A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

This invention is related to a surgical suture production method that has been given electrical conductivity to the surgical suture. The surgical suture production method subjected to the invention comprises the steps of, dissolving a conductive or semi conductive polymer that is to be used as coating material in a solvent together with a dopant that increases electrical conductivity, immersing the surgical suture inside this solution and coating the suture, taking the suture out of the solution and obtaining an electrical conductive layer on the suture after the solution on it has evaporated.

A method for supporting repair of soft tissue with biopolymer fibers. Biopolymer is dissolved in acid in a closed container made of materials inert to the acid and to the collagen to form a biopolymer solution. The solution is stirred, then centrifuged to degas it. The degassed solution is put into syringes on a holder. The number of syringes equals the number of fibers in the bundle. The syringes are mounted in a rotatable holder. Essentially equal quantities of degassed solution are extruded from the syringes to produce fibers, which are gathered and fed into a formation buffer bath. The fibers are kept taught after extrusion and dehydrated in a dehydrating solution in a dehydrating bath. The fibers are wound a collector to collect the bundle. The fibers are used to support repair of soft tissue.

A method for supporting repair of soft tissue with biopolymer fibers. Biopolymer is dissolved in acid in a closed container made of materials inert to the acid and to the collagen to form a biopolymer solution. The solution is stirred, then centrifuged to degas it. The degassed solution is put into syringes on a holder. The number of syringes equals the number of fibers in the bundle. The syringes are mounted in a rotatable holder. Essentially equal quantities of degassed solution are extruded from the syringes to produce fibers, which are gathered and fed into a formation buffer bath. The fibers are kept taught after extrusion and dehydrated in a dehydrating solution in a dehydrating bath. The fibers are wound a collector to collect the bundle. The fibers are used to support repair of soft tissue.

Novel surgical sutures and novel medical devices made from novel semi-crystalline, glycolide-rich A-B-A triblock copolymers of glycolide and lactide, wherein said B-segment is a fully amorphous random copolymer of glycolide and lactide, for long term medical applications are disclosed. The novel polymer compositions are useful for long term absorbable surgical sutures, meshes and other medical devices, especially for patients with compromised healing. The novel sutures have improved properties and improved breaking strength retention, while still substantially absorbing within about a 120-day period post-implantation.

In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a drug-loaded amino acid based poly(ester urea) pouch or pocket sized to receive implanted devices that produces localized drug delivery. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to an antibiotic-loaded L-Valine poly(ester urea) pouch or pocket that provides localized antibiotic delivery for CIEDs or other implanted devices. In one or more embodiments, the amount and rate of antibiotic release are dependent upon the thickness and loading concentration of the film. This dependence of release on thickness and loading concentration gives a handle to fabricate PEU-A pouches or pockets with any desired release profile that can locally deliver the therapeutically relevant amount of antibiotic.

An absorbable medical article comprising: an absorbable polymeric substrate; and an absorbable composition disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the substrate, wherein the absorbable composition comprises: (i) at least one absorbable coating polymer distinct from the substrate and (ii) a colorant that is miscible with the absorbable coating polymer.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant or derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.

The present disclosure provides poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) containing NO-Arg groups. The PEAs may be used to treat diseases having inflammation and/or diseases associated with inflammation. The PEAs may be used to treat wounds, such as, for example, wounds associated with obesity and/or diabetes. The PEAs may be incorporated into various articles such as medical devices, such as, for example, bandages and other wound care articles/devices.