Adult autologous stem cells cultured on a porous, three-dimensional tissue scaffold-implant for bone regeneration by the use of a hyaluronan and/or dexamethasone to accelerate bone healing alone or in combination with recombinant growth factors or transfected osteogenic genes. The scaffold-implant may be machined into a custom-shaped three-dimensional cell culture system for support of cell growth, reservoir for peptides, recombinant growth factors, cytokines and antineoplastic drugs in the presence of a hyaluronan and/or dexamethasone alone or in combination with growth factors or transfected osteogenic genes, to be assembled ex vivo in a tissue incubator for implantation into bone tissue.

Closed disposable seeding systems with improved seeding chambers permitting uniform seeding of a scaffold or graft with patient's cells are provided. The seeding chambers with a variable width along the length of the chamber, or a minimal gap between the scaffold and chamber wall, provide an improvement of the prior seeding chambers of closed disposable seeding systems by providing faster and more efficient and uniform seeding of the grafts and scaffolds. Also described are scaffolds with biomechanical and structural properties permitting spontaneous reversal of stenosis and neotissue formation as the graft degrades yielding a scaffold-free neovessel.

The present disclosure provides an ophthalmic article. The ophthalmic article may comprise a biocompatible matrix comprising a copolymer derived from a caprolactone monomer and at least one other monomer. The ophthalmic article may also comprise an active agent or a diagnostic agent. The ophthalmic article may be configured to associate to a haptic of an intraocular lens (IOL).

The invention concerns a composition to be electrospun comprising a first compound to be electrospun, an electrospinning promoter and at least one active ingredient, as well as a method to prepare it. This composition allows to obtain electrospun nanometric fibers with good structural and absorption properties.

The invention relates to a balloon catheter (1) to be introduced into the blood vessel system of the human or animal body, said catheter having a longitudinally extending shaft (2), with the balloon catheter (1) comprising a distal portion (A) in which a balloon (3) is arranged that is expandable by the supply of a fluid through a lumen (9) extending through the shaft (2), with the distal tip (8) of the balloon catheter (1) being provided with a coating consisting of a hydrogel (7). The invention provides a balloon catheter (1) capable of easily passing through constricted areas in blood vessels.

A cochlear hearing aid system for providing electrical stimulation to auditory nerve fibers of a cochlea of a recipient of the cochlear hearing aid system is disclosed. The cochlear hearing aid system comprises a microphone configured to receive an acoustical signal and provide an audio signal based on the acoustical signal; a signal processor unit configured to receive the audio signal and process the audio signal; an electrode lead including a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate the auditory nerve fibers based on the processed audio signal, wherein the electrode lead comprises: an electrode carrier maintaining the electrode contacts and wires, wherein the electrode carrier is made of silicone and is loaded by dexamethasone; a first layer (or sub-layers) of gelatin which is coated and chemically cross-linked selectively on a silicone outer surface of the electrode lead, wherein dexamethasone sodium phosphate is embedded in the first layer (or sub-layers); and a second layer of gelatin which is coated and physically cross-linked onto the first layer.

Provided is an implant configured to fit at or near a bone defect to promote bone growth. The implant comprises an oxysterol uniformly disposed in an acellular tissue matrix (ATM). The acellular tissue matrix can be porcine collagen, which in some cases is crosslinked. The implant can contain an acellular porcine crosslinked collagen in an amount of about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of the implant and an oxysterol in an amount of about 5 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the implant. The oxysterol can be Oxy133 monohydrate or an Oxy133 polymorph. Methods of making and using the implant are further provided.

This disclosure describes, inter alia, materials, devices, kits and methods that may be used to treat chronic sinusitis.

Intraocular pressure sensors, systems, and methods of use. Implantable intraocular pressure sensing devices that are hermetically sealed and adapted to wirelessly communicate with an external device. The implantable devices can include a hermetically sealed housing, the hermetically sealed housing including therein: an antenna in electrical communication with a rechargeable power source, the rechargeable power source in electrical communication with an ASIC, and the ASIC in electrical communication with a pressure sensor.

Polymeric particles are provided for use in therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedures. The particles include poly[bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene and/or a derivative thereof which may be present throughout the particles or within an outer coating of the particles. The particles may also include a core having a hydrogel formed from an acrylic-based polymer. Such particles may be provided to a user in specific selected sizes to allow for selective embolization of certain sized blood vessels or localized treatment with an active component agent in specific clinical uses. Particles of the present invention may further be provided as color-coded microspheres or nanospheres to allow ready identification of the sized particles in use. Such color-coded microspheres or nanospheres may further be provided in like color-coded delivery or containment devices to enhance user identification and provide visual confirmation of the use of a specifically desired size of microspheres or nanospheres.