An implantable device comprising a core portion and a capsule encapsulating the core portion, said capsule having an outer surface, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface comprises gold.

Nanostructured surfaces on selected substrates are described which are highly resistant to cell adhesion. Such surfaces on medical implants inhibit fibroblast adhesion particularly on nanorough titanium deposited on smooth silicone surfaces. The nanostructured deposited metal coatings can also be engineered so that several cell types, including endothelial, osteoblast, and fibroblast cells, show little if any tendency to attach to the coated surface in vivo.

Compositions for coating microneedles with aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines are provided comprising an aluminum-containing wet gel suspension selected from aluminum hydroxide wet gel suspension and aluminum phosphate wet gel suspension; a vaccine in an amount effective to stimulate an immune response in a mammal; a sugar, sugar alcohol, or combinations thereof; and a thickener. Some embodiments of the compositions have a viscosity of 500 to 30,000 cps when measured at 100 s.sup.−1 and temperature of 25 C. Microneedle devices coated with the compositions, as well as methods of forming the compositions and coating the microneedles, and methods of maximizing the aluminum content of vaccine-coated microneedle arrays are also provided.

An osteotomy implant includes a first surface extending generally in a first plane and a second surface extending generally in a second plane, oblique to the first plane. The first surface has a perimeter having a first linear edge, a first curve edge connected to the first linear edge, a second linear edge connected to the first curved edge, and a second curved edge connected to the second liner edge.

Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

In one embodiment, a spinal fixation rod includes a core and an outer layer. The core extends along a central axis from a first end to a second end and has a length from the first end to the second end sufficient to span two or more adjacent vertebral bodies. The core comprises molybdenum rhenium. The outer layer envelops at least a portion of the core and comprises a biocompatible outer layer material other than molybdenum rhenium.

An intravascular stent and method of making an intervascular stent having a hybrid pattern a. The hybrid pattern comprises a plurality of circumferentially self-expansible members comprising a plurality of interconnected, geometrically deformable closed cells, adjacent self-expansible members interconnected by a plurality of bridge members linking a first interconnection between two closed cells in a first self-expansible member to a second interconnection between two closed cells in a second self-expansible member, wherein the second interconnection is circumferentially offset and non-adjacent to the first interconnection.

An osteotomy implant includes a first surface extending generally in a first plane and a second surface extending generally in a second plane, oblique to the first plane. The first surface has a perimeter having a first linear edge, a first curve edge connected to the first linear edge, a second linear edge connected to the first curved edge, and a second curved edge connected to the second liner edge.

Techniques to fabricate and use a nanocomposite coating that includes one or more nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes are disclosed. In some examples, a guidewire may include the nanocomposite material. The guidewire is immune to electromagnetic interference, is thermally robust, and is capable of accommodating inactive markers and active electronics.