Bioprosthetic components based on, or comprising, biological materials for implants, preferably biological heart valves, in particular biological heart valve leaflets, which have only been chemically or thermally stabilized (partly crosslinked) at mechanically stressed points and therefore have zones having different mechanical properties, and to a method for the production thereof.

The present disclosure is directed toward composite materials comprising high aspect ratio habits of drug crystals which can be partially or fully extending into a substrate, and additionally, can be projecting from a substrate at an angle of about 20° to about 90°. The present disclosure is directed toward medical devices, such as medical balloons, comprising said composite and methods of using and making the same. The described composite can be used for the local treatment of vascular disease. The present disclosure is also directed toward paclitaxel crystals with a hollow acicular habit.

Provided are methods for surface-modifying a tubular object of a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer. The methods allow these objects to have at least a lubricating inner surface layer chemically fixed thereon, instead of having a resin coating which has drawbacks such as reduction in lubricity due to e.g. separation or peeling of the coating during movement within a vessel or tract. Included is a method for surface-modifying a tubular object made of a rubber vulcanizate or a thermoplastic elastomer whose side wall may have an opening, the method including: step 1 of forming polymerization initiation points on at least the outer surface of the object; and step 2 of irradiating the outer surface of the object with ultraviolet light of 300-400 nm to radically polymerize a monomer using radicals generated from the polymerization initiation points to grow polymer chains on at least the inner surface of the object.

The invention is an improved biocompatible surface for a variety of medical purposes. The biocompatible surface employs a unique tight microstructure that demonstrates enhanced cellular response in the body, particularly when placed in contact with blood. As a blood contact surface, the present invention can be beneficially employed in a wide variety of implantable devices and in many other devices and equipment that come in contact with blood.

A spinal interbody device fabricated of fully resorbable bioactive glass materials is used to maintain the intervertebral spacing in a fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The spinal interbody device can include regions of porous material having various levels of bioactivity so that fusion through ingrowth of bone tissue can be provided while regions of the spinal interbody device can continue to maintain the intervertebral space.

A method for replicating a structure of a biological tissue provides a plastically deformable film that is subjected to a pressure in order to press it into a mold. The mold comprises formations for pit-like depressions, recesses and notches. The recesses each border on at least one of the pit-like depressions and are opened up. The notches form at least one film hinge in the film. The shaped film is folded into a stack having at least two layers of film, the film hinge forming the folding edge for the folding process. The pit-like depressions are closed along their direction of extension by a neighboring layer of the stack and form each time a capillary. At least two of the opened recesses are arranged one on top of another and form a canal arranged perpendicular to the plane of extension of the film.

According to the present invention, an implantable device is provided, comprising a substrate on which at least one surface portion is provided. The chemical composition of the surface portion selectively enhances the cell-adhesion to the substrate.

Products, such as devices, prostheses, and materials, whose surfaces have been modified in order to impart beneficial properties to these products are disclosed. The surface-modified products have improved biocompatibility compared to a corresponding product that lacks the modification. Following implantation in a subject, the surface-modified products induce a lower foreign-body response, compared to a corresponding unmodified product.

Systems and methods are disclosed for cosmetic augmentation by forming a biocompatible cross-linked polymer having a multi-phase mixture with a time release catalyst; injecting the mixture into a patient as a viscous fluid; after injection, activating the catalyst to cross-link the polymer after a predetermined period after injection into a patient; and augmenting soft tissue with the biocompatible cross-linked polymer.

A joint prosthesis system is suitable for cementless fixation. The system has two metal implant components and a bearing. One of the metal implant components has an articulation surface for articulation with the bearing. The other metal implant component has a mounting surface for supporting the bearing. One of the metal implant components includes a solid metal portion and a porous metal portion. The porous metal portion has surfaces with different characteristics, such as roughness, to improve bone fixation, ease removal of the implant component in a revision surgery, reduce soft tissue irritation, improve the strength of a sintered bond between the solid and porous metal portions, or reduce or eliminate the possibility of blood traveling through the porous metal portion into the joint space. A method of making the joint prosthesis is also disclosed. The invention may also be applied to discrete porous metal implant components, such as augment.