Abstract: An improved prosthesis particularly for use as a knee joint is designed for secure ingrowth attachment to cancellous bone and adjacent tissue without use of bone cement. The prosthesis comprises a tibial component and a femoral component shaped to accommodate articulatory knee joint motion and each including a base surface adapted for enhanced bone ingrowth attachment to cancellous bone of a resected tibia and femur, respectively. The base surface of each component includes an extended surface area protruding into a region of cancellous bone and subdivided into a plurality of attachment zones coated with a selected porous bone ingrowth material, wherein these attachment zones are bounded by uncoated shallow channels for draining fluid from the attachment interface to the exterior of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A prosthetic gripping device includes an elongated support member haivng first and second end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions, a gripping head attached to the second end portion for holding an implement, and a sleeve to be secured on the arm of a user in order to hold the first end portion of the support member on the arm. The first end portion of the support member is dimensioned and arranged to be held on the arm by the sleeve in a position adjacent the inner wrist such that the support member extends toward the hand, the intermediate portion is dimensioned and arranged to curve slightly over the heel of the hand, and the second end portion is dimensioned and arranged to extend to the palm of the hand with the gripping head being thereby supported at the palm of the hand.

Abstract: Implantable prosthetic devices and methods of use for increasing blood flow by increasing arterial compliance and reducing the magnitude of the pressure pulsations in the arterial system, and to increase perfusion of specific organs in order to overcome the deleterious effects of cardiovascular disease, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pouch to contain a mammary implant formed from a net-like material fabricated from a bio-compatible non-biodegradable yarn; the pouch being so constructed that the surface intended to form the anterior layer in use is relatively inextensible in the vertical direction as compared with at least one axis non-parallel thereto.

Abstract: An intraocular prosthesis (56) for implanting in an annular void extending radially into the tissues of the eye. The prosthesis is a circular, transparent, elastomeric optical element (57) having a peripheral edge and a non-rigid or flexible porous skirt (68) which extends radially from the periphery of the element. The skirt encircles the element and is positioned to extend radially into the void. An annular, flexible porous portion (68) having a pore size in the range of about 15-90 microns, and preferably about 60 microns, is included with the skirt. The porous portion surrounds the element and is disposed in contact with the tissues of the eye surrounding the void to allow fibrous growth into the pores of the porous portion. A plurality, preferably, six, spoke-like, porous extension (54) may be included.

Abstract: An alignment device is provided for an artificial limb and comprises first and second end plates fastenable to respective upper and lower parts of the limb in a predetermined angular and axial position. A flexible sleeve fastened between the end plates forms therewith an internal cavity for containing a body of settable fluid. When the fluid body is in a flowable state relative movement between upper and lower parts of the limb during alignment thereof are accommodated by flexion of the sleeve. When the fluid body is in a solidified state it establishes a rigid mechanical linkage between the end plates, thereby preventing relative movement of the upper and lower parts. Angular alignment between an end plate and an adjoining part of the limb is provided by pegs on one of said parts engaging sockets on the other of said parts.

Abstract: An implantable or contact hydrogel lens for replacement of a defective natural lens in an eye in which various portions of the lens have different powers and focal lengths to produce in-focus images on different portions of the retina of objects which are located at various distances from the eye, thereby substituting for the natural focusing action of the eye. The image processing capability of the brain functions to largely ignore the out-of-focus images and concentrate on the in-focus image of the object selected by the brain for consideration.

Abstract: An interface fitting module (10) for fitting the interface portion of an ischial containment socket for an above-knee amputee. The module (10) has a sleeve-like body portion (11) with proximal and distal ends (12and 13), respectively. At least the proximal end (12) of the body portion (11) is open to receive the residual thigh (15) of an above-knee amputee. Means in the nature of a lap joint (25) are provided selectively to adjust the peripheral dimension of said body portion (11) so that it will circumscribe, and engage, the peripheral thigh (15) to the desired degree. The body portion (11) of the module (10) is sufficiently transparent to permit visual observation as to the conformity between the body portion (11) of the module (10) and the residual thigh (15) received therein.

Abstract: An implantable or contact hydrogel lens for replacement of a defective natural lens in an eye in which various portions of the lens are laminated horizontally to have different powers to produce in-focus images on different portions of the retina of objects which are located at various distances from the eye, thereby substituting for the natural focusing action of the eye. The image processing capability of the brain functions to largely ignore the out-of-focus images and concentrate on the in-focus image of the object selected by the brain for consideration.

Abstract: Means and methods of creating an autogeneous pumping chamber for ventricular replacement or ventricular assist while avoiding heart transplantation. A chamber is created by wrapping a major muscular mass around a silastic-type pouch which is thereafter filled with isotonic saline. The muscular mass is then allowed to grow together over time to create an autogeneous fluid-tight pumping chamber, the pouch is then drained and removed, and the autogeneous chamber is relocated to its needed location, and thereafter grafted into operative relationship within the cardiovascular system.

Abstract: A resilient intraocular lens, folded on itself to reduce its transverse dimension for implanting, is releasably held in the folded configuration by a retainer in the form of a pliable, severable band which extends circumferentially around the lens. Preferably the retainer is securable by a pull strip along a line of weakness, to permit the lens to unfold. The pull strip remains attached to the retainer for removing it from the eye after the lens has been released.

Abstract: An intraocular lens, in form of a disk, intended to replace the crystalline lens of a patient's eye, in particular after a cataract extraction, comprises on its distal side an aspherical sector extending approximately from the midline of the disk over one quarter of the surface thereof. The rest of the distal side is spherical. The radius of curvature of the aspherical sector varies monotonously between the value of the radius of the spherical sectors and a lower value. Such a configuration allows light rays impinging on the intraocular lens to be refracted at different angles and provides both near the distance vision. The discontinuity at transition between the aspherical sector and the spherical sector is blocked out by dark or etched plastic to eliminate glare. The proximal side can either be a convex surface, a concave surface or a plane.

Abstract: A foldable intraocular lens is releasably retained in folded configuration for implanting, by suturing through apertures adjacent its peripheral edge, or by structure which is integral with the lens. An elongated lens is disclosed, wherein the retaining means and haptics are located on extended upper and lower ends of the lens, out of the field of vision.

Abstract: A prosthetic leg component substantially encompasses the tibia or shin portion of the leg and is removably attached to any one of several available prefabricated prosthetic foot devices. Included is a substantially L-shaped member providing for efficient kinetic recoil energy about the ankle upon application of a given load on the device which allows for torsional replication about the tibia while simultaneously providing medial-lateral stability for the user.

Abstract: A surgical implant for use in voice restoration comprises a length of coiled spring. The length of coiled spring has a first end adapted for positioning adjacent the anterior wall of the esophagus of the wearer of the surgical implant and a second end adapted for positioning adjacent the posterior wall of the trachea. A voice prosthesis device for use with the surgical implant comprises a right circular cylinder, the outside diameter of which is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the length of coiled spring. This permits insertion of the voice prosthetic device from the tracheal end of the implant thereinto, as well as removal of the voice prosthetic device for cleaning, repair, or replacement. The voice prosthetic device contains a one-way valve permitting air flow from the tracheal end thereof to the esophageal end thereof, to provide the wearer with esophageal speech.

Abstract: This invention relates to a joint prosthesis for permanent anchorage in the bone tissue of a joint in a human body, for instance a knee joint. The joint prosthesis comprises an anchorage device (3, 4; 7-10, 11) disposed to be implanted into the bone tissue at a first operation so that it remains in unloaded condition during a healing phase during which the function of the joint is not prevented and an articulation device (5, 6; 13, 12) which is arranged to be connected to the anchorage device only at a second operation after the said healing phase.

Abstract: The flexible needle stop includes a normally unfolded needle impenetrable needle barrier formed of a flexible foldable material. The flexible foldable material can be a single layer sheet material, a wire mesh material and/or one or more layers of scale-like components arranged side by side. The scale-like components are physically unconnected and of a size that permits flexion of the needle stop that incorporates the scale-like components. The flexible needle stop member can include a bead-like periphery which affords the needle stop member with a resilient memory and helps restore the needle stop member to its normally unfolded condition after a folding restraint is removed. The needle stop can be freely disposed within a fill chamber of a tissue expander, attached to an inner surface of the fill chamber or incorporated in the shell wall of a tissue expander.

Abstract: An implantable or contact hydrogel lens for replacement of a defective natural lens in an eye in which various portions of the lens have different powers and focal lengths to produce in-focus images on the retina, of objects which are located at various distances from the eye, thereby substituting for the natural focusing action of the eye. The image processing capability of the brain functions to largely ignore the out-of-focus images and concentrate on the in-focus image of the object selected by the brain for consideration.

Abstract: An implantable or contact hydrogel lens for replacement of a defective natural lens in an eye in which various annular portions of the lens have different powers and focal lengths to produce in-focus images, on different portions of the retina, of objects which are located at various distances from the eye, thereby substituting for the natural focusing action of the eye. The image processing capability of the brain functions to largely ignore the out of focus images and concentrate on the in focus image of the object selected by the brain for consideration.

Abstract: A finned phalangeal device includes a plurality of spacially disposed, phalanges. On each phalange, a longitudinal flexible fin element is attached on the back side while allowing the longitudinal margins of each flexible film element to extend normally toward a like element on an adjacent phalange. When the device is moved in one direction through a fluid the flexible fin elements feather against the phalange and allow the fluid to pass between adjacent phalanges with relatively little resistance. When the device is moved in the opposite direction the flexible fin elements open to adjacently overlay each other and hence to provide a fluid seal inhibiting fluid flow between adjacent phalanges. In one embodiment the phalanges are integral members of a glove and specifically are finger encircling elements thereof while in another embodiment each phalange is a rigid prosthesis element simulating those fingers.