A surgical blade assembly includes a blade having side surfaces defining a width greater than its thickness. The surgical blade assembly also includes a reinforcing member having a body portion, and first and second arms extending from the body portion to define a receiving portion. The receiving portion is configured to receive the blade and the first and second arms are configured to abut the side surfaces of the blade. The first and second arms act as a strut to reinforce the blade against external forces applied to the blade. The blade and the reinforcing member may include coupling features to prevent separation of the reinforcing member from the blade. The blade and the reinforcing member may be substantially perpendicular to each other when coupled.

The present invention relates to implantable endoluminal prosthesis for preventing stroke. The endoluminal prosthesis (1) consists of a braided framework (20) defining a cylindrical lumen (21) devoid of impermeable membrane. Said braided framework (20) is self-expandable comprising a plurality of layers (22, 23, 24) of wires (25) made of biocompatible material. Each layer forms a mesh. The meshes form a lattice with a plurality of wires (2) of given layers (22, 23, 24). The lattice defines polygonal opening units (26) when observed normal to a wall of the implantable endoluminal prosthesis (1). The diameter (Ø.sub.25) of wire (25) being at least 30 μm and at most 150 μm, the mean diameter (Ø.sub.27) of the inscribed circle (27) of the polygonal opening units (26) being at least 75 μm and at most 200 μm in fully expanded state. The braided framework (20) consists of at least 128 and at most 512 wires (25). The ratio (T.sub.1/Ø.sub.25) of the thickness (T.sub.1) of a wall of said implantable endoluminal prosthesis (1) to the diameter (Ø.sub.25) of wire (25) is at least 3.0. In a fully expanded state, the surface coverage ratio (SCR) of said braided framework (20) is more than 50% and less than 90%.

A biomedical implant (16, 18) is formed from magnesium (Mg) single crystal (10). The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be biodegradable. The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be post treated to control the mechanical properties and/or corrosion rate thereof said Mg single crystal (10) without changing the chemical composition thereof. A method of making a Mg single crystal (10) for biomedical applications includes filling a single crucible (12) with more than one chamber with polycrystalline Mg, melting at least a portion of said polycrystalline Mg, and forming more than one Mg single crystal (10) using directional solidification.

A biomedical implant (16, 18) is formed from magnesium (Mg) single crystal (10). The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be biodegradable. The biomedical implant (16, 18) may be post treated to control the mechanical properties and/or corrosion rate thereof said Mg single crystal (10) without changing the chemical composition thereof. A method of making a Mg single crystal (10) for biomedical applications includes filling a single crucible (12) with more than one chamber with polycrystalline Mg, melting at least a portion of said polycrystalline Mg, and forming more than one Mg single crystal (10) using directional solidification.

The invention relates to a biodegradable, magnesium-containing bone screw for implanting into a patient body for use in medical applications, such as, orthopedic and craniofacial surgery. The bone screw has a tapered head, a threaded shaft and pointed tip. The composition of the bone screws provide for improved biodegradability and biocompatibility, and the features of the structure of the bone screws facilitates guidance and placement during implantation as well as reduces the potential for mechanical failures. Moreover, the bone screws are effective to provide targeted release of magnesium ions resulting in enhanced new bone formation.

A rod template for determining a curvature and a length of a spinal rod used for joining vertebrae in a spine fusion surgery in advance includes a core, a transparent outer tube, and a transparent filler. The core is made of metal and includes a scale on a surface thereof. The outer tube is made of silicone rubber and covers the core. The filler is made of liquid silicone rubber and inserted in a gap between the outer tube and the core to fill the gap.

Metal objects are treated by anodizing (P, SE) the metal object in contact with an acidic solution, and then subjecting the anodized metal object to a reversed voltage (VR). The anodizing is performed in two stages, firstly to passivate (P) with the formation of a surface layer, and secondly to form pits in this surface layer (SE). The second stage (SE) of anodizing is performed at a lower voltage than the first stage (P). After the reversed voltage step (VR) the metal object is then contacted with a biocidal metal-containing solution. Biocidal metal is absorbed into the surface of the metal object, resulting in improved biocidal properties. The lower voltage of the second stage anodizing (SE) results in reduced processing time.

A drug delivery device having an intraluminal stent for improving coronary luminal diameter of small vessels in patients with symptomatic heart disease is disclosed. The intraluminal stent includes struts having a thickness of less than approximately 110 μm. A polymer is adhered to the intraluminal stent that includes from about 50 μg/cm.sup.2 to about 150 μg/cm.sup.2 of everolimus therein. Quantitative coronary angiography measurements indicate that the drug delivery device provides an in-stent late loss of less than about 0.20 mm and an in-stent diameter stenosis of less than about 15% at 12 months following implantation in a human.

Biomaterials, implants made therefrom, methods of making the biomaterial and implants, methods of promoting bone or wound healing in a mammal by administering the biomaterial or implant to the mammal, and kits that include such biomaterials, implants, or components thereof. The biomaterials may be designed to exhibit osteogenic, osteoinductive, osteoconductive, and/or osteostimulative properties.

The invention relates to a partly resorbable tissue clip for stapling tissue, comprising at least one gripping tooth that grips the tissue, at least one force deflecting element that is equipped with at least one gripping tooth, and at least one spring element that is connected to the at least one force deflecting element; the at least one gripping tooth or a portion of the at least one force deflecting element or of at least one of the force deflecting elements is made of bioresorbable material.