A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles and a suspending agent comprising hyaluronic acid. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

The present disclosure describes an implantable channel guide configured to identify and/or a channel created in a patient via an endoscopic navigation procedure. The channel guide includes an elongate body having at least one snare on one end portion thereof and at least one anchor member on a second opposite end portion thereof.

A technology that provides various modular biomimetic microfluidic modules emulating varieties of microvasculature in body. These microfluidic-base capillaries and lymphatic Technology modules are constructed as multilayered-microfluidic microchannels of various shapes, and aspect ratios using diverse biocompatible microfluidic polymers. Then, various semipermeable membranes are sandwiched in between these multilayered microfluidic microchannels. These membranes have different chemical, physical characteristics and MWCO values. Consequently, this design will produce much smaller dimension channels similar to human vasculature to achieve biomimetic properties like of human organs and tissues. By interchanging microfluidic-layers or the membranes various diverse modules are designed that act as building blocks for constructing various medical devices, various forms of dialysis devices including albumin and lipid dialysis, water purification, bioreactors, bio-artificial organ support systems. Connecting various modules in diverse combinations, permutations, in parallel and/or in series to ultimately design many unrelated medical devices such as dialysis, bioreactors and organ support devices.

A tissue expander having an integrated drain includes a shell having an opening and one or more drainage holes, and an injection port disposed in the opening of the shell and forming a fluid-tight seal with the shell. The injection port includes a needle guard having a needle guard base with a top surface. The injection port includes a moveable barrier membrane overlying the top surface of the needle guard base. The moveable barrier membrane is moveable between a first position for inflating and deflating the shell with a first fluid and a second position for draining a second fluid from outside the shell. A magnet is coupled with the moveable barrier membrane, and a compressible spring is connected with the magnet. The compressible spring is compressed for storing energy as the moveable barrier membrane moves from the first position to the second position.

A tissue expander having an integrated drain includes a shell having an opening and one or more drainage holes, and an injection port disposed in the opening of the shell and forming a fluid-tight seal with the shell. The injection port includes a needle guard having a needle guard base with a top surface. The injection port includes a moveable barrier membrane overlying the top surface of the needle guard base. The moveable barrier membrane is moveable between a first position for inflating and deflating the shell with a first fluid and a second position for draining a second fluid from outside the shell. A magnet is coupled with the moveable barrier membrane, and a compressible spring is connected with the magnet. The compressible spring is compressed for storing energy as the moveable barrier membrane moves from the first position to the second position.

A cell-scaffold device includes at least one channel network including an inlet, a plurality of channels include a parent channel having an end portion communicating with the inlet and another end portion communicating with a first bifurcation, forming two child channels. Each child channel has an end portion communicating with a respective end portion of the first bifurcation and another end portion communicating with a second bifurcation, forming two grand-child channels from each child channel. Each grand-child channel has an end portion communicating with a respective end portion of the second bifurcation and another end portion. The other end portion of the grand-child channel either forms an outlet or a third child channel in communication with the grand-child channel. Each forming of grand-child channels defines a generation of the fractal structure. The devices are of use as scaffolds for seeding, growing, and maintaining cells implanted in and/or on the device.

An integrally-formed three-dimensional (3D) bio-printing system capable of alternate feeding of multiple materials, comprising: an optical imaging unit and a light path conversion unit, wherein the optical imaging unit comprises an image processing unit and a projection unit, the image processing unit segmenting a 3D modeling graphic of a printed subject to form image information, the projection unit converting the image information into one or more optical images, and the light path conversion unit projects the imaged light paths into bio-ink that can be cured by light, so that the projected image can cure the bio-ink by means of the focus of light.

The present invention relates to a cryopreserved in vitro cell culture comprising human pancreatic progenitor cells that co-express pancreatic-duodenal homeobox factor-1 (PDX1) and NK6 homeobox 1 (NKX6.1) and are chromogranin negative. The present invention also relates to a method for cryopreserving an in vitro population of human pancreatic progenitor cells that co-express PDX1 and NKX6.1 and are chromogranin negative.

The present disclosure provides implants, sensor modules, networks, and methods configured to establish transcutaneous power and transcutaneous bidirectional data communication using ultrasound signals between two or more medical devices located on and within a body of a patient.

The present disclosure provides implants, sensor modules, networks, and methods configured to establish transcutaneous power and transcutaneous bidirectional data communication using ultrasound signals between two or more medical devices located on and within a body of a patient.