Abstract: An acetabular prosthesis for use in a hip arthroplasty surgical procedure is disclosed. The acetabular prosthesis includes a ceramic acetabular shell liner component configured to be secured to an acetabular shell component. The acetabular prosthesis also includes a metal ring affixed to and encircling the ceramic acetabular shell liner component. The acetabular prosthesis also includes an augment molded to and distally extending from the metal ring. The augment is shaped to modify a range of motion of a femoral prosthetic component when the femoral prosthetic component is fitted into the ceramic acetabular shell liner component. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A prosthetic mitral valve may include a collapsible stent including a plurality of struts, a plurality of cells arranged in circumferential rows, the circumferential rows including a first row at an outflow end of the stent and a second row at an inflow end of the stent, and a plurality of strut intersections where at least two of the struts connect to one another. A cuff is attached to the stent. A prosthetic valve assembly is adapted to allow blood to flow in only one direction through the valve. The prosthetic valve assembly includes a first prosthetic leaflet having a first end attached directly to a first one of the strut intersections, and a second prosthetic leaflet having a first end attached directly to the first strut intersection. The first strut intersection is partially formed of one of the struts of one of the cells in the first row.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a degradation rate of an artificial bone in vitro, a degradation method, and an artificial bone are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a variable resistor; and a wearable component, comprising: a metal wire electrically connected in series with the variable resistor and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field; and an insulating textile layer by which the outside of the metal wire is covered.

Abstract: A spacer for a knee replacement prosthesis may be provided. The spacer may include a lower surface, the lower surface having a locking component adapted to interlock with a tibial tray; an upper surface, the upper surface having an optional central femoral guide and a pair of condyle support platforms, each of the condyle support platforms being disposed on an opposite side of the central femoral guide, each of the condyle support platforms being smooth, the surface of each of the condyle support platforms further having a shallow concavity; and a body incorporating the upper and lower surfaces, the body having a hollow outer portion surrounding an internal reservoir, the body being impermeable to fluid; the body further having one or more ports, each with a channel, each channel extending through the hollow outer portion of the body directing the flow of fluid in and out of the port(s).

Abstract: The Modified anatomical direct lateral approach (Vitosha approach), a novel approach in hip arthroplasty, preserving the iliofemoral ligament and restoring the joint capsule, providing higher initial joint stability and easier rehabilitation without the need for post-operative patients' dislocation precautions is provided. The fascial incision curves along the posterior aspect of the greater trochanter and ends at its lower border, preventing a split of vastus lateralis muscle. The anterolateral periosteal layer which conjoins the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis muscles is sharply elevated from the greater trochanter. Gluteus medius muscle and the underlying gluteus minimus are split along its fibers and retracted anteriorly. A vertical capsular incision is made anterior to the femoral shaft, starting from the basicervical line and extending proximally along the longitudinal body axis, with the iliofemoral ligament fibers remained intact.

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

Abstract: Pinch devices and access systems that can be used to secure a prosthetic heart valve to a heart valve annulus and to treat valvular insufficiency. A pinch device can be a separate expandable element from the prosthetic heart valve that is first advanced to the annulus and deployed, after which an expandable prosthetic heart valve can be advanced to within the annulus and deployed. The two elements can clamp/pinch the heart valve leaflets to hold the prosthetic heart valve in place. The pinch device can have a flexible, expandable annular frame. A combined delivery system can deliver the pinch device and prosthetic heart valve with just a single access point and aid more accurate coaxial deployment. The pinch device can be mounted near distal end of an access sheath, and a catheter for delivering the prosthetic heart valve can be passed through a lumen of the same access sheath.

Abstract: An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component which exhibits enhanced articular features, minimizes removal of healthy bone stock from the distal femur, and minimizes the impact of the prosthesis on adjacent soft tissues of the knee.

Abstract: An annuloplasty implant is disclosed comprising first and second supports being adapted to be arranged as a coil in a coiled configuration around an axial direction. The first and second supports are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets. The first support comprises first retention units fixed in relation to an outer surface of the first support and arranged along at least a first retention portion thereof. The second support comprises second retention units fixed in relation to an outer surface of the second support and arranged along at least a second retention portion thereof. First and second retention portions are curved in the coiled configuration, and the first and second retention units extend from respective first and second retention portions to produce a retention force, in use, at both of said opposite sides. A method of repairing a defective heart valve is also disclosed.

Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disease affecting human joints. Mechanical stress through the joint is one of the most important independent etiological factors. The present invention provides a prosthesis that by passes some of the stress from the joint without destroying the joint surface. It allows may provide a full range of joint movement, while sharing the load with the physiological joint, thereby maintaining the viability of the physiological joint surface. In addition, the prosthesis can accommodate native soft tissue structures in or around the joint, such as ligaments.

Abstract: A Cloward-style cage device for anterior cervical fusion and fixation includes a body and a lateral stabilizer. The device uses the historical Cloward-style approach, and, as such, decompresses the interbody disc. The device can be used with a cylindrical drill bit to drill through the interbody disc to remove a portion of the interbody endplates to decompress a remaining portion of the interbody disc. The lateral portions of the endplates are generally preserved. The device has a cylindrical body formed of a mesh-like material, with lateral stabilizers.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device includes a coaption portion, paddles, and clasps. The paddles are moveable from a closed position to an open position. The clasps are also moveable from an open position to a closed position. The implantable prosthetic device can be used to repair a native valve, such as a native mitral valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft construct for a ligament reconstruction or repair procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a reinforcement material having at least one suture tail extending therefrom. The reinforcement material is a ribbon or a ribbon-like flattened portion attached to or integrally formed with the at least one suture tail. To prepare a tissue repair construct, the reinforcement material is positioned on a first surface of a graft to extend from an end thereof and the at least one suture tail, coupled to a needle, is repeatedly passed through the reinforcement material and the surface of the graft to a second surface of the graft, and around a side portion of the graft to thereby create multiple suture loops. The tissue repair construct can be formed on each end of the graft.

Abstract: The elbow prosthesis includes an ulnar component that has a bearing end and a stem. The stem attached to the bearing end and extends in a distal direction from it. The elbow prosthesis also has a humeral component that includes a holder end and a stem with the stem extending in a proximal direction from the holder end. The prosthesis further includes at least one bearing member that is connected to the holder end with the bearing end being attached within the holder end to allow for rotation and articulation against the at least one bearing member. The bearing end and holder are attached to each other by a coupling mechanism that includes an opening positioned on the posterior aspect of the holder end and a mating surface on the bearing body. A method of using the elbow prosthesis and a total elbow prosthesis kit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of implanting a hip joint prosthesis into a patient can include obtaining image data of hip joint anatomy of the patient. Physical activities that the patient desires to participate in subsequent to implanting the hip prosthesis can be determined. A size and an initial placement of the hip joint prosthesis based on the image data can be determined. A desired range of motion of the hip joint prosthesis based on the determined physical activities can be determined. A plan can be created comprising a desired implanted location of the hip joint prosthesis and based on the desired range of motion. The plan can be incorporated onto a guide. The plan can be executed with the guide thereby implanting the hip joint prosthesis into the patient at the desired implanted position.

Abstract: A modular variable blade augment including an augment component and a blade component. The blade component includes a buttress portion and a neck portion, with the neck portion having a body segment and a face segment that is contoured for mating engagement with an outer surface of the acetabular shell. The augment component has a first opening sized and shaped to receive insertion of the body segment, and which is also sized to accommodate selective adjustment of linear and angular orientations of the blade component relative to the augment component when the body segment is positioned in the first opening. Additionally, the body segment has a length that is sized to facilitate direct contact of the face segment with the acetabular shell when the modular variable blade augment is in an assembled configuration. Further, cement can be injected into the internal cavity to unitize the connection between the acetabular shell and the blade component.

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 implant (30) for a mammalian bone joint (3) for spacing a first bone (2) of the joint from a second bone (1) of the joint while allowing translational movement of the second bone in relation to the first bone is described. The implant comprises (a) a distal part (31) configured for intramedullary engagement with an end of the second bone, (b) a proximal part (34) having a platform (15) configured for non-engaging abutment of an end of the first bone and translational movement thereon, and (c) an articulating coupling (10, 16) provided between the distal and proximal ends allowing controlled articulation of the first and second bones. The bone-abutting platform is shaped to conform to and translate upon the end of the first bone. A kit for assembly to form the implant of the invention, and the use of the implant to treat osteoarthritis in a bone joint, are also described.

Abstract: A medical device for implantation in a hip joint of a human patient, the natural hip joint having a ball shaped caput femur as the proximal part of the femoral bone with a convex hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint and a bowl shaped acetabulum as part of the pelvic bone with a concave hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint. The medical device comprising; an artificial caput femur, comprising a convex surface towards the center of the hip joint. The artificial convex caput femur is adapted to, when implanted: be fixated to the pelvic bone of the human patient, and be in movable connection with an artificial acetabulum surface fixated to the femoral bone of the patient, thereby forming a ball and socket joint. The medical device further comprises a fixation element comprising a fixation surface adapted to be in contact with the surface of the acetabulum and adapted to fixate the artificial convex caput femur to at least the acetabulum of the pelvic bone.

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.