The invention is directed towards a process for implanting a cartilage graft into a cartilage defect and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The invention is also directed towards a process for repairing a cartilage defect and implanting a cartilage graft into a human or animal. The invention is further directed toward a repaired cartilage defect.

Disclosed herein are implantable dual-valve devices having first and second valve structures, a connector coupled to the structures, and first and second sealing members coupled on each side of the device, along with related methods of deploying such devices.

Ionized radiation-absorbed, dose sensitive, highly flexible polymeric compositions are provided that exhibits multidirectional changes in refractive index. Also provided are methods of producing a precision multi-directional nanogradient of refractive index in a polymeric composition.

A storable molded body is made of treated bacterial cellulose. The treated bacterial cellulose is dry and has a swelling capacity that is greater than untreated bacterial cellulose of the same type. The swelling capacity of the treated bacterial cellulose can be between about 103% and 154% greater than the non-treated bacterial cellulose. The bacterial cellulose can be from Gluconacetobacter xylinus. An implant includes or consists of the molded body of treated bacterial cellulose.

In vivo and ex vivo positionable magnetic filtration devices are provided that magnetically filter one or more therapeutic agents conjugated to a magnetic particle in blood flowing in a blood vessel.

Various stents and stent-graft systems for treatment of medical conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary stent-graft system may be used for endovascular treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm. The stent-graft system may comprise proximal and distal components, each comprising a graft having proximal and distal ends, where upon deployment the proximal and distal components at least partially overlap with one another to provide a fluid passageway therebetween. The proximal component may comprise a proximal stent having a plurality of proximal and distal apices connected by a plurality of generally straight portions, where a radius of curvature of at least one of the proximal apices may be greater than the radius of curvature of at least one of the distal apices. The distal component may comprise a proximal z-stent coupled to the graft, where the proximal end of the graft comprises at least scallop formed therein that generally follows the shape of the proximal z-stent. Further, the distal component may comprise at least one z-stent stent coupled to the distal end of the graft and extending distally therefrom that reduces proximal migration of the distal component.

This invention provides a method for determining breast implant geometric properties, engineering stresses, engineering strains and engineering moduli; directly and quickly, using a load frame apparatus. More generally the invention provides a method for determining geometric properties and engineering mechanical properties of any elastomeric device, using a load frame apparatus. Engineering stress and engineering strain properties of breast implants are critical to their safety and durability. The geometric properties of breast implants undergoing compression also relates to the shape stability of breast implants, which may also be related to clinical outcomes such as capsular contracture and other untoward outcomes involving a breast capsule, such as Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), double capsule formation, seroma formation and associated breast implant illness (BII).

An expandable stent-valve has a stent component and a valve component, preferably an aortic valve component, a mitral valve component or a tricuspid valve component. The stent has, an outer surface area structured in a manner such that the surface area has a higher coefficient of friction between the outer surface and a duct wall than an untreated surface area of the stent component. The surface area is preferably structured with micro-incisions or micro-grooves.

A transcatheter prosthesis with radially compressed and expanded configurations. An elongate member encircling at least a portion of the prosthesis, and configured to provide a seal between the prosthesis and a native anatomy when the prosthesis is deployed in the radially expanded configuration. The elongate member may be a resilient elongate member having a radially contracted state, when in tension, to hold at least the portion of the prosthesis in the radially compressed configuration, and having a radially expanded state, when relaxed, to provide the seal between at least the portion of the prosthesis and a native anatomy when the prosthesis is deployed. A system for delivering the transcatheter prosthesis may include a delivery catheter having an elongate cinching member encircling at least a second portion of the prosthesis, wherein the elongate cinching member is configured to hold the second portion of the prosthesis in the radially compressed configuration.

Ionized radiation-absorbed, dose sensitive, highly flexible polymeric compositions are provided that exhibits multidirectional changes in refractive index. Also provided are methods of producing a precision multi-directional nanogradient of refractive index in a polymeric composition.