Abstract: Prostheses and implants are provided which have bound liposomes which are freeze-thaw and dehydration stable and which resist infection and thrombosis development in the body. Stabilizing agents are used, including saccharide stabilizing agents. Prosthesis and implant kits are provided which have long shelf stability. Processes for making the prostheses and implants of the invention and for preparing the prostheses and implants for liposome binding are provided.

Abstract: This articular prosthesis comprises a proximal part (P) and a distal part (D) having a form such that one of these is female and the other male when they are assembled along an impaction axis by their opposite mating faces, each opposite face comprising several stepped sections, each section being in the form of a truncated cone, wherein the thickness (E, e) of consecutive sections of one of the parts increases, while the thickness of the mating consecutive sections of the other part decreases.

Abstract: A transluminal grafting system for grafting a prosthesis to the wall of a lumen includes a tubular graft provided with spring assemblies and anchoring barbs. The prosthesis is mounted on an apertured tubular carrier and a central control means is inserted into the bore of the apertured carrier. Mooring loops are attached to the prosthesis, pass through the apertures of the tubular carrier, and engage the central control means. An introducer sheath covers the system for smooth insertion into a lumen. When the graft has been positioned, the central control means maintains the axial position of the prosthesis. When the introducer sheath is pulled, the prosthesis is exposed and the spring assemblies return to an expanded state and anchor the graft against the internal wall of the lumen.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vascular prosthesis for the replacement of blood vessels in the human or animal body, consisting of a section of a replacement blood vessel (3) which has been taken from a human or animal body and a fibro-elastic tube (2) which is drawn over this vascular section, whose intersecting threads (1) which form the tube wind in spiral form around the longitudinal axis of the tube, wherein the fibro-elastic tube (2) is extended pointwise in the longitudinal direction with alteration of the diameter or is compressed and thereby is caused to contact the replacement vessel evenly over its total area.

Abstract: Embodiments of multiple interconnected stents each include a stent having a plurality of rows of slots with spaces between the slots being staggered in adjacent rows. In each embodiment, a plurality of stents are interconnected together with a connector. In one embodiment, the connector consists of a single flexible bar. In a second embodiment, the connector consists of a plurality of U-shaped members fused together. In a third embodiment, the connector consists of a plurality of slots orthogonal to the stent slots. In a fourth embodiment, a multiplicity of stents are interconnected together by flexible bars that are vertically staggered with respect to one another. In a fifth embodiment, adjacent stents are interconnected by flexible connectors resembling the letter "H". In a sixth embodiment, adjacent stents are interconnected by a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal bars.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in surgical hip replacement procedures for ensuring that the replacement hip joint components are properly sized. The acetabulum and femur are exposed, one end of a flexible measuring cable is attached to the superior eminence of the acetabulum and the cable is extended inferiorly so that it is aligned with a specific point on the femur, preferably the lesser trochanter. The selected point on the femur is marked and the scaling or marking indicator carried by the flexible cable is positioned in relation thereto. After this reference distance between the fixed points is determined, the flexible cable is moved out of the way while its end remains fixed to the acetabulum. The installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis and the femur is prepared to receive the femoral implant. After the femur is prepared, trial femoral implants are installed to determine the proper fit with the femoral canal.

Abstract: A method for applying a paving material to a tissue surface is described. The method involves positioning a non-fluent polymeric material at the surface to be paved, rendering the material fluent, contacting the fluent polymer with the tissue surface, and allowing the polymer to return to its non-fluent condition.

Abstract: A novel process for paving or sealing the interior surface of a tissue lumen by entering the interior of the tissue lumen and applying a polymer to the interior surface of the tissue lumen. This is accomplished using a catheter which delivers the polymer to the tissue lumen and causes it to conform to the interior surface of lumen. The polymer can be delivered to the lumen as a monomer or prepolymer solution, or as an at least partially preformed layer on an expansile member.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods to promote the compression and/or recapture of endoluminal prostheses. An endoluminal prosthesis system generally comprises a tubular body and a radially compressible endoluminal prosthesis. The tubular body includes a lumen, while the prosthesis has a proximal end with a plurality of engageable structures radially disbursed thereabout. Each of a plurality of filaments extends distally from the lumen of the tubular body to an engageable structure so that tensioning of the filaments radially compresses the proximal end of the prosthesis. Preferably, a sheath then slides over the prosthesis, the sheath ideally having a plurality of axially oriented runners which form a radially flared structure to smoothly compress the prosthesis therebetween.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft and method for inserting the same are provided including a biocompatible body, anchors attached to surface of the body, and an engine that includes an engine coil positioned within and attached to the body. The coil also is configured for attachment to an insertion device.

Abstract: An absorbent article for one-time use only, such as a disposable diaper, incontinence guard, sanitary napkin, panty protector or the like, includes at least one hose-like fold (20, 20', 21, 21') which extends in the transverse and/or longitudinal direction of the article. Mounted in the fold (20, 20', 21, 21') are mutually spaced elastic elements (32, 32', 33, 33') which are fastened to respective end parts (27, 27', 28, 28') of the fold on respective sides of fold lines (24, 25) which depart from the upper casing layer (1) of the article, although these elastic elements (32, 32', 33, 33') are freely moveable in the intermediate part (29, 29') of the fold.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-expanding intraluminal composite prosthesis comprised of a rigid reinforcing component and sealing component. The prosthesis may be fabricated as either a straight or bifurcated tubular structure and is applicable to the treatment of any bodily passage including, but not limited to, vascular applications, e.g., aneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas, as well as stenotic regions of the peripheral circulation which have been percutaneously dilated but are at high risk for restenosis. The major attributes of this prosthesis can include the use of a unique multilayered biaxial braid which thereby creates a homogeneously blended composite with isotropic deformation and expansion characteristics and an associated high contraction ratio. The use of multiple layers allows for the fabrication of a device of varied porosity while retaining adequate tensile or mechanical wall strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a soft tissue prosthesis which is formed from a three-dimensional braided structure. The three-dimensional braided structure preferably may be made in the form of a solid three-dimensional braid, a three-dimensional braid having at least one interlocking yarn coupling contiguous layers or in the form of a plurality of two-dimensional braided layers adhesively laminated, separately sewn or otherwise connected together to form the three-dimensional braided prosthesis.

Abstract: An assembly having a puncturing device and a receiving device is provided. The puncturing device has a puncturing element and a blocking element. The puncturing element is joined to a flexible tube and provided with a needle-shaped part. The needle-shaped part has a portion whose cross-section has at least one part set back in relation to a circle circumscribing the cross-section. The receiving device is joined to a sealed container and has a central longitudinal channel which is intended to receive, in a leak-proof manner, the needle-shaped part of the puncturing device. The channel has a portion with a cross-section complementing the portion of the needle-shaped part and a portion intended to cooperate with the blocking element of the puncturing device to form, when the puncturing device is situated in the final position in the receiving device, a leak-proof connection bringing the inside of the container into communication with the feed tube.

Abstract: A method of fitting orthopaedic prostheses is disclosed in which a semi-permeable microporous membrane is fitted over an implanted prosthesis so as to cover the junction between the prosthesis and the bone. In this way, particles generated by mechanical wear of the prosthesis are excluded. Such particles are believed to inhibit bone regeneration in the region of the prosthesis. In addition, by preventing the ingress of fibrous connective tissue cells, a secondary seal of new bone will form between the membrane and the original bone.

Abstract: A multi-layer vascular therapeutic-containing prosthesis designed and arranged to "pump" the therapeutics into the blood stream.

Abstract: A method of producing a biocompatible prosthesis based on a substrate made essentially of metal or ceramic. The substrate is placed into a reactor chamber of a cathodic vapor deposition arrangement and the chamber is evacuated to a predetermined pressure. A predetermined, negative bias voltage is then applied to the substrate and the substrate is surface treated by adding an etching gas to the reactor chamber, at a predetermined, first flow rate and coupling in a high frequency power with a first, predetermined power density for ionic etching for a first, predetermined period of time. The surface treated substrate is separated from the negative bias voltage and a semiconductor cover layer is chemical vapor-phase deposited on the substrate by adding to the reactor chamber a multi-component mixture of process gases containing a semiconductor element in bound format a second, predetermined flow rate and coupling-in of HF power with a predetermined, second power density, for a second, predetermined time period.

Abstract: An intraluminal, crush resistant stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The crush resistant stent is made from a base section having a plurality of resilient, parallel, coplanar struts having a zig-zag configuration extending therefrom wherein the zig-zag struts are curved and pass through corresponding slots in the base section to form a continuous, cylindrical hoop. Each zig-zag strut has an amplitude that decreases when the zig-zag strut is placed under tension and an amplitude that increases when the zig-zag strut is unstressed or is placed under compression. Accordingly, each zig-zag strut can be pulled through the respective slot in the base section, but under compression the zig-zag struts assume the larger amplitude and cannot pass through the corresponding slot thereby maintaining the diameter of the stent constant.

Abstract: This is an implantable vaso-occlusive coil which is implanted using minimally invasive surgical techniques. It is a complex, helically wound coil made up of a primary helically wound coil which is then wound into a specific secondary shape. The secondary shape is itself a series of helical turns. At least a portion of the turns in the secondary shape form a cylindrical region and adjacent that region on at least one end is a conical region which tapers from a diameter approximating that of the central cylindrical region to a smaller diameter. The device is desirably self-forming upon exit from the distal end of a delivery catheter. Also, the conical tipped vaso-occlusive device may also utilize thrombus-enhancing filamentary material.

Abstract: A serrated bone graft section for graft in a patient includes a body portion cut from elongate cortical bone, the body portion having a sidewall portion, the body portion having substantially planar end faces at opposite ends of said body portion, each of the end faces having a plurality of grooves cut therein so as to form serrations in each of the end faces.