Abstract: A modular hip joint implant and associated method. The modular hip implant includes a femoral stem having a proximal surface defining a dovetail groove having first and second female wings, and a neck component having a distal surface defining a semi-dovetail projection engaging the dovetail groove. The projection includes a single male wing mating with the first femoral wing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-expandable medical instrument (100) for treating defects in a patient's heart, in particular for the transvascular implantation of a prosthetic heart valve (30), wherein the medical instrument (100) is introducible into the body of a patient in a minimally-invasive procedure using a catheter system (40) and comprises a stent (1) made of a flexible mesh (2) of thin wires or filaments (2?). In order to realize a positioning of medical instrument (100) in the patient's heart which is as precise as possible and to securely anchor same there, it is provided for the stent (1) composed of the flexible mesh (2) to exhibit in the expanded state of the medical instrument (100) a distal retention area (10) with a laterally-inverted beaded portion (12) which is engageable in at least one pocket (51) of the patient's defective heart valve (50), a proximal retention area (20), and a center area (15) positioned between the distal and the proximal retention area (10, 20).

Abstract: A connecting band for a highly flexible tissue-type heart valve having a stent with cusps and commissures that are permitted to move radially. The connecting band follows the cusps and commissures and extends outwardly. The valve is connected to the natural tissue along the undulating connecting band using conventional techniques, such as sutures. The connecting band may be a cloth-covered inner suture-permeable member and attaches to the underside of the valve at the cusps to provide support to the stent and to the outer side of the valve at the commissures. The connecting band includes commissure portions defining generally axial gaps that help permit flexing of the valve. The inner member may include one or more slits along the cusps to enhance flexibility. The inner member may further include a continuous outwardly projecting sewing ridge around its periphery which includes a series of ribs separated by grooves around the inflow edge of the cusps.

Abstract: A vascular stent comprising a drug-eluting outer layer of a porous sputtered columnar metal having each column capped with a biocompatible carbon-containing material is described. This is done by placing the stent over a close-fitting mandrel and rotating the assembly in a sputter flux. The result is a coating that is evenly distributed over the outward-facing side of the stent's wire mesh while preventing the sputtered columnar coating from reaching the inward facing side where a smooth hemocompatible surface is required. The stent is then removed from the mandrel, exposing all surfaces, and finally coated with a layer of carbon such as amorphous carbon or diamond-like carbon. The carbonaceous coating enhances biocompatibility without preventing elutriation of a therapeutic drug provided in the porosity formed between the columnar structures. The result is a stent that is adapted to both the hemodynamic and the immune response requirements of its vascular environment.

Abstract: An implantable flow restrictor plug is disclosed that is disposed within a deployed endoluminal prosthesis to initially restrict, then gradually restore blood flow through the prosthesis after an angioplasty procedure. Upon initial deployment, the plug has a tubular biodegradable body defining a blood flow lumen therethrough that is sized to effectively reduce the amount of blood flow exiting the prosthesis. An inner surface of the body erodes or biodegrades in vivo to enlarge the plug lumen, thereby gradually restoring blood flow through the prosthesis until blood flow is unimpeded through the prosthesis, i.e., blood flow through the vessel is fully restored. The flow restrictor plug may be attached to the endoluminal prosthesis to be delivered and deployed therewith, or may be formed within a previously deployed prosthesis.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a medical device having an underlying structure on which is disposed a fiber meshwork composed of one or more fibers of substantially uniform diameter. The fiber meshwork may optionally have a multi-layer structure disposed upon it. Either or both of the fiber meshwork or the multi-layer structure may have one or more therapeutic agents absorbed within it. The fiber meshwork is permeable to body fluids and thereby permits body fluids to contact the underlying structure to facilitate its controlled disintegration. The fiber meshwork degrades more slowly than the underlying structure thereby permitting release of the therapeutic agent over a timescale longer than that of the lifetime of the underlying structure, while also ensuring that the support function of the underlying structure is not abrogated by the disintegration of the underlying structure.

Abstract: A vascular stent comprising a drug-eluting outer layer of a porous sputtered columnar metal having each column capped with a biocompatible carbon-containing material is described. This is done by placing the stent over a close-fitting mandrel and rotating the assembly in a sputter flux. The result is a coating that is evenly distributed over the outward-facing side of the stent's wire mesh while preventing the sputtered columnar coating from reaching the inward facing side where a smooth hemocompatible surface is required. The stent is then removed from the mandrel, exposing all surfaces, and finally coated with a layer of carbon such as amorphous carbon or diamond-like carbon. The carbonaceous coating enhances biocompatibility without preventing elutriation of a therapeutic drug provided in the porosity formed between the columnar structures. The result is a stent that is adapted to both the hemodynamic and the immune response requirements of its vascular environment.

Abstract: A tubular endoprosthesis including a polymeric material is disclosed. The endoprosthesis has a collapsed position that can be reverted to a first expanded position larger than the collapsed position by heating to a first temperature subsequent to insertion of the endoprosthesis into a cavity or lumen in a mammal. The endoprosthesis can be further expanded to a second expanded position within the cavity or lumen.

Abstract: A stent-graft (100) is provided with a tightenable loop element (104) having a first end terminated in a slip knot or self-tightening knot (112) and a second end which is received in and can slide in the knot (112). The knot (112) is tied by a suture to the stent-graft (100) so as to be fixed thereto. The loop (104) is fitted to the stent-graft (100) in a manner as to pass between the inside to the outside of the graft material and in such a manner that controlled curvature of the stent-graft (100) is possible, in particular control of the overlapping of adjacent stents held within the zone of the loop (104). An introducer assembly is also disclosed which includes a control cannula (120) able to the fixed to the stent-graft (100) during the deployment procedure, as well as a mechanism of suture loops (150, 152) at the proximal end of the stent-graft (100) for retaining this in a constricted form during the process of curving the latter during the deployment process.

Abstract: An annuloplasty prosthesis including an inner tubular member having a lateral wall and exhibiting auxetic behavior when subject to a tensile stress along the longitudinal axis of at least one of its portions. The auxetic behavior may be obtained by perforating the tubular member with apertures of desired shape, thus obtaining, for instance, re-entrant honeycomb cell structures or cell structures with two-dimensional chiral symmetry.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anchoring element for an implantable prosthesis that includes a barb, wherein the anchoring element, which includes a basal portion, comprises a thin layer of material, such as a cannula or sheet of metal, that extends or wraps at least partially around the strut of the prosthesis to which it is attached. The barb is configured to extend outward from the basal portion to penetrate adjacent tissue. The anchoring element is either permanently affixed to the strut, such as by laser or spot welding, crimping, or some other method of bonding, or allowed to slide longitudinally over the strut between two points or stops in order to relieve any excessive loads placed upon the barb that could cause fracture. The anchoring element and strut may be configured to limit axial rotation of the barb, while still allowing longitudinal movement. In another embodiment, the slidable anchoring element may be manipulated following initial deployment to reorient the barb toward the implantation site.

Abstract: A leg extension (10) for a stent grafting system to connect between an aortic graft and an iliac graft. The leg extension is a tubular body (12) of a biocompatible graft material with self-expanding stents connected along the length of the tubular body and the tubular body having a distal end with a connection region. The connection region has a flared stent defining an external frusto-conical surface to provide a connection arrangement to engage within an internally flared portion of an iliac graft.

Abstract: A stent graft (10; 40; 80) has a tubular body (12; 42; 82) of a biocompatible material and at least two fenestrations (18, 20; 48, 50; 84, 86, 88). The at least two fenestrations (10, 20; 48, 50; 84, 86, 88) are adjacent each other and each has a tube {24, 26; 54, 55; 90, 92, 94) extending into the tubular body (1 2; 42; 82). The tubes (24, 26; 54, 55; 90, 92, 94) are joined inside the tubular body (12; 42; 82) into a single larger tube (30; 60; 96) to facilitate catheterization.

Abstract: An orthopedic augment member and connection to an implant is disclosed. The connection may be formed between the implant, comprising a recess with a ledge formed therein, and the augment member by utilizing a fastener, and a connector, which may be configured and dimensioned to snap-fit into the recess formed in the implant forming an interference fit therebetween. The fastener may further comprise a body member with threads located thereon for matingly engaging a threaded wall defining a recess formed in the augment member, thereby securing the augment member to the recess of the implant.

Abstract: A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands connected by connector struts. The stent may further comprise a side branch cell having a plurality of outwardly deployable petals. Each serpentine band may have an approximate longitudinal axis. A portion of the serpentine bands may be flared in the unexpanded state, wherein a portion of the axis of each flared band is oriented helically about a portion of the stent. The bands may reorient during stent expansion, whereafter the axis of each band is oriented in a circumferential direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent comprising a bioabsorbable polymeric scaffolding; and a plurality of depots in at least a portion of the scaffolding, wherein the plurality of depots comprise a bioabsorbable material, wherein the degradation rate of all or substantially all of the bioabsorbable polymer of the scaffolding is faster than the degradation rate of all or substantially all of the bioabsorbable material of the depots.

Abstract: An active bodily ring having a housing adapted to be sutured to a bodily component and a loop disposed in the housing, the loop capable of actively expanding and compressing during the bodily components normal function. The housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber containing the loop and the second chamber providing a region capable of being sutured to the bodily component. In one embodiment, the housing can be a crimped-fabric housing. In another embodiment, the housing can be a woven-fabric housing having elastic properties. The housing can be made from polyester.

Abstract: Various assemblies for replacing at least a proximal portion of a tibia are provided. One assembly includes a tibial tray including a superior bearing engaging surface and an inferior bone engaging surface and having a truncated posterior region; a bearing including an articulating surface, a tray mating surface, and an overhang. The tray mating surface of the bearing is in mating engagement with the inferior bone engaging surface of the tibial tray such that the overhang of the bearing extend beyond the tibial tray truncated posterior region. Related surgical methods are also provided.

Abstract: Intervertebral implant system for intervertebral implantation, are disclosed. An intervertebral implant system according to the present disclosure includes a frame having a peripheral wall defining a space therein, and a settable material introducible into the space of the frame. The settable material is a biocompatible load bearing material including and not limited to bone, composites, polymers of bone growth material, collagen, and insoluble collagen derivatives. The settable material is injectable into the space defined by the frame. The settable material may have an initial fluid condition wherein the fluid settable material cures to a hardened condition.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint assembly that includes a shell including an inner surface. The assembly also includes a bearing member including an outer surface. The bearing member is received by the shell such that the outer surface of the bearing member is adjacent the inner surface of the shell. Furthermore, the joint assembly includes a compressible member that is rigidly fixed to the inner surface of the shell or the outer surface of the bearing member to only cover a portion thereof. The compressible member is made of a material that is different from the shell or the bearing member.