Abstract: A stent according to the present invention is adapted to be introduced into a vascular system such as blood vessels. The stent includes a stent body produced by weaving or knitting a fiber containing a drug and made of a low-melting biodegradable polymer into a tubular shape, or coating a drug-containing low-melting biodegradable polymer on a stent body. When the stent is introduced into the vascular system, the drug contained therein is dosed in a locally limited region of the vascular system. The low-melting biodegradable polymer used has a melting point of 80.degree. C. or lower and is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of poly-.epsilon.-caprolactone, poly-D, L-deca-lactone, poly-dioxane and a copolymer thereof.

Abstract: An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The crush resistant stent is made from a base section having a plurality of resilient, parallel, coplanar struts having a zig-zag configuration extending therefrom wherein the zig-zag struts are curved and pass through corresponding slots in the base section to form a continuous, cylindrical hoop. Each zig-zag strut has an amplitude that decreases when the zig-zag strut is placed under tension and an amplitude that increases when the zig-zag strut is unstressed or is placed under compression. Accordingly, each zig-zag strut can be pulled through the respective slot in the base section, but under compression the zig-zag struts assume the larger amplitude and cannot pass through the corresponding slot thereby maintaining the diameter of the stent constant.

Abstract: An adhesive wafer for an ostomy pouch, and the combination of such a wafer and pouch, in which the adhesive layer of the wafer is composed of a hydrocolloid-containing skin barrier material and is contoured to provide a relatively thick body portion surrounded by a relatively thin peripheral portion, are disclosed. The wafer has a stoma-receiving opening, and the adhesive layer is of developed shape so that most, if not all, of the relatively thick body portion is located immediately below and to the sides of the stoma-receiving opening. The relatively thin peripheral portion of the adhesive layer is preferably embossed to provide a pattern of discrete, non-connecting depressions separated and isolated from each other by flat-top ridges dimensioned and arranged so that a skin surface engaged by said embossed surface primarily contacts only such ridges.

Abstract: An acetabular cup system is provided in which an insert or liner may be selected from a plurality of types of inserts to be used with an acetabular shell. One insert may be oriented after it is removably inserted into the acetabular shell. After an orientation is selected, it may be permanently fixed by pins. The other insert includes a snap-in ring that allows the insert to be snapped into position with the shell after its orientation is selected. The snap-in insert and ring are removable from the shell using a device for removing such snap-in insert and ring.

Abstract: The invention provides a modular three-component assembly for replacing a portion of a patient's femur or humerus. A neck component attaches directly to a stem component that inserts into the bone, and a body component that also inserts into the bone is attached to the neck component and/or to the stem component. Methods for assembling the prosthesis are also provided, wherein the stem component is inserted within the body component, and the stem component is joined to the neck component. The prosthesis may be constructed from the components outside of the patient, or, components of the prosthesis may be inserted into the patient prior to final assembly of the prosthesis during surgery.

Abstract: For the better anchoring of a stent in its use area within a vessel, in the case of a stent expandable from a radially contracted introduction state into a radially expanded position state, in the radially expanded state at least one front end of the stent has a greater diameter than the remaining main stent body with ribs of the front end being longer than those in the main stent body.

Abstract: A reinforcement sheet for use in surgery includes an opening, for example to receive the spermatic cord or the round ligament in surgical hernia repair, with the opening defined at an interior of the sheet when the sheet is substantially flat, with the sheet having a first edge which extends from the opening to the perimeter of the sheet and a second edge, which is preferably provided by a flap, with the sheet substantially overlying the first edge of the sheet when the sheet and the flap are generally flat and with the second edge substantially overlying the sheet when the sheet is generally flat.

Abstract: Graft apparatus, delivery devices and methods for use in stent-graft systems are provided for use in treating aneurysms occurring in hollow-body organs or vessels and for treating arterio-venous fistulas. The graft and graft delivery devices provide the clinician with complete control over the location of the graft at any time prior to implantation of the stents, even when the graft is completely deployed from its introducer catheter. The graft and graft delivery devices also permit retrieval of the graft should it be desired to substitute a graft of a different size or to abort the procedure.

Abstract: A modular tibial trial prosthesis for attachment to a patient's surgically cut proximal tibia includes a tibial tray having proximal and distal surfaces, the distal surface to be fitted against the patient's surgically prepared proximal tibia during knee joint replacement surgery. The proximal surface of the tray accepts any one of a plurality of plastic liner inserts that fits the tray at the proximal tray surface with an interlocking connection. The liner inserts each have a distal surface for attachment to the tray and a proximal articulating surface that is receptive of a distal femoral articulating surface. The proximal articulating surface has concavely-shaped portions. The concavely-shaped portions of the liner inserts provide different articular geometries for selection by the user. A plurality of spacers of different thicknesses can be positioned in between a selected one of the plastic liner inserts and the tibial tray. Each spacer has proximal and distal surfaces.

Abstract: A tibial prosthesis apparatus and its insertion/removal tool includes a tibial tray that receives a polymeric tray liner with an articulating surface. Dovetail connections are provided for interconnecting the liner and the tibial tray. An instrument is provided that can either insert or remove the liner relative to the tray. The surgeon is provided with cam and hook portions that are at the hooking end of the instrument opposite the lever end. The cam engages the anterior surface of the liner while the hook attaches to the tibial tray and the lever end is rotated to cam the insert into a locked position during insertion. The hook engages the distal side of the liner so that the surgeon can rotate the instrument to disengage or remove the liner from the tray.

Abstract: A patellar component is provided for fixation to a patella and a total knee arthroplasty surgical procedure in which multiple surfaces are provided on an outer ring on the inferior surface of the patellar component to provide multi-directional load bearing surfaces available to resist loosening of the patellar component and which requires minimal bone removal for implantation.

Abstract: This implant comprises a substantially U-shaped body having an elastic flexibility in the area of its central portion, and two pairs of brackets projecting from the outer face of the two branches of the body, these brackets defining stirrups for receiving the spinous processes of the vertebrae and comprising means permitting them to be fixed to the processes.

Abstract: An implantable microporous ePTFE tubular vascular graft exhibits long-term patency, superior radial tensile strength, reduction in tear propagation, and increases in suture retention strength and crush resistance. The graft includes an ePTFE tubular structure having a preselected microporous structure. The tubular structure is wrapped externally with a PTFE yarn in a helical fashion. The helical wrap of yarn is bonded to the exterior surface of the tubular structure by application of heat or heat in combination with force to form a composite structure which substantially maintains the porosity of the underlying tubular structure while increasing the suture retention strength, radial tensile strength, crush resistance, and tear propagation resistance.