Disclosed is a suturing needle having a flexible portion extending from a proximal end of the needle to provide flexure of the needle. Various designs for the flexible portion of the suturing needle are provided.

Disclosed is a suturing needle having a flexible portion extending from a proximal end of the needle to provide flexure of the needle. Various designs for the flexible portion of the suturing needle are provided.

Materials and methods for immobilizing bioactive molecules, stem and other precursor cells, and other agents of therapeutic value in surgical sutures and other tissue scaffold devices are described herein. Broadly drawn to the integration and incorporation of bioactive materials into suture constructs, tissue scaffolds and medical devices, the present invention has particular utility in the development of novel systems that enable medical personnel performing surgical and other medical procedures to utilize and subsequently reintroduce bioactive materials extracted from a patient (or their allogenic equivalents) to a wound or target surgical site.

Materials and methods for immobilizing bioactive molecules, stem and other precursor cells, and other agents of therapeutic value in surgical sutures and other tissue scaffold devices are described herein. Broadly drawn to the integration and incorporation of bioactive materials into suture constructs, tissue scaffolds and medical devices, the present invention has particular utility in the development of novel systems that enable medical personnel performing surgical and other medical procedures to utilize and subsequently reintroduce bioactive materials extracted from a patient (or their allogenic equivalents) to a wound or target surgical site.

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) comprising at least one structural element (2) made of an absorbable material with an antibacterial effect with a mount, which possesses an aspect ratio greater than 10 and whereat the material is a rapidly corroding magnesium alloy. The invention further relates to a mount (10) with an arrangement (1) carried by the mount (10) comprising at least one structural element (2) made of an absorbable material with an antibacterial effect.

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) comprising at least one structural element (2) made of an absorbable material with an antibacterial effect with a mount, which possesses an aspect ratio greater than 10 and whereat the material is a rapidly corroding magnesium alloy. The invention further relates to a mount (10) with an arrangement (1) carried by the mount (10) comprising at least one structural element (2) made of an absorbable material with an antibacterial effect.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.

Novel surgical sutures and novel medical devices made from novel semi-crystalline, glycolide-rich A-B-A triblock copolymers of glycolide and lactide, wherein said B-segment is a fully amorphous random copolymer of glycolide and lactide, for long term medical applications are disclosed. The novel polymer compositions are useful for long term absorbable surgical sutures, meshes and other medical devices, especially for patients with compromised healing. The novel sutures have improved properties and improved breaking strength retention, while still substantially absorbing within about a 120-day period post-implantation.

The present invention is directed to suturing systems having a needle, an elongated flexible suture having a connecting end attached to a said needle and an opposing free end and at least one elongated external beneficial filament that is attached to said needle or attached to said suture at the connecting end. The beneficial filament has a smaller cross-sectional area and lower mechanical strength than the suture and contains a medicant.