Abstract: An artificial intraocular lens for surgical implantation to replace a damaged natural lens in an otherwise functional eye of a patient is disclosed as having a dome-shaped central disc portion, haptic loops formed on said central portion, for centering said central portion after implantation, wherein the central portion is composed of a dry, solid hydrophilic material capable of hydration by the natural fluid present in the eye to expand after implantation to provide an optically correct lens, wherein the central portion has a cross-sectional dimension substantially less than that of the natural lens and wherein said haptic loops are configured such that said central portion is centered upon implantation and remains centered during expansion thereof, thus improving the vision of the patient.

Abstract: A biscuspate cardiac valve prosthesis for use in human clinical medicine as a mitral valve graft. The valve has a support ring with an arched crosspiece containing apertures or a single longitudinal aperture along its length, joined at its ends to the lower portion of the support ring. Valve flaps are attached to both sides of the crosspiece, the opposite edges of the flaps being able to move freely during functioning of the valve. When the valve is closed, the flaps abut the inner surface of the support ring in a low dome profile.

Abstract: A pre-maxillary implant device to be surgically inserted in the pre-maxillary area of the human face to increase the protrusion of the base of the nose, in the form of a unitary integral laterally elongated body of semi-solid plastic material including a central riser formation forming an upright pedestal portion for supporting the mesial crura having a convex front face extending upwardly along an arcuate path having an approximately 70.degree. posterior inclination and having a concave rear face provided with a posterior notch to fit against the anterior nasal spine, the pedestal portion to be inserted under the DSN muscle to provide a foundation for nasal base protrusion and tip projection.

Abstract: A first member of an artificial limb such as a tube socket has a generally rhombic flange formed with throughholes grouped into an anterior-posterior pair and a medial/lateral pair spaced at 90 degree intervals about the axis of socket. The lower face of the flange carries a ball formation of a ball and socket articulation. A second member in the form of ankle attachment plate has a concave seat that accepts the ball and threaded bores conforming to the through holes. The first and second members are held together by clamping screws received in the bores that fit onto washers having spherical lower faces that articulate on seats. The resulting alignment device is simple to manufacture and preserves angular position when an adjacent pair only of the clamping screws are removed. A similar alignment device having a cylindrical projection articulating in a cylindrical seat under the control of a single pair of clamping screws provides for heel height adjustment.

Abstract: A mandibular prosthesis includes a pair of strips joined at one end and spaced apart elsewhere for placement on opposite sides of a mandibular stump. The strips each have alternating threaded and non-threaded holes that are aligned with respective non-threaded and threaded holes in the other strip. Consequently, screws can be applied from either side and the prosthesis can be implanted interchangeably on either side of the mandible. Extending from the joined end of the strips is a mandibular replacement which may be an artificial condyle, a band for replacing the main body of the mandible, or a band carrying additional attachment strips or a ramus and condyle replacement.

Abstract: A heart valve having a disc (10) pivotally mounted within a ring (14) by means of projections (16, 18 and 20) carried by the ring. The disc and ring are arranged so that the blood flows through the valve as the disc moves relative to the ring so as to reduce the likelihood of blood clot formations, in turn, reducing the likelihood of thrombosis.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve comprising a frame which includes outer and inner bands and a plurality of wire-like members interlocked with the bands and forming the tip portions of commissure supports. The bands are covered with outer and inner jackets, and valve leaflets are attached to the frame and extend over a distal edge of the bands. The ends of the jackets form flexible, resilient fingers which extend between the distal edge and the valve leaflets to shield the valve leaflets from the distal edge.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot comprises a hollow elastomeric cosmesis having a relatively large internal space, a keel of relatively stiff or rigid material, and a stiffener of glass reinforced plastics fitted between keel and instep region of the cosmesis. Front and rear snubbers extend from keel and front and rear stiffeners being portions of stiffener extend from under the keel with radiused ends resting on the sole of the cosmesis. During ambulation the stiffeners provide a primary path by which ground reaction is transmitted to the keel, but ground reaction bringing the stiffeners into contact with the snubbing means is transmitted to the keel via an overload path through the snubbing means.

Abstract: A prosthetic sphincter device in the form of a closed pressure-fluid system operable by the recipient to control a body duct comprises a pressure-fluid reservoir (10), an inflatable duct-obviator (8) typically of cuff form, a pump (9) operable to deflate the cuff, and a control mechanism (1, 14, 15) operable normally to hold the cuff inflated at a preset pressure to close the duct, the mechanism being adjustable in situ post-operatively to vary the preset pressure. In a preferred form the control mechanism includes a valve (1) communicating the reservoir and cuff, and a preset pressure-fluid source (14) connected to hold the valve normally closed, this source including a self-sealing septum (16) allowing preset pressure adjustment by injection. The valve preferably has a through passageway defined at least in part by a flexible wall (6) externally subject to the preset pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for exercising the arm muscles of the human body, whereby the apparatus comprises a base with an inclined working surface mounted above it, whose height is adjustable and which is adjoined on both sides by means of sleeves by shafts, which shafts are so mounted on the base as to be rotatable about their long axis against resistance and which are provided at their top above the working surface with transversely attached hand grips by means of which the shafts can be loaded with a torque on their long axes.

Abstract: An artificial heart blood pump including a driving motor which can be contained within the human body and which performs pumping action when supplied from an electric power source from outside of the human body. The pump includes left and right ventricles defined by elastomeric films fixed inside a pump body near each side. Each ventricle has an inlet and an outlet provided with respective check valves. Within the pump body generally between the elastomeric films is a movable body having a cylindrical case with a bidirectional driving motor built in. The movable body rolls from side to side during operation to alternately press against the elastomeric films and discharge blood alternately from the ventricles.

Abstract: A dual ankle spring foot ankle system comprising generally of a first and second die helical springs attached proximally to a top ankle plate and distally to a plantar base plate. The anterior and posterior springs are attachably engaged to the lower face of the lower portion of the upper ankle plate and upper face of the base plate through a helical nut for helically engaging the spring around its body portion for rigid attachment of the spring to the plate themselves, yet maintaining maximum flexion. The system further includes a rear positioned flexible member extending from the upper plate to the bottom plate for serving as a "achilles tendon" and minimizing elongation of the posterior spring beyond a certain point. There is further provided a downwardly depending forward portion of the base plate for insertion into a soft foot member so that the ankle system is substantially incorporated into the foot system as the ankle is utilized.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis which comprises a flexible, collapsible, hollow device which can be filled after it is positioned within the bone structure. In the case of a prosthesis designed to replace the ball of the femur, the endoprosthesis has a ball portion, a neck portion attached to and communicating with the ball portion, a body portion attached to and communicating with the neck portion, and an access opening opposite the ball portion. A method for installing the endoprosthesis in the hip is also described, in which a portal is drilled through the lateral cortex of the femur at a location opposite the ball, the ball of the femur is removed, and the endoprosthesis is inserted through the portal. Finally, the invention provides a special tool that can be used for removing the ball of the femur through a portal in the lateral cortex without dislocating the hip.

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 wrist joint prosthesis comprises a metal radial component and a metal metacarpal component connected by a metal axle and providing triaxial motions that are comparable to those of the anatomical wrist joint and restraint of excessive motions. Energy is absorbed and shock loads are minimized by the interposition of a bearing member between the radial and metacarpal components and a bearing sleeve of polymeric material over the axle.

Abstract: The device, which is intended to be implanted in a position approximately homologous to the obstructed natural tube to bring the respective ovary closer to the uterus, comprises a generally tubular envelope having a wider portion intended to receive the respective ovary, a narrower portion intended to extend through the wall of the uterus, and a connecting portion interposed between the wider portion and the narrower portion and having a general funnel-shaped configuration converging towards the narrower portion.

Abstract: An intraocular crystalline lens to be used for intraocular correction of operational aphasia after the removal of the opaque natural crystalline lens. The intraocular crystalline lens comprises a lenticular body with frontal and lateral apertures and, parallel to one another. The lenticular body is connected with two identical and symmetrically elastic asymmetric elements which come from the lenticular body for contact with the supporting eye surface having two parallel straight extreme parts, the ends of which are inserted in the apertures of the lenticular body.

Abstract: An item of sports equipment or a games device comprising a supporting plate which provides space for two feet and which is equipped with rotatable elements, wherein the supporting plate has a camber on the upper side, and at least one horizontally rotatable supporting disk is arranged to be attached near to each end of the under side.

Abstract: An intraocular lens of the type having a transparent lens body and a pair of oppositely projecting curved resilient support loops, wherein the lens is designed for facilitated implantation into the posterior chamber of the eye following extracapsular extraction of a natural lens. A first loop carries a guide blade projecting toward the lens body and including an aperture near said first loop for receiving a retention tab projecting posteriorly from the lens body periphery to retain the first loop compressed closely alongside the lens body periphery with a substantial portion of the blade lying along the posterior surface of the lens body. Upon lens implantation into the posterior chamber, for example, through a corneal incision and the pupil, the lens is oriented with the second loop in a leading position for easy seating within the capsular bag, while the first loop is retained by the tab until the lens is fully seated within the capsular bag.

Abstract: A one-piece prosthesis for biventricular cardiac assistance and reanimation is implanted in the right hemithorax between the diaphragm and the right lung symmetrically with respect to a diseased natural heart with which it operates in parallel. The prosthesis comprises a one-piece shell and two blood-circulating deformable-diaphragm pumps actuated by a compressed gas. The prosthesis face which rests on the patient's diaphragm is substantially flat and a substantially orthogonal face is provided with two ports for connecting the prosthesis to the natural heart while the other two connecting ports are inclined at an angle of 45.degree., connections between the ports and the natural heart being established by means of very short flexible hose elements. A system of port end-fittings serves to connect the prosthesis to the hose elements and to purge the prosthesis or to withdraw any air which may be present.