Abstract: A passive ossicular prosthesis has a sound-conducting prosthesis body with a first coupling element for mechanical connection to the incus, malleus, or an actuator end piece of an active hearing aid at one end. The bight is made of a strip-shaped metallic material, partially open toward the outside via a gap-type opening and is intraoperatively crimped in the middle ear for permanent attachment. There is a second coupling element at the other end of the prosthesis body for connection to a further component of the ossicular chain or directly to the inner ear. The bight includes elongated perforations with longitudinal axes extending, in the implanted state, along a curved trajectory at a right angle or slant relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (a) of the enclosed object to reduce spring action and stiffness and markedly reduce the force to be applied for the crimping.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable prosthetic device for the repair of connective tissue in an animal or a human. In one embodiment, an implantable prosthetic device (100) for the repair of connective tissue (500) in an animal or human is disclosed which comprises a biocompatible pad (101) having an open structure to provide a scaffold for the in-growth of tissue into the pad; and a reinforcement region (206) attached to or formed integrally with the pad. The device is arranged so that it can be attached to tissue by forming a puncture (301) either a) within the reinforcement region, or b) in an area of the pad which is inboard of the reinforcement region, so that a suture (300) can be located through the puncture, the reinforcement region serving to support tensile loading in the device during use by resisting pull-through of the suture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of knee ligament balancing for knee replacement procedures. The disclosure provides a system of components to implant to achieve ligament balancing. In addition, instruments and methods are provided to achieve the desired balance of the ligaments before final fixation.

Abstract: A system for repairing a soft tissue includes a first suture anchor, a suture and a second suture anchor. The first suture anchor is disposed at a first location on a bone. The suture is defined by a first end and a second end. The second suture anchor disposed at a second location on the bone. The suture is passed through the first suture anchor and the second suture anchor to form a medial row and a lateral row to repair the soft tissue.

Abstract: Detachment of an implant from a delivery assembly can be electrolytic. A distal end of a core member and a proximal end of an implant can be joined together by one or more weld joints disposed axially between the distal end and the proximal end, the one or more weld joints being further disposed at a radially outermost periphery of the distal end and a radially outermost periphery of the proximal end. Delivery of a detachable implant as described herein can include advancing, to a target location within a patient, an implant having a proximal end and being connected to a distal end of a core member by one or more weld joints, as described above, and separating the implant from the core member by corroding the one or more weld joints.

Abstract: A medical device includes an artificial contractile structure which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ, an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element (100) adapted to contract an organ, in such way that the contractile element (100) is in a resting or in an activated position, at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure, and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The ratio “current which is needed to maintain the contractile element in its activated position and in its resting position/current which is needed to change the position of the contractile element” is less than 1/500, preferably less than 1/800, and more preferably less than 1/1000. The medical device further includes elements for reducing corrosion of the medical device.

Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis is adjustable in length and temporarily and resiliently adjustable in angular orientation. The prosthesis includes a head for contacting a tympanic membrane, and a resilient sleeve is mounted within the head. An elongate shaft extends through the sleeve, and includes a distal end adapted to engage a footplate or stapes. The sleeve forms a resilient joint that allows the shaft to undergo an angular motion relative to the sleeve when subject to a non-axial force, and then subsequently return to its original position after the force is removed. The sleeve may also be longitudinally displaceable within the head of the prosthesis such that the shaft can undergo a damped linear motion. Also as a result of the arrangement of the sleeve, the prosthesis is adjustable to a very short length.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a device. The device may include a distal shaft defining a central lumen and an orienting element comprising at least one inflatable member. Wherein a first portion of the orienting element extending from the shaft in a first direction and a second portion of the orienting element extending from the shaft in a second direction. Further, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A tubular stent has first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The tubular stent is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis, the struts delineating a plurality of cells within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell. There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis of cells from the nodal cell to a first distal cell in the row that is closer to the first or second end of the tubular stent. There is a second distal cell in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis from the nodal cell and the first distal cell. The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings. Each ring extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and the rings are located adjacent to each other parallel to the longitudinal axis to define the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: An expandable mammary implant including a shell having an anterior face and a posterior face. The anterior has an upper pole portion and a lower pole portion meeting at an apex, and an injection zone for receiving fluid therethrough to inflate the implant. A reinforcement material is coupled to the shell in a reinforcement zone. The reinforcement material is coupled to the shell so as to at least coincide with the upper pole portion and a peripheral rim portion that extends from the posterior face upwardly into said anterior face by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for cutting an annular piece out of the soft tissue of a selected mammal. The device can be utilized in surgical situations such as capsularhexis. The device comprises one or more blades which when rotated, cut an annular path.

Abstract: A suspensory fixation device has an elongated anchor member adapted to be transversely situated at the exit of a bone tunnel. A graft supporting loop member formed of a pair of parallel suture limbs extending from a bight portion is suspended transversely from the anchor member and has a loop length which is adjustable so the graft ligament can be supported in the bone tunnel at varying distances from the anchor member. When a graft ligament is attached to the saddle end of the loop member, the length of the loop member may be shortened by simply pulling distally on the pair of limbs at one end of the loop member to pull the graft ligament into the bone tunnel a predetermined distance or until it bottoms out at the floor of the bone tunnel. When tension is applied to the loop member by the graft pulling the loop proximally, the bight portion of the suture automatically locks the graft supporting loop member in place.

Abstract: The invention features a glenoid (shoulder socket) implant prosthesis, a humeral implant prosthesis, devices for implanting glenoid and humeral implant prostheses, and less invasive methods of their use for the treatment of an injured or damaged shoulder.

Abstract: A lung device for restoring lung elasticity includes fixation members and a connecting member. The fixation member includes a first radially expandable fixation member and a second radially expandable fixation member. The first radially expandable fixation member defines a first profile in an expanded state and a lumen. The second radially expandable fixation member defines a second profile in an expanded state and a lumen. The connecting member extends between and connects the first and second fixation members. The lung elasticity restoring device is capable of reversibly extendable between an inspiration configuration and an expiration configuration, may be extendable to the inspiration configuration, and biased to the expiration configuration by the connecting member.

Abstract: A method for treating a lung may include forming a channel between a first airway and a second airway through a tissue of the lung to allow air trapped within the first airway to flow through the channel and the second airway, and inserting a support member into the channel.

Abstract: A system for improving cardiac function is provided. A foldable and expandable frame having at least one anchoring formation is attached to an elongate manipulator and placed in a catheter tube while folded. The tube is inserted into a left ventricle of a heart where the frame is ejected from the tube and expands in the left ventricle. Movements of the elongate manipulator cause the anchor to penetrate the heart muscle and the elongate manipulator to release the frame. The installed frame minimizes the effects of an akinetic portion of the heart forming an aneurysmic bulge. Devices and methods are described herein which are directed to the treatment of a patient's heart having, or one which is susceptible to heart failure, to improve diastolic function.

Abstract: A short sheath delivery system comprises a delivery device for a stent and a fixing device. A delivery device is used for delivering a stent part on a stricture lesion via an endoscope along a guidewire; the fixing device is used for fixing the delivery device on an endoscope biopsy port. The delivery device comprises a tip, an inner rod, a secondary rod, a main rod, a sliding rod, a trailing end, a guidewire cavity, an injection tube, a stent, a short sheath, a connection thread and a handle; the stent is preloaded in an empty cavity formed by the inner rod and the short sheath; the length of the short sheath is longer than that of the stent, and is less than that of the secondary rod; the external diameter of the secondary rod is less than the inner diameter of the short sheath, and the external diameter of the main rod is equal to or greater than that of the short sheath; the handle is sleeved around the sliding rod; and the handle is connected with the short sheath by the connection thread.

Abstract: Devices that are adapted to insert a sinus dilator into a stenotic opening of a paranasal sinus of a subject using minimally invasive dilator insertion procedures are provided. The devices and methods can be used to treat sinusitis and other nasal and/or sinus disorders.

Abstract: A prosthesis having: a) a first assembly with a first base portion to be placed against, and operatively secured to, a patient's first bone; and b) a second assembly with a second base portion to be placed against, and operatively secured to, a patient's second bone. The first and second assemblies respectively define first and second surfaces that cooperate with each other to guide articulated movement between the first and second bones. At least one of the first and second base portions is configured to cooperate with a separate first component defining at least a part of one of the first and second surfaces to maintain the first component in an operative state. A second component is configured to define at least a part of the one of the first and second surfaces and can be placed in an operative state selectively in place of the first component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve prosthesis for replacing an atrioventricular valve of the heart, comprising an annular body, to which heart valve leaflets are attached and which can be inserted in the valve annulus of the heart, and further comprising at least one anchoring part, which protrudes from the annular body on the ventricle side and can be anchored in tissue.