The present invention provides an anchor system for musculoskeletal applications, e.g., for anchoring tendons or ligaments to bone or anchoring two or more bone sections. The anchor system comprises a substantially solid pre-manufactured distal portion (i.e., anchor component) and a settable, biodegradable composite. The biodegradable composite is flowable at the time of delivery and is introduced into the fixation site before or after the anchor component. Both the anchor component and the biodegradable composite may be manufactured from citrate-based polymers.

Disclosed is a graft for a biological tube including a graft having a hollow of a specific length, having openings at opposite ends along a lengthwise direction thereof, and being contractible, and the graft is contracted to be adhered to outer peripheral surfaces of biological tubes when heat is applied to the graft in a state, in which portions of the biological tubes are inserted into the openings of the graft.

A method of operating an aspiration catheter having a proximal end and a distal end includes the acts of at least partially blocking the distal end of the aspiration catheter with an embolus, creating a vacuum at the distal end of the aspiration catheter with a vacuum source adjacent the proximal end of the aspiration catheter, at least partially relieving the vacuum at the distal end of the catheter by at least one of interrupting the vacuum from the vacuum source and venting the aspiration catheter with a vent fluid adjacent the proximal end, and repeating the acts of interrupting the vacuum and venting the aspiration catheter in a timing cycle that maximizes the time that the aspiration catheter is at vacuum and changes pressure at the distal end of the catheter from vacuum to at least atmospheric pressure during each cycle.

An occlusion balloon device includes a shaft comprising at least one inflation lumen and an inflatable balloon, the inflatable balloon having a plurality of independently inflatable and deflatable balloon portions and being in communication with the at least one inflation lumen. A method and a system comprising the occlusion balloon device enable assessment and treatment of a perforation in a vessel of a patient.

Exemplary methods and systems can be provided for resurfacing of skin that include formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 0.7 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus. Compressive and/or tensile forces can then be applied to the treated region of skin as the damage heals to facilitate hole closure, and provide enhanced and/or directional shrinkage of the treated skin area.

The present disclosure provides filaments and/or surgical sutures which include an inner core, an outer sheath and a plurality of barbs on a surface thereof. The filaments and/or surgical sutures further include at least one adhesive precursor material which transitions from a non-adherent material to an adhesive material to attach a portion of the filament and/or suture to the surrounding area, such as tissue and/or other portions of the filament.

The present invention relates to a device to photocure and/or photoactivate a photosensitive material. The device comprises several subsystems to transmit light towards an area of interest where a photosensitive material is applied as well as to collect light reflected by the applied photosensitive material. Reflected light is analyzed by an optical detector to monitor the photocuring and/or photoactivation process. Further means to inject or otherwise apply a photosensitive material can be combined in the same device. Methods for applying a fluent polymerizable material to a target site and for effecting polymerization of the fluent light-sensitive material in situ are also disclosed.

A perforated sheath is anchored in a tissue opening with the aid of a tool, wherein the anchorage is achieved with the aid of mechanical vibration and a material which is liquefiable by the vibration. The tool includes a vibrating element and a counter element. Distal portions of both elements are introduced into the sheath to be in contact with each other at an interface. The vibrating element is connected to a vibration source and the vibrating element and the counter element are held against each other for effecting liquefaction of the liquefiable material at the interface. Under the effect of the force applied to the vibrating and counter element for holding them against each other, the liquefied material flows from the interface through the sheath perforation and penetrates the tissue.

A medical device for repairing soft tissue is disclosed. The medical device includes a cannulated probe positionable a tear in the soft tissue and a stop. The cannulated probe has an inlet about a proximal end and at least one outlet about a distal end with a lumen therethrough. The inlet is operatively connectable to an adhesive source to receive the adhesive therein. The outlet(s) is/are positionable about the tear to emit the adhesive about the tear. The stop is disposable about a periphery of the probe a distance from the inlet, and is positionable adjacent a surface of the soft tissue to terminate advancement of the cannulated probe into the soft tissue whereby a delivery portion of the cannulated probe is positionable about the soft tissue to deliver the adhesive about the tear.

A method and apparatus for suture-less placement of an occluding patch in which release of the device can be accelerated. In one embodiment, an inactive form of an adhesive is applied on the area of the patch that will come into contact with cardiac tissue; this allows for the introduction and necessary manipulation of the catheter system until activation of the adhesive occurs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the adhesive properties of certain polymeric materials are relied upon rather than their ability to cure or harden into a specific shape. In another embodiment, the patch is immediately released utilizing a detaching mechanism on the balloon or the balloon catheter which supports the patch; the patch along with the inflated balloon remain on the cardiac structure occluding the opening.