Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged joint uses a prosthetic shield and/or spacers to protect regenerating cell growth on the articulating surface of the joint. The shield and spacers protect the articulating surfaces of the joint from compression and frictional stresses while guarding the bone from further damage. The shield and spacers also can deliver transplanted cells and cell enhancing growth factors to the site. The shield can be left in place or removed after the joint heals.

Abstract: The vasoocclusive apparatus can be used in a method of interventional therapy and vascular surgery by inserting the apparatus into a portion of a vasculature, for treatment of a body vessel such as an aneurysm in conjunction with a secondary vasoocclusive device to be placed within the vessel. The vasoocclusive apparatus includes a plurality of strut members connected together at a central hub that extend from a collapsed position to an expanded configuration to cross the neck of the aneurysm, dividing the neck into smaller openings, allowing the deployment of the secondary vasoocclusive device within the aneurysm but preventing migration of the secondary vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm. The strut members can be made from a twisted cable of strands of a superelastic material, such as a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, with at least one radiopaque strand.

Abstract: A prosthesis for anchoring in a long bone wherein the prosthesis includes a stem adapted to be inserted in a medullary cavity of the bone and from which extends a metaphyseal part which is connected to a flange for bearing on a metaphysis of the bone at a zone of connection. The flange also includes spaced openings for passage of a tool for cutting a reconstituted metaphysis of the bone.

Abstract: A web of continuous filaments which are made of at least one semi-crystalline polymeric component covalently bonded as a linear block copolymer with or blended with one or more semi-crystalline or amorphous polymeric components. The filaments are intermingled together to form a porous web of filaments, the filaments having multiple contact points with each other within the web. The filaments are bonded at the contact points without requisite for added adhesive binders, adjuncts or post extrusion melt processing. The web may be bioresorbable. The web may also be provided in forms with relatively high cohesive shear strength. The polymeric components of the filaments exist, at least temporarily, in a homogenous substantially phase miscible uncrystallized state.

Abstract: A heparin-collagen dispersion is provided for impregnating a vascular prosthesis with heparin and collagen. The dispersion is prepared at an alkaline pH to allow the addition of heparin without causing the agglutination of collagen from the dispersion. The impregnation of collagen and heparin within the prosthesis effectively prevents blood loss and thrombus formation after implantation of the prosthesis.

Abstract: An areal implant, in particular for abdominal wall closure, has a flexible basic structure made from a knitted fabric comprising non-resorbable or slowly resorbable material or a combination of such materials. The knitted fabric of the basic structure is designed to stretch more than the tissue region destined to receive the implant below a critical force and stretch less than this tissue region above the critical force. The critical force lies below the highest load which is allowable for this tissue region. The basic structure is provided with a stiffening, synthetic resorbable material whose resorption time is less than that of the basic structure.

Abstract: This invention provides molded, biodegradable porous polymeric implant materials having a pore size distribution throughout the material which is substantially uniform. These materials can be molded into implants of any desired size and shape without loss of uniformity of pore size distribution. The implants are useful as biodegradable scaffolds for cell growth in healing of tissue defects. When manufactured to have an aspect ratio greater than about 3, the implants can be further hand-shaped to fit the defect into which they are placed and the desired shape for the regrown tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for endovascular repair of aortic aneurysms is disclosed. In one form, the apparatus includes a tube and an anchoring unit that includes a plurality of thin lines. The tube serves as a conduit for blood flow in an aneurysm of an aorta. First end of the lines are connected to a first end of the tube. Second end of the lines are separated by a distance from the first end of the tube for anchoring the apparatus at a location away from the aneurysm.

Abstract: An intervertebral implant for fusion of vertebral bodies is disclosed. The implant includes a flattened shaped hollow element in the form of a hollow cylinder, hollow truncated cone, hollow truncated pyramid, or hollow truncated wedge, with an outer surface having a flattened upper bone-contact face, flattened lower bone contact face, and two lateral faces. The upper and lower bone-contact faces can be elastically compressed towards the interior space of the hollow element in such a way that the maxi mum distance between the upper and lower contact faces can be reduced by 0.5 to 5.0 mm. The compressibility of the implant allows the insertion of the implant without the need for distracting the vertebras. After the implant is implanted, the engagement of an engagement lip with an interlock means prevents the compression of the implant.

Abstract: Solid free-form fabrication (SFF) methods are used to manufacture devices for allowing tissue regeneration and for seeding and implanting cells to form organ and structural components, which can additionally provide controlled release of bioactive agents, wherein the matrix is characterized by a network of lumens functionally equivalent to the naturally occurring vasculature of the tissue formed by the implanted cells, and which can be lined with endothelial cells and coupled to blood vessels at the time of implantation to form a vascular network throughout the matrix. The SFF methods can be adapted for use with a variety of polymeric, inorganic and composite materials to create structures with defined compositions, strengths, and densities, using computer aided design (CAD).Examples of SFF methods include stereo-lithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), ballistic particle manufacturing (BPM), fusion deposition modeling (FDM), and three dimensional printing (3DP).

Abstract: A bone connective prosthesis and method of forming same comprising the addition of a biocompatible plasticizer to a PMMA film and/or bone cement, which preferably copolymerizes with the PMMA film and/or bone cement. Preferably, this plasticizer comprises the FDA approved, biocompatible hydrophilic monomer known as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (commonly referred to as "HEMA") and its associated water. HEMA has the ability to absorb water. An important feature of this invention is that this ability to absorb water results in a measurable and controllable plasticization.In one embodiment of the present invention, the plasticizer (HEMA and its associated water) copolymerizes with the PMMA film to form a PMMA/HEMA coating which is preferably used as a coating on a bone prosthesis. In a further embodiment, the plasticizer (HEMA and its associated water) copolymerizes with a PMMA base bone cement to form a PMMA/HEMA bone cement.

Abstract: An implantable prosthesis includes a porous polymeric member having pores present in its wall structure wherein these pores contain a variety of therapeutically useful compositions including, collagen, genetically altered cells and piezoelectric materials. A process of preparing such a prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing coronary artery bypass surgery establishes a channel leading directly from a chamber of a heart into a coronary artery. The coronary artery bypass procedure may be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract: The present invention provides modular intraluminal tubular prostheses, particularly stents and stent-grafts, for the treatment of disease conditions, particularly aneurysms. Modular sections of the prostheses, or "prosthetic modules," may be selectively combined to form a composite prosthesis having characteristics which are tailored to the specific requirements of the patient. Each prosthetic module preferably includes one or more standard interface ends for engaging another module, the module/module interface typically comprising ends which overlap and/or lock within a predetermined axial range. Advantageously, the axial length, cross-section, perimeter, resilient expansive force, axial flexibility, liner permeability, liner extensibility, radial conformability, liner/tubal wall sealing and anchoring, and other prosthetic characteristics may be varied along the axis of the composite prosthesis, and also along the axis of each prosthetic module.

Abstract: A prosthetic repair fabric including a sheet of tissue infiltratable fabric and a second sheet, also preferably including tissue infiltratable fabric, which is united with the first sheet. The second sheet is fused to an adhesion resistant barrier, forming a laminate composite prosthesis without degrading the mechanical properties or tissue ingrowth capability of the first sheet.

Abstract: In an orthopaedic fixing system comprising at least one implant part which has at least one through-opening, and comprising fixing elements which are inserted into the through-openings, the through-openings having widened portions which receive a head-shaped thickening of the fixing elements, in order to fix the fixing elements in the implant part in an axial direction without however impairing their ability to rotate, it is proposed that the head-shaped thickenings of the fixing elements are compressible, that the widened portions have an outside diameter which is slightly smaller than the non-resiliently-compressed head-shaped thickening, and that the widened portions have undercuts, into which the head-shaped thickening after insertion into the widened portion engages resiliently.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bone replacement material which comprises one or more polypeptides having the biological action of fibroblast growth factors in a porous matrix. The healing-in properties correspond to those of autologous bone transplantation.

Abstract: A dynamic fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae that includes a body and an engaging member. The body extends along a longitudinal axis having a first portion and two or more legs depending from the first portion. The legs are laterally spaced apart from each other and define a second end of the body spaced opposite the first end. The legs define an engaging member receiving cavity. An engaging member, such as a disc, is secured to the body and received within the engaging member receiving cavity, wherein the engaging member is secured to the body only by engagement of the engaging member with the legs. During installation, the engaging member causes the legs to flex.

Abstract: This invention relates to a biomaterial useful in bone repair and replacement, and to implants for cranofacial, orthopaedic, and especially dental applications. The implants have a unique geometric configuration, their surfaces defining concavities having a shape and dimensions which induce or enhance the rate and/or amount of bone growth at the implant site. The biomaterial preferably has a specific porous configuration and the implant may be at least coated with such a biomaterial of hydroxyapatite, for example.

Abstract: A bone substitute that drills and cuts like bone for use in training and testing comprising an inner core of a foamable polymer or other soft material and an outer shell of a polymer such as an epoxy resin with a particulate filler such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide added thereto together with, in some cases, titanium oxide to form a slurry for casting or molding around the inner core. Also provided is a method for making the bone substitute.