Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including identifying a subject as suffering from a condition that causes the subject to have elevated central venous pressure. In response thereto, a device is placed inside the subject's vena cava, and the device is deployed inside the subject's vena cava, such that, in a passive manner, the device reduces blood pressure within the subject's renal veins relative to the subject's central venous pressure. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent includes a plurality of cells, each cell being formed by a plurality of struts, and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent and including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet being attached to adjacent commissure features and to the stent struts and/or the cuff.

Abstract: A method of replacing the function of a native heart valve is achieved by inserting a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus into a patient's body, wherein a prosthetic valve is disposed along the distal end portion of the delivery apparatus. The prosthetic valve includes a collapsible and expandable annular body having a network of struts interconnected at a plurality of nodes to form a plurality of open cells. Atrial and ventricular flanges are coupled to the annular body and extend radially away from the annular body. The annular body includes three commissure support posts of fixed length that extend substantially the entire length of the annular body. A valve member is secured to the commissure support posts. The annular body is radially expanded within the native heart valve and the atrial and ventricular flanges are deployed on opposite sides of the native heart valve.

Abstract: An expandable docking station frame includes a waist portion, a sealing portion connected to the waist portion, and a retaining portion connected to the sealing portion. The sealing portion is expandable radially outward of the waist portion to provide a seal against a first location of an inner surface of a circulatory system at a deployed position over a range of sizes of expansion. The retaining portion is expandable radially outward to engage a second location of the inner surface of the circulatory system at the deployed position, to retain the docking station at the deployed position in the circulatory system. When the expandable docking station frame is in an expanded and unconstrained state, the sealing portion and the retaining portion are joined by a concave profile portion radially inward of each of a first outermost diameter of the sealing portion and a second outermost diameter of the retaining portion.

Abstract: A mechanical prosthetic heart valve having a ring, multiple hinges, and multiple leaflets. The hinges are attached to the ring and are evenly spaced from one another along the inner circumference of the ring. Each leaflet is rotably attached to a hinge by an opening located in the center of the lower portion of the leaflets. The ring can include multiple protrusions located along the inner circumference of the ring. The protrusions of the ring limit the opening angle of the leaflets. By limiting the opening angle of the leaflets, wear and tear of the hinges and leaflets, as well as the probability of malfunction of the mechanical prosthetic heart valve are reduced. In addition, limiting the opening angle of the leaflets may increase the opening and closing speed of the leaflets, thus improving performance of the mechanical prosthetic heart valve when the patient is experiencing an elevated cardiac frequency.

Abstract: A shoulder implant system comprising a glenoid implant; a baseplate comprising an implant facing surface to face the glenoid implant; wherein the glenoid implant comprises at least one fixation element configured to engage with at least one fixation element of the baseplate; wherein the at least one fixation element of the glenoid implant comprises a center post having a distal end; wherein the at least one fixation element of the baseplate comprises a center post receptacle; wherein the baseplate comprises an outer periphery; wherein the implant facing surface of the baseplate comprises a channel which extends from the outer periphery of the baseplate to the center post receptacle of the baseplate; and wherein the channel is configured such that, during an assembly of the glenoid implant and the baseplate, the distal end of the post is movable in the channel from the outer periphery of the baseplate to the center post receptacle of the baseplate.

Abstract: An illustrative stent may comprise an elongated tubular member having a first end and a second end and an intermediate region disposed therebetween. The elongated tubular member may include at least one flexible tie affixed to an end thereof. The tie may allow the stent to be attached to a lumen wall with a clip, such as a retention clip, to inhibit migration of the stent within the body lumen.

Abstract: A humeral cut guide member for resectioning or resurfacing a humeral head, including a bone-engagement member including a first patient-specific bone-engagement surface that is complementary and made to substantially mate and nest in only one position on a specific patient's humeral head; a registration member connected to the bone-engagement member including a second patient-specific bone engagement surface that is sized and made to substantially mate and nest in only one position with the specific patient's bicipital groove; and a cut guide plate connected to the bone-engagement member and defining an elongated slot.

Abstract: An embodiment includes an apparatus comprising: a shape memory polymer (SMP) foam having an outside surface; and a membrane that encapsulates at least 50% of the outside surface of the SMP foam; wherein (a) the SMP foam includes a thermoset SMP, and (b) the membrane includes a thermoplastic polymer. Other embodiments are addressed herein.

Abstract: An esophageal stent may include an expandable framework having a first end, a second end, and a central longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, the expandable framework being configured to expand from a radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration, and a polymeric outer sleeve disposed radially outward of and spaced apart from a body region of the expandable framework. The expandable framework may include a plurality of anti-migration supports extending radially outward from the body region of the expandable framework toward the polymeric outer sleeve.

Abstract: The present application discloses a stent-graft prosthesis and a method for navigating such stent-graft prosthesis e.g. to a branch vessel. A first stent-graft prosthesis may include a main body and at least one lateral side branch connected to the main body. A further stent-graft prosthesis according to examples has a body having a generally tubular wall structure, the wall structure of the further stent-graft prosthesis including an orifice element (610) for receiving a guiding element (10). Preferably the wall structure has an overlap region (630) for interconnection, e.g. to the first stent-graft prosthesis. The orifice element (610) is then arranged at said overlap region, wherein said overlap region is preferably arranged at a proximal end region of said body.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system and method for aligning hip replacement prostheses comprises an acetabular liner having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface. The acetabular liner includes at least two magnetic sensors arranged in a spatially distributed manner. The system and method also include a prosthetic femoral component comprising a femoral head component. The femoral head component and the acetabular liner component are shaped such that a ball and socket joint is formed when the femoral head component comes into contact with the inner concave surface of the acetabular liner. While the ball-and-socket joint is formed, and in at least some orientations of the femoral head component relative to the acetabular liner component, a contact point on an external surface of the femoral head component contacts the inner concave surface. The femoral head component includes at least one permanent magnet.

Abstract: A patient specific shoulder guide is provided that includes a plurality of peripheral members coupled with a peripheral body. The peripheral members have a patient specific contact surface. An open space (e.g., a single open space) is or can be provided radially between a central channel and an inner periphery of the peripheral body. The open space(s) can extend from a side of a spoke to another side of the same or a different spoke. The spoke can be a single spoke in some embodiments. The single open space can extend more than 120 degrees between circumferential ends of the open space.

Abstract: There are provided various embodiments of medical instruments to perform knee surgery. In one embodiment a finned platform for mounting a cutting block is provided. The finned platform can be used on either a femur or tibia to allow for the proper cuts when performing a knee surgery. In another embodiment, a tibial trial is shown having a fin. The fin is useful to reinforce the bone to reduce the risk of fracture during bone preparation. In another embodiment, a reamer is provided having a plurality of cutting flutes. It may be desirable to utilize a guide with the reamer to allow the reamer to cut a non-circular portion of the tibial bone. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of fixation pegs are provided on the tibial implant to allow for easy removal of such implant if a revision surgery becomes necessary.

Abstract: An illustrative stent includes an elongated tubular member comprising at least one strut or filament forming a tubular wall having a plurality of cells extending through a thickness of the tubular wall. The elongated tubular member may be configured to move between a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. A coating is disposed on the elongated tubular member and spanning the plurality of cells. The coating forms a pocket within at least some of the cells of the plurality of cells and extends radially inward of the tubular wall to define a void. In some instances, a partition or wall is positioned within at least some of the pockets and transects the void.

Abstract: A dilating device for the prostatic urethra comprising: Prostatic implant includes independently actuatable distal retractor incorporating and proximal retractor. Retractors may be connected via a spine member. System and method include implant manipulator detachably connected to implant, for manipulating and forcing implant into close proximity, for delivery into subject.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to orthopaedic implants and methods for restoring functionality to a joint. The implants described herein may be utilized during orthopaedic procedures and may be incorporated into a shoulder prosthesis for restoring functionality to shoulders having advanced cartilage disease. The disclosed implants may incorporate one or more fasteners formed together with a main body of the respective implant at a breakable connection. The fastener may be deployed during a surgical procedure, which may improve fixation of the implant at the surgical site.

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 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: Antimicrobial catheters and medical devices are provided. In some aspects, a low durometer aliphatic polyether polyurethane may be impregnated with a first antimicrobial agent (e.g., minocycline and rifampin) and coated with a second antimicrobial agent (e.g., chlorhexidine, gendine, or gardine). The antimicrobial catheters may display improved flexibility and resistance to kinking. Methods of producing the antimicrobial catheters are also provided.

Abstract: A method of replacing the function of a native heart valve is achieved by inserting a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus into a patient's body, wherein a prosthetic valve is disposed along the distal end portion of the delivery apparatus. The prosthetic valve includes a collapsible and expandable annular body having a network of struts interconnected at a plurality of nodes to form a plurality of open cells. Atrial and ventricular flanges are coupled to the annular body and extend radially away from the annular body. The annular body includes three commissure support posts of fixed length that extend substantially the entire length of the annular body. A valve member is secured to the commissure support posts. The annular body is radially expanded within the native heart valve and the atrial and ventricular flanges are deployed on opposite sides of the native heart valve.