A leaflet for a prosthetic valve formed of at least one layer that includes a composite material containing at least one expanded fluoropolymer membrane having serpentine fibrils and an elastomer is provided. The fluoropolymer may be polytetrafluoroethylene. In at least one embodiment, the elastic properties are present in an axial direction the leaflet. The leaflets may be single layered or multi-layered. The leaflets may be coupled to a support structure and movable between open and closed configurations relative to the support structure to form a heart valve. The elasticity within the leaflets permits, among other things, the leaflets to bend with a reduced occurrence of wrinkles as the valve opens and closes. The elastic properties of the leaflet also, among other things, improve bending properties and reduce closure stresses, thereby extending the life of the leaflet.

ECM based compositions including amniotic membrane and methods for employing same to treat cardiovascular disorders.

A synthetic construct suitable for implantation into a biological organism that includes at least one polymer scaffold; wherein the at least one polymer scaffold includes at least one layer of polymer fibers that have been deposited by electrospinning; wherein the orientation of the fibers in the at least one polymer scaffold relative to one another is generally parallel, random, or both; and wherein the at least one polymer scaffold has been adapted to function as at least one of a substantially two-dimensional implantable structure and a substantially three-dimensional implantable tubular structure.

The present invention provides methods for cellular seeding onto three-dimensional fibroblast constructs, three-dimensional fibroblast constructs seeded with muscle cells, and uses therefore.

This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis, collared or uncollared, which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

A laminate of a sheet-shaped cell culture is disclosed, which has excellent operability and is suitable for implantation. A method is disclosed for producing a laminate of a fibrin gel and a sheet-shaped cell culture, including a step of dripping a liquid containing fibrinogen onto an upper surface of a sheet-shaped cell culture, a step of spraying a liquid containing thrombin onto the surface, and a step of forming a fibrin gel layer on the surface by a reaction between fibrinogen and thrombin; and a laminate of a fibrin gel and a sheet-shaped cell culture produced by the method are disclosed.

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer.

Example bioinks that can be used for three-dimensional (3D) printing of structures are described. In one example, a bioink composition may include gelatin methacrylate and collagen methacrylate. In some examples, the bioink may also include additional components such as lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP). The bioink may promote stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes to generate functional 3D structures, for example.

The disclosure lies in the field of regenerative medicine and relates to an implant having a matrix material, and a method for manufacturing an implant having matrix material. The disclosure further relates to a crimped implant.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fibrosis inhibitor that solves the problem of inhibiting fibrosis of an organ or tissue surface, and especially of inhibiting fibrosis of an epicardial surface. Furthermore, by inhibiting fibrosis, the present invention prevents or reduces subsequent development of adhesions to avoid organ or tissue damage during re-operation. Provided is a fibrosis inhibitor for inhibiting fibrosis of a tissue by fixing a biocompatible polymer to a tissue where it is desirable to inhibit fibrosis.