Abstract: A prosthesis for eyelash replacement, restoration, or augmentation includes an implantable base serving a substrate at a ciliary implant site in proximity to a native eyelash line, and a plurality of artificial eyelash hairs secured to the implantable base at intervals along and extending from the implantable base to mimic the look of real human eyelashes. The implantable base may be composed of an absorbable material or a non-reactive, non-absorbable substance and may be curvilinear, rectangular, or round with an annular cross-section in shape. The plurality of artificial eyelash hairs are of a flexible material, preferably composed of a keratin-base or inert fiber, secured, knotted, permanently fixed to the implantable base to mimic native eyelash.

Abstract: The instant invention is a novel method and apparatus for minimally invasive treatment of unstable pelvic ring injuries combined with fixation of acetabular cup assemblies for total hip arthroplasty. Fixation means and acetabular cup assemblies are affixed to the ilia and subcutaneous anteriorly bowed elongated rods/plate including possibly a subcutaneous posterior plate are connected between the fixation means.

Abstract: A polymeric stent can be implanted for treatment of the Eustachian tube. The stent can be designed to have length-dependent radial strength to allow it to stay within the Eustachian tube and to allow normal closing and opening of the Eustachian tube. A balloon can be used to implant the stent, and the balloon can be coated with a therapeutic agent. A coated balloon can also be used to transfer therapeutic agents to the sinus cavity during a balloon sinus dilation procedure.

Abstract: A tympanic construct fabricated from at least one amniotic membrane, at least one chorionic membrane, or at least one amniotic membrane and at least one chorionic membrane obtained from human birth tissue is provided. Methods of preparing a tympanic construct, methods of repairing tympanic membrane defects and surgical sites, as well as kits for the same are also provided.

Abstract: A stent is provided. The stent includes an elongate body comprising a tightly coiled wire disposed therealong, the coiled wire spanning between a first end portion and a second end portion, and defining a lumen therethrough. A safety wire is disposed through the lumen and fixed with respect to each of the first and second end portions. Proximal and distal end caps are fixed to the ends of the safety wire. At least one of the proximal and distal end caps comprises a window configured to receive the safety wire therethrough, and configured to allow access to the safety wire to weld the safety wire and the respective end cap.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that cuts, holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.

Abstract: A talonavicular joint prosthesis (1) adapted to replace the natural talonavicular joint that exists between a patient's talus and navicular bones, after appropriate surgical preparation of the joint-related portions of these bones so as to create a new joint space to accommodate this prosthesis, includes talar (2) and navicular (4) components. Each of these have inner (8, 28) and outer (6, 26) surfaces whose average separate distance is defined as the component's average thickness. These components inner (8, 28) surfaces are configured to: (a) generally follow the anatomic contour of the original joint surface to which each component is to be attached, and (b) minimize each component's average thickness, consistent with providing sufficient strength and rigidity for the components, so as to require minimum bone resection in the creation of the new prosthesis-accommodating, joint space.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing a patient's wrist. A prosthesis is provided having proximal and distal assemblies. The distal assembly has a body with a U-shaped portion. The proximal and distal assemblies have surfaces that cooperate to guide movement between the proximal and distal assemblies. The proximal assembly is fixed to the patient's radius. The hand is prepared for placement of the distal assembly by removing cartilage against a plurality of carpal bones without significantly altering the configuration of stable volume of at least one of the patient's carpal bones in the first carpal row. The U-shaped portion of the body is placed against a plurality of bones in the first carpal row. Separate locations on the body are secured to a plurality of carpal bones.

Abstract: An artificial knee joint (1) is described and comprises a femoral component (10) and a tibial component (30), for attachment to the femur (2) and tibia (3) of a patient (4) respectively. The femoral component (10) comprises a lateral condyle (11) and a medial condyle (12) which extend from the posterior (13) to the anterior (14) of the femoral component (10). A femoral gap (15) is provided between the lateral (11) and medial (12) condyles extending from the posterior (13) toward the anterior (14) of the femoral component (10). The lateral (11) and medial (12) condyles are joined at the anterior (13) of the femoral component (10) to form a patella tracking path or bearing surface (16) which is located at and forms the anterior end of the gap (17). A femoral cam (18) is provided bridging the posterior ends of both the lateral (11) and medial (12) condyles, and forms a posterior end of the gap (19), wherein the femoral cam (18) is structured to have the shape of a section of a ring (20).

Abstract: A knee prosthesis is provided having a femoral component (1) with a pair of laterally spaced condylar formations (2) at one end, and a tibial component (3) having a transverse platform (4) supporting a shock absorbing bumper (5) interposed between the platform and condylar formations with the tibial component supporting a ball (6) of a ball and socket joint. The socket (8) is provided in a generally cylindrical bearing (9) having an axis extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the femoral component. The bearing is held captive in a recess that is between the two laterally spaced condylar formations and is formed in the region of said end of the femoral component. The axis of the bearing is preferably inclined laterally at an angle of about 5° relative to the axis of the femoral component so that it is able to line up with a mechanical axis of a lower limb.

Abstract: Medical devices, medical device kits, and related methods of treatment are described. An exemplary medical device comprises a proximal portion having an outer surface defining a thread and an inner surface defining a passageway having a keyed portion, a distal portion providing an atraumatic tip, and a flexible main body extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The medical device can be positioned in contact with a paralyzed vocal cord to cause a desired medialization for treatment of the vocal cord. The flexible main body allows for deflection upon contact and/or interaction with another device passed into the airway of a treated patient.

Abstract: A surgically implantable device (1,10) made of a single piece of silicone, for joining phalanxes, metacarpus-phalanx or metatarsus-phalanx bones of the hand or foot in arthroplasty surgery, includes an enlarged central portion (2) formed by a thickened portion (5) having a rounded profile and provided with a canal (6) extending transversally in which a depression (7) is centrally formed, and by two elongated stem portions (3,4) which extend from the enlarged central portion (2), one opposed to the other. The device (1,10) is coated completely with at least one layer of turbostratic pyrolytic carbon less than or equal to 10 microns thick obtained by physical vapour deposition (PVD).

Abstract: Devices, systems and/or methods for repairing soft tissue, such as, a lacerated tendon. A repair device includes a frame having a tubular structure with a longitudinal length and struts at least partially defining the tubular structure. The frame includes a first portion and a second portion with an intermediate portion therebetween, each extending along the longitudinal length. The intermediate portion is configured to substantially maintain a fixed position and is configured to be positioned over first and second ends of the lacerated tendon to substantially maintain the first end abutted against the second end. The first portion and the second portion of the frame are configured to be positioned over separate portions of the tendon and configured to move and elongate along a length of the respective first portion and second portion of the frame as the portions of the tendon elongate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device, for pancreas, equipped with drainage feature. The medical device includes a stent having an exterior surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The medical device further includes a drainage tube helically wrapped around the stent. The drainage tube includes an external surface, an internal surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. The external surface of the drainage tube is designed with a plurality of holes. The pluralities of holes are connected to the internal surface via a lumen. The plurality of holes can be configured to direct the fluid from side walls of pancreas and bring it out through lumen to avoid occlusion of the side walls in pancreas.

Abstract: A cementless femoral stem prosthesis for use in hip replacement surgery is disclosed. The stem has a collar and a body having a fixed end and a shank end. The shank end is divided into a pair of adjustable endosteal plates that are secured to the cortical bone of the femur by screws. The present invention provides an improved femoral stem structure because the screws through the endosteal plates transfer the load to the cortical bone rather than the cancellous bone, the medial endosteal plate has a plurality of spurs to engage with the cancellous bone to increase the number of stress-strain points, and the collar transfers the load directly to the cortical bone. All of these features work in tandem to reduce the risk of stress shielding, bone resorption, prosthetic loosening, and other difficulties associated with femoral stem prostheses.

Abstract: A description is given of a domed cap (100) for the enlargement of an atrophied bladder (200), in biocompatible and absorbable material including a textile (1) made with yarns or with monofilaments deriving from PGA fibers, characterized in that the textile (1) is supported by a star-shaped frame with domed profile, formed by a plurality of radial strips (3) manufactured by injection of a PGA/PLA copolymer, the cap (100) being suitable for growing thereon autologous fibrous capsule cells, generated by the process of tissue reconstruction, after its insertion inside the patient.

Abstract: A nephroureteral catheter is provided that comprises a detachable portion such that when the detachable portion is removed, the catheter converts into an internal stent. The catheter includes a tube with two retention features, a detachable portion, and an inner tube. The inner tube is removably insertable into both the tube and the detachable portion, and a wire extends through at least a portion of a lumen of the inner tube and through the tube, to keep the pieces attached. The wire may be removed to remove the inner tube and then the detachable portion from the tube. When the detachable portion is attached to the tube, the catheter is a nephroureteral catheter. When the detachable portion is removed from the tube, the catheter becomes a stent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are tibial baseplates having a medial portion and a lateral portion, each of the medial and lateral portions having a proximal surface and a distal surface opposite the proximal surface. An intermediate portion joins the medial and lateral portions, wherein the intermediate portion has a proximal surface angled to the proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions about a longitudinal axis of the tibial baseplate. The proximal surface of the medial portion is stepped from the proximal surface of the lateral portion about the longitudinal axis. The proximal surfaces of the medial and lateral portions are configured to receive corresponding medial and lateral inserts.

Abstract: A prosthetic anchor to be attached to a natural or prosthetic structure of a human or animal. The anchor includes a central layer with first and second surface. A plurality of fiber bundles, each with a medial portion, are concentrically embedded within the central layer to substantially define a horseshoe-shaped pattern. A substrate element is configured to be secured to the natural or prosthetic structure and to receive the second surface of the central layer. A securing element operably coupled to the second surface of the central layer is configured to secure the central layer to the substrate element in at least two positions.

Abstract: An obstruction device includes an obstruction disc mounted on a shaft. The disc includes a membrane attached to a peripheral frame. An anchoring member extends from a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft, anchoring member and peripheral frame together have a unitary construction made from a bent slender element.