Abstract: The present invention embodies an adjustable customized graft for placement within body lumens. The adjustable graft includes longitudinal and lateral pleats that can be individually released to thereby customize the length and lateral profile of the graft. A tubular jacket configured with access holes to the pleats is provided for delivering the adjustable graft within vasculature of the patient.

Abstract: An intraluminal prosthesis for intraluminal repair of body conduits, especially aortic aneurysms, is disclosed. The prosthesis includes a generally tubular, flexible graft (20) having a proximal open end (30) and at least one distal open end (31) terminating in a hem (33). A stent (21) can be disposed within the proximal open end (30) and is adapted to be attached to the body conduit (1). The hem (33) is inverted within the graft so that it is disposed as a cuff (34) within the graft. The hem (33) is arranged so that upon withdrawing the distal open end (31) from inside the cuff (34), the cuff will unfold and follow the distal open end to expose it to receive another stent for attachment to the body conduit (12) for intraluminal implantation of the graft. Preferably the hem is folded a second time within the cuff to form a second cuff (35) within the graft. The stents are preferably formed of a plexus of wires adapted to expand from a first narrow diameter to a second diameter to engage the body conduit.

Abstract: A kit for a knee joint prosthesis includes a tibia part, a femur part and a meniscus part which is to be arranged between the femur part and the tibia part. The kit enables the assembly of different prosthesis types, namely of prostheses in which the meniscus part is arranged to be immobile relative to the tibia part and of prostheses in which the meniscus part is arranged so as to be movable relative to the tibia part. The kit includes a plurality of guiding elements which are formed in such a manner that the respective guiding element is in engagement with the tibia part and with the meniscus part when the prosthesis is assembled and determines the movability of the meniscus part relative to the tibia part.

Abstract: An expandable hybrid stent having metallic rings and polymer interconnecting links is disclosed. One embodiment of the stent has radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more polymer links that attach at formations formed in the rings. The polymer links have sufficient column strength to keep the rings from collapsing together axially. The formations may be holes, notches, grooves, channels, dovetails, or the like and the links wrap around, pass through, or lie on the formations. The junction of the link and ring at the formation is then melted and allowed to solidify. Alternatively, beads may be formed on either side of where the link passes through a hole in the ring thus securing the ring to the link.

Abstract: This invention relates to intervertebral spacers for use in orthopedic treatment of spinal defects. The intervertebral space is formed of a shaped memory polymer material. The spacer can be fabricated into a desired configuration and then deformed into an alternative or deformed configuration. Cooling the deformed spacer effectively freezes the spacer into its deformed conformation. The deformed configuration can be selected to facilitate implantation of the spacer into a prepared disc space between adjacent vertebrae. During operation, the surgeon can heat the spacer to allow it to revert to its original configuration. The spacer in its original conformation is sized to restore and/or maintain the adjacent vertebrae in a desired conformation and disc space height.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of implementing an optical element having a refraction modulating composition. The methods include using a wavefront sensor to provide an optical measurement of the optical element. The present invention also relates to systems comprising an optical element having a refraction modulating composition and a wavefront sensor.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of producing same are provided. The medical device comprising a body member and a coating on at least a portion of the body member comprising a polyalkylene oxide and a functional group, preferably heparin, magainin, or chlorhexidine.

Abstract: A holder for a highly flexible tissue-type heart valve is disclosed that maintains an implant shape to the valve. The holder may have cusp and commissure contacting supports, and may be attached at all six such supports, or only three. The holder may be flexible to permit inward flexing of the heart valve during implant for greater visibility when implanting using a running suture method. The holder may be formed of flexible wires such as Nitinol, and shaped to resist excessive axial and torsional deformation of the valve. A short handle connector suitable for manual grasping may be attached and stored with the valve, with the handle connector having a coupling for receiving a longer delivery handle. A two stage holder may be utilized to accommodate different implant methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular endoluminal vascular prosthesis, useful in treating, for example, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The prosthesis comprises a self-expandable wire support structure having a tubular main body support and first and second branch supports. The support structure may include sliding links to permit flexibility while maintaining patency of the central lumen. The branch supports may articulate with the main body to permit the branches to pivot laterally from the axis of the main body throughout a substantial range of motion. Exoskeleton components or barbs may be provided to resist migration and endoleaks.

Abstract: This invention is an intraluminal stent (10) made of a zigzag or sinusoidal member defining a successive series of struts (14) connected by apex sections (15), and formed into a series of axially displaced hoop members (12a-12n) wherein at least one of the hoop members has at least one strut (14) connected to a strut (14) of an adjacent hoop. The connected struts (14) may be connected by spot welding, continuous welding, or suturing, for example, or by a bridging member (26) connected to each strut (14), and may be spaced along the length of the stent in a pattern to form a connective spine (16). The number of zigs of the zigzag member in each hoop member (12a-12n) may be varied, as can the zig length (L1). A plurality of connective spines (16) may also be included.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a cancellous bone block assembly with at least one tendon replacement member being extended between two shaped cancellous bone blocks. Each substantially cylindrically shaped cancellous bone block has a central through going bore, a flat exterior longitudinal surface and a channel longitudinally cut in the exterior of the bone block body opposite the flat longitudinal surface. The tendon replacement member is inserted through the central through going bore around the end of the block and looped back along the flat longitudinal side where it is tied to the back of the tendon loop. A channel cut in the exterior surface is adapted to receive an interference screw to keep the block anchored in a bone tunnel previously cut in the respective bone.

Abstract: The device for conditioning an organic ligament to be implanted, in particular a ligament as a cruciate ligament replacement, is equipped with first and second receiving elements for receiving and tensioning the ligament at two spaced locations. The first receiving elements is connected to means for the periodic translatory adjustment of the first receiving element with respect to the ligament.

Abstract: A multi-leaflet cardiovascular valve having a generally annular valve body (1) and at least two leaflets (4, 5) mounted within the valve body such that the leaflets rotate around a central axis (11) and a transverse pivoting axis (12) between an open configuration wherein blood is permitted to flow through the annular valve body and a closed configuration wherein blood is prevented from flowing in at least one direction through the annular valve body. During the open configuration, the leaflets rotate around the flow axis.

Abstract: A composite bone marrow graft material is provided having an enriched population of uniformly distributed progenitor cells. The graft material includes clot material preferably derived from non-anticoagulated bone marrow aspirate, which significantly improves the efficacy of the graft. A method for preparing such bone graft material is also provided. A kit is also provided containing sterilized implements useful in preparing enriched composite bone marrow graft material.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis having at least two portions which are displaceable relative to each other, in particular a prosthesis for the upper end of a human upper arm comprising a shaft which can be inserted into a bone passage and a dome-shaped joint head which is to be associated with the adjacent joint head and which can be connected to an end face of the shaft in an eccentric position or a neutral position relative to the center axis thereof by means of an intermediate disk which has a circular periphery and which comprises both in relation to the joint head and in relation to the shaft a respective insert pin or the like peg-shaped portion formed thereon which can be inserted into a bore, wherein the mutually displaceable portions of the prosthesis are arranged steplessly displaceably relative to each other at at least one displacement plane which is determined by the surface of a portion about axes which are determined by the insert pins of the intermediate disk.

Abstract: This invention refers to a device and the procedure for the formation of fibrocollagen tubes that are of use as neovascularized reservoirs to favor the implant of cells and/or substances producing biological factors for the treatment of diseases like diabetes. Similarly, the neovascularized fibrocollagen tube formed is suitable for use, should it so be desired, as splints for the implantation of tissues in surgical operation involving blood vessels, urethra among others.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a scleral expansion segment of the type consisting of an arched rod designed to be placed on the sclera perpendicular to the ciliary body. The free ends of said rod have a spatula shape wider than the diameter of said bridge, so as to constitute wide support bases.

Abstract: An expandable metallic stent has discontinuities of non-conducting material. These eliminate electrically conducting paths in the stent rings and cells. This makes the stent easier to image with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The non-conducting material can include adhesives, polymers, ceramics, composites, nitrides, oxides, silicides, and carbides. The discontinuity is preferably shaped so that during expansion the discontinuity is placed in primarily a compressive stress.

Abstract: A braided self-expandable stent-graft-membrane made of elongated members forming a generally tubular body. A membrane layer and graft layer are disposed on a endoprosthesis such as a stent. The membrane layer is substantially impermeable to fluids. The outermost layer is biocompatible with the body tissue. The innermost layer is biocompatible with the fluid in the passage. An embodiment includes a graft layer disposed on the inside of a stent and a membrane layer disposed on the outside of the stent. The innermost layer is biocompatible with the fluid in the passage. The stent-graft-membrane is used at a treatment site in a body vessel or organ where it is desirous to exclude a first fluid located outside the endoprosthesis from reaching a second fluid located in the lumen. The membrane may be made of silicone or polycarbonate urethane. The graft may be braided, woven, spun or spray-cast PET, PCU, or PU fibers. The layers may include ePTFE or PTFE.

Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a prosthetic joint component having at least one solid polycrystalline diamond component.