The present disclosure pertains to ionic polymer compositions, including semi- and fully interpenetrating polymer networks, methods of making such ionic polymer compositions, articles made from such ionic polymer compositions, and methods of making such articles and packaging for such articles.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a prosthetic valve (e.g., prosthetic heart valve) and a valve delivery apparatus for delivery of the prosthetic valve to a native valve site via the human vasculature. The delivery apparatus is particularly suited for advancing a prosthetic heart valve through the aorta (i.e., in a retrograde approach) for replacing a diseased native aortic valve. The delivery apparatus in particular embodiments is configured to deploy a prosthetic valve from a delivery sheath in a precise and controlled manner at the target location within the body.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for treating native heart valves are disclosed herein. A system for delivering a prosthetic device into a heart of a patient includes an elongated catheter body and a delivery capsule. The delivery capsule can be hydraulically driven to deploy at least a portion of a prosthetic heart valve device. The delivery capsule can release the prosthetic heart valve device at a desired treatment site in a patient.

A stent is disclosed that has an elongated body composed of a bioabsorbable polymer having a proximal end, a distal end, two open spiral channels formed on the exterior surface of the body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. The stent also has a central lumen open at the proximal and distal ends of the stent for the passage of a guide wire. A method for using the stent and a kit containing the stent are also disclosed.

Cardiovascular prostheses for treating, reconstructing and replacing damaged or diseased cardiovascular tissue. The prostheses are in the form of sheet structures that are formed from a composition that includes adolescent mammalian dermal tissue and a plurality of exogenously added exosomes. In some instances, the composition also includes at least one exogenously added cell, such as an embryonic stem cell, a mesenchymal stem cell and a hematopoietic stem cell. The prostheses are adapted to induce neovascularization, stem cell proliferation and, thereby, remodeling of damaged biological tissue and regeneration of new biological tissue and structures, when the prostheses are delivered to the damaged biological tissue.

A container for a medical device having a housing defining a cavity for receiving the device, a coupling zone external to the cavity, and an exit aperture between the cavity and the coupling zone; and a bearing surface located within the cavity, the bearing surface, exit aperture and coupling zone defining an exit path along which the device can be moved for deployment from the container. The bearing surface is spaced from the exit aperture and arranged, together with the coupling zone, such that the exit path is substantially straight. The cavity is approximately cylindrical, and the bearing surface, the exit aperture, and the coupling zone are aligned such that the exit path extends in a direction that is substantially tangential to the cavity. The housing comprises a two part structure joined together in a plane substantially orthogonal to the exit path. The housing defines a substantially unobstructed cavity for receiving the device. The housing in the coupling zone defines a slot through which the exit path extends, the slot defining a restricted space for deployment of a capture device.

A tympanic construct fabricated from at least one amniotic membrane, at least one chorionic membrane, or at least one amniotic membrane and at least one chorionic membrane obtained from human birth tissue is provided. Methods of preparing a tympanic construct, methods of repairing tympanic membrane defects and surgical sites, as well as kits for the same are also provided.

Packaging systems and methods are disclosed for storing a bioprosthetic device comprising a bioprosthetic tissue and maintaining a target relative humidity across a temperature range. The packaging system includes a sealed package defining an internal space having an internal volume, and a humidity control device and bioprosthetic device within the internal space. The humidity control device includes a barrier defining an enclosed space and a humidity control solution comprising glycerol in the enclosed space. At least a portion of the barrier comprises a gas-permeable membrane. The target relative humidity is provided within the internal volume of the sealed package and the control device maintains the target relative humidity across the temperature range by selectively liberating and absorbing water vapor.

A medical package containing a medical article, including: a support element comprising a hollow support tube and a support cap, wherein the support element includes a first chamber configured to enclose the medical article and wherein the support cap includes a support structure configured to hold the medical article captive; a stopper configured to be coupled to the hollow support tube in such a way that the support element has a grip part that protrudes from the stopper, the grip part of the support element configured to be held by a hand of a person; a hollow protective cover configured to be coupled to the stopper in such a way as to delimit, in cooperation with the stopper, a second chamber inside which there extends the grip part of the support element, the hollow protective cover configured to be separated from the stopper, wherein when the hollow protective cover is coupled to the stopper, a part of the stopper protrudes from the hollow protective cover, and is configured to form a grip end of the stopper that is configured to be held by a hand of a person, when the hollow protective cover is separated from the stopper, wherein a part of the support element is configured to be engaged by force inside the stopper, and when the hollow protective cover is separated from the stopper, the support element remains coupled to the stopper while the support element is also separable from the stopper when a person holds the grip part of the support element and pulls the support element so as to separate it from the stopper.

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.