There is disclosed a collagen construct comprising a plurality of elongate strips, wherein each strip contains a plurality of collagen fibres that are substantially aligned along the length of the respective strips, and the strips are braided or woven together to produce a collagen construct in the form of a rope that can be used for replacing tendons or ligaments, such as cruciate ligaments. Also disclosed is a method for making or producing the collagen construct from a collagen membrane having a plurality of collagen fibres being substantially aligned parallel to each other in a common direction. The membrane is cut along cut lines that are orientated substantially parallel to that common direction, thereby to separate elongate strips from the membrane. The strips are then braided or woven together to form the collagen construct.

Devices, systems, and methods to improve both the reliability of soft tissue repair procedures and the speed at which the procedures are completed are provided. The devices and systems include one or more tissue augmentation constructs, which include constructs that are configured to increase a footprint across which suture applied force to tissue when the suture is tied down onto the tissue. The tissue augmentation constructs can be quickly and easily associated with the repair suture, and can be useful in many different tissue repair procedures that are disclosed in the application. In one exemplary embodiment, one or more constructs are disposed on a suture threader, which can be used to associate the construct(s) with a repair suture(s) being used to repair the soft tissue. Tissue augmentation constructs can include various blocks and patches, among other formations. Exemplary methods for manufacturing the tissue augmentation constructs are also provided.

A package for receiving an adapter sleeve for a hip endoprosthesis, the hip endoprosthesis comprising a ball head which has to be pushed onto the adapter sleeve with a defined pushing-on force. For simplification and secure fastening of the ball head on the adapter sleeve, it is proposed according to the invention that a device for the mounting of the ball head on the adapter sleeve is integrated in the package and this device comprises indicating elements which indicate that the defined pushing-on force has been reached when the ball head is pressed onto the adapter sleeve. Preferably the package has indicating elements.

Loading systems for prosthetic heart valve devices are disclosed. A loading funnel is provided within a watertight interior space that is at least partially filled or fillable with biocompatible fluid. Funnel may have a cylindrical end to which is connected a delivery catheter having a lumen that will receive the collapsed prosthetic heart valve device. An expanded prosthetic heart valve device may be placed within the funnel and pushed or pulled into the funnel which provides a predictable, reliable and repeatable surface for collapsing the prosthetic heart valve device. Ultimately the prosthetic heart valve device is collapsed and translated into the lumen of the delivery catheter for further translation therealong and release into the heart chamber of interest.

The present disclosure in one aspect provides a sterile packaging container comprising a container body with a cross-sectional shape that is constant along the majority of the longitudinal axis, a cover and a closure assembly that inhibits the passage of microbial contaminants. The container is configured such that the interior of the container can be sterilized. The sterile packaging container described herein allows one to manufacture a sterile packaging tube exercising the smallest possible volume.

A cup and a temporary insert are respectively configured to be tightly press fitted into each other along their periphery. The temporary insert includes a through hole communicating outside with a free space between the outer surface of the temporary insert and the inner surface of the cup. In the through hole can be engaged the threaded end of an impactor, for manipulating the cup when it is being set. A syringe can be engaged, enabling a liquid under pressure to be injected into the free space, thus separating the temporary insert from the cup without any risk of damaging the inner surface of the cup. Thus, the cup can be securely manipulated when it is being set without any risk of damaging the inner surface of the cup.

A catheter assembly comprises a catheter having a distal end and a longitudinal axis, a stent disposed about the distal end of the catheter, and a stent protector. The stent protector has a stent covering portion disposed about the stent and a catheter engagement portion that removably engages the stent protector to the catheter assembly. The stent covering portion is disposed about the stent without substantially engaging the stent.

A device for performing surgery on a patient includes: a mesh patch comprising a top surface and a bottom surface; and a removable cover positioned adjacent to and in facing engagement with the bottom surface of the mesh patch. The bottom surface has a plurality of hooks positioned thereon. The cover is removed from the mesh patch as the mesh patch is positioned at a surgical site such that the hooks on the bottom of the mesh patch grip surrounding tissue of a patient and secure the mesh patch to surrounding tissue of the surgical site. A method for performing a surgery using such a device is also provided.

Techniques for mesh augmentation and prevention of incisional hernia, including systems and methods for affixing mesh to a fascial incision. A mesh strip can be integrated with one or more uni-directional fasteners. Each fastener can include an anchoring mechanism adapted for affixation to anterior abdominal wall fascia and a mating interface. An applicator can include tension arms adapted to interface with the mating interfaces of the fasteners to maintain a vertical tension of the mesh strip and a handle coupled with the tension arms adapted to spread the tension arms and thereby control a horizontal tension of the mesh strip. The mesh strip can be configured to be aligned over a fascial incision using the applicator and affixed under tension to anterior abdominal wall fascia by tissue penetration of the anchoring mechanisms of the one or more fasteners.

The present invention concerns a process for the production of implants with an ultrahydrophilic surface as well as the implants produced in that way and also processes for the production of loaded, so-called bioactive implant surfaces of metallic or ceramic materials, which are used for implants such as artificial bones, joints, dental implants or also very small implants, for example what are referred to as stents, as well as implants which are further produced in accordance with the processes and which as so-called “delivery devices” allow controlled liberation, for example by way of dissociation, of the bioactive molecules from the implant materials.