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: The present disclosure relates generally to stents, systems, and methods for anchoring devices within a body lumen by cooperation between the device and the body musculature. A device comprising an elongate tubular member may be deployed within a body lumen, where the body lumen includes a sphincter that regulates flow through the body lumen. The elongate tubular member includes a sleeve formed from a flexible membrane and one or more stents disposed at either or both ends of the sleeve. In some embodiments, the stents may be treatment stents configured to treat a portion of the body lumen. The elongate tubular member may be deployed within the body lumen such that the flexible membrane aligns with and moves in coordination with the sphincter, thereby increasing retention forces acting upon the elongate tubular member when the sphincter is closed to minimize treatment stent migration.

Abstract: An expandable stent for implantation in a right ventricular outflow tract includes a frame having a waist portion that expands to a deployed size having a first diameter, first and second sealing portions extending in opposite directions from the waist portion and expanding radially outward of the waist portion. The first and second sealing portions are sized to seal against first and second portions of the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position over a range of sizes of expansion larger than the first diameter. A band is secured to the waist portion of the frame, restricting expansion of the waist portion substantially beyond the first diameter, such that the waist portion is configured to be spaced apart from the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating diseased bodily lumens involving branched lumen deployment sites include a main graft or stent-graft deployable in a main artery and a vent device or stent-graft deployable in a branch artery to maintain blood flow through the main artery and from the main artery to the branch artery. Systems and methods for treating diseased bodily lumens involving branched lumen deployment sites may also include a main graft or stent-graft deployable in the main artery, a chimney graft or stent-graft deployable in both branch artery and the main artery to the branch artery and a gutter-sealing device associated with the chimney graft to prevent flow of blood among the chimney graft, the main graft and a wall of the main artery.

Abstract: In a method of installing an expandable stent in a right ventricular outflow tract, a frame of the expandable stent is positioned at a deployed position in the right ventricular outflow tract, the frame including a waist portion, and first and second opposed sealing portions extending from the waist portion. The frame is expanded such that the waist portion expands to a first diameter, the first sealing portion expands to a second diameter larger than the first diameter and into contact with a first portion of an inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract, and the second sealing portion expands to a third diameter larger than the first diameter and into contact with a second portion of the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract, wherein the waist portion is spaced apart from the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a highly flexible stent which includes a plurality of annular supports arranged in an axial direction. The annular support is formed by a plurality of wave-shaped support units which are connected end to end. The support unit comprises a peak, a valley and a bar connected between the peak and the valley. In two adjacent annular supports, the peaks and the valleys of the support units of different annular supports are connected by first flexible connecting members. The first flexible connecting member further extends to and is wound onto at least one support unit to form a second flexible connecting member. The present disclosure provides a highly flexible stent having good compressibility, delivery compliance, and uniformity of expansion.

Abstract: A medical device frame including an undulating frame element defining a series of peaks each defining a longitudinal splay angle, circumferential cant angle, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the series of peaks are non-overlapping when the frame is in an expanded configuration and overlap when the frame is in the collapsed configuration. The longitudinal splay angle and/or circumferential cant angle may remain relatively unchanged between the expanded and collapsed configurations (e.g., within about 15%).

Abstract: The invention relates to anchor channels and subannular anchors for a transcatheter heart valve replacement (A61F2/2412), and in particular for an orthogonally delivered transcatheter prosthetic heart valve having a annular support frame having compressible wire cells that facilitate rolling and folding the valve length-wise, or orthogonally to the central axis of the flow control component, allowing a very large diameter valve to be delivered and deployed to the tricuspid valve from the inferior vena cava or superior vena cava, or trans-atrially to the mitral valve, the valve having a height of about 5-60 mm and a diameter of about 25-80 mm, without requiring an oversized diameter catheter and without requiring delivery and deployment from a catheter at an acute angle of approach.

Abstract: A vascular graft deployment tool may include a grip, an elongated mandrel positioned distal of the grip, a vascular graft, at least part of which is disposed coaxially about the mandrel, a sheath assembly including a distal sheath portion and a proximal sheath potion, wherein the distal sheath portion and the proximal sheath portion are configured to constrain the vascular graft against the mandrel in an insertion diameter and a actuator that is moveable relative to the grip and engages the sheath assembly, wherein operation of the actuator causes at least one of the distal sheath portion and the proximal sheath portion to separate longitudinally to free at least a portion of the vascular graft. Further, a vascular graft is expandable from an insertion state to a deployed state and at least two suture cuffs are located between opposed ends of the vascular graft.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a subject. The system can include a power source and a neuromuscular stimulator in electrical communications with the power source. The neuromuscular stimulator can include a controller and at least one electrode. The controller can be configured to receive certain power and stimulation parameters associated with a therapy signal from the power source. The at least one electrode can be configured to deliver the therapy signal to a target tissue associated with control of a posterior base of the tongue of the subject.

Abstract: Implantable devices may include a single, first component or a plurality of components such as first and second components, the second component being flexibly coupled to the first component. A socket extends over one or more of the component(s), the socket being configured to enhance the inter-component interaction and/or including one or more exposed surface(s) configured to exhibit one or more tiers of foreign body responses within a range of possible foreign body responses.

Abstract: An intravascular cell therapy device comprises a scaffold (2, 12) that is radially adjustable between a contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery to a vascular locus and an expanded orientation, and a biodegradable matrix provided on at least a portion of the scaffold that is suitable for seeding with cells and degrades in a vascular environment. The scaffold is configured to have a distal piercing tip (5) when in a deployed orientation. The scaffold comprises a plurality of sidewall panels (3, 13, 14) arranged around a longitudinal axis of the scaffold, and adjustable couplings (4) between the panels configured for adjustment between an expanded configuration and a contracted orientation, and in which each sidewall panel comprises a matrix suitable for seeding with cells.

Abstract: Dural repair devices that are configured to effectively and reliably repair the damage of a dural tear due to incidental durotomies are provided, along with methods of use. The devices and methods enhance the ability of a surgeon to repair a patients dura mater, or dura, during surgery of the central nervous system. The dural repair device has a multi-layer structure configured to exert a pressure or tamponade effect to compress a patient's dura to its state prior to the spinal surgery. Thus, the dural repair devices and methods of use may reduce the patients risk morbidity, further surgery, spinal headaches, or other injuries and discomforts.

Abstract: A device structured to suppress mitral regurgitation by restricting prolapse of a mitral valve leaflet and including a base correspondingly dimensioned to the mitral valve and including a central portion, structured to allow blood flow there through and a peripheral portion or ring connected to the central portion in substantially surrounding relation thereto. An operative position of the base includes the central portion disposed in overlying, movement restricting relation to at least one of the valve leaflets and the ring concurrently anchored adjacent or directly to the native annulus of the mitral valve. The physical characteristics of the base facilitate its movement with and conformance to the mitral valve during diastole and systole cycles of the heart.

Abstract: A transcatheter prosthesis with radially compressed and expanded configurations. An elongate member encircling at least a portion of the prosthesis, and configured to provide a seal between the prosthesis and a native anatomy when the prosthesis is deployed in the radially expanded configuration. The elongate member may be a resilient elongate member having a radially contracted state, when in tension, to hold at least the portion of the prosthesis in the radially compressed configuration, and having a radially expanded state, when relaxed, to provide the seal between at least the portion of the prosthesis and a native anatomy when the prosthesis is deployed. A system for delivering the transcatheter prosthesis may include a delivery catheter having an elongate cinching member encircling at least a second portion of the prosthesis, wherein the elongate cinching member is configured to hold the second portion of the prosthesis in the radially compressed configuration.

Abstract: A hair implant suitable for subcutaneous implantation is provided having an anchor comprising an anchor body, and at least one collagen receiving structure selected from the group consisting of at least one tunnel disposed through the anchor body and an external surface feature of the anchor body. The anchor further comprises at least one hair strand projecting from a distal end of the anchor body, wherein the at least one collagen receiving structure is configured to support collagen ligature growth after subcutaneous implantation of the hair implant so as to anchor the anchor to a hair implant recipient, and the collagen receiving structure is free of hair.

Abstract: This invention corresponds to a prosthesis for total or hip resurfacing replacement, which comprises a prosthetic femoral head made of highly cross-linked polyethylene, with a diameter ranging from 38 mm to 64 mm, to articulate with a cup or acetabular component made of metal. When the invention applies to total hip replacement, the polyethylene head includes a metal core, which contains inside the female counterpart (14) to mate with the male counterpart (13) of a Morse taper, located at the upper end of the femoral component. The use of this type of head for total hip replacement, articulated with an ultra-polished acetabular cup, reduces the risk of dislocation, transmits less angular and torque forces to the Morse taper than large metal heads, and avoids the problems related to the metal-metal bearing or with the use of large metal heads with thin polyethylene.

Abstract: Expandable devices are disclosed herein. Several of the embodiments are directed towards an expandable device comprising a mesh configured to be expanded at a blood vessel bifurcation of a human patient. The mesh may comprise a tubular body portion and one or more circumferentially discontinuous articulating portions. The mesh may be expanded such that the one or more articulating portions are positioned at an angle to the tubular body portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to valve replacement devices that are foldable for catheter-based deployment to the site of implantation, as well as systems for the delivery of valve prostheses, including prostheses having the special characteristics of the disclosed valve replacement devices. The devices include highly effective adhering mechanisms for secure and enduring precision implantation. The adhering mechanisms may employ a unique sealing mechanism that includes a cuff that expands slowly whereby the device is not secured in place until the completion of the implantation procedure. The implanted device, optionally together with the cuff, prevents perivalvular leaks and incorporate an appropriate leaflet system for reliable functioning in situ.

Abstract: Medical devices and related method for improving blood flow to regions of a patient are described herein. Some medical devices may include a first graft portion, a second graft portion, and a catheter portion disposed between the first graft portion and the second graft portion. The medical device may be implanted into a patient to establish a non-natural flow path.