An Early Investigation into Possible Alternatives to Stapled Hysterotomy in Open Fetal Surgery.

Purpose: We hypothesized that surgical energy could be used to create hysterotomies in open fetal surgery.

Study Design: Initial studies compared the LigaSure Impact and Harmonic ACE + 7 Shears in the efficiency of hysterotomy and thermal damage. Pregnant ewes at an estimated gestational age (EGA) of 116 to 120 days (term = 145;  = 7) underwent hysterotomy using either device.

Nitric oxide-releasing semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymers: preparation, characterization and application to devise anti-inflammatory and bactericidal implants.

Semi-crystalline thermoplastics are an important class of biomaterials with applications in creating extracorporeal and implantable medical devices. In situ release of nitric oxide (NO) from medical devices can enhance their performance via NO's potent anti-thrombotic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic activity. However, NO-releasing semi-crystalline thermoplastic systems are limited and the relationship between polymer crystallinity and NO release profile is unknown.