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: A dual opposing helical stent having a furled, small-diameter state and an expanded, large-diameter state. In the furled, small-diameter state, the stent includes a plurality of central lobes arranged at spaced-apart intervals and extending longitudinally defining a stent axis. The stent also includes peripheral lobes formed on the plurality of central lobes. The terminal ends of the stent are welded in a middle section of the stent. A method and technique for manufacturing the stent is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and device for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve or annuloplasty ring to a valve annulus in a heart and a method of implanting same is disclosed. The device can include a prosthetic valve or annuloplasty ring with one or more anchors configured to be threaded or otherwise passed underneath a native leaflet and/or subvalvular tissue to secure the device at the native annulus.

Abstract: Provided is a stent which is not easily displaced from a dwell site in a biological lumen and which has an excellent ability to follow a biological lumen. This stent (bile duct stent 100) is to dwell inside a biological lumen (bile duct B) and is provided with a stent main body section (110) having a cylindrical shape. The stent main body section is configured to be capable of expanding and contracting in the radial direction that is approximately orthogonal to an axial direction, has a relatively large expanding force in one portion (center portion) corresponding to the predetermined position at the indwelling site in the biological lumen, and a relatively small expanding force at other portions (both end portions) which have different positions in the axial direction from that of the one portion.

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: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valve devices having synthetic leaflets that are configured to promote and encourage tissue ingrowth thereon and/or therein. The leaflets are coupled to a leaflet frame to form a prosthetic valve suitable for use in biological anatomy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a degradable foldable biological amniotic membrane composite repair stent, comprising a tubular body with an axially extending through hole, the front end of the tubular body is provided with an elastic balloon, and the end of the tubular body is connected to a one-way valve which seals the through hole here, the outer face of the elastic balloon is coated with a foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent, the outer surface of the foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent is coated with a biological amniotic membrane, and there are a plurality of micropores on meshes of the foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent, the plurality of micropores are filled with biological amniotic membrane powder; in the initial state, the elastic balloon, the foldable reticulated polylactic acid stent, and the biological amniotic membrane are compressed into a tight state; in the use state, after being implanted in the body and expanded under pressure, it can conform to the lacrimal duct/uteri

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a prosthetic valve annulus and at least one prosthetic valve leaflet member including at least one coaptation surface configured for cooperating with at least one corresponding coaptation surface of the prosthetic heart valve. At least one valve leaflet member is displaceable by blood flow between a closed position and an open position to produce, correspondingly, a contact and a separation of cooperating coaptation surfaces. In the open position the separation of the cooperating coaptation surfaces enables the blood flow through the orifice in a first direction, and in the closed position the contact of the cooperating coaptation surfaces prevents the blood flow through the orifice in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: An implant and method for repairing and/or replacing functionality of a native mitral valve are in various embodiments configured to reduce or eliminate mitral regurgitation and residual mitral valve leakage. A coiled anchor can be used to implant a prosthetic valve in a native mitral valve of a heart. The coiled anchor can include a first turn, a second turn, and a third turn. The coiled anchor is configured to be implanted at the native mitral valve with the second turn and the third turn positioned in a left ventricle of the heart and around the valve leaflets of the native mitral valve. The first turn is positioned in a left atrium of the heart such that the first turn is spaced apart from the native mitral valve. The coiled anchor is configured for positioning such that the first turn is the sole turn of the coiled anchor positioned in the left atrium.

Abstract: A suction stent for introduction into a hollow organ of the human or animal body, preferably into the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the intestine, includes a tubular hollow body which is open in the longitudinal direction and made of biocompatible material. The tubular hollow body has a fixed diameter at least in its central portion; and a porous shapeable material, preferably a sponge material, which is biocompatible and shapeable in the radial direction, the porous shapeable material radially sheathing the tubular hollow body at least in a section of the tubular hollow body. Further, a method is provided for sealing a leakage, especially an anastomosis, of the hollow organ.

Abstract: The glenoid implant described here addresses wear of the implant's portion which articulates with a humeral head, and also addresses a frequent need to reverse the normal glenoid and humeral articulating surfaces. The new glenoid implant provides a coupling portion between the implant's bone fixation portion, which joins the implant to the glenoid bone, and the implant's articulating portion which articulates on an opposing humeral head. The coupling portion is joined to the bone fixation portion firmly but is disengageable without requiring the bone fixation portion's replacement so that the articulating portion can be removed from the implant and replaced without changing either the coupling portion or the bone fixation portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tissue matrix products. The products can includes tissue matrices that have holes or perforations located at certain positions to improve certain in vivo functions without substantial loss of strength or other important properties.

Abstract: An intramedullary stem prosthesis includes a trunnion tapered in a first direction toward a proximal end of the intramedullary stem, and a conical shaft interfacing with the trunnion at a modular taper junction. The conical shaft is tapered in a second direction toward a distal end of the second component and has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and flutes positioned about a longitudinal axis of the conical shaft and extending along an entire length of the conical shaft and terminating at the modular taper junction such that the flutes intersect the modular taper junction. The proximal portion defines a first taper angle, the distal portion defines a second taper angle greater than the first taper angle, and the flutes define a major diameter of the conical shaft. The major diameter tapers at a major diameter taper angle that is constant along the entire length of the conical shaft.

Abstract: A new medical apparatus for deployment within an anatomical blood vessel and methods of use thereof. The apparatus comprising: a first tubular wall; and a second tubular wall, placed within the first tubular wall; wherein the first and second tubular walls are firmly connected at their edges, therefore restricted to have same overall longitudinal length; and wherein the second tubular wall is configured to be partially constricted towards its inner radial axis, while maintaining its overall longitudinal length.

Abstract: There is provided herein a bone anchored implant that is used to support a nasal prosthesis in patients with a missing external nose. The implant consists of central section (which is preferably generally triangular) suspended within the aperture of the nasal cavity by four fixation arms which extend radially to engage the surrounding maxillary bone. The triangular portion may support three fixation points, one at each corner of the triangular portion, which in turn, directly engage the nasal prosthesis either via magnets or mechanical locking interface. Extending radially from the triangular section, the four fixation arms may flatten to a clover leaf arrangement of three apertures which accommodate micro-screws that secure the implant to the surrounding maxillary bone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthesis for implantation into a living body in the form of a magnetic artificial joint, in particular an artificial shoulder joint, comprising: a) a first prosthesis member comprising a socket member, b) a second prosthesis member comprising a head member, c) one of the socket member and the head member is at least partially composed as a permanent magnet and the other one of the socket member and the head member is at least partially composed of a magnetic material, or the socket member and the head member are both at least partially composed as a permanent magnet, d) the socket member comprises a recess on a surface side to be coupled with the head member, the recess comprising a concavely contoured contact surface, e) the head member comprises a projection on a surface side to be coupled with the socket member, the projection comprising a convexly contoured contact surface, f) the convexly contoured contact surface is adapted to the concavely contoured contact surface, such th

Abstract: A template for a valve construct for replacement of at least one of a mitral valve and a tricuspid valve includes at least an anterior leaflet portion and at least a posterior leaflet portion, each leaflet portion having a proximal edge, a distal edge, and side edges extending between the proximal edge and the distal edge. The template further includes a plurality of substantially straight elongated chordae portions each having a proximal end connected to the distal edge of one of the at least two leaflet portions and a distal end extending therefrom and one or more papillary muscle head portions formed at a commissure between distal ends of at least two of the plurality of chordae portions. A total width of the leaflet portions of the template is substantially equal to a circumference of a native annulus of a heart valve.

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: Endovascular stent grafts in accordance with various embodiments include one or more channels on a main body graft, the one or more channels defining a passageway for receiving one or more branch portions for treating branch vessels. In various embodiments, the one or more channels on the main body graft may be abluminal, adluminal, or weaved, with respect to a stent structure of the main body graft.

Abstract: An endoluminal device includes a composite yarn with a polymer yarn and an alloy wire. The polymer yarn includes a biodegradable polymer, and the alloy wire includes a biocompatible alloy. An endoluminal device can include a plurality of polymer yarns and at least one alloy wire, in which the polymer yarns include a biodegradable polymer, and the least one alloy wire includes a biocompatible alloy. A surgical system or kit includes an endoluminal device and a delivery instrument.