Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Synthes Usa, LLC

Drexel University

The University Court of the University of Aberdeen

Apatech Limited

Synthes Gmbh

Nigel G Smith

Michael F Keane

Garland W Fussell

Anthony M Lowman

William Miller

Iain Ronald Gibson

Thomas Buckland

Janet Mabel Scott Skakle

Kristin B Kita

Wamis Singhatat

Robert Frigg

Beat Lechmann

Dominique D Messerli

Jamie Manos

David Chow

Alastair J T Clemow

James Talbot

Edward Vresilovic

Brian Schmidt

Brian Rick Delamarter

Garland Fussel

Meredith Hans

Andrea Jennifer Vernengo

Brian Rick Delmarter

James Manos

A synthetic calcium phosphate-based biomedical material comprising gadolinium. The material may comprises a compound having the general chemical formula: CaGd(PO)(SiO)x(OH)where 0&#x3c;x&#x3c;1.3 and 0&#x3c;y&#x3c;1.3.

Biomedical materials

A synthetic calcium phosphate-based biomedical material comprising gadolinium. The material may comprise a compound having the general chemical formula: CaGd(PO)(SiO)x(OH)where 0&#x3c;x&#x3c;1.3 and 0&#x3c;y&#x3c;1:3.

A method of forming and the resulting membrane composition for securement to a patient's bone or tissue to reduce the formation of tissue adhesions following a surgical procedure comprises a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a hydrogel including at least one crosslinked polymer. The second component comprises a textile component. The composition has a thickness between about two tenths of a millimeter (0.2 mm) to about six tenths of a millimeter (0.6 mm), a suture retention strength between about one Newton (1 N) to about thirteen Newtons (13 N), a static coefficient of friction between about one hundredth (0.01) and about one-half (0.5), a kinetic coefficient of friction between about one hundredth (0.01) and about one-half (0.5) and a flexibility of less than thirty millimeters (30 mm) bend length. A method of reducing the occurrence of tissue adhesions following surgery comprises applying the membrane composition to a surgical site.

Method of forming and the resulting membrane composition for surgical site preservation

The present invention is directed to an inflated interspinous spacer. The interspinous spacer is inserted into the interspinous space between adjacent spinous process in a deflated or unexpanded state, and is inflated or expanded with an injectable filler material. Upon inflation, the spacer preferably distracts the spinous processes and assumes a shape that retains the spacer in position and preferably mechanically locks with the spinous processes. The spacer includes two separate balloons configured to have different compressive modulus so that one balloon is softer and more deformable than the other balloon.

Inflatable interspinous spacer

The present invention preferably provides for a method of forming and the resulting solid polymer gel composition comprising polyethylene imine and at least one hydrogen bonding polymer. The composition has a greater viscosity than either of the polyethylene imine or the hydrogen bonding polymer alone and is injectable immediately after mixing of the polyethylene imine and the at least one hydrogen bonding polymer. A method of tissue repair may include mixing about 9.25% (w/w) to about 13.65% (w/w) polyethylene imine and about 18.02% (w/w) to about 26.62% (w/w) polyvinyl alcohol to form an injectable composition; injecting the injectable composition into a cavity within a human body; and allowing the composition to solidify in situ. A kit may include a multi-barrel syringe at least one barrel is loaded with polyethylene imine and at least another barrel is loaded with at least one hydrogen bonding polymer.

Crosslinked hydrogels

A method of forming and the resulting hydrogel composition comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) at a final concentration of about 20% (w/w) to about 65% (w/w) and polyethylene glycol at a final concentration of about 2% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w), wherein the hydrogel composition has a total polymer content, above about 30% (w/w), higher than the total polymer content of a precursor polymer solution formulated prior to the formulation of the hydrogel composition. The hydrogel composition may further comprise poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) at a final concentration of about 0.10% (w/w) to about 0.75% (w/w).

Phase transitioning hydrogels

A soft tissue defect repair system for approximating defects, such as defects in the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, includes a cannulated rod through which is disposed a suture retrieval device. A strand of suture includes a locking or ratcheting knot pre-tied around the outside of the cannulated rod and a free end that is guided in and out of the soft tissue. A knot pusher fits around the cannulated rod, which is used to push the knot off of the cannulated rod after the stitching of the tissue is accomplished. The defect is approximated by tensioning the free end. Various suturing methods or patterns are disclosed for defect approximation.

Threadable knot soft tissue defect repair system

A method for augmenting a facet joint. The method includes exposing the posterior aspects of a spinal motion segment in a first incision, preparing an access path through a separate postero-lateral percutaneous incision using a drilling instrument that traverses through at least a portion of the lamina and an inferior facet articulation surface, and terminates within the facet joint gap, and injecting augmentation filler into the facet joint gap.

Facet joint augmentation with hydrogels

The present invention is directed to a bioadhesive thermogelling hydrogel composition for repairing and/or augmenting an intervertebral disc. The bioadhesive thermogelling hydrogel composition can be cross linked with the surrounding tissue so as to potentially serve as a nucleus pulposus replacement or augmentation along with serving to repair annular tears or fissure. The bioadhesive thermogelling hydrogel composition may include three main components: a thermal responsive polymer, an amine-containing polymer and a crosslinking component. All three components can be modified and combined in numerous ways to serve the need of the system as long as the amine-containing component is kept separate from the crosslinking component until the components are injected. The incorporation of a two-part crosslinking thermal responsive hydrogel permits smaller amounts of the crosslinking component to be used and enables the crosslinking dialdehyde to be delivered locally into the tissue that will react with the hydrogel. This helps prevent damage to tissues away from the hydrogel.

Method to repair a damaged intervertebral disc through the use of a bioadhesive, thermogelling hydrogel

A method of forming and the resulting bioadhesive hydrogel composition for repairing or supplementing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc comprises at least a first component, a second component and a third component, wherein the first component, the second component and the third component are crosslinked. The first component comprises an amine-containing polymer component at a concentration from about 0.1% weight by weight to about 13.65% weight by weight. The second component comprises a hydrophilic polymer or pre-polymer component at a concentration from about 3% weight by weight to about 35% weight by weight. The third component comprises an aldehyde component at a concentration from about 0.1% weight by weight to about 30% weight by weight. A method of repairing or supplementing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc comprises implanting the bioadhesive hydrogel composition in a patient.

Bioadhesive hydrogels

A nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc is supplemented or replaced by an elongated, physiologically fully hydrated hydrogel prosthesis inserted into the central region of an intervertebral disc, where it can fold upon itself to form a prosthesis body within the central region of the annulus fibrosus. The hydrogel prosthesis may have expanded portions that assist in preventing expulsion of the prosthesis through the insertion aperture. An instrument for inserting the prosthesis has a cutter for severing the elongated prosthesis within the central region of the intervertebral disc after a sufficient amount has been implanted.

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Norwian, United Kingdom

Nigel G Smith