An implantable device for mounting to a patient's bone includes a housing and at least one osseointegrating protuberance. The housing includes a surface having an abutting portion configured to abut the bone when the housing is implanted in the patient, the abutting portion defining a housing axis orthogonal to the surface. The at least one osseointegrating protuberance: extends from the surface of the housing; is adapted to abut the patient's bone; and has a substantially smooth shaft.

The present invention relates to methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of using compounds comprising a 2-pyrimidinylaminoethylamino-2-pyridyl moiety having a Formula I

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and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The present invention provides a three-dimensional bioprinter for fabricating cellular constructs such as tissues and organs using electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at or above 405 nm. The bioprinter includes a material deposition device comprising a cartridge for receiving and holding a composition which contains biomaterial that cures after exposure to EMR. The bioprinter also includes an EMR module that emits EMR at a wavelength of about 405 nm or higher. Also provided is a bioprinter cartridge which contains cells and a material curable at a wavelength of about 405 nm or greater. The cells are present in a chamber and are extruded through an orifice to form the cellular construct.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a collagen membrane that has particular mechanical properties. In particular, the present invention relates to a method A of producing a collagen membrane comprising the steps of (i) isolating a collagen-containing tissue and incubating same in an ethanol solution; (ii) incubating the collagen-containing tissue from step (i) in a first solution comprising an inorganic salt and an anionic surfactant in order to denature non-collagenous proteins contained therein; (iii) incubating the collagen-containing tissue produced in step (ii) in a second solution comprising an inorganic acid until the collagen in said material is denatured; and (iv) incubating the collagen-containing tissue produced in step (iii) in a third solution comprising an inorganic acid with simultaneous mechanical stimulation for sufficient time to enable the collagen bundles in said collagen-containing tissue to align; wherein the mechanical stimulation comprises applying tension cyclically to the collagen-containing tissue.

Described are methods for producing tissue constructs, tissue constructs produced by the methods, and their use. The described method of producing a tissue construct comprises providing a granular tissue, depositing one or more filaments on or in the granular tissue, each filament comprising an ink, and gelling or fusing the granular tissue, thereby producing the tissue construct.

The invention relates to an ear implant for improving or restoring the hearing ability in the event of defects in the area of the ossicles of the ear or posterior wall of the auditory canal, said implant consisting of lithium disilicate glass ceramic having a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Li.sub.2O of 2 to 3, wherein the glass ceramic material being doped and stabilized with P.sub.2O.sub.5 and ZrO.sub.2, as well as a method for the production of the implant and the use of lithium disilicate glass ceramics in ear implants.

The present disclosure is drawn to antimicrobial implantable medical devices, and can include an implantable medical device, and an antimicrobial metal applied to an exterior surface of at least a portion of the implantable medical that is positionable within a body tissue or traverses the body tissue when surgically placed (using surgical instruments beyond merely a needle or catheter port) for implantation.

Described are methods for producing tissue constructs, tissue constructs produced by the methods, and their use. The described method of producing a tissue construct comprises providing a granular tissue, depositing one or more filaments on or in the granular tissue, each filament comprising an ink, and gelling or fusing the granular tissue, thereby producing the tissue construct.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a membrane for use in the repair of the middle ear including perforations and damage to the tympanic membrane. More particularly, the invention provides for compositions and methods for preparing silk fibroin biocompatible polyurethane membranes using a solvent, which have improved biodegradation, mechanical and vibroacoustic properties.

An apparatus for contacting a tympanic membrane fashioned as a removable non-resorbable patch. The patch has an oval periphery and a central portion with a proximal surface contoured to correspond in size and shape to a natural mammalian tympanic membrane. The proximal surface is adapted to contact a tympanic membrane or tympanic membrane tissue grafts.