Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a prosthesis including a mechanism for attaching a first component to a second component is provided. In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the first component may be a femoral head component and the second component may be a femoral stem component. In another example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the femoral head component may comprise a ceramic material and the femoral stem component may comprise a metallic material (e.g., any desired orthopedic alloy, such as Cobalt Chromium).

Abstract: A stent may include a flexible, elongate body having a curled proximal portion, a curled distal portion, and a main portion extending between the proximal and distal portions. The main and distal portions together may define a channel laterally open throughout at least a part of the channel's length and extending along the main and distal portions without extending along the proximal portion, whereby the channel's proximal end is disposed in the main portion. In addition, the proximal portion may be curled away from the channel.

Abstract: An expandable spinal implant including a body having a plurality of movable portions cooperating to define an outer cross section having first and second transverse dimensions and first and second substantially planar surfaces disposed generally opposite one another and adapted to engage adjacent vertebral bodies. An expansion member co-acts with the movable portions to expand the body along each of the first and second transverse dimensions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of devices for capturing obstructions within passageways. The devices disclosed herein may include a flexible tubular body forming multiple flexible members arranged in a helical pattern. These flexible members may be expandable to form one or more cages when the tubular body is expanded to an increased diameter state. The cages may be generally centered around the longitudinal axis of the tubular body between the two ends of the body. Also disclosed herein are methods for capturing obstructions within passageways, methods for obtaining tissue samples from body passages, and methods for making devices for capturing obstructions within passageways.

Abstract: A stent or other intraluminal medical device may be constructed utilizing a series of split-bridges interposed between a series of fixed bridges to reduce the likelihood of deformation during stent loading and stent deployment without sacrificing overall stent flexibility. The stent comprises a plurality of hoops interconnected by a plurality of fixed bridges. The stent also comprises a plurality of split-bridges, which only make contact when the stent is subjected to compressive axial loading. The stent may also comprise markers formed from housings integral with the stent and marker inserts having a higher radiopacity than the stent. This design provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. The housings are formed integral to the stent and the marker inserts are made from a material close in the galvanic series to the stent material and sized to substantially minimize the effect of galvanic corrosion.

Abstract: A vertebral disk prosthesis with at least one member that has lateral portions coupled to each other and structured to move between contracted and expanded positions. In the contracted position, the member has a first lateral width and the end surface is narrower than the lateral width of a vertebral body of a patient. In the expanded position, the lateral portions are disposed such that the member has a second lateral width that is larger than the first lateral width and the axial end surface is configured for supporting and abutting the periphery of the body at least on both the lateral sides thereof. An expansion member is disposed between the lateral portions and configured for moving the lateral portions to the expanded position. The prosthesis is preferably also axially expandable. A method and tool for inserting the intervertebral disk prostheses are also provided.

Abstract: An endoscopic device separates ingested food from gastric fluids or gastric fluids and digestive enzymes, to treat obesity. In a particular embodiment a gastric bypass stent comprises a tubular member and two or more stent members defining a lumen. The tubular member has a substantially liquid impervious coating or covering and one or more lateral openings to permit one-way liquid flow.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis utilizes a biomechanical structure based on the lever model of first degree. Contrary to the widespread practice, the inventive structure has a stem placed inside the femur bone, which is not rigidly attached to this bone. Accordingly, the bone, following its known tendency to slightly pivot away from the medial plane of the body in response to the loads, does not directly contact the stem. The neck portion experiences even greater loads then the stem. The supporting anchor has a region extending laterally from the stem and pressing against a supporting surface of the housing, which also extends laterally from the body of the housing. Since the stem, supporting anchor and neck are typically constitute a one-piece component, the lateral surfaces of the supporting anchor and housing are in continuous frictional contact during displacement of the stem and housing relative to one another.

Abstract: A small cannulated bone screw is provided having an optimized combination of strength, cannula size and thread depth. A set of such strong and small size screws is also provided where the smallest sizes can have one performance ratio emphasized over another, and the larger sizes can have the emphasis reversed. In particular, the smallest screws optimize the combination of their strength and cannula size with the larger screws optimizing the combination of their strength and thread depth. In any event, each of the screws in the set has an optimized combination of strength, cannula size and thread depth throughout the full range of screw sizes in the set, e.g. 3.0 mm to 7.5 mm major diameters.

Abstract: A delivery system for a self-expanding stent includes a catheter having a distal end and being configured to retain a self-expanding stent proximate the distal end. The delivery system also includes an inflatable device provided on the catheter and positioned proximate the distal end. The inflatable device, typically a balloon, is configured to selectively assist the self-expanding stent with radially expansion. The catheter includes a tubular member and an outer member coaxially positioned about the tubular member. The outer member can slide relative to the tubular member in an axial direction. The outer member is configured to retain a self-expanding stent in a radially-compressed position and to release the self-expanding stent to a radially-expanded position. The delivery system may also include a holding sleeve provided on the tubular member, spaced from the distal end of the catheter, and configured to hold the self-expanding stent.

Abstract: A narrow profile, glare reducing, posterior chamber intraocular lens comprises an optic having an anterior surface and a posterior surface and an optical axis. The posterior surface is formed having two adjacent peri-axial, stepped imaging zones, the two imaging zones having the substantially the same optical power. A transition zone between the two imaging zones preferably has a surface of continuous curvature shaped to reduce direct glare from light incident on the transition zone in an individual's eye in which the intraocular lens is implanted by internal reflection of direct light incident on the transition zone. Attachment members joined to the optic position the intraocular lens in an eye with the optical axis of the optic generally aligned with the optical axis of the eye. In variations, the transition zones are formed at the optic edge to minimize direct and indirect in the eye of an individual wearing the intraocular lens.

Abstract: A repairing procedure for treating Superficial and/or Perforant Venous Insufficiency of the lower limbs, by means of the application of Clips, Stoppers and/or Artificial Valves. The procedure consists of the strategic and specific closure of different reflux levels in the internal and/or external saphenous veins and perforants veins, in an extravascular way by means of the use of titanium clips, or in endovascular way by means of the use of stoppers or artificial valves. In the case of using Artificial Valves the vascular function is reestablished.

Abstract: A prosthetic device including a valve-orifice attachment member attachable to a valve in a blood vessel and including a fluid inlet, and a diverging member that extends from the fluid inlet, the diverging member including a proximal end near the fluid inlet and a distal end distanced from the proximal end, wherein a distal portion of the diverging member has a larger cross-sectional area for fluid flow therethrough than a proximal portion thereof. The diverging member may have a diverging taper that causes fluid to flow therethrough with pressure recovery at the distal end thereof.

Abstract: Two spacer components and a retaining ring are part of an orthopaedic system. The system may also include trial or implant stem components that are inserted or implanted in the proximal and distal ends of the long bone. One spacer segment has a male portion and the other spacer segment has a transverse female slot. The male portion and female slot are positioned to allow the male portion to be moved into and out of the female slot in a direction other than the proximal-distal direction. The retaining ring is then threaded into a locked position to limit relative movement between the male portion and female slot. The spacer segments can thus be connected after the segments have been connected to the native bone without damaging the soft tissue at the native bone through distraction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for fastening and anchoring heart valve prostheses which is essentially formed of wire-shaped interconnected elements. The aim of the invention is to be able to be implant, in a minimally invasive manner, a device of this type via the aorta by compressing the device to make it smaller, and by extending the same at the site of implantation, whereby ensuring a secure retention and a secure sealing with regard to the aorta wall. To this end, the invention provides that for fastening and supporting a cardiac valve prosthesis, three identical pairs of arched elements are interconnected, with a configuration that is offset by 120°, by means of solid body articulations. These solid body articulations carry out the function of pivot bearings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a very small diameter intravascular stent, or aneurysm cover, which may be used to occlude, or partially occlude, an aneurysm in the human brain. The stent is comprised of a thin-walled skeletal tubular member formed of interconnected sinusoidal members to thereby form a pattern of cells along the skeletal tubular member. The stent also includes anchor members, which are comprised of a longitudinal leg member having a radiopaque coil disposed about the leg member, which serve to retain the stent during delivery of the stent.

Abstract: An intraluminal grafting system having a balloon catheter assembly, a capsule catheter assembly and capsule jacket assembly is used for deploying in the vessel of an animal body a bifurcated graft having a plurality of attachment systems. The deployment catheters contain an ipsilateral capsule assembly, a contralateral capsule assembly and a distal capsule assembly, wherein the attachment systems of the bifurcated graft are disposed within the three capsule assemblies. A removable sheath of the capsule jacket assembly covers the bifurcated graft and capsule assemblies to provide a smooth transition along the length of the deployment catheters. The bifurcated graft is comprised of a main tubular member and two tubular legs, having attachment systems with wall engaging members secured to the superior end of the main tubular member and the inferior ends of the tubular legs. An inflatable membrane configured on the balloon catheter is used to firmly implant the attachment systems within the vessel.

Abstract: A hip prosthesis (20) having a shell (22), liner (24), and retainer ring (26) is utilized for hip arthroplasty. The liner (24) fits inside the shell (22), which is attached to a patient's pelvis, and the retainer ring (26) engages a terminal liner margin (54) to inhibit expansion of and decrease the size of a restricted liner opening (72) defined by the liner margin (54). By inhibiting expansion of the liner opening (72), the ball (92) of a patient's femur (90) is securely held in the liner (24). In one embodiment, the liner (98) is inhibited from rotation relative to the shell (96) by a plurality of protrusions (106) which mate with recesses (102) in the shell (96). In that embodiment, the liner (98) is provided with catch lips (108) to hold the liner (98) in the shell (96) and a positioning flange (110) which operates to form a relief gap (120) between the shell (96) and the liner (98).

Abstract: A practical control device having up to eight independent channels of communication for simultaneously operating a plurality of electromechanical devices or for simultaneously performing a plurality of independent functions on an electromechanical device, such as a prosthetic hand, includes a foot-operated controller and a microprocessor. The foot-controller includes a plurality of pressure sensors mounted at selected locations on a substrate. The microprocessor converts sensor inputs from the foot-operated controller into commands for a controllable electromechanical device such as a prosthetic hand. Commands may be communicated via a radio transmitter or via hard-wiring.

Abstract: A polyaxial screw is used to secure orthopedic appliances to bone, particularly the spine. The polyaxial screw has a shaft including a helical screw thread for securing the screw to bone. One end of the shaft has a reverse tapered head tapering toward and away from the shaft from an enlarged median. A spherical shaped swivel, having an opening smaller than the median, is snapped over the head to rotatably engage the shaft. A connector with a dome shaped cavity on one end and bifurcated tabs on the other is connected with the swivel and tightened in place with a set screw and guide ring. An appliance is held between the bifurcated tabs. The tabs are frangible to reduce the profile above the appliance.