Abstract: A suture to be used in producing a medical instrument provided with a sutured site such as a stent graft, an artificial blood vessel or an artificial heart valve, has two components, i.e., a high melting-point component and a low-melting point component, the difference between the melting points of components being 30° C. or more and the low-melting point component is exposed on the suture surface entirely along the length direction. When a medical material formed of a fabric or a film is sutured or knotted with the suture and then the suture site is heated at such a temperature not allowing the high-melting point component but the low-melting point component alone to melt, the sutured site is fused and fixed. Thus, a knot or a seam, which sustains the fiber shape and strength and never becomes loose, can be formed.

Abstract: An instrument for holding and inserting a bone anchor into a bone is provided, where the bone anchor includes a shank for anchoring in the bone and a head. The instrument includes a holding member for holding the head of the bone anchor and has a plurality of arms configured to at least partially encompass the head, where the arms include an inner surface forming a seat for the head. The instrument also includes a drive shaft for engaging the head of the bone anchor and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument. The instrument further includes a displacement member configured to act on the holding member. The holding member can assume a first configuration in which it is configured to permit the head to enter the seat and a second configuration in which it is configured to hold the head in the seat.

Abstract: Systems for joint arthroplasty include prostheses which are secured to bone with sliding anchors. Examples include unicondylar and bicondylar knee prostheses for hemi-arthroplasty and total arthroplasty. Instruments guide the anchors into proper engagement with the prosthetic components. Methods of using the prostheses and instruments are disclosed.

Abstract: An implant is provided that is operable to be disposed between and fuse two sections of a bone. The implant includes an inner layer and an outer layer. The outer layer at least partially surrounds the inner layer and is operable to abut against the two sections of the bone. The outer layer is porous and/or fibrous and is operable to receive at least one cellular growth factor.

Abstract: An artificial knee joint comprises a femoral condyle prosthesis and a tibial plateau prosthesis; wherein the tibial plateau prosthesis includes a medial tibial plateau prosthesis and a lateral tibial plateau prosthesis disposed at both sides of the tibial plateau intercondylar eminence, respectively. The artificial knee joint further comprises a locating pin for fixing the tibial plateau prosthesis. The bottom surface of the tibial plateau prosthesis is provided with a prosthetic notch, and the tibia below the tibial plateau prosthesis is provided with a tibial notch. The prosthetic notch corresponds to the tibial notch, together forming a limiting hole for accommodating the locating pin. The cooperation between the locating pin and the limiting hole can ensure relative position stability and balance between the medial tibial plateau prosthesis and the lateral tibial plateau prosthesis.

Abstract: A tissue expander having an integrated drain includes an outer shell having an opening and one or more drainage holes. An injection port is disposed in the opening of the shell and forms a fluid-tight seal with the shell. The injection port includes a needle guard having a needle guard base with a top surface, and a barrier membrane that overlies the top surface of the needle guard base. The barrier membrane defines an inflation chamber located between the top surface of the needle guard base and a bottom surface of the barrier membrane, and a drainage chamber overlying a top surface of the barrier membrane. The tissue expander includes one or more inflation ports that are in fluid communication with the inflation chamber for inflating and deflating the outer shell with a first fluid. A drainage conduit is in fluid communication with and extends between the drainage chamber and the one or more drainage holes for draining a second fluid from outside the shell.

Abstract: A joint spacer has first and second endplates, with each having a bone engaging surface, and at least two cams with an inclined cam surface positioned on an opposite side. First and second slides, each having ramps with an inclined surface are engaged with the cams of the endplate. The first slide has an angled portion at an end, and the second slide has a hinge portion. A threaded shaft has a hinge portion connected to the slide hinge portion, connecting the shaft to the slide, enabling the shaft to pivot. A nut is threaded to the shaft, and can contact and interfere with the angled portion of the first slide to drive the first slide with respect to the second slide. This results in engagement of the cams and ramps to drive the endplates apart to increase the spacer height.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing correction of one or more maladies or conditions of the spinal column of a living being. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an implant delivery instrument and an implant for use therewith. In one variant, the implant delivery instrument includes a non-detachable distraction member for distraction of the disc space and a track for slidable delivery of an implant to the distracted disc space. In another variant, the implant delivery instrument includes a detachable distraction member for distraction of the disc space and a track for slidable delivery of an implant to the distracted disc space. In the latter variant, the distraction member is co-implanted in the disc space with the implant.

Abstract: A patient specific shoulder guide is provided that includes a hub and a plurality of peripheral members. Each of the peripheral members has a peripheral member height dimension between the patient specific contact surface and a side of the peripheral member opposite the patient specific contact surface. At least one of the peripheral members is a low profile peripheral member in which the peripheral height dimension is less than the peripheral height dimension of at least one other of the peripheral members or is less than the hub height.

Abstract: According to one example, a tibial bearing component for articulation with a medial condyle and a lateral condyle of a femoral component in a knee replacement procedure is disclosed. The tibial bearing component can include a distal surface and an articular surface opposing the distal surface. The articular surface can include a medial compartment and a lateral compartment configured for articulation with the medial condyle and the lateral condyle of the femoral component, respectively. The lateral compartment can have a lateral articular track with a lateral anterior-posterior extent. The lateral articular track can comprise a plurality of distal-most points along a proximal surface of the lateral compartment that are contacted by the lateral condyle during rollback of the femoral component. The medial compartment can differ in configuration from the lateral compartment and can have an anterior lip height of between about 9 mm and about 13 mm.

Abstract: A humeral head implant system includes a head component including a first articulating surface, a second bottom surface extending from the first spherical articulating surface, a first cavity extending a first distance into the head component from the second bottom surface, and a second cavity extending into the head component along a cavity axis. The head component defines a head axis extending through a center of the first articulating surface parallel to the cavity axis. A base component defines a slot extending from a first width to a second width. An insert component includes an insert body, a first engagement feature, and a slot engagement feature. The first engagement feature is received in the second cavity along the cavity axis. The insert body has an insert thickness less than the first distance, and the slot engagement feature slides into the slot in a direction transverse to the cavity axis.

Abstract: A stent having an inner surface and an outer surface, the stent comprising a coating composition comprising a platelet-activated adhesive on at least a portion of the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Full contour absorbable implants for breast surgery redistribute breast volume between the breast's upper and lower poles in exact and desirable ratios. The implants preferably redistribute breast volume so that the upper pole breast volume is 20-40% of the total volume, and the lower pole breast volume is 60-80% of the total volume. The implants are also designed to provide specific curvatures to the poles of the breast, and to angulate the nipple areolar complex slightly skyward so that the patient's nipple is positioned at an angle above the nipple meridian reference line. The implants are designed to be transitory, with sufficient strength retention to allow transition from support of the breast by the implant to support by regenerated host tissue growing in and around the implants, without any significant loss of support during or subsequent to remodeling. The implants may optionally be used with permanent breast implants.

Abstract: An annuloplasty system is provided which comprises an annuloplasty ring assembly (2), at least one sensor (8) and an external monitor (5) or a prompting device. The annuloplasty ring assembly (2) has an interface adapted to establish an operative connection with a manipulator. The manipulator is utilized for manipulating the annuloplasty ring assembly (2). The sensor (8) is configured to detect regurgitation (13, 34). The external monitor (5) or the prompting device is adapted to provide, e.g. display, information based on the detected regurgitation (13, 34).

Abstract: A self-expandable stent (1) formed of a flexible, part-tubular body (2), anchoring portions (3) extending from each end of the body (2) and an array (4) of holes or perforations (40, 41, 42) through the body (2) and anchoring portions (3). The body (2) includes an open side (20) and a pair of axial edges (21) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) of the stent (1). The body (2) also includes a central portion (5) and a pair of axial edge portions (6) joining the central portion (5) to the axial edges (21). The central portion (5) of the body (2) is invertible from a relaxed, part-tubular condition to a flexed, inverted part-tubular condition in which the axial edges (21) overlap or converge toward one another for insertion and release in a lumen (TR, TET) to expand, bear against and support a wall of the lumen (TR, TET).

Abstract: Disclosed is a reconfigurable hip joint prosthesis and elements therefor which is adapted to be surgically implantable in a human body, a part in the upper femur, another part in the pelvis. The implantable prosthesis may be configured in a reversible manner, and provide alternative configurations as may be desired or necessary. The present invention also includes a method of implanting into a human body a prosthesis as described herein, and subsequently reconfiguring the prosthesis as may be desired or necessary. A still further aspect of the invention is a kit of component parts used in providing a configured implantable prosthesis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ankle prosthesis including a talar implant, a tibial implant, and an intermediate implant designed to be mounted to move relative to said talar implant in order to impart mobility to the ankle, said prosthesis further including embedded adjustment structure designed to alternate between a releasing state, in which they allow the intermediate implant to move relative to the tibial implant, and a locking state, in which they hold the prosthesis in the chosen assembly configuration, said prosthesis being characterized in that said adjustment structure can be controlled to be operable while the prosthesis is in the assembled state in vivo.

Abstract: A bone implant includes at least one spiral and at least one pillar. The spiral surrounds an accommodating space. The pillar is disposed in the accommodating space and connected to the spiral. The pillar has at least one notch.

Abstract: A semi-condylar artificial knee joint includes a femoral prosthesis and a tibial prosthesis, and the cross-section of the tibial prosthesis is of a kidney-like type. The tibial prosthesis is disposed at one side of the tibial plateau intercondylar eminence and is located below the femoral prosthesis. The artificial knee joint further includes a locating pin for fixing the tibial prosthesis. The bottom surface of the tibial prosthesis is provided with a prosthetic notch, and below the tibial prosthesis is provided with a tibial notch. The prosthetic notch corresponds to the tibial notch, and together forming a limiting hole for accommodating the locating pin. The cooperation between the locating pin and the limiting hole can ensure relative position stability and balance between the tibial prosthesis and the tibial plateau intercondylar eminence.

Abstract: An implant for attaching a tendon or ligament to a hard tissue is provided. The implant includes a shaft, a convex first surface, a flat or concave second surface, first pillars for contacting a hard tissue, first slots to be occupied by the hard tissue, second pillars for contacting a tendon or ligament, and second slots to be occupied by the tendon or ligament. The implant has a first surface ratio of the sum of the volumes of the first slots to the sum of the volumes of the first pillars and the volumes of the first slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1, and a second surface ratio of the sum of the volumes of the second slots to the sum of the volumes of the second pillars and the volumes of the second slots of 0.60:1 to 0.98:1. The second surface ratio is greater than the first surface ratio.