Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes an intramedullary osteosynthesis or arthrodesis implant including a central body, a first pair of legs extending from the central body to a pair of leg tips, and a second pair of legs extending from the central body, in a direction opposite the first pair of legs, to a pair of leg tips such that the central body, first pair of legs and second pair of legs are positioned alongside a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: This disclosure includes manipulating apparatuses and related methods. Some manipulating apparatuses include an actuator having a semi-rigid first segment, a semi-rigid second segment, and one or more flexible cells disposed between the first segment and the second segment, where the actuator is configured to be coupled to a fluid source such that the fluid source can communicate fluid to vary internal pressures of the one or more cells, and where each cell is configured such that adjustments of an internal pressure of the cell causes angular displacement of the second segment relative to the first segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides intra ocular implants and methods of using same to treat various refraction errors in a patient's eye.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve can include a radially expandable and collapsible annular frame having an inflow end and an outflow end. A leaflet structure can be positioned within the frame. An annular inner skirt can be positioned around an inner surface of the frame, wherein the inner skirt includes an outflow edge portion secured to the frame and an inflow edge portion that wraps around the inflow end of the frame and extends at least partially along an outer surface of the frame, with the inflow edge portion being secured to the frame. An outer skirt can be positioned around the outer surface of the frame, wherein the outer skirt comprises an outflow edge portion secured to the frame and an inwardly folded inflow edge portion that is secured to the inflow edge portion of the inner skirt.

Abstract: A stent-valve for transcatheter implantation to replace a cardiac valve, the stent valve being compressible to a compressed state for delivery, and expandable to an operative state for implantation, the stent-valve comprising a stent, a plurality of leaflets for defining a prosthetic valve, an inner skirt, an outer skirt, and a paravalve seal for sealing against surrounding tissue. In some embodiments, the paravalve seal comprises material that swells in response to contact with blood. In some embodiments, the seal comprises a flap or pocket that is distensible in response to backpressure and/or paravalve back-flow of blood.

Abstract: A system for implanting a prosthesis includes a control lumen and a nose cone affixed at a distal end of the control lumen. At least one supporting wire is affixed at one end, is substantially parallel to a major axis of the control lumen and is free at an opposite end, wherein the free end of at least one of the supporting wires is arcuate.

Abstract: An endovascularly deployed prosthetic includes a portion for being positioned within an ascending aorta. The prosthesis includes a replacement aortic valve on a proximal end thereof. The prosthesis includes an increased diameter portion that seals against the aorta at a more distal portion, and a pair of conduits extend from the increased diameter portion to the coronaries for fluidly coupling the coronaries to the prosthesis.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a process for implanting a cartilage graft into a cartilage defect and sealing the implanted cartilage graft with recipient tissue. The invention is also directed towards a process for repairing a cartilage defect and implanting a cartilage graft into a human or animal. The invention is further directed toward a repaired cartilage defect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for helping a user walk may verify whether the user is in a standing state and calculate a torque that controls balance of the user, and an assistance force for controlling balance may be provided for the user based on the torque generated by an actuator.

Abstract: A method for calibrating and executing a rehabilitation exercise for a stroke-affected limb of a stroke patient is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of providing a haptic device for an able limb of the stroke patient to manipulate to perform a calibration action to result in a first position of the haptic device, and providing the haptic device for the stroke-affected limb to manipulate to perform the calibration action to result in a second position of the haptic device. The method further comprises the steps of moving the haptic device coupled with the stroke-affected limb from the second position towards the first position until a predetermined counterforce is detected, indicating an extreme position for the stroke-affected limb using the haptic device, and calibrating the haptic device with the extreme position such that during the rehabilitation exercise, the haptic device is prevented from moving beyond the extreme position.

Abstract: A venous valve with a tubular frame that includes an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface and defining a lumen, and a cover over at least the outer surface of the tubular frame, where the cover includes surfaces defining a reversibly sealable opening for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the lumen. A system with the venous valve and a catheter including a proximal end and a distal end, the venous valve located between the proximal end and distal end of the catheter. A method including forming the venous valve and reversibly joining the venous valve and a catheter. A method including positioning at least part of the catheter including the venous valve at a predetermined location and deploying the venous valve from the catheter at the predetermined location.

Abstract: A device for heart valve replacement comprises a valve component having at least two valve leaflets preferably made of pericardium tissue. Each valve leaflet includes at least two tabs. The device further includes a stent component configured to be radially compressible into a compressed state and expandable into a functional state. The stent component comprises a first end, a second end and at least one intermediate section arranged between said first and said second end. The intermediate section has at least two commissural posts generally aligned parallel to an axis spanning from the first end to the second end. The commissural posts are formed in the shape of a wishbone.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft includes a tubular graft material having a closed sleeve integral with the tubular graft material. The closed sleeve extends a distance along the tubular graft material. A length of wire extends at least partially along the distance and is enclosed by the sleeve. The tubular graft material and the sleeve may comprise a single piece of graft material. The sleeve may be a closed circumferential sleeve and/or a closed longitudinal sleeve.

Abstract: An intraluminal vascular prosthesis assembly, having a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and a second end is provided. The assembly includes, at its first end, a first vascular prosthesis portion, and at its second end, a second vascular prosthesis portion which has only a prosthesis material. The vascular prosthesis assembly has a stent portion which is provided between the first vascular prosthesis portion and the second vascular prosthesis portion, the stent portion being free of prosthesis material to allow fluid flow there through and received within the aortic arch and spanning the brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery when placed within the aortic arch of a patient.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable stent body includes a generally tubular annulus section, one or more prosthetic valve elements mounted to the stent body, and a cuff attached to the stent body. The prosthetic valve is operative to allow flow in an antegrade direction but to substantially block flow in a retrograde direction. The prosthetic heart valve may include paravalvular leak mitigation features in the form of first and second sealing members. The sealing members are attached to the cuff and extend circumferentially around an abluminal surface of the stent body. The sealing members each have an open side facing in a first axial direction and a closed side facing in an opposite second axial direction. Flow of blood in the second axial direction will tend to force blood into the sealing members and cause the sealing members to billow outwardly relative to the stent body, helping to mitigate paravalvular leak.

Abstract: An intraluminal vascular prosthesis assembly, having a hollow cylindrical body with a first end and a second end is provided. The assembly includes, at its first end, a first vascular prosthesis portion, and at its second end, a second vascular prosthesis portion which has only a prosthesis material. The vascular prosthesis assembly has a stent portion which is provided between the first vascular prosthesis portion and the second vascular prosthesis portion, the stent portion being free of prosthesis material to allow fluid flow there through and received within the aortic arch and spanning the brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery when placed within the aortic arch of a patient.

Abstract: An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes is provided. The spacer includes a body and a wing rotatably connected to the body. The wing includes two U-shaped configurations that together define a substantially H-shaped configuration for retaining the spacer between adjacent spinous processes. An actuator assembly is connected to the body and to the wing with the proximal end of the spacer being connectable to a removable driver that is configured to engage the actuator assembly. While connected to the spacer, the driver is rotatable in one direction to deploy the wing from an undeployed to a deployed configuration and in an opposite direction to undeploy the wing. In the deployed configuration, the spacer acts as a space holder opening up the area of the spinal canal, maintaining foraminal height, reducing stress on the facet joints and relieving pain for the patient.

Abstract: Graft materials and devices for surgical breast procedures may include a sheet of biocompatible material and a plurality of fenestrations distributed across a portion of the sheet of biocompatible material. The sheet of biocompatible material can have a first axis and a second axis coincident with the sheet of biocompatible material. The sheet of biocompatible material can also have a first edge that intersects the second axis and a second edge that intersects the second axis. The first axis can be orthogonal to the second axis. The plurality of fenestrations can be distributed across a portion of the sheet of biocompatible material closer to the first edge than the second edge. Other apparatuses and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A motion assistance apparatus may include a power transmitting device having an input link provided to rotate with respect to a base, an output link provided to rotate with respect to the base, a first shaft connected to the input link in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the input link, a first connecting link connected to the first shaft, a second shaft connected to the first connecting link in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the first shaft, a second connecting link connected to the second shaft, and a third shaft connected between the second connecting link and the output link in a direction intersecting an axial direction of the second shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes, in one embodiment, a tensioner instrument having a body having a channel and a plurality of arms projecting outward from the body, each arm including a cleat having a slot adapted to receive a suture; a base member positioned within the channel of the body; an actuating mechanism having a first coupling member adapted to engage a second coupling member on the body to removeably couple the actuating mechanism to the body; and a universal joint adapted to allow for relative movement between the base member and the body such that, when each suture is positioned within each cleat and the actuating mechanism is actuated, the tensioner applies uniform tension to each suture positioned in each cleat.