The present invention relates to an orally administrable intragastric balloon encapsulated so that, once it is in the stomach, the capsules dissolves and increases its volume thanks to the presence, inside thereof, of a superabsorbent edible polymer able of absorbing the water contained in the stomach.

A water-based hydrogel polymer coating and a method of application to natural rubber or other elastomeric latex products are provided. The water-based hydrogel polymer is mixed with a blend of at least one elastomeric material to provide a hydrogel polymer blend composition. The water-based hydrogel polymer blend composition is applied in a single application to an elastomeric article, such as gloves, without additional solvents in the polymer blend composition and without a separate acid or chemical priming step. The water-based hydrogel coating herein provides increased lubricity to facilitate improved wet and dry donning of the elastomeric article.

A water-based hydrogel polymer coating and a method of application to natural rubber or other elastomeric latex products are provided. The water-based hydrogel polymer is mixed with a blend of at least one elastomeric material to provide a hydrogel polymer blend composition. The water-based hydrogel polymer blend composition is applied in a single application to an elastomeric article, such as gloves, without additional solvents in the polymer blend composition and without a separate acid or chemical priming step. The water-based hydrogel coating herein provides increased lubricity to facilitate improved wet and dry donning of the elastomeric article.

There is provided a process for producing a medical, material that retains the properties which are inherent in a polyanionic polysaccharide being a raw material, that has a high level of safety because there is no need to use a chemical crosslinking agent, and that has moderate strength and flexibility. The present invention is a process for producing a medical material, the process including a step of dispersing a powder or a granular product of a first polyanionic polysaccharide, the first polyanionic polysaccharide water-insolubilized with a treatment liquid containing a first acid anhydride, in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble salt of a second polyanionic polysaccharide, thereby obtaining a dispersion liquid, a step of drying the dispersion liquid obtained, thereby obtaining a dried film, and a step of water-insolubilizing the dried film obtained with a treatment liquid containing a second acid anhydride, thereby obtaining the medical material.

There is provided a process for producing a medical, material that retains the properties which are inherent in a polyanionic polysaccharide being a raw material, that has a high level of safety because there is no need to use a chemical crosslinking agent, and that has moderate strength and flexibility. The present invention is a process for producing a medical material, the process including a step of dispersing a powder or a granular product of a first polyanionic polysaccharide, the first polyanionic polysaccharide water-insolubilized with a treatment liquid containing a first acid anhydride, in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble salt of a second polyanionic polysaccharide, thereby obtaining a dispersion liquid, a step of drying the dispersion liquid obtained, thereby obtaining a dried film, and a step of water-insolubilizing the dried film obtained with a treatment liquid containing a second acid anhydride, thereby obtaining the medical material.

Staple cartridge assemblies for use with surgical stapling instruments and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. Scaffolds for use with a surgical staple cartridge and methods for manufacturing the same are also provided.

A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. The distance between stent elements may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement. Thus, the multi-element, vascular stent described herein may be particularly advantageous for treating long lesions in tortuous peripheral blood vessels.

A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. The distance between stent elements may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement. Thus, the multi-element, vascular stent described herein may be particularly advantageous for treating long lesions in tortuous peripheral blood vessels.

The present invention provides for nanostructured fibrin and agarose hydrogels, preferably type VII agarose hydrogels, (NFAH) or non-nanostructured or pre-nanostructured fibrin and agarose hydrogels, preferably type VII agarose hydrogels, (FAH), as hemostatic agents designed for use as an adjunct or primary treatment in moderate intraoperative hemorrhage and in trauma. These hydrogels can be applied topically to the wound either on the skin in a laparotomy or as non-invasive manner in surgical procedures. Its nanostructure technology generates an adhesive stable fibrin clot required for hemostasis. The attachment properties of the hydrogel, as well as the rapid formation of a fibrin clot, ensures that a strong stable fibrin clot is formed shortly after application.

The present invention provides for nanostructured fibrin and agarose hydrogels, preferably type VII agarose hydrogels, (NFAH) or non-nanostructured or pre-nanostructured fibrin and agarose hydrogels, preferably type VII agarose hydrogels, (FAH), as hemostatic agents designed for use as an adjunct or primary treatment in moderate intraoperative hemorrhage and in trauma. These hydrogels can be applied topically to the wound either on the skin in a laparotomy or as non-invasive manner in surgical procedures. Its nanostructure technology generates an adhesive stable fibrin clot required for hemostasis. The attachment properties of the hydrogel, as well as the rapid formation of a fibrin clot, ensures that a strong stable fibrin clot is formed shortly after application.