Abstract: A control method of a walking assist robot, may include: estimating a wearer's location on a map including walking environment information; determining a walking environment in a direction in which the wearer moves; and selecting a control mode for assisting the wearer's walking according to the walking environment.

Abstract: A stemless humeral component for replacing the humeral head of a patient's humerus includes a support flange having a number of cantilevered legs extending distally away from a bottom surface thereof. Instruments and methods for surgically installing the stemless humeral component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a gait device includes a first sensor disposed on a first mobile body. A physical state of the first mobile body is measured using the first sensor to obtain a first physical state measurement. A second sensor is disposed on a second mobile body. A physical state of the second mobile body is measured using the second sensor to obtain a second physical state measurement. The first and second physical state measurements are conditioned by pseudo integration. A reference function is based on a gait activity. A reference function is determined by measuring a physical state of an able-bodied human and correlating an output position of the actuator to the physical state of the able-bodied human. A command is generated by inputting the first and second physical state measurements into the reference function to control an actuator of the gait device to match the output position.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a stent-graft comprising a first portion that is configured to engage a vessel wall, a second portion that is configured not to engage the vessel wall, and a perfusion window that is configured to permit blood flow. The stent-graft may further comprise a transition portion between the first portion and the second portion, and the perfusion window may be formed in the first portion, the second portion, and/or the transition portion. In a variety of embodiments, one of the first and the second portion may have a smaller diameter than the other. Similarly, in a variety of embodiments, the transition portion may be frustoconically shaped.

Abstract: A cardiovascular valve assembly is disclosed including a housing assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion removably attached to the first portion. A valve may be positioned within the housing assembly. The valve, which may be a mechanical valve, a biological tissue valve, or a polymeric valve, may be structured to allow fluid to flow through the housing assembly in a single direction. In certain embodiments, the valve assembly may further include at least one coupling structure provided on the second portion and at least one aperture defined in the first portion, with the aperture structured to receive the coupling structure to couple the first portion to the second portion. Corresponding systems incorporating cardiovascular valve assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to implantable or insertable medical devices which comprise a substrate and one or more therapeutic-agent-containing regions contain one or more therapeutic agents. In various aspects of the invention, one or more characteristics of such therapeutic-agent-containing regions are controlled. Further aspects of the invention relate to methods of forming such devices and to methods of using such devices.

Abstract: Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as fibroelastic deficiency (FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predicted shapes are obtained through careful echocardiographic and intraoperative measurements, and often differ for different annulus orifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings the larger rings have larger minor axis and oblique axis dimensions relative to their major axis dimensions, and are more circular as opposed to D-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensional and the relative heights around the rings may change for different sized rings. A mitral ring may have a higher anterior saddle relative to a posterior saddle, with the relative heights varying across the ring sizes. The ring may have varying flexibility around the ring periphery which also changes for different ring sizes.

Abstract: A stent graft having a tubular body with a ostium in the side wall of the tubular body and a side arm extending from the ostium. The side arm comprising a tube of graft material extending at least partially helically around and longitudinally along the tubular body of the stent graft at least one-fourth the circumference of the tubular body to an open end and has a resilient reinforcing ring attached about and encircling its open end. The resilient reinforcing ring is permanently attached to the tubular body with a tie down arrangement that passes through the graft material of the tubular body and through the side arm and engages the resilient reinforcing ring to permanently hold the open end of the side arm against the tubular body surface. A line of radiopaque markers extends along the length of the side arm from the ostium to the open end.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing polymeric stents by forming a pattern on a polylactic acid tube using a second harmonic generator laser and polylactic acid polymeric stents having a pattern formed using a second harmonic generator laser.

Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets that move asymmetrically in that a leaflet second side region of the leaflet initially moves toward the open position before a leaflet first side region and the leaflet first side region initially moves toward the closed position before the leaflet second side region. In the fully open position, the leaflet first side region opens less than the leaflet second side region. Asymmetric opening and final open position, in synchrony with the other leaflets having the same motion and final open position creates spiral flow exiting the open valve that increases blood flow on the downstream side of the leaflet and thus reduces stagnation of the blood that might lead to thrombus formation. Controlled asymmetric movement of the leaflet reduces closing volume by initiating closure on the leaflet first side region and finishing closures on the leaflet second side region.

Abstract: A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The replacement heart valve includes a stent structure including a generally tubular body portion with an interior area and a series of wire portions arranged in a mesh-like configuration, and at least one stent post engaging structure extending radially outwardly from the body portion for engaging with an outer surface of a stent post of the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The stent structure further includes at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure.

Abstract: Methods for the conditioning of bioprosthetic material employ bovine pericardial membrane. A laser directed at the fibrous surface of the membrane and moved relative thereto reduces the thickness of the membrane to a specific uniform thickness and smoothes the surface. The wavelength, power and pulse rate of the laser are selected which will smooth the fibrous surface as well as ablate the surface to the appropriate thickness. Alternatively, a dermatome is used to remove a layer of material from the fibrous surface of the membrane. Thinning may also employ compression. Stepwise compression with cross-linking to stabilize the membrane is used to avoid damaging the membrane through inelastic compression. Rather, the membrane is bound in the elastic compressed state through addition cross-linking. The foregoing several thinning techniques may be employed together to achieve strong thin membranes.

Abstract: Methods for the conditioning of bioprosthetic material employ bovine pericardial membrane. A laser directed at the fibrous surface of the membrane and moved relative thereto reduces the thickness of the membrane to a specific uniform thickness and smoothes the surface. The wavelength, power and pulse rate of the laser are selected which will smooth the fibrous surface as well as ablate the surface to the appropriate thickness. Alternatively, a dermatome is used to remove a layer of material from the fibrous surface of the membrane. Thinning may also employ compression. Stepwise compression with cross-linking to stabilize the membrane is used to avoid damaging the membrane through inelastic compression. Rather, the membrane is bound in the elastic compressed state through addition cross-linking. The foregoing several thinning techniques may be employed together to achieve strong thin membranes.

Abstract: Flexible spinal stabilization apparatuses are provided. The apparatuses include a flexible support element configured to be attached to a first vertebra and a second vertebra. The apparatuses also include a bone growth promoter coupled to the flexible support element. The flexible support element spans one or more intervertebral spaces but the bone growth promoter does not.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for manufacturing a stent are disclosed. The stent is a non-metallic stent having a furled small-diameter state and an expanded large-diameter state where the stent, in the furled small-diameter state, includes a plurality of central lobes arranged at spaced-apart intervals and extending longitudinally defining a stent axis, the plurality of central lobes defining a cylindrical plane of the stent. The stent also includes at least one peripheral lobe formed on at least one of the plurality of central lobes, the peripheral lobe oriented along the cylindrical plane.

Abstract: At least partial function of a human limb is restored by surgically removing at least a portion of an injured or diseased human limb from a surgical site of an individual and transplanting a selected muscle into the remaining biological body of the individual, followed by contacting the transplanted selected muscle, or an associated nerve, with an electrode, to thereby control a device, such as a prosthetic limb, linked to the electrode. Simulating proprioceptive sensory feedback from a device includes mechanically linking at least one pair of agonist and antagonist muscles, wherein a nerve innervates each muscle, and supporting each pair with a support, whereby contraction of the agonist muscle of each pair will cause extension of the paired antagonist muscle. An electrode is implanted in a muscle of each pair and electrically connected to a motor controller of the device, thereby simulating proprioceptive sensory feedback from the device.

Abstract: An alignable coupling assembly embodiment for coupling distal and proximal prosthetic components includes a pair of parallel circular plates rotatably disposed in the circular receptacle of a support plate. The circular plates are configured such that they can be unpressed or a pressed. The unpressed condition allows rotation of the paired plates and the pressed condition prevents such rotation by way of a first friction lock. The paired circular plates further have a rectangular slot into which a longitudinal connector is slidably disposed, and which is subject to a second friction lock that prevents sliding when the connector is pulled distally. Rotational movement of the plates and sliding movement of the connector in the slot cooperate to allow its positioning at any point within an anterior-posterior/lateral medial grid centered on the longitudinal axis of the proximal prosthetic component. A distal pull on the longitudinal connector engages both first and second friction locks.

Abstract: A prosthetic remodeling annuloplasty ring for use in tricuspid or mitral valve repairs to provide support after annuloplasty surgery. The annuloplasty ring includes a relatively rigid core extending around an axis that is discontinuous to define two free ends. A suture-permeable interface surrounding the core includes floppy regions adjacent both free ends of the core. Sutures are used to attach the annuloplasty ring to the annulus, including at least one suture through each of the floppy regions to secure the free ends of the ring and minimize the risk of ring dehiscence, or pull through of the sutures through the annulus tissue. The floppy regions may project from each free end into the gap toward each other, be radially enlarged such as paddle-like extensions, or may comprise outwardly lateral extensions at the free ends of the core.

Abstract: An expandable slide and lock stent comprises a tubular member that can be expanded from a collapsed state to an expanded state. The tubular member can comprise a reversing helical backbone and at least one rail member extending from the helical backbone in a circumferential direction. The backbone can have at least one engagement element that can be configured to receive a rail member to form the tubular member. In some embodiments, the reversing helical backbone can comprise a plurality of discrete segments having a variable profile and/or wave form.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot and ankle assembly includes a foot component and an ankle joint mounted thereto and having a fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The ankle joint includes a joint mechanism in the form of a hydraulic linear piston and cylinder assembly having a pair of chambers on opposite sides of the piston to provide hydraulic damping continuously over the range of dorsi-plantar flexion. The joint mechanism further includes a valve arrangement controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid between the chambers. The valve arrangement includes first and second adjustable valves for independently controlling dorsi-flexion damping resistance and plantar-flexion damping resistance respectively. The joint mechanism includes a first flexion limiter that limits dorsi-flexion of the joint mechanism to a dorsi-flexion limit and a second flexion limiter that limits plantar-flexion of the joint mechanism to a plantar-flexion limit, thereby defining the fixed range of dorsi-plantar flexion.