Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Terry A Hubbard

Paul D Drumheller

Krzysztof Pietrzak

Steven C Newman

Brian H Kram

Paul B Jennings, Jr

A surgical system, including a sealable pouch or envelope with surgical implements in the envelope is disclosed. The envelope is formed by the folds in a membrane and includes adhesive on the envelope to adhere the envelope to the surgical site. The system may include a port in the membrane to communicate between the interior and exterior of the envelope. When used for implant surgery, the port helps to provide sterile access to the implant site and also helps to ensure that the implant site does not become contaminated. The adhesive helps to position the system to the patient, and placement of the surgical implements inside the envelope helps to ensure sterility of the implements. The envelope can be opened over the surgery site and adhered to the incision site on the patient, thereby forming a sterile field.

Surgical implant system

A method is provided for closing a containment device that involves wetting at least a portion of a permeable polymeric membrane such as tubular membrane with a liquid such as a cell suspension or drug formulation the device is being filled with, and applying heat to at least a portion of a wetted thermoplastic polymer in association with the membrane to form a &ldquo;wet seal&rdquo; closure. The thermoplastic polymer melts at a lower temperature than the polymeric membrane and the melted polymer integrates with the membrane by flowing along surfaces and into available interstices of the membrane to form a cell-tight closure when the polymer cools below its melt temperature. The application of heat may be accompanied by slight pressure, and a heat sink may be applied to limit heat transfer beyond the closure region to the membrane. In association with melting of the polymer, the membrane/thermoplastic polymer combination may be twisted and/or elongated, and twisting may form a separation region which can be cut to form first and second devices. The membrane and thermoplastic polymer may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene and fluorinated ethylene propylene, respectively. The containment device may be directly implanted into a recipient in need of a treatment provided by contents of the device.

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Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Terry A Hubbard