Abstract: An intraocular lens to be placed in an anterior chamber of a patient's eye is disclosed. The intraocular lens includes a lens part with a predetermined refractive power, including a front lens surface facing toward a cornea side and a back lens surface facing toward a fundus side when the intraocular lens is placed in the anterior chamber, a support part provided in an edge of the lens part and with an end positioned opposite to the edge, the end being insertable into an iris to penetrate to a fundus side thereof and back to a cornea side thereof to hold the lens part in the anterior chamber, and a hook provided in the end of the support part for preventing the support part from coming off the iris.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dermal scaffold comprising alkaline pre-treated free amine-containing chitosan matrix, alkaline pre-treated free amine-containing chitosan and alkaline pre-treated collagen mixed matrix, or alkaline pre-treated free amine-containing chitosan and alkaline pre-treated collagen mixed matrix containing chitosan fabrics, which has excellent wound healing effect by constituting microenvironments suitable for migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and vascular cells surrounding the wound to be extremely useful as wound healing dressings, and a bioartificial dermis comprising the dermal scaffold and human fibroblasts, particularly useful for healing broad wound sites such as burns.

Abstract: A method for tissue augmentation in a mammal is provided comprising injecting a polymer at a tissue site in need of augmentation and having a tissue temperature, the polymer comprising repeating peptide monomeric units selected from the group consisting of nonapeptide, pentapeptide and tetrapeptide monomeric units, wherein the monomeric units form a series of &bgr;-turns separated by dynamic bridging segments suspended between the &bgr;-turns, wherein the polymer has an inverse temperature transition Tt less than the tissue temperature, and wherein the polymer is injected as a water solution at coacervate concentration in the substantial absence of additional water. A kit containing the injectable bioelastic polymer and a syringe is also provided.

Abstract: Cardiovascular components such as biocompatible heart valves and annular sewing rings are disclosed, as well as, methods for making the same. The heart valves include biodegradable polymer fiber scaffolds and collagen. Also disclosed are donor aortic heart valves processed without the use of crosslinking chemicals.

Abstract: A prosthesis for a blood vessel, which is an expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube having a fine fibrous structure with nodes connected to each other by fibrils. The average fibril length is at least 40 &mgr;m, and the tube has a porosity of at least 70%. The load required for compressing the tube by 10% in its axial direction at a strain rate of 100%/min is at least 10 gf. The resistant force per unit sectional area of the tube produced upon the 10% compression is at least 1.0 gf/mm2.

Abstract: The system and method for retaining a stent on an expandable stent delivery member involves applying a plastic material that will adhere or fuse to the expandable stent delivery member, and that is insoluble in blood, to one or both of the expandable stent delivery member and the stent, and mounting the stent over the expandable stent delivery member. The plastic material may be dissolved in a solvent to form a dispersion, and applied to the expandable stent delivery member and/or the stent, and is allowed to evaporate to deposit the plastic material. The plastic material also may be applied after the stent is mounted on the expandable stent delivery member, as a coating, or may be applied as knobs or fillets onto the expandable stent delivery member through the openings of the stent.

Abstract: A vascular device comprising a plurality of vessel engaging members and a valve. The device is movable from a collapsed insertion position having a first diameter to a second expanded position having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The plurality of vessel engaging members extend outwardly from the device for securely engaging the internal wall of a vessel upon expansion of the device to the second expanded position, wherein the vessel engaging members pull the internal wall of the vessel radially inwardly upon movement of the device from the second expanded position toward a first expanded position having a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. In the first expanded position the valve is movable between an open position to allow blood flow therethrough to a closed position to prevent blood flow.

Abstract: A multilayer ingrowth matrix is constructed within well-defined porosity of a prosthetic material. The matrix consists of either proteinaceous or synthetic layers or gradients, or a combination of proteinaceous and synthetic layers or gradients. Each layer within the matrix is designed to achieve a specific function, such as facilitation of ingrowth of a particular cell type or release of a particular growth factor. The well-defined porosity is in the form of either helically oriented, interconnected transmural ingrowth channels, or a porous wall structure containing uniformly shaped pores (i.e. voids) in a very narrow size range, or a combination of channels and pores. This invention allows for uninterrupted ingrowth of connective tissue into walls of a synthetic graft prosthesis made from the prosthetic material. Furthermore, this invention can produce small diameter prostheses having an internal diameter of 6 mm or less.

Abstract: Prosthetic implants designed to be implanted in the cornea for modifying the cornea curvature and altering the corneal refractive power for correcting myopia, and myopia with astigmatism, such implants formed of a micro-porous hydrogel material.

Abstract: A very small diameter intravascular stent device which may be used to occlude or partially occlude an aneurysm in the human brain which is comprised of a thin-walled skeletal cylindrical tube formed of S-shaped or sinusoidal elements which, when compressed, nest tightly with each other.

Abstract: An intraocular corrective lens, comprising an optical portion having a normal shape constructed of a material which is biologically compatible with the natural lens of the eye and for positioning anterior thereof, or in replacement thereof; said optical portion also having an anterior convex lenticular surface and a posterior surface, wherein said posterior surface comprises a central disk which is radially surrounded by a series of annular rings, said central disk and said series of annular rings forming a series of radial steps along said posterior surface; wherein said posterior surface and said anterior lenticular surface have a minimum separation of 0.025 mm and a maximum separation of 0.1 mm; the central disk being of one diopter power and at least one annular ring is of a second diopter power; and at least one anchor attached to said optical portion for anchoring said optical portion anteriorly to the natural lens of the eye.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier for an implantable device, such as a stent, carrying a therapeutic or bioactive substance is disclosed. The diffusion barrier reduces the rate at which the therapeutic or bioactive substance is released from the device. The diffusion barrier can be made from a polymeric material impregnated with particles.

Abstract: A non-crosslinked, decellularized and purified mammalian tissue (e.g., bovine pericardium) having particular use as an implantable resorbable material. The material is treated by alkylating its primary amine groups in a manner sufficient to reduce the antigenicity of the tissue, permitting the treated tissue to be used in vivo and without crosslinking, and in turn, permitting it to be resorbable. The material can be used in surgical repair of soft tissue deficiencies for a certain period of time while the implant itself is gradually remodeled or absorbed by the host. Also provided are a method of preparing such a material, as well as a method of using such a material for surgical repair.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of producing same are provided. The medical device comprising a body member and a coating on at least a portion of the body member comprising an insitu condensation product of a first electrophilically active, high molecular weight polyalkylene oxide and a second high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene derivative.

Abstract: A delivery system for endoluminal deployment of a stent inside of a biocompatible graft cover minimizes obstruction of endoluminal fluid flow during deployment. The delivery system comprises a stent sheath, a compressed stent underlying the stent sheath, and a graft overlying the stent sheath and releasably retained in a compressed state surrounding the sheath. The graft distal end is attached to the stent at or proximal the stent distal end, and the graft outer surface is exposed to the interior space of the lumen during deployment. The proximal end of the graft may be attached to the stent sheath by a releasable attachment adapted for release during deployment of the stent, or may be otherwise constrained, such as by heat deformation, to remain adjacent the outer circumference of the stent prior to deployment. The releasable attachment may be a suture that is severed by a pusher having a cutter therein.

Abstract: A stent (5), made of a shape-memory alloy and inserted into a stenosed vessel (50), and a stent foundation device for inserting such a stent (5) into a desired part (52) of the stenosed vessel (50) are disclosed. The stent (5) consists of a net-structural hollow cylindrical body (3) made by knitting one longitudinal superelastic shape-memory alloy wire while repeatedly crossing the wire at various points so as to form a plurality of diamond-shape meshes (2). The stent foundation device consists of an actuation steel core (12), a moveable tube (15) and an insert tube (20), which are received within an outside hollow tube (13) while being axially movable within the outside tube. (13). In the above device, an insert tip (23) is connected to the front end of the insert tube (20). The insert tip (23) has a step (22) forming a fitting end, at which the insert tip (23) is partially fitted into the front end of the outside tube (13) and is connected to the front end of the insert tube (20).

Abstract: A stent or intraductal medical device manufactured from a tubular member having an inner tube tightly fitted into an outer tube is provided. Microdepots may be formed on the outer surface of the inner tube, and may contain radioactive, radiopaque or therapeutic substances. A method for manufacturing such a medical device or stent is also described. The material to be deposited on the inner tube may be deposited on the inner tube by dipping or immersion, or the material may be applied to the inner tube using micro-injection or electrodeposition. The material to be deposited may be applied to cavities or microdepots formed in the outer surface of the inner tube. Excess material may be removed from the inner tube by centrifugation or shaking, and the material to be deposited may be heated to bond the material to the surface of the microdepots on the inner tube.

Abstract: A cartilage plug, which is made from a biocompatible, artificial material, that is used to fill a void in natural cartilage that has been resected due to traumatic injury or chronic disease is disclosed. Alternatively, the plug may be relied upon to anchor a flowable polymer to subchondral bone. The plug is prebricatable in any size, shape, and contour and may be utilized either singly or in a plurality to fill any size void for any application. The plug may be formed of a laminated structure to match the physiological requirements of the repair site. Additionally, ridges may be formed about the periphery of each plug to facilitate its anchoring to surrounding cartilage, bone and/or adjacent plugs.

Abstract: Prosthetic implants designed to be implanted in the cornea for modifying the cornea curvature and altering the corneal refractive power for correcting myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia, and, in addition, such implants formed of a micro-porous hydrogel material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having cylindrical rings and a plurality of flexible spring joints linking the rings together. The flexible spring joints enable components of the stent to be large enough to provide excellent radiopaque and vessel supporting capabilities. The stent is flexible along its length and about its longitudinal axis while maintaining stiffness in the radial direction in order to resist collapse once implanted.