A carrier having one or more non-planar surfaces may be embedded with one or more radioactive seeds. A spherical carrier may be substantially radially symmetrical around an axis or a spherical carrier may include a non-spherical portion, such as a tapered portion that extends from a spherical portion.

Custom radioactive seed carriers are fabricated pre-operatively and/or intra-operatively to more precisely match carrier specification of a radiation treatment plan for a particular patient. One or more carrier specification component, such as a 3D printer, injection molding system, machining component, or bioprinter, may be utilized to create the custom carrier.

A fixation device for folding a seal member includes a frame having a horizontal portion and an upright portion, a press assembly secured to the upright portion of the frame, and a nest assembly secured to the horizontal portion of the frame. The press assembly includes a handle assembly and an anvil assembly operably connected to the handle assembly. The nest assembly includes a clamping assembly, a folding assembly supported on the clamping assembly, a support assembly supported on the folding assembly, and a nest member. The support assembly includes a support plate and a seal clamp for securing a seal member.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.

A method of manufacturing an optical obturator includes providing an injection mold including a mold cavity defining an outer surface of the optical obturator and a core pin centrally positioned within the mold cavity. The core pin defines an inner surface of the optical obturator. In particular, the core pin may be cantilevered to the injection mold. The method further includes injecting a first material between the core pin and the mold cavity to form the tubular shaft and injecting a second material between a distal portion of the core pin and a distal portion of the mold cavity to form the optical tip.

Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. Three dimensional adjuncts for use with a surgical stapling assembly and methods for manufacturing the same are also provided.

A reusable surgical implement or template is provided that is formed of a core positioned within an enclosure. The core is formed of a suitable rigid, and optionally flexible material to enable the implant to conform to the desired use for the implement in a surgical procedure. The material forming the enclosure is also stretchable and flexible to accommodate the configuration and/or any flexing of the core, and is biologically inert to enable the implant to be sterilized after use for use in subsequent surgical procedures while protecting the material forming the core. The enclosure can be molded around the core in separate portions or components using multiple molding steps to form an enclosure with the desired attributes. The enclosure can also be preformed and the core inserted and secured within the enclosure using an adhesive to form the implement in an alternative manner.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical cap is provided that includes a cover having a head-receiving cavity and a resilient member connected to the cover and extending about less than the entire head-receiving cavity. The cover includes a plurality of layers comprising at least one layer inward from the resilient member adapted to separate the resilient member from a head received in the head-receiving cavity and at least two outer layers outward from the resilient member to which the resilient member is secured. In accordance with another aspect, a method of fabricating a surgical cap is provided.