A method of detecting the presence or absence of a sealant applied to a textile graft includes the steps of: providing a textile graft having a first surface and an opposed second surface; providing a water soluble masking agent; applying the water soluble masking agent to at least a portion of the first surface of the textile graft; providing a sealant solution; providing a visual indicator; applying the water insoluble sealing agent and the visual indicator to the second surface of the textile graft; and removing the water soluble masking agent after the step of applying sealing solution. The second surface has visual indication of the visual indicator and the first surface is substantially free of visual indication of the visual indicator. An implantable textile graft includes the selectively applied visual indicator.

A method of detecting the presence or absence of a sealant applied to a textile graft includes the steps of: providing a textile graft having a first surface and an opposed second surface; providing a water soluble masking agent; applying the water soluble masking agent to at least a portion of the first surface of the textile graft; providing a sealant solution; providing a visual indicator; applying the water insoluble sealing agent and the visual indicator to the second surface of the textile graft; and removing the water soluble masking agent after the step of applying sealing solution. The second surface has visual indication of the visual indicator and the first surface is substantially free of visual indication of the visual indicator. An implantable textile graft includes the selectively applied visual indicator.

A porous biocomposite material including a polymer matrix having pores defined by several surfaces and collagen on the surface of the pores and the outer surfaces of the polymer matrix, the ratio, by weight, collagen to polymer matrix is from 20:80 to 40:60. The polymer matrix of the porous biocomposite material includes a copolymer which is prepared from a poly(ε-caprolactone) diol, a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) diol and a lysine diisocyanate (LDI). Also included are an implant which is a biodegradable, porous foam and with similar biomechanics to the normal meniscus, with tensile, compressive and tear strength, and preventing the pores from collapsing under condyle-tibia pressure. It serves as a scaffold for damaged meniscus repair or replacement, indicated for grade 3 or 4 terminal knee arthrosis, for the prevention of treatment, by cartilage regeneration, of advanced knee arthrosis, to avoid knee prostheses in young patients.

A porous biocomposite material including a polymer matrix having pores defined by several surfaces and collagen on the surface of the pores and the outer surfaces of the polymer matrix, the ratio, by weight, collagen to polymer matrix is from 20:80 to 40:60. The polymer matrix of the porous biocomposite material includes a copolymer which is prepared from a poly(ε-caprolactone) diol, a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) diol and a lysine diisocyanate (LDI). Also included are an implant which is a biodegradable, porous foam and with similar biomechanics to the normal meniscus, with tensile, compressive and tear strength, and preventing the pores from collapsing under condyle-tibia pressure. It serves as a scaffold for damaged meniscus repair or replacement, indicated for grade 3 or 4 terminal knee arthrosis, for the prevention of treatment, by cartilage regeneration, of advanced knee arthrosis, to avoid knee prostheses in young patients.

A prosthetic implant with improved properties, suitable for implantation to the human body, comprising a composite comprising a base material and a plurality of additives, wherein the additives are selected from radiolucent additives and/or hyperechoic additives; or wherein the additives are selected to reduce the solvent concentration by between 5%-95%; or wherein the additives are selected to increase the elastic modulus by more than 20%; or wherein the additives are selected for combining these effects.

A prosthetic implant with improved properties, suitable for implantation to the human body, comprising a composite comprising a base material and a plurality of additives, wherein the additives are selected from radiolucent additives and/or hyperechoic additives; or wherein the additives are selected to reduce the solvent concentration by between 5%-95%; or wherein the additives are selected to increase the elastic modulus by more than 20%; or wherein the additives are selected for combining these effects.

Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.

Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.

Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.

Methods of treating spinal cord injuries are disclosed. The method comprises implanting scaffolds comprising a protruding scaffold and a supporting scaffold, wherein at least a portion of the protruding scaffold is inserted into a lesioned area of the spinal cord so as to contact the injury or diseased site, wherein the supporting scaffold does not protrude into the injury or diseased site and is in contact with the rostral and/or caudal dura of the spinal cord.