An ear cleaner is provided that includes an elongated handle, a spoon, and a disc intermediate the spoon and the disc.

Ionized radiation-absorbed, dose sensitive, highly flexible polymeric compositions are provided that exhibits multidirectional changes in refractive index. Also provided are methods of producing a precision multi-directional nanogradient of refractive index in a polymeric composition.

A system for replacing a hip joint can include a first acetabular cup formed of a first material and having a first inner diameter and a first thickness. A second acetabular cup can be formed of a second material and having a second inner diameter and a second thickness. A first femoral hip prosthesis can include a first femoral head that is alternately accommodated by either of the first or second acetabular cups. A bearing can be adapted to be interposed between the first femoral head and one of the first or second acetabular cups. The first and second inner diameters can be the same. The first thickness can be less than the second thickness. The first material can be distinct from the second material.

The invention relates to a method for producing a storable molded body made of bacterial cellulose and a molded body produced according to the method. A preferred method includes providing a molded body made of bacterial cellulose. Optionally, mechanically pressing the entire molded body or parts of the molded body at temperatures in the range of 10° C. to 100° C. and pressures in the range of 0.01 to 1 MPa for a pressing time of 10-200 min. Treating the molded body with a solution of 20% by weight to 50% by weight of glycerol and 50% by weight to 80% by weight of a C1-C3-alcohol/water mixture. Drying the treated molded body.

An implant for repairing a cartilage defect comprising a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises a membrane-like structure and the second layer comprises a sponge-like structure with directional and/or interconnected pores. The first layer is facing the synovial space and the second layer is located towards bone.

A suspension liner for a residual limb has a liner body with a plurality of anterior and posterior projections formed from a thickness of the liner body. Medial and lateral tendons are located between and correspond to profiles of the plurality of the anterior and posterior projections such that the medial and lateral tendons are located on opposed sides of the liner body relative to one another. The medial and lateral tendons flare circumferentially toward proximal and distal sections of the liner body.

A transcatheter prosthesis with radially compressed and expanded configurations. An elongate member encircling at least a portion of the prosthesis, and configured to provide a seal between the prosthesis and a native anatomy when the prosthesis is deployed in the radially expanded configuration. The elongate member may be a resilient elongate member having a radially contracted state, when in tension, to hold at least the portion of the prosthesis in the radially compressed configuration, and having a radially expanded state, when relaxed, to provide the seal between at least the portion of the prosthesis and a native anatomy when the prosthesis is deployed. A system for delivering the transcatheter prosthesis may include a delivery catheter having an elongate cinching member encircling at least a second portion of the prosthesis, wherein the elongate cinching member is configured to hold the second portion of the prosthesis in the radially compressed configuration.

The invention is directed to producing a shaped cartilage matrix isolated from a human or animal where the cartilage has been crafted to facilitate disinfection, cleaning, devitalization, recellularization, and/or integration after implantation. The invention relates to a process for repairing a cartilage defect and implantation of a cartilage graft into a human or animal by crafting the cartilage matrix into individual grafts, disinfecting and cleaning the cartilage graft, applying a pretreatment solution to the cartilage graft, removing cellular debris using an extracting solution to produce a devitalized cartilage graft, implanting the cartilage graft into the cartilage defect with or without an insertion device, and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The devitalized cartilage graft is optionally recellularized in vitro, in vivo, or in situ with viable cells to render the tissue vital before or after the implantation. The devitalized cartilage graft is also optionally stored between the removing cellular debris and the recellularizing steps.

Nasal implants are provided that have a planar type profile with open spaces through portions of the planar type profile. The nasal implant can be compressible along one or more dimensions of the nasal implant, such as the width and length of the planar type profile. Delivery tools for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue are also provided. Methods for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue of the patient are also provided.

In a method and system for producing an implant, the latter is designed with one or more surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the implant. Two or three production stages can be used. In one stage, either a topography with a long wave pattern is produced by means of cutting work, or laser bombardment or further cutting work is used to produce a topography with an intermediate-length wave pattern. In addition, an oxidation process or shot-peening or etching is used to produce an outer layer. When using two of said production stages, said cutting work or said laser bombardment or further cutting work is followed by the oxidation process or the shot-peening or etching method. When using all three production stages, cutting work is followed by laser bombardment, or further cutting work, which in turn is followed for example by the oxidation process. The invention also relates to an implant which is produced using the method and is identified, ordered and produced using the system. The invention permits effective treatment of different implant situations.