A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis, an end effector operably coupled to the transducer, and a stationary lower jaw extending parallel to the end effector. The end effector extends along the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises a blade. The stationary lower jaw comprises a clamp face positioned distal to the blade. The end effector is movable relative to the stationary lower jaw to drive the blade distally towards the clamp face. The end effector comprises a hollow lumen. The end effector further comprises at least one member extended across a portion of the hollow lumen.

A packaging for a bioprocessing bag includes a housing having an open interior space, and a support base attached to an external side of the housing, the support base having a recess for receiving an impeller base plate of a bioprocessing bag.

An on-body injector system includes a drug container assembly including a container, a seal member, and a sealing interface between the seal member and the container. The container includes an opening and the seal member at least partially covers the opening in the container. A fluid pathway assembly is coupled to the drug container assembly and includes a needle that is movable between a storage position, in which a point of the needle is spaced from the seal member, and a delivery position, in which the point of the needle is disposed at least partially through the seal member. A radiation generator is configured to emit rays of radiation to sterilize and/or disinfect the sealing interface. A barrier is disposed adjacent to the sealing interface and has an opening. At least a portion of the drug container assembly is positioned adjacent to the opening in the barrier.

Systems and methods are disclosed for sterile delivery of prostheses that protect refined and/or conditioned surface properties and thereby reduce aging of surface properties in prostheses. An example of the system includes a partially custom-shaped holder that also serves as an insertion tool that holds a customized dental prosthesis in a pre-defined position inside a titanium container that is hermetically sealed. Container materials serve as a getter or catalyst with respect to the osseoconductive surface. An example of the method includes laser welding to hermetically seal a metal container as packaging for a prosthesis with a metal foil, and the sterilization of the packaged and sealed prosthesis with dry heat.

A container for sterilizing flexible bags can be for pharmaceutical use. The container includes an upper flat structure including at least one element supporting the flexible bags and designed to accommodate a plug port of the flexible bag. The support element includes at least one fastening element, which is suitable for retaining the flexible bags once they are inserted into the support element. The container also includes a lower receptacle designed to contain the upper flat structure and to couple to the upper flat structure in a detachable manner. The container further includes a cap for hermetically sealing the lower receptacle.

A first alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device comprising an antioxidant selected from gallic acid or a derivative thereof. A second alternative to a composition for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device includes carboxymethyl cellulose or a derivative or salt thereof. The use of the compositions for preventing or retarding degradation of a functional coating on a medical device from reactive species generated during exposure of radiation, and a wetting agent comprising the compositions, are also provided. The wetting agent prevents or retards the hydrolytic degradation of the coating during the intended shelf-life of the wetted coated product.

Gamma ray and e-beam irradiation provided efficient sterilization of certain self-assembling peptides (including RADA16 in solution) without substantial degradation of the major peptide, while, e.g., another self-assembly peptide, QLEL12 was significantly degraded following irradiation. Irradiation sterilization enhances the rheological property of, for example, RADA16 hydrogel once applied to tissue at a physiological pH. The rheological property increase can result in higher efficacy in a variety of biomedical applications.

A reusable respirator including a mask adapted for covering and conforming to the face around the nose and a mouth of a user, a strap configured to secure the mask to a face of the user, and a filter component. All components of the respirator are capable of being cleaned, disinfected and sterilized at temperatures in excess of 50° C. An outer surface of the mask is substantially smooth and wettable for easily disinfecting and is shaped with a pair of outer shield portions for housing particulate air filters. The outer shield portions each include a closeable vent through the outer surface that is adapted to provide a user seal check and direct air flow through the outer surface for filtering by the respective particulate air filter, which is adapted to filter at least 95% of airborne particles.

A sterile Intracervical Insemination (ICI) fertility kit, method of sterilization, and method of use for performing self-insemination. Each sterile kit comprises: up to three sets of individually wrapped sterile, disposable, syringes and semen collection jars; printed instructions; and a QR code. The collection jar comprises a snap-on lid, and an inner surface with seamless edges to prevent semen residue. The syringes and jars are sealed in plastic wraps permeable to air and gas, and impermeable to pathogens; and are sterilized via gamma radiation or ethylene oxide. Fresh or frozen, unwashed or washed, semen is deposited into the jar, pulled into the syringe, and administered cervically during a user's maximum monthly level of luteinizing hormone. The syringe distal end is designed to push all semen out of the syringe then plug the end closed, while preventing semen residue from collecting within the syringe. Large circular syringe handles facilitate stable handling.

Devices for the propagation or storage of microorganisms are provided including a first layer that has a first portion of a surface of the first layer, to which a first water-swellable gelling agent comprising a first clay is affixed. The devices further include a second layer that is separable from the first layer and has a first portion of a surface of the second layer, to which a second water-swellable gelling agent is affixed. Methods for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample are provided. The methods include providing a device, separating the first layer from the second layer, adding an aliquot of a sample containing at least one microorganism onto the first or second water-swellable gelling agent to form an inoculated device, laminating the first layer back to the second layer, and incubating the inoculated device. Kits and methods of making the devices are also provided.