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.

A middle ear prosthesis is made of a stiff deformable material and includes a planar head end with a central portion having a central diameter. The head end is adapted for engagement with a tympanic membrane from the middle ear of an implanted patient. An opposing pair of U-shaped stapes engagement legs bend down from the central portion so that an end distance between ends of the engagement legs is less than the central diameter. The engagement legs are adapted for adjustable length engagement with the stapes in the middle ear of the implanted patient. The head end and the engagement legs are adapted to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the stapes for perception as sound by the implanted patient.

This disclosure features artificial tympanic membrane graft devices and two-component bilayer graft devices that include a scaffold having a plurality of ribs made of a first material and a plurality of spaces between the ribs filled or made with the first material, a different, second material, a combination of the first and a second materials, or a combination of a second material and one or more other different materials. The bilayer graft devices have two components or layers. One component, e.g., the underlay graft device, can include a projection, and the second component, e.g., the overlay graft device, can include an opening that corresponds to the projection (or vice versa) so that the opening and the projection can secure the two layers together in a lock and key manner. This disclosure also features methods of making, using, and implanting the three-dimensional artificial tympanic membrane and bilayer graft devices.

A method of corneal implantation with cross-linking is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the method includes the steps of: (i) forming a flap in a cornea of an eye so as to expose a stromal tissue of the cornea underlying the flap; (ii) pivoting the flap so as to expose the stromal tissue of the cornea underlying the flap; (iii) inserting an implant under the flap so as to overlie the stromal tissue of the cornea; (iv) applying laser energy and/or microwaves to the implant in the eye so as to modify the refractive power of the implant; (v) applying a cross-linking solution that includes a photosensitizer to the implant; (vi) covering the implant with the flap; and (vii) irradiating the implant so as to activate cross-linkers in the implant, and thereby cross-link the implant and the stromal tissue of the cornea surrounding the implant.

An auditory prosthesis (1, 101) for middle-ear, in particular for reconstructing the ossicular chain, the auditory prosthesis (1, 101) comprising a portion (2) configured to contact the tympanic membrane, wherein the portion (2) comprises a substrate (4) provided with a coating (6) made of biocompatible silicone, wherein the coating (6) is integrally fixed to the substrate (4) and is adapted to contact, at least partially, the tympanic membrane.

The present invention relates to polymerizable and photochemically crosslinkable compositions which contain at least one polymerizable benzaldehyde derivative according to general formula I ##STR00001##
and which are suitable as materials for technical and medical applications, for example in surgery or ophthalmology, and in particular as dental materials.

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.

Disclosed is a method of preparing PCL patch tissue regeneration scaffold comprising preparing solution by adding polycaprolactone (PCL) and an acid to an organic solvent; preparing an electrospinning solution by adding a growth factor to the solution and stirring; and collecting nanofibers arranged in a spindle shape on a collector by connecting the electrospinning solution prepared to a syringe pump and operating the electrospinning device.

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 arc extruded through an orifice to form the cellular construct.