660 results about "Collagen fiber" patented technology

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for treating herniated or swollen discs within a patient's spine by applying sufficient electrical energy to the disc tissue to contract or shrink the collagen fibers within the nucleus pulposis. This causes the pulposis to shrink and withdraw from its impingement on the spinal nerve.

Instruments for thermally-mediated treatment of a patient's lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to induce an injury healing response to thereby populate the extracellular compartment of walls of the LES with collagen matrices to altere the biomechanics of the LES to provide an increased intra-esophageal pressure for preventing acid reflux. A preferred embodiment is a bougie-type device for trans-esophageal introduction that carries conductive electrodes for delivering Rf energy to walls of the LES (i) to induce the injury healing response or (ii) to "model" collagenous tissues of the LES by shrinking collagen fibers therein. Typically, an Rf source is connected to at least one conductive electrode that may be operated in a mono-polar or bi-polar fashion. A sensor array of individual sensors is provided in the working end. A computer controller is provided, which together with feedback circuitry, is capable of full process monitoring and control of: (i) power delivery; (ii) parameters of a selected therapeutic cycle, (iii) mono-polar or bi-polar energy delivery, and (iv) multiplexing of current flow between various paired electrodes. The controller can determine when the treatment is completed based on time, temperature, tissue impedance or any combination thereof.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for treating herniated or swollen discs within a patient's spine by applying sufficient electrical energy to the disc tissue to contract or shrink the collagen fibers within the nucleus pulposis. This causes the pulposis to shrink and withdraw from its impingement on the spinal nerve.

This invention is an improved method and device for treating varicose veins 200 or the greater saphenous vein 202. The method comprises the use of infrared laser radiation in the region of 1.2 to 2.2 um in a manner from inside the vessel 200 or 202 such that the endothelial cells of the vessel wall 704 are damaged and collagen fibers in the vessel wall 704 are heated to the point where they permanently contract, the vessel 200 or 202 is occluded and ultimately resorbed. The device includes a laser 102 delivered via a fiber optic catheter 300 that may have frosted or diffusing fiber tips 308, or that may be provided with a protective spacer. A motorized pull back device 104 may be used, and a thermal sensor 600 may be used to help control the power required to maintain the proper treatment temperature.

The disclosure describes implantable bioprosthesis having an implantable construct with a multi-fiber array of collagen fibers attached together.

The present invention provides a protein polymer material and a method for preparing the protein polymer material involving applying an energy such as electrical energy or gravitational energy to a protein to cause the protein to assemble in a controlled arrangement. The protein used in this method may be any suitable fibrillar protein capable of self-assembling.

The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more electrode terminals in the presence of electrically conductive fluid or saline-rich tissue to contract collagen fibers within the tissue structures. In one aspect of the invention, a system and method is provided for contracting a portion of the nucleus pulposus of a vertebral disc by applying a high frequency voltage between an active electrode and a return electrode within the portion of the nucleus pulposus, where contraction of the portion of nucleus pulposus inhibits migration of the portion nucleus pulposus through the fissure.

The subject invention concerns a composite comprising an organic fluid-swellable, fibrous matrix, such as collagen, and a mineral phase, such as calcium carbonate or phosphate mineral phase, for use as a biomimetic of bone. In another aspect, the subject invention concerns a process for making a composite involving the inclusion of acidic polymers to a supersaturated mineralizing solution, in order to induce an amorphous liquid-phase precursor to the inorganic mineral, which is then absorbed (pulled by capillary action) into the organic matrix. Advantageously, once solidified, a high mineral content can be achieved, with the inorganic mineral crystals embedded within the collagen fibers (intrafibrillarly) and oriented such that they are aligned along the long axes of the fibers of the organic matrix, thereby closely mimicking the natural structure of bone. The present invention further concerns a method of treating a patient suffering from a bone defect by applying a biomimetic composite to the bone defect site.

A matrix for tissue growth includes: (a) a first layer including a first assembly of collagen fibers; (b) a plurality of projections on a top surface of the first layer; and (c) a second layer bonded to a bottom portion of the first layer and including a second assembly of collagen fibers, wherein the second layer has a lower density than the first layer, and the matrix includes pores effective to support cell growth into the matrix. A method for providing the matrix is also described.

A suturable adhesion-preventing membrane has high suture strength, good biocompatibility, decomposition and absorption in a living body, sufficient adhesion-preventing effect, and desirable guided tissue regeneration. The membrane is composed of at least one non-woven fabric layer made of collagen fibers, or a laminated membranous substance consisting of at least one non-woven fabric layer made of collagen fibers and at least one sponge layer made of collagen, and a coating layer of gelatin or hyaluronic acid on the surface or surfaces of the above membrane. Preferably, the membrane comprises one to six compressed cross-linked collagen non-woven fabric layers wherein a layer has a fibers having a fiber diameter of 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm, a bulk density of 5.0×10−4 to 5 g / cm3 and a thickness of 0.1 mm to 50 mm, and a coating layer containing gelatin or hyaluronic acid and having a thickness of 0.05 mm to 20 mm, wherein the coating layer covers one or both sides or a part or whole of the surface of the membrane.

A matrix for tissue growth includes: (a) a first layer including a first assembly of collagen fibers; (b) a plurality of projections on a top surface of the first layer; and (c) a second layer bonded to a bottom portion of the first layer and including a second assembly of collagen fibers, wherein the second layer has a lower density than the first layer, and the matrix includes pores effective to support cell growth into the matrix. A method for providing the matrix is also described.

This invention provides novel composite biomaterials having excellent bioadaptability and bone inductivity and a process for producing the same. The composite biomaterials comprise hydroxyapatite, collagen, and alginate and have microporous structures in which the c-axis of the hydroxyapatite is oriented along the collagen fibers.

The present invention relates to a process of producing a collagen gel comprising collagen fibers cross-linked with each other by a cross-linking agent on the way of fibrosis of collagen, and a collagen gel comprising the cross-linked collagen fibers obtained by the process. The collagen gel comprising cross-linked collagen fibers of the present invention has high strength and thermal stability and can be widely used as cell carriers and medical materials.