An automated system that can be used for prosthetic heart valve manufacturing or suturing procedures. The system can include a first automated fixture that includes an articulating arm and a target device holder. The system can also include one or more additional automated fixtures, which can be configured as one or more suturing arms that include another articulating arm and a needle holder. The first automated fixture can be configured to rotate a target device held by the holder to allow the one or more additional automated fixtures to perform operations such as form sutures on the target device without intervention of a human operator. The system can include a targeting system configured to provide positioning feedback to the system.

An injector for introducing a capsular tension ring and intended for once-only use, and a method for manufacturing such an injector. The injector includes: a housing extending in longitudinal direction of the injector, and a throughfeed channel. A plunger is arranged movably in the channel and includes an engaging means for engaging the capsular tension ring, and further includes a guide element on a guide arm. A spring mechanism co-acts with the plunger and is configured to displace the plunger from a starting state, in which the engaging means engages the capsular tension ring, to an activating state in which the capsular tension ring is carried inward into the throughfeed channel. The housing has a guide with first and second channel parts, and a wall part for carrying the guide element from the first to the second channel part, and the first channel part is provided with a resistance threshold.

The present invention relates to methods for adhering tissue surfaces and materials and biomedical uses thereof. In particular the present invention relates to a method for adhering a first tissue surface to a second tissue surface in a subject in need thereof, comprising the steps of adsorbing a layer of nanoparticles on at least one of the tissue surfaces, and approximating the surfaces for a time sufficient for allowing the surfaces to adhere to each other. The present invention also relates to a method for adhering a material to a biological tissue in a subject in need thereof, comprising the steps of adsorbing a layer of nanoparticles on the surface of the material and/or the biological tissue and approximating the material and the biological tissue for a time sufficient for allowing the material and the biological tissue to adhere to each other.

The disclosure relates to winged graft devices, methods of manufacture, and methods of use to repair, e.g., repair perforations, in tympanic membranes, or to augment defective tympanic membranes.

As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments characterized herein, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus including first and second filters, a shaft and a frame coupled to the shaft and to the first filter. The frame and shaft operate to seal a perimeter of the first filter around an opening in a sidewall of a tubular structure, by pressing the frame against the perimeter and the sidewall. The second filter is also coupled to the frame and operates with the frame to extend into cross section of the tubular structure away from the frame and the sidewall, with the frame sealing the first filter around the opening, and to filter particles from fluid flowing past the opening and along the length of the sidewall.

A stabilized fabric composed of a mesh or a woven fabric is disclosed as are methods of their manufacture, the manufacture of medical devices made using a stabilized fibers and stabilized medical devices are all disclosed. Fabrics can be stabilized by several techniques including: using mechanical, chemical and/or energetic fasteners at warp and weft intersections in the weave; by using various weaving techniques and fibers. Meshes can be stabilized when properly dimensioned and arranged junctions and struts of the necessary properties are used. All of these stabilized fabrics can be made of synthetic polymer materials such as ultrahigh molecular weight PE or PP and expanded PTFE.

In particular, some embodiments provide shunts having a plurality of individually actuatable flow control elements that can control the flow of fluid through associated ports and/or flow lumens. For example, each individually actuatable flow control element can be actuated to modify a flow of a corresponding port and/or flow lumen. The individually actuatable flow control elements may be actuated along a given actuation axis. A flow control assembly may include a plurality of flow control elements arranged about a collection region. Accordingly, the shunts described herein can be manipulated into a variety of configurations that provide different drainage rates based on a degree to which the ports and/or flow lumens are blocked or unblocked, therefore providing a titratable glaucoma therapy for draining aqueous from the anterior chamber of the eye.

It is provided a method of producing high-quality engineered cartilage graft in a human of animal, such as nasal cartilage graft, comprising expanding chondrocytes and/or chondroprogenitors, e.g. autologous human nasoseptal chondrocytes (hNC,) from a donor patient by selecting expanded chondrocytes and/or chondroprogenitors by detecting the expression of at least one surfaceome protein gene or secretome protein gene, wherein the at least one surfaceome protein gene is ADGRG1, NPR3, SLC16A4, TSPAN13, FZD4 and SLC22A23 and the at least one secretome protein gene is ADGRG1, B3GNT7, COLGALT2, IGFBP3, STC2, SAA1, ANGPLT1, COL8A2, INHBB, ADAMTS9, ORM1, COL14A1, DCN, COL21A1, ENOX1, IL7, MXRA5 GAL, TFRC, SERPINA9, LIF, GDF6 and COL5A3.

The invention is related to a casting form (1) for the generation of an ear piece (100or a part of an ear piece (100), wherein the ear piece (100) comprises a contact section (120) and a non-contact section (110). The casting form (1) comprises an inner surface (10) delimiting an inner volume (12) for receiving a casting material, wherein the inner volume (12) is at least a part of the contact section (120). The inner surface (10) comprises at least one profiled section (20) comprising at least one texturing element (30). The invention is further related to a method for generating a casting form (1). The invention further comprises an ear piece (100).

The present technology is directed to adjustable flow glaucoma shunts and methods for making and using such devices. In many of the embodiments described herein, the shunts include a generally flat frame. The frame can include an elongated portion having a lumen extending therethrough and a bladder portion defining an interior chamber that is in fluid communication with the lumen. When implanted in a patient's eye, aqueous can drain from the anterior chamber to a target outflow location via the lumen and interior chamber. In some embodiments, the shunts include a flow control assembly positioned within the interior chamber of the bladder portion to control the flow of aqueous through the lumen.