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: An organ implant, such as a heart implant, including a support structure having a plurality of pores and defining passages configured for the growth of blood vessels; and stem cells from at least one soft tissue source of a patient deposited into the pores of the support structure is described. The implant is configured to repair a portion of an organ of the patient.

Abstract: A knee gap tensioning apparatus includes: a tensioner-balancer, including: a baseplate; a top plate; and a linkage operable to move the top plate relative to the bottom plate between retracted and extended positions in response to application of an actuating force, the linkage including: a first toggle linkage, including: a lower link having a first end pivotally connected to the baseplate; an upper link having a first end pivotally connected to the top plate, wherein second ends of the first and second links are pivotally connected to each other; a second toggle linkage, including: a lower link having a first end pivotally connected to the baseplate; an upper link having a first end pivotally connected to the top plate, wherein second ends of the first and second links are pivotally connected to each other; and a connector linkage interconnecting the first and second toggle linkages.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for improving airflow within an airway. One example embodiment includes a method for treating a subject. The method includes (1) placing an expandable object into one or more airways of the bronchial tree of the subject, (2) expanding the expandable object within at least one of the one or more airways such that at least a portion of a wall of the one or more airways is expanded, and (3) placing a stent in the airway such that a portion of the stent is adjacent to the portion of the wall of the one or more expanded airways.

Abstract: In order to promote bone growth without damage of a growth plate to improve the stability of a procedure, provided is an implant device for promoting bone growth, the device including: a first implant bar implanted to penetrate a metaphysis corresponding to the inside of a growth plate of a long bone to be treated; a second implant bar implanted to penetrate an epiphysis of the outside of the growth plate; and a stimulation elongation means disposed close to the external surface of the long bone to be treated and installed under skin tissues surrounding the long bone to be treated, and being elongated between end portions of the implant bars to increase a gap between the implant bars to cause the growth plate to be extended.

Abstract: A shoulder prosthesis includes a humeral portion and a scapular portion, each having an osseointegrable component and an articular component. The osseointegrable component in the humeral portion includes a humeral body produced as a semicircular asymmetrical cage having a proximal circular ring base facing the scapular portion and an eccentric distal cylindrical base in opposite position, which are connected by arms having one or more holes for favoring the growth of bone tissue and facilitating anchorage to the bone, the proximal circular ring base being configured to be interchangeably coupled with the articular component for an anatomical prosthesis or a concave insert for a reverse prosthesis. The osseointegrable component in the scapular portion includes a glenoid base-plate of asymmetric form for coupling to an articular component, such as a concave glenoid insert, for an anatomical prosthesis or a glenosphere for a reverse prosthesis.

Abstract: Provided is an artificial spinal disc including an upper disc formed in a plate shape with top coupled to an upper vertebra, a protruding joint portion protruding from a lower surface of the upper disc, and a lower disc formed in a plate shape with bottom coupled to a lower vertebra wherein the protruding joint portion is seated on an upper surface of the lower disc. According to the foregoing description, the artificial disc is implanted through the lateral or anterolateral approach to the spine, rather than the anterior approach, and such lateral implantation is straightforward.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for accessing and treating the interior of the facet joint for vertebral distraction and immobilization. The systems include a number of tools that facilitate access to the facet joint, distraction of the articulating decortication of the articulating surfaces, and delivery of implants and agents into the facet joint for fusion.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves having elastic leaflets and an elastic support structure are described. The support structure can store a load transferred from the leaflets as potential energy and then release it in the form of kinetic energy to exhibit a precursory transition from the closed position to the open position. The support structures can exhibit a sinusoidal movement profile at a base edge during the precursory transition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical implant for cartilage and/or bone repair at an articulating surface of a joint. The implant comprises a contoured implant body and at least one extending post. The implant body has an articulating surface configured to face the articulating part of the joint and a bone contact surface configured to face the bone structure of a joint, where the said articulating and bone contact surfaces face mutually opposite directions and said bone contact surface is provided with the extending post. A cartilage contact surface connects the articulating and the bone contact surfaces and is configured to contact the cartilage surrounding the implant body in a joint. The articulating surface has a layer that consists of titanium nitride (TiN) as the wear-resistant material. The cartilage contact surface has a coating that substantially consists of a material having chondrointegration properties.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing a tissue repair construct for a ligament reconstruction procedure using a reinforced whip-stitching are provided. The described techniques include passing a needle having suture tails attached thereto through a first surface of a graft at an origin point so that a portion of the suture tails exits on a second, opposite surface of the graft while a terminal length of the suture tails is maintained on the first surface of the graft. Multiple suture loops are formed by repeatedly passing the needle with the suture tails around opposite sides of the graft and through the first surface of the graft at subsequent entry points spaced apart along a length of the graft. Each loop is formed so that the construct is reinforced by having a terminal length of each of the suture tails disposed between the first surface of the graft and the loop.

Abstract: An orthopaedic prosthesis system and associated instrumentation is disclosed. The system includes femoral and tibial components configured to be used in a number of different implanted configurations. The instrumentation is configured to facilitate preparation of the bones and selection of the implant configuration. A method of using the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stent graft for treating an arterial aneurysm includes a ligature traversing at least a portion of struts of stents, the ligature having ends that, when linked, at least partially constrict a radial dimension of the stents. The ends of the ligature can be linked by a wire in a stent graft delivery system that threads anchor loops longitudinally spanning ends of the ligature to maintain the stent in a radially constricted position during delivery to the aneurysm. The stent graft can be implanted at the aneurysm by retracting the wire from the linked ends of the ligature and from the anchor loops, thereby releasing the associated stent from the radially constricted position.

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 present invention provides apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an expandable anchor configured for endovascular delivery to a vicinity of the patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the replacement valve is adapted to wrap about the anchor, for example, by everting during endovascular deployment. In some embodiments, the replacement valve is not connected to expandable portions of the anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured for active foreshortening during endovascular deployment. In some embodiments, the anchor includes expandable lip and skirt regions for engaging the patient's heart valve during deployment. In some embodiments, the anchor comprises a braid fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a lock configured to maintain anchor expansion.

Abstract: A partial endoprosthesis device preserves the motion of a vertebral joint for implant into a spinal segment and includes an articular portion having a thickness that increases in the direction of introduction between the articular facets. The articular portion is elongated along a longitudinal axis with a opposite first and second faces. The first face has a central protrusion that is configured so that, by implanting the device with the articular portion inserted between an upper articular facet of a lower vertebra and a corresponding lower articular facet of upper vertebra adjacent to the lower vertebra, and with the first face in contact with either the upper or lower articular facet, and with the second face in contact with the other articular facet, the articular portion, with the first face, pushes against the first articular facet and finally becomes integral by osteointegration with the lower articular facet.

Abstract: Sensor-integrated prosthetic valves that can comprise a variety of features, including a plurality of valve leaflets, a frame assembly configured to support the plurality of valve leaflets and define a plurality of commissure supports terminating at an outflow end of the prosthetic valve, a sensor device associated with the frame assembly and configured to generate a sensor signal, for example, a sensor signal indicating deflection of one or more of the plurality of commissure supports, and a transmitter assembly configured to receive the sensor signal from the sensor device and wirelessly transmit a transmission signal that is based at least in part on the sensor signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for prosthetic implants to be used in various surgical repairs, including for procedures like total shoulder arthroplasties and reverse total shoulder arthroplasties. The implants include two main parts—a frame and a prosthetic component. The frame includes an aperture that is configured to receive the prosthetic component, allowing the prosthetic component to make direct contact with bone at the surgical site. Various configurations are provided that allow the prosthetic component to be coupled to or otherwise engage with the frame, and at least some of the configurations are such that the reverse procedures can be done without having to fully re-tool and/or modify the bone. A variety of procedures resulting from the improved implants are also provided.

Abstract: A method of implanting a glenoid assembly, includes forming two bores in a glenoid region of a scapula. At least one of two pegs of a base component is flexed toward the other peg and the two pegs are positioned partially within the bores in the flexed position. After releasing the pegs from the flexed position, the pegs are fully inserted into the bores. At least one stiffening pin is inserted into a first passageway formed in the first peg after the first peg has been fully inserted into the first bore.

Abstract: A tool assembly for extracting a liner from a prosthesis comprising an impactor and a faceplate. The impactor can be configured to receive and transmit a force. The faceplate can be configured to deliver the force from the impactor to the prosthesis to separate the liner from a shell of the prosthesis.