Abstract: A cartilage plug, which is made from a biocompatible, artificial material, that is used to fill a void in natural cartilage that has been resected due to traumatic injury or chronic disease. Alternatively, the plug may be relied upon to anchor a flowable polymer to subchondral bone. The plug is prefabricatable in any size, shape, and contour and may be utilized either singly or in a plurality to fill any size void for any application. The plug may be formed of a laminated structure to match the physiological requirements of the repair site. A plurality of anchoring elements may share a single upper layer.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: A bio-compatible corneal ring for myopic correction and accommodation for presbyopia. The corneal ring is made from a bio-compatible material with a lens body having an inner and outer circular edge. The inner circular edge forms an opening in the lens body. The posterior surface of the lens body has a uniform radii of curvature between the inner and outer circular edges. The anterior surface has two radii of curvatures providing for correction of myopia. The first radii of curvature extends from near the outer circular edge to a junction point before the inner circular edge. The second radii of curvature extends from the junction point and continues to the inner circular edge. The inner and outer circular edges have a thickness of less than about 0.020 mm, but preferably are about 0.010 mm or less.

Abstract: A stirrup prosthesis for implantation in a middle ear has an elastic clamping member which is displaceable on a long anvil projection and formed as a clip which is open at one side, the clip having an opening, and at least one leg with a portion extending outwardly of the opening and formed as an arch with which the prosthesis is suspendable on the long anvil projection of a human middle ear before the displacement of the prosthesis onto the long anvil projection.

Abstract: A tubular endoprosthesis (10) having a flexible tubular skirt (12) designed to channel a body fluid. The endoprosthesis includes a collar (14) for connection of the skirt (12) through a lateral wall (110) of a tubular conduit (108). The connection collar (14) is initially joined to one end of the skirt (12) and has, at its periphery, elements (34) for securing it to the wall (110). The securing elements (34) are deformable between an initial docking position and a final connection position.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an intracorporeal device formed of a high strength Co—Ni—Cr alloy and is particularly suitable for forming a composite product with a pseudoelastic member formed of NiTi alloy. Suitable intracorporeal products include guidewires and stents. The high strength alloy consists essentially of about 28 to about 65% cobalt, about 2 to about 40% nickel, about 5 to about 35% chromium, up to about 12% molybdenum, up to about 20% tungsten, up to about 20% iron and the balance inconsequential amounts of impurities and other alloying constituents, with a preferred alloy composition including about 30 to about 45% cobalt, about 25 to about 37% nickel, about 15 to about 25% chromium and about 5 to about 15% molybdenum. Intravascular devices such as guidewires, stents and the like can be formed of this high strength Co—Ni—Cr alloy.

Abstract: A refractive intraocular lens and method of locating the lens within the eye and attaching the lens to the iris. The refractive intraocular lens may be attached via staples, a fastener or by the tip of the haptics.

Abstract: A coated stent is provided including a coating comprising one or more co-polymers of ethylene with carboxylic acid wherein the carboxylic acid co-monomer content is 5-50 wt%.

Abstract: An binocular lens system for improving the vision of a patient including first and second ophthalmic lenses. Each of these lenses is adapted for implantation in an eye or to be disposed on or in the cornea. The first lens has a first baseline diopter power for distance vision correction and the second ophthalmic lens has a second baseline diopter power for other than distance vision correction. The ophthalmic lenses may be intraocular lenses which are implanted in the eyes of a patient or has natural lenses or following removal of the natural lenses.

Abstract: The stent having a flexible self-expandable braided tubular wall having a proximal segment having an outer diameter, and a distal segment having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal segment. An intermediate segment is formed between the proximal and distal segments, which forms a truncated cone of which the base is forming the proximal end of the intermediate segment and of which the top is forming the distal end of the intermediate segment. A covering layer is arranged within the tubular wall.

Abstract: An intraluminal grafting system having a delivery catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and a capsule mounted on the distal extremity of the tubular member and including a graft disposed within the capsule. The graft is comprised of a tubular body configured to be secured to a blood vessel by a self expanding attachment system. The attachment system comprises a generally sinusoidal wire frame having apices which extend longitudinally outward from the end of the tubular body apices which are secured within the tubular body. Both the protruding apices and the base apices are formed with helices which bias the attachment system radially outward. The attachment system further includes a plurality of lumen piercing members that are oriented in a responsive relationship to the radially outward bias of the attachment system.

Abstract: A tubular graft/stent comprises a tubular sheath having at intervals along its length a plurality of ring-like rigid members, which are attached to the sheath around their respective circumferences and are made of a shape memory material, so that when the members change shape the sheath adopts a new cross section in conformity with the members along the sheath's whole length. The members may be discontinuous to allow the adoption of a contracted shape in the martensitic phase and an expanded shape in the austenitic phase. A graft may also have a branched side tube which can be inverted so as to be housed within the sheath.

Abstract: A stent-graft with increased longitudinal flexibility that is deployed within a body lumen for supporting the lumen and repairing luminal aneurysms. In a preferred embodiment, the stent-graft is located and expanded within a blood vessel to repair aortic aneurysms. The stent-graft is comprised of an expandable stent portion, an expandable graft portion and at least one elongated rail. The stent portion and graft portion are moveable between the terminal ends of the rail(s) and relative to the rails so that it can conform to the shape of a vessel in which it is deployed. The stent-graft provides increased longitudinal flexibility within a vessel. Also, the stent-graft of the present invention does not kink after expansion, and thus, eliminates the potential for the graft portion occluding the blood flow lumen of the vessel in which it is deployed. Moreover, the wear on the graft is reduced and its longevity increased.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. At least some of the links are formed of a polymer material providing longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the rings along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A modular bifurcated stent-graft implant having a trunk portion with graft material supported by a flexible stent lattice, the stent lattice extending from the proximal end of the trunk portion into each leg. The bifurcation of the trunk portion, which is supported by the stent lattice and graft material, is flexible such that the legs can move independently of each other both in and out of the plane of the midsection. The proximal end of the trunk portion is fully supported with one or more sealing stents.

Abstract: A method of performing a penetrating keratoplasty in a living eye positions a full-thickness corneal graft obtained from a corneal donor in a full-thickness open bed in the recipient's cornea. The graft is held with a suture to prevent the graft from sliding out of position. Subsequently, the suture is removed. The corneal graft is circular, having a step-like edge-to-edge lateral profile with the diameter of the posterior surface being larger than the diameter of the anterior surface. The full-thickness open recipient bed is prepared to be essentially complementary to the donor corneal graft. The suture is lax to induce a post-operation astigmatism not higher than 4 dioptres (D). The suture is normally removed not later than three months from surgery.

Abstract: There is disclosed an accommodating intraocular lens for implantation in an eye having an optical axis. The lens has an anterior portion which in turn includes an anterior viewing element and an anterior biasing element. The lens also has a posterior portion which in turn includes a posterior viewing element in spaced relationship to the anterior viewing element and a posterior biasing element. The anterior portion and posterior portion meet at first and second apices of the intraocular lens. The anterior portion and the posterior portion and/or the apices are responsive to force thereon to cause the separation between the viewing elements to change. Additional embodiments and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An expandable stent is provided. The stent has a ring architecture in which a plurality of connector segments join a plurality of ring structures to form the stent. The ring structures are an endless pattern of unit structures, each of which has two lateral arms and a central portion, and is inverted with respect to the immediately adjacent unit structures of the same ring structure. The connector segments have an undulating portion and are preferably axially displaced relative to other, circumferentially adjacent connector segments when the stent is in an unexpanded configuration. A delivery system that includes a stent accordingly to the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: An expandable stent includes a tubular structure with an outer surface positionable adjacent to a vessel wall and an inner surface facing a lumen of a body passageway. The tubular structure further includes a plurality of expansion struts, connector struts and cells. The tubular structure has a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the tubular structure into the body passageway, and a second expanded and deformed diameter which is achieved upon the application of a radially, outwardly extending force. A plurality of cavities are formed in the outer surface of the stent.

Abstract: A radiopaque nitinol stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element including tungsten. The added tungsten in specified amounts improve the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. Furthermore, the nitinol stent has improved radiopacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility.