Abstract: An endovascular support device for treatment of chronic restenosis or other vascular narrowing is disclosed together with a method of manufacture and a method for delivering a plurality of such devices to an affected area of a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the endovascular support device comprises a unitary wire-like structure configured to form a plurality of upper and lower peaks which may be compressed for delivery to an affected area of a coronary or peripheral vessel in a human, and then expanded to maintain a passageway through the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disposed for maintaining the proper positioning of a prosthetic implant having proximal and distal ends within a prepared bone cavity during cement injection and curing. First stabilization means, implantable within the bone cavity, minimize lateral movement of the distal end of the implant, while second stabilization means, physically separate from the means for minimizing lateral movement of the distal end of the implant, minimize both the lateral movement of the proximal end of the implant and the rotational movement of the implant overall. In the preferred embodiment, the second stabilization means includes an apertured cap removably securable to the end of a bone having the prepared cavity through which the implant is inserted and held in place.

Abstract: Stent designs for use in peripheral vessels, such as the carotid arteries, are disclosed. The stents consist of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent is flexible in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical elements are generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis between alternating valley portion and peak portions, the valley portion including alternating double-curved portions and U-shaped portions. The interconnecting members are attached to the double-curved portions to connect a cylindrical element to an adjacent cylindrical element and interconnecting members are attached to the U-shaped portions to connect the cylindrical element to the other adjacent cylindrical element. The designs include an eight crown and six crown stent which exhibit flexibility and sufficient radial strength to support the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a soft-tissue prosthesis which is formed from a tubular textile substrate and a liner. The liner is affixed to the intraluminal surface of the tubular textile portion of the soft-tissue prosthesis to form a fluid-tight barrier on the intraluminal surface of the prosthesis. The liner is preferably formed from a polymer. Thus, the soft-tissue prosthesis formed in accordance with the present invention provides the advantages of both a textile prosthesis and a polymer prosthesis.

Abstract: Delivery of rapamycin locally, particularly from an intravascular stent, directly from micropores in the stent body or mixed or bound to a polymer coating applied on stent, to inhibit neointimal tissue proliferation and thereby prevent restenosis. This invention also facilitates the performance of the stent in inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: Anastomotic stents for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel, and methods of use thereof. The anastomotic stents of the invention are suitable for use in a variety of anastomosis procedures, including coronary artery bypass grafting. One embodiment of the invention comprises a large vessel anastomotic stent for use with large diameter target vessels such as the aorta or its major side branches. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a small vessel anastomotic stent for use on a target vessel which has a small diameter such as a coronary artery. Another aspect of the invention involves applicators for use with the stents of the invention.

Abstract: Disclosed is an orthopedic implant suitable for arthroplasty procedures. The orthopedic implant includes a first plate, a second plate, an axial support between the first plate and the second plate and one or more torsional supports connecting the first plate and the second plate. The axial support may be, for example, one or more flexible struts, such as cables, or a ball and socket joint. The torsional supports connect the first and second plates and may be, for example, curved around the axial support. The torsional supports may be integrally formed with the first and second plates as a single unitary device, by, for example, a Laser Engineered Net Shape (LENS) process.

Abstract: A surgically implantable prosthetic device includes a first shell having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and enclosing a lumen, wherein the lumen enclosed by the first shell is able to accommodate a first fluid therein. The prosthetic device further includes a second shell having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and enclosing a lumen, wherein the lumen enclosed by the second shell is able to accommodate a second fluid therein. One or more fitted shells arranged adjacent to and in a graduated relation to each other are situated between the exterior surface of the second shell and the interior surface of the first shell. The one or more shells include an innermost fitted shell and an outermost fitted shell, wherein the innermost fitted shell is adjacent to the exterior surface of the second shell and the outermost fitted shell is adjacent to the interior surface of the first shell.

Abstract: Tissue culture and banking is used to guard against the spread of transmittable diseases. In one disclosed example, living nucleus pulposis cells obtained from recently deceased human or animal donors are used to restore disc function and eliminate pain in patients with disc disease. In the preferred embodiment, the donor nucleus is morselized to allow insertion through a small puncture in the annulus fibrosis with a needle and syringe. Although the description makes specific reference to human disc cells, the invention may be used as a way to provide disease-free disc tissue derived from animal sources, and is applicable as well to other types of biologic tissues and materials such pancreas cells, cartilage cells, and so forth. Additional therapeutic substances like culture medium, growth factors, differentiation factors, hydrogels polymers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or immunosuppressive medications could be added to the transplanted cells or tissue.

Abstract: An assembly for effecting the condition of a mitral valve annulus includes a mitral valve therapy device, a coupling structure carried by the device, a catheter, a second coupling structure, and a locking member. To implant the device, the device is first releasably locked to a pushing member by the coupling structures and the locking member. When the device is positioned within the coronary sinus adjacent the mitral valve annulus and deployed, the coupling structures may be released from each other by the release of the locking member.

Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for treating aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, occurring in single and bifurcated lumens. The prosthesis comprises an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft, either a sheet or tube, affixed thereto along part or all of the circumference of the coiled sheet portion. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis in single and bifurcated lumens are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic mitral heart valve consisting of a support housing (10) comprising a base ring (15) supporting two posts which point essentially in the direction of the ring axis and which are connected by arc-shaped walls (13, 14), these walls being used to fix two flexible leaflets. The free ends of said posts form an inner support for the leaflet. The base ring, as seen from above, has a closed, noncircular shape with a common longitudinal axis but two different-sized semi lateral axes. The posts lie on the longitudinal axis and form the transitional point from one half of the shape to the other.

Abstract: A first balloon catheter having a tip extends through the stem portion and first leg portion of a first expandable tubular member and a second balloon catheter having a tip through said stem portion and extends out of a branch aperture such that its tip is longer than that of the first balloon catheter. The first, expandable tubular member, first balloon catheter and second balloon catheter are delivered to a bifurcated vessel having a first lumen and a second lumen with the tip of the second balloon catheter leading the rest of the elements so that the tip of said second balloon catheter can be aligned with and enter into the second lumen before the first expandable tubular member and the tip of said first balloon catheter reach the area of said second lumen and interfere with the second balloon catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a generally tubular prosthesis (1) for controlling the direction of flow in a duct (O) of a living organism. Said prosthesis consists of a biocompatible, elastically deformable material and comprises an annular proximal fixing part (1a) in a section (H) of the duct (O) with a greater diameter; and a distal part (1b) whose wall is designed in such a way that it can collapse on itself in the event that an overpressure is exerted on its outer surface. The diameter of said annular proximal fixing part (1a) is substantially equal to that of said section (H) of the duct (O) with a greater diameter and its resistance to crushing is significantly greater than that of the distal part (1b) of the prosthesis (1), so that the annular proximal part (1a) can retain the prosthesis (1) in the duct (O) of the living organism.

Abstract: In a method for inserting an implant, such as a biological or artificial heart valve into a human organ, first the implant is provided with an adapter element, then a receiver element that is adapted to fit the adapter element is sutured to the recipient organ, and finally the adapter element is connected to the receiver element. The receiver element and the adapter element are each ring-shaped and are provided with matched interengageable threadings. They are connected with one another by relative rotation via a self-locking bayonet lock. Before being connected to the receiver element, the implant together with the adapter element are coated with living cells. Both the receiver element and the adapter element respectively have flanges that include elements for being sutured together with the recipient organ or the implant.

Abstract: A hernia repair prosthesis with an occlusive member for inserting into and/or backing the herniated tissue. An overlay sheet is attached to the occlusive member by a filament which permits the occlusive member and the overlay sheet to slide relative to one another along the filament allowing the maximal positioning of the overlay sheet to provide the best surgical attachment, orientation and alignment with the patient's anatomy.

Abstract: Living fibrocytes are combined with rotator cuff extracellular matrix obtained from recently deceased human or animal donors to eliminate pain in patients with tendonitis and other rotator cuff deficiencies. According to the method, fibrocytes from a living donor, preferably the patient, and rotator cuff tissue is harvested from a recently deceased human or animal donor in a manner which retains the extracellular matrix. The harvested cells are combined with the extracellular matrix to produce an engineered rotator cuff tissue, which is then transplanted into or onto a patient's rotator cuff to be repaired. Additional therapeutic substances such as culture medium, growth factors, differentiation factors, hydrogels, polymers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or immunosuppressive medications could be added to the transplanted annulus fibrosis tissue.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device adapted for use in repairing a hernia defect includes at least one body made from a biocompatible textile material. The body is provided with a first section and a second section inverted into the first section such that the second section is radially surrounded by the first section. The second section is movably connected to the first section such that the body is expandable or collapsible in a radial direction so as to conform to the size and shape of a hernia defect.

Abstract: A modular knee prosthetic system used to replace the natural knee and including two distal posterior femoral components and one patellar-femoral joint component. The components have a smooth outer condylar surface and an inner bone-engaging surface and are connectable to form either an unicompartmental or bicompartmental femoral knee prosthesis.

Abstract: An allogenic intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant is a piece of allogenic bone conforming in size and shape with a portion of an end plate of a vertebra. The implant has a wedge-shaped profile to restore disc height and the natural curvature of the spine. The top and bottom surfaces of the implant have a plurality of teeth to resist expulsion and provide initial stability. The implant according to the present invention provides initial stability need for fusion without stress shielding.