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 some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to liquid compositions for medical use that comprise (a) a polymer, a monomer, a macromonomer, or a combination of any two or all three of the foregoing and (b) spherical metallic particles, which may comprise, for example, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, niobium, molybdenum, and alloys of the foregoing. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to medical methods that comprise administering such liquid compositions to a patient. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to use of such liquid compositions as liquid embolics, fiducial markers, tissue-spacing materials, or therapeutic agent depots. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to medical devices that comprise coatings formed from such liquid compositions.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to liquid compositions for medical use that comprise (a) a polymer, a monomer, a macromonomer, or a combination of any two or all three of the foregoing and (b) spherical metallic particles, which may comprise, for example, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, niobium, molybdenum, and alloys of the foregoing. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to medical methods that comprise administering such liquid compositions to a patient. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to use of such liquid compositions as liquid embolics, fiducial markers, tissue-spacing materials, or therapeutic agent depots. In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to medical devices that comprise coatings formed from such liquid compositions.

Embodiments of the invention provide compositions including bio degradable polymers, medical implants fabricated from these compositions and methods of using such implants. Many embodiments provide medical implants comprising a first polymer backbone having a first rate of biodegradation and a second polymer backbone having a second rate of biodegradation faster than the first rate. In some embodiments, the second backbone is configured to be replaced by a natural tissue layer. The first backbone provides a scaffold for the implant while the second backbone degrades. This scaffold can enhance mechanical properties of the implant including various aspects of mechanical strength such as tensile, bending, hoop and yield strength; and elasticity. The scaffold also serves to maintain a minimum level of structural support of the implant during the period of degradation of the second backbone or for the entire life of the implant so that the implant does not mechanically fail.

Embodiments of the invention provide compositions including bio degradable polymers, medical implants fabricated from these compositions and methods of using such implants. Many embodiments provide medical implants comprising a first polymer backbone having a first rate of biodegradation and a second polymer backbone having a second rate of biodegradation faster than the first rate. In some embodiments, the second backbone is configured to be replaced by a natural tissue layer. The first backbone provides a scaffold for the implant while the second backbone degrades. This scaffold can enhance mechanical properties of the implant including various aspects of mechanical strength such as tensile, bending, hoop and yield strength; and elasticity. The scaffold also serves to maintain a minimum level of structural support of the implant during the period of degradation of the second backbone or for the entire life of the implant so that the implant does not mechanically fail.

A twelve-dimensional barbed surgical thread that includes a central core and twelve first barbs. The central core has a circumference, a proximal end and a distal end that is opposite the proximal end. The twelve first barbs are positioned around the circumference of the central core so that the first barbs are radially adjacent to each other and obliquely extend from the central core.

A twelve-dimensional barbed surgical thread that includes a central core and twelve first barbs. The central core has a circumference, a proximal end and a distal end that is opposite the proximal end. The twelve first barbs are positioned around the circumference of the central core so that the first barbs are radially adjacent to each other and obliquely extend from the central core.

A self-sterilizing wound dressing is disclosed. The wound dressing comprises a substrate having a first surface facing at least a portion of a wound or a surgical site and a second surface facing opposite to the first surface. At least one surface of the substrate comprises a sulfonated polymer selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer is sufficiently or selectively sulfonated to contain from 10-100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units, for killing at least 90% of microbes in less than 120 minutes of coming into contact with the wound dressing.

A self-sterilizing wound dressing is disclosed. The wound dressing comprises a substrate having a first surface facing at least a portion of a wound or a surgical site and a second surface facing opposite to the first surface. At least one surface of the substrate comprises a sulfonated polymer selected from the group of perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, sulfonated block copolymers, sulfonated polyolefins, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyamides, sulfonated polyesters, sulfonated polysulfones, sulfonated polyketones, sulfonated poly(arylene ether), and mixtures thereof. The sulfonated polymer is sufficiently or selectively sulfonated to contain from 10-100 mol % sulfonic acid or sulfonate salt functional groups based on the number of monomer units, for killing at least 90% of microbes in less than 120 minutes of coming into contact with the wound dressing.

Methods for forming an implantable layer onto a staple cartridge are disclosed.