Abstract: This disclosure provides prosthetic arteriovenous grafts having a blood-contacting layer; an intermediate layer; and a tissue-interface layer formed of a microporous biomaterial with a textured microporous surface, the prosthetic arteriovenous grafts providing vascular access for hemodialysis and being capable of reducing perigraft fibrotic capsular formation, and a method of maintaining the patency of the prosthetic arteriovenous grafts.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical implant device, including: a solid surface; and a lattice structure disposed adjacent to the solid surface, wherein the lattice structure includes a first plurality of struts that define a first plurality of voids adjacent to the solid surface and a second plurality of struts that define a second plurality of voids remote from the solid surface. Each of the first plurality of struts has an average cross-sectional diameter that is smaller than an average cross-sectional diameter of each of the second plurality of struts. Each of the first plurality of voids has an average internal diameter that is smaller than an average internal diameter of each of the second plurality of voids. The surgical implant device also includes a needle-populated porous surface disposed adjacent to the solid surface opposite the lattice structure.

Abstract: A rib implant securable to first and second rib portions of a rib. The rib implant can include a body, a first porous stem, and a second porous stem. The body can be configured to span a first rib portion of a rib and a second rib portion of the rib. The first porous stem can extend from the body and the first porous stem can be insertable into a first intramedullary canal of the first rib portion. The second porous stem can extend from the body opposite the first porous stem. The second porous stem can be insertable into a second intramedullary canal of the second rib portion to, together with the first porous stem, secure the first rib portion and the second rib portion.

Abstract: An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes in a spinal motion segment is provided. The spacer includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and passageway. A first arm and a second arm are connected to the body. Each arm has a pair of extensions and a saddle defining a U-shaped configuration for seating a spinous process therein. Each arm has a proximal earning surface and is capable of rotation with respect to the body. An actuator assembly is disposed inside the passageway and connected to the body. When advanced, a threaded shaft of the actuator assembly contacts the earning surfaces of arms to rotate them from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the distracted adjacent spinous processes are seated in the U-shaped portion of the arms.

Abstract: A luminal stent, including a tubular body and a skirt sleeved on the tubular body. One end of the skirt is a fixed end, and the fixed end is sealedly connected to the outer surface of the tubular body; the other end of the skirt is a free end; on a section passing through the central axis of the tubular body, the ratio of the distance between the fixed end and the free end located on the same side of the central axis of the tubular body to the vertical distance between two points of the free end on both sides of the central axis of the tubular body along the radial direction of the skirt is less than 1/2.

Abstract: An endovascular stent-graft is provided, including a plurality of circumferential strut members disposed at respective axial positions along a self-curving longitudinal portion thereof. Each of the circumferential strut members is shaped so as to define a plurality of proximal peaks. When the stent-graft is unconstrained in a radially-expanded state, for at least one of the circumferential strut members, a first set of the proximal peaks of the circumferential strut member, which includes at least a circumferentially-closest one of the proximal peaks to an outermost curve of the self-curving longitudinal portion, are bent radially inward at least an average angle of 20 degrees toward a central longitudinal axis of the self-curving longitudinal portion, and a second set of the proximal peaks of the circumferential strut member are not bent radially inward by at least an average angle of 20 degrees toward the central longitudinal axis. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an elbow arthoplasty prosthesis that includes an ulnar component, a humeral component, one or more articulation liners, and a retention trap. The ulnar component includes a spherical bearing head that can be inserted into the humeral component in a number of orientations. The articulation liners and the retention trap are operatively engaged to the humeral component to retain the ulnar component within a humeral socket. The present disclosure also relates to methods of assembling and implanting the prosthetic device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical device for use in human vessels, in particular in the carotid artery, comprising: a self-expandable mesh structure which at least partially forms a curved wall, and has, in a radially compressed state, a cross-sectional diameter of not more than 2.5 mm, wherein the mesh structure is formed of at least one mesh structural element which has a height that is no more than 200 ?m, in particular no more than 150 ?m, preferably no more than 70 ?m, where the height is measurable along a diameter of the mesh structure, and wherein the mesh structure is at least partially formed of a nickel titanium alloy and is at least partially coated in fibrin.

Abstract: A bone fusion method, system and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together in order to replace degenerated discs and/or bones, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device includes a body and an extendable plate. The bone fusion device is able to be inserted between or replace the vertebrae by using a minimally invasive procedure wherein the dimensions and/or other characteristics of the bone fusion device are selectable based on the type of minimally invasive procedure.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include a collapsible and expandable stent extending in a flow direction between a proximal end and a distal end, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent, a plurality of prosthetic valve leaflets each having a belly attached to the cuff between a first location and a second location downstream of the first location in a flow direction, and a sealing structure attached to the annulus section of the stent. The annulus section of the stent may be adjacent the proximal end. The stent may include a plurality of struts shaped to form a plurality of cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent. The sealing structure may have a deployed condition with a diameter greater than a diameter of the proximal end of the stent when the stent is in an expanded use condition.

Abstract: An expandable spinal interbody implant having a base member and a displaceable member connected by a screw driven linkage mechanism. The implant may include mechanisms for controlling the implant throughout its full range of expansion and retraction to prevent formation of the implant into undesired profiles in the intervertebral space. The displaceable element may be overlapped with the base in a fully expanded state. Alternatively, the displaceable element may exist fully outside of the base. The displaceable element may be hinged and bent in conjunction with the linkage based implant expansion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of implant systems and related apparatus, and methods of operating the same are described herein. In various embodiments, an implant for interfacing with a bone structure includes a web structure, including a space truss, configured to interface with human bone tissue. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes. Implants are coated with, or have struts formed from, a piezoelectric material to enhance bone growth around and through the implant.

Abstract: A bendable medical instrument including: a handle at a proximal end of the bendable medical instrument, a modular distal shaft including a plurality of vertebrae configured to bend and situated near a distal end of the bendable medical instrument, a bendable internal rod disposed through at least some of the plurality of vertebrae, the bendable internal rod having a modular cell structure, and a distal tip coupled to the modular distal shaft at the distal end. The plurality of vertebrae configured to bend to position the distal tip in a patient and the bendable internal rod configured to bend with the plurality of vertebrae.

Abstract: Bone implants, including methods of use and assembly. The bone implants, which are optionally composite implants, generally include a distal anchoring region and a growth region that is proximal to the distal anchoring region. The distal anchoring region can have one or more distal surface features that adapt the distal anchoring region for anchoring into iliac bone. The growth region can have one or more growth features that adapt the growth region to facilitate at least one of bony on-growth, in-growth, or through-growth. The implants may be positioned along a posterior sacral alar-iliac (“SAI”) trajectory. The implants may be coupled to one or more bone stabilizing constructs, such as rod elements thereof.

Abstract: A radially expandable, tubular stent, includes a first section having a first crush resistance force and a second section have a second crush resistance force, wherein the first crush resistance force is less than the second crush resistance force. The first section is connected to the second section to form a tube, connection of the first and second sections extending in an axial direction of the tube.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a cartilage substitute, which includes at least one cartilage unit, the cartilage unit including: a base, including a subcutaneous layer portion forming contact friction with a corresponding skeleton, a deep layer area portion contacting with a target skeleton and an intermediate layer portion provided between the subcutaneous layer portion and the deep layer area portion. A fluid storage cavity is disposed in the subcutaneous layer portion. A first communicating passage is disposed in the subcutaneous layer portion. A second communicating passage is disposed in the intermediate layer portion, a third communicating passage is disposed in the deep layer area portion. The fluid storage cavity, the second communicating passage and the third communicating passage are disposed to gradually increase hardness of the subcutaneous layer portion, the intermediate layer portion and the deep layer area portion.

Abstract: Fixation system for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve including an implantable fixation device having a first arm and a second arm, a first proximal element moveable relative to the first arm between a first position and a second position, and a second proximal element moveable relative to the second arm between a first position and a second position. The fixation system includes a delivery device having a catheter, a first proximal element line and a second proximal element line, and a handle having a first and second proximal element line handles coupled to the first proximal element line and the second proximal element line, respectively. The handle can include an interlock moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position.

Abstract: An expandable intervertebral implant is disclosed for use in between adjacent vertebral bodies in a spine. An expandable intervertebral implant may include an upper plate having a first upper side and a second upper side, a lower plate having a first lower side, a second lower side, and a first lattice that connects the first upper side to the first lower side. The expandable intervertebral implant may further include a second lattice that connects the second upper side of the upper plate to the second lower side of the lower plate and an opening having a longitudinal axis between the upper plate, lower plate, first lattice, and second lattice. The expandable intervertebral implant may further include an expansion mechanism comprising a driver that expands the upper plate and the lower plate away from each other along a cephalad-caudal axis by deforming the first lattice and the second lattice.

Abstract: An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for replacing a damaged aortic valve is provided. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a balloon-expandable stent, a tubular conduit that extends into the ascending aorta, and a self-expanding stent. The tubular conduit extends across the balloon-expandable stent. The tubular conduit includes an artificial valve. The self-expanding stent extends across the tubular conduit into the ascending aorta. The balloon-expandable stent, the tubular conduit, and the self-expanding stent are coupled to provide unidirectional flow of fluid into the aorta and further into the coronary arteries. Also provided is a method for implanting the endoluminal prosthesis.

Abstract: The three-dimensional lattice structures disclosed herein have applications including use in medical implants. Some examples of the lattice structure are structural in that they can be used to provide structural support or mechanical spacing. In some examples, the lattice can be configured as a scaffold to support bone or tissue growth. Some examples can use a repeating modified rhombic dodecahedron or radial dodeca-rhombus unit cell. The lattice structures are also capable of providing a lattice structure with anisotropic properties to better suit the lattice for its intended purpose.