterns arranged concentrically about a focal point, thereby enabling the grafts to expand without tearing and to conform more closely to the implant and/or adjacent body tissues such as the breast pocket, than previously known grafts. Acellular dermal matrices are particularly suitable for making the soft tissue repair grafts.

Medical devices are provided, comprising a medical device and a sensor.

There is provided herein a breast implant comprising: a base having a first diameter, the base is configured to rest against a subject's chest wall when implanted; a dome having a second diameter, the dome is configured to be positioned within breast parenchyma underneath a nipple-areola complex when implanted; and an elongated projecting structure extending between the base and the dome, wherein the implant is configured to be inserted into a subject's breast as an internal supporting skeleton and to affect the projection of breast.

Described are methods and apparatus for use in supporting tissue in a patient's body. In some embodiments, the patient's breast is supported. In some embodiments, the methods provide ways of supporting and adjusting tissue, and the apparatus includes components and embodiments for supporting and adjusting the tissue. Some embodiments include a supporting device, having a first portion, a second portion, and a support member positioned between the first portion and second portion. Some embodiments include advancing the first portion of the supporting device into the body to a first location in the body; advancing the second portion of the supporting device into the body to a second location in the body; securing the first portion of the supporting device at the first location; and shifting soft tissue in the body with the support member.

The particle (1) is suitable for the manufacture of an implantable soft tissue engineering material and comprises a three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) where:

(i) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) is made from a biocompatible material having a Young's modulus of 1 kPa to 1 GPa;

(ii) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) has an irregular shape which is encompassed in a virtual three-dimensional envelope (3) having a volume VE;

(iii) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) has a mean sheet thickness T;

(iv) the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) has a volume VS;

(v) the particle (1) has a Young's modulus of 100 Pa to 15 kPa; and

(vi) the particle (1) further comprises a number of protrusions (4) where the three-dimensionally warped and branched sheet (2) reaches the envelope (3);

(vii) the particle (1) has a number of interconnected channel-type conduits (5) defined by the branching of the sheet (2) and/or by voids in the sheet (2); and

(viii) where the conduits (5) have (a) a mean diameter DC; and (b) an anisotropicity index of 1.01 to 5.00.

Patient-specific craniofacial implants structured for filling bone voids or planned bone voids in the cranium and face as well as for simultaneously providing soft tissue reconstruction and/or augmentation for improved aesthetic symmetry and appearance of face and skull. Pterional or temporal voids or defects generally result from a chronic skull or lateral facial deformity along with a compromised temporalis muscle or soft tissue distortion from previous surgery. When muscle and fat atrophy occurs in the pterion or temporal face, temporal hollowing deformity generally results where there would be soft tissue but for the atrophy. The patient-specific craniofacial implants with dual-purpose herein are configured to have an augmented region adjacent the temporal region of the face and cranium in order to prevent and/or correct any such temporal hollowing deformity and to utilize this newfound space to strategically embed implantable neurotechnologies for improved outcomes.

Ear implants for auricular tissue reconstruction in a patient are provided. The ear implant may be a tissue scaffold multicomponent assembly for reconstruction of auricular tissue. Thus, the assembly may include both a first and a second tissue scaffold component. Each comprises a biocompatible polymeric material having a plurality of open pores configured to support cell growth. The first tissue scaffold component defines a central void region and at least a portion of an outer ear framework of the patient after implantation. The second tissue scaffold component defines a base portion. After implantation into the patient, the second tissue scaffold component seats within the central void region of the first tissue scaffold component, so that the second tissue scaffold component is secured to the first tissue scaffold component. Methods for reconstructing auricular tissue in a patient using such ear implant tissue scaffolds are also provided.

A void occlusion device that includes a scaffold defining a plurality of voids and a reinforcement member is described. The scaffold is configured to permit the infiltration of human tissue into the plurality of voids. The reinforcement member extends through at least a portion of the scaffold and is configured to resist compressive forces exerted on the scaffold. Also described are embodiments where the void occlusion device is biocompatible, bioresorbable, elastic, and suitable for radio imaging.