An implantable medical device and methods for making and using the same are provided. In various embodiments, the device comprises a central hub structure in communication with at least one housing or pod capable of containing cells and therapeutic materials. Also provided are membrane structures and methods of forming the same, the membranes comprising a gradient of varying porosity for use with devices of the present disclosure, as well as other uses.

A material includes a metallic, nanoporous structure having a plurality of nanopores having a porosity that allows passage of insulin but not IgG. The metallic nanoporous structure includes titanium, 316L stainless steel and may have a textured nano-sericeous surface. A nanoporous bicontinuous structure can be integrated with nanopores.

A multi-laminar electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The scaffold includes a first layer formed by a first plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers, and a second layer formed by a second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The second layer is combined with the first layer. A first portion of the scaffold includes a higher density of fibers than a second portion of the scaffold, and the first portion has a higher tensile strength than the second portion. The scaffold is configured to degrade via hydrolysis after at least one of a predetermined time or an environmental condition. The scaffold is configured to be applied to the tissue substrate containing the defect, and is sufficiently flexible to facilitate application of the scaffold to uneven surfaces of the tissue substrate, and to enable movement of the scaffold by the tissue substrate.

A multi-laminar electrospun nanofiber scaffold for use in repairing a defect in a tissue substrate is provided. The scaffold includes a first layer formed by a first plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers, and a second layer formed by a second plurality of electrospun polymeric fibers. The second layer is combined with the first layer. A first portion of the scaffold includes a higher density of fibers than a second portion of the scaffold, and the first portion has a higher tensile strength than the second portion. The scaffold is configured to degrade via hydrolysis after at least one of a predetermined time or an environmental condition. The scaffold is configured to be applied to the tissue substrate containing the defect, and is sufficiently flexible to facilitate application of the scaffold to uneven surfaces of the tissue substrate, and to enable movement of the scaffold by the tissue substrate.

Described herein are compositions and methods of using placental stem cell recruiting factors, more specifically, isolated placental stem cell recruiting factors. In one embodiment, isolated placental stem cell recruiting factors are delivered to a site such as a diseased or injured organ and/or body part in an amount sufficient to recruit stem cells to the site.

Described herein are compositions and methods of using placental stem cell recruiting factors, more specifically, isolated placental stem cell recruiting factors. In one embodiment, isolated placental stem cell recruiting factors are delivered to a site such as a diseased or injured organ and/or body part in an amount sufficient to recruit stem cells to the site.

A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. While maintaining the distal end of the elongated shaft inside the surgical opening, the cartridge is removed from the cartridge opening, a second cartridge containing a plurality of second surgical fasteners is inserted into the cartridge opening, and the actuator is engaged for dispensing one of the second surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

A method of dispensing surgical fasteners includes providing an applicator instrument having a housing with a cartridge opening, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing system disposed within the housing for dispensing surgical fasteners, and an actuator for activating the firing system. The method includes forming a surgical opening in tissue, inserting a distal end of the elongated shaft into the surgical opening, inserting a cartridge containing a plurality of first surgical fasteners into the cartridge opening, and engaging the actuator for dispensing one of the first surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft. While maintaining the distal end of the elongated shaft inside the surgical opening, the cartridge is removed from the cartridge opening, a second cartridge containing a plurality of second surgical fasteners is inserted into the cartridge opening, and the actuator is engaged for dispensing one of the second surgical fasteners from the distal end of the elongated shaft.

According to the present invention, there are provided a chamber for transplantation, as a planar chamber for transplantation which has a structure in which membranes for immunoisolation face each other, and which is capable of stably enclosing a biological constituent, including a membrane for immunoisolation at a boundary between an inside and an outside of the chamber for transplantation, in which the membranes for immunoisolation which face each other have joint portions that are joined to each other, an interior space includes a point at a distance of 10 mm or longer from any position of the joint portion, and the membrane for immunoisolation has flexibility that allows a distance of 1 mm to 13 mm as the following distance: in a case where a portion of 10 mm from a side surface of one short side of a 10 mm×30 mm rectangular test piece of the membrane for immunoisolation is vertically sandwiched between flat plates, and the flat plates are placed horizontally, a distance between a horizontal plane including a center plane in a thickness direction of the sandwiched portion of the membrane for immunoisolation, and a part, which is farthest from the horizontal plane, of a residual 20 mm-portion projecting from the flat plate; and a device for transplantation including the chamber for transplantation enclosing a biological constituent therein.