• DePuy Mitek (Raynham, Massachusetts) reported the launch of Lupine BR and Bioknotless BR, the first suture anchors made from DePuy Mitek's biocryl rapide biocomposite material. Biocryl rapide has been proven in pre-clinical use to resorb and be replaced with bone by 24 months. Lupine BR and Bioknotless BR anchors offer both traditional and knotless suture anchor options for surgical attachment of soft tissue to bone during arthroscopic shoulder instability repair while maintaining proven design characteristics found in previous implants made of polylactic acid. Biocryl rapide is manufactured using a process known as micro particle dispersion that combines TriCalcium phosphate with Polylactic/polyglycolic acid, a faster-resorbing polymer than PLA, to create a unique implant that provides an optimized absorption profile, strength, and osteoconductive properties. DePuy Mitek makes surgical sports medicine devices.

• W. L. Gore & Associates (Flagstaff, Arizona) said that it has received approval from the FDA to market its Gore Viabahn Endoprosthesis with Heparin Bioactive Surface for vascular bypass in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The Gore Viabahn combines Gore's heparin surface treatment with the Gore Viabahn Endoprosthesis for treatment of peripheral vascular disease in the SFA. The Viabahn uses end-point covalent bonding to keep the heparin anchored to the endoprosthesis surface over time. The end-point surface attachment technology is designed to preserve the heparin bioactive sites such that they remain free to interact with the blood without being consumed. The Viabahn is constructed with a durable, reinforced, biocompatible, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) liner attached to an external nitinol stent structure. The Gore Medical family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac and general surgery.