Allergan, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Alexei Goraltchouk

Robert A Herrmann

Lev Drubetsky

Alexander Naimagon

Gerald Floyd Cummings

Jordan M Thompson

Dennis E Van Epps

Nicholas J Manesis

Futian Liu

Jeffrey Mendel Gross

Bart E Burgess

Dimitrios Stroumpoulis

William L D'Agostino

Brian H Luscombe

Scott Barton

Thomas E Powell

Bryan Grygus

Daniel Matthew Halbig

Rui Avelar

Richard Jeff Gildersleeve

Michael Cupicha

Rachel Paige Arnott

Kevin Ma

Mike Stelmah

Alfred Marino

Ian Hart

Trevor Langley

Carlos Gonzalez Resendiz

Cindy D Ren

Miram M Abiad

Dimitri Stroumpoulis

Bryan C Grygus

Christopher Kanel

Michael J Cupicha

John Lai

The present specification discloses porous materials, methods of forming such porous materials, biocompatible implantable devices comprising such porous materials, and methods of making such biocompatible implantable devices.

Porous materials, methods of making and uses

The present specification discloses porous materials, methods of forming such porous materials, materials and devices comprising such porous materials, and methods of making such materials and devices.

An embodiment of a suture for use in a surgical procedure applied to tissue comprises an elongated body having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of retainers arranged along a portion of the elongated body. The retainers substantially yield to motion of the elongated body within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the first end and resist motion of the elongated within the tissue when the elongated body is drawn at the second end. The retainers include an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface extending from a periphery of the elongated body and the lower surface having at least two facets.

Self-retaining sutures including tissue retainers having improved strength

Methods for creating a foam-like texture on an implantable material are provided. More particularly, methods for creating foam-like texture on implantable silicone materials are provided.

Methods for creating foam-like texture

A method and device to elevate retainers on a suture thread to a desired angle such that the retainers can retain the desired elevation. The retainers can be elevated using an apparatus having at least one roller and at least one bending bar, wherein the bending bar contacts the retainers adjacent to the at least one roller to apply a force to the retainers. The retainers can also be elevated using a tube-shaped apparatus. A suture can be made up of an inner core and a coating that upon a stimuli increases the protrusion of the retainers away from the suture core. A coating can be inserted into the cut associated with the retainer and repulsive or expansive forces result in a pushing out of the cut and distending of the retainers away from the suture core.

Method and apparatus for elevating retainers on self-retaining sutures

Described herein are material compositions including various textures which when implanted in a mammal encourage an optimal biological response.

Biocompatible structures and compositions

A self-retaining suture comprises a composite filament. The filament has retainers on the surface such that the filament can engage and retain tissue without knots. The filament comprises at least two materials having different properties. A surface material of the filament has properties which enhance the formation, elevation and/or deployment of the retainers. A core material of the filament has properties which enhance the tensile strength of the filament. The surgical filament is thin and flexible and may be used for suturing. Methods for manufacturing the filament and retainers are also described.

Composite self-retaining sutures and method

A marked heterofunctional suture thread has two or more sections having different features. One or more sections of the suture thread are provided with laser-marked and non-laser marked indicia in order that they may be identified and differentiated from other sections. The suture thread may have retainers on the surface of one or more sections such that the suture thread can engage and retain tissue without knots. The markers may be used to indicate fixed features of a section of suture thread such as the presence and/orientation of retainers. In particular embodiments, laser-marked and non-laser marked indicia are used to identify the transition section of a bidirectional self-retaining suture.

Bidirectional self-retaining sutures with laser-marked and/or non-laser marked indicia and methods

Implantable prosthesis, components of prosthesis, and methods of making same are provided. The methods generally include the steps of providing an implant shell, applying a curable fluid composition to the shell to form a coating thereon and applying a particulate component to the composition. The composition is a mixture, for example, an emulsion, containing a silicone-based elastomer dispersion and droplets of a suspended leachable agent. After the elastomer is stabilized and cured, the particulate component and leachable agent are removed, resulting in an implantable member having a porous, open-cell surface texture designed to be effective in reducing incidence of capsular formation or contraction.

Implants and methods for manufacturing same

Provided herein are sutures to be used in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. A suture can include an elongated suture body having a periphery, and a plurality of retainers formed from molten material applied to portions of the periphery. The retainers can extend from and be arranged along at least a segment of the elongated suture body. The retainers can be formed by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers.

Self-retaining sutures with retainers formed from molten material

Provided herein are sutures for use in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. Some sutures include bi-directional retainers, each of which can be deployed in two directions, but once deployed in one direction, resist motion in the opposite direction. Other sutures include uni-directional retainers that are conical in shape, and include tissue engaging protrusions that extend from edges and/or angled walls of the conical retainers.

Self-retaining sutures with bi-directional retainers or uni-directional retainers

Provided herein are sutures to be used in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. A suture can include an elongated suture body and a plurality of heat-contact mediated retainers extending from and along the elongated suture body. The heat-contact mediated retainers can be formed by temporarily contacting the elongated suture body with one or more heated element.

Self-retaining sutures with heat-contact mediated retainers

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Alexei Goraltchouk