Abstract: A prosthesis (P1, P2) intended to remedy laryngeal dysfunction includes a tubular body (1) which is intended to be introduced into the larynx (8) and which, at one of its ends is shaped in a bevel (3) and which includes, on the one hand, an inclined closure face (4) and, on the other hand, lateral orifices (5) for communication between the inside of said tubular body (1) and the area outside of said tubular body (1).

Abstract: A method of making a balloon expandable braided stent with a restraint to initially prevent self-expansion and the resulting product. Multiple strands of a resilient metal or plastic are braided to form a tubular configuration of a predetermined outside diameter which assumes a lesser diameter when the tubular stent is longitudinally stretched. When in its stretched condition, it is coated with a polymeric material which is then cross-linked to effectively "freeze" the intersections of the braided structure holding it in its reduced diameter configuration. The tubular stent is designed to be placed within a body vessel using a balloon stent delivery catheter. When the balloon surrounded by the braided wire stent is inflated, the stent expands initially to an extent to break the bonds of plastic material between the intersections of the strands, thereby permitting self-expansion to take place.

Abstract: An endoluminal medical prosthesis has a frame, a flexible sleeve, and means for fastening the flexible sleeve to the frame. The frame includes a plurality of adjacent, axially-spaced undulating or meandering tubular structures, the undulations or meanders being formed by elongate segments arranged in V- or U-formation, with apices therebetween. The flexible sleeve is substantially coaxial with the frame and channels a fluid flowing in the duct. The attaching element, which includes a flexible thread, wraps around and extends from an elongate segment of one meandering structure of the frame to an elongate segment of an adjacent, axially spaced meandering structure of the frame, preferably passing through the flexible sleeve with each wrap or turn around a segment.

Abstract: The metal shell of an acetabular cup has holes that allow a surgeon to screw the shell to pelvic bone. To prevent the debris of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene ("UHMWPE") or other plastic liner in the shell from migrating through the holes, the present invention seals each screw-receiving hole with a thin UHMWPE disc. The disc snaps into an annular groove in the hole. With the disc in place, debris from the liner does not pass through the screw holes.

Abstract: An acetabular trial insert is provided in which the appropriate anteversion angle of the acetabular cup of a hip prosthesis may be determined automatically by placing an inner cup within an outer cup and providing a mechanism which will hold the inner cup in position after the trial has been reduced and the hip rotated through an intended range of motion.

Abstract: Intraocular devices together with methods for their preparation and use are provided, which are capable of sustained release of an antiproliferative agent, particularly an immunotoxin comprising a cytotoxic moiety. The intraocular devices are implanted in the eye where the immunotoxin is released from the intraocular device. The device may be used to inhibit proliferation of remnant lens epithelial cells, particularly after extracapsular cataract extractinon. The components of the device can be provided as kits, but preferably are provided in a form suitable for use with an IOL or coated onto an IOL.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of preparation of a new reconstituted collagen template and further to the reconstituted collagen template being able to cure articular destruction in a mammal.

Abstract: A medical device having stratum compactum of tissue membrane is provided. The present invention further provides a method for producing a medical device having stratum compactum of tissue membrane. The method includes the steps of: separating tissue membrane including stratum compactum from tissue; sterilizing or disinfecting the separated tissue membrane; and removing all other layers except the stratum compactum from the sterilized or disinfected tissue membrane using an enzyme.

Abstract: An improved coupling method and device for an ocular prosthesis to a porous polyethylene implant is provided. According to the invention, a small surgical screws having a domed head is inserted into a porous plastic implant after the implant has been implanted into an enucleated orbit allowed to vascularize. The domed head projects from the anterior surface of the implant which is covered by conjunctive tissue and is received by a complementary cavity on the rear surface of the ocular prosthesis.

Abstract: A medical device for implantation in the tissue of a human body having a biocompatible coating thereon including a foreign body formed of a material which is substantially biocompatible with the tissue of the human body. The foreign body has a surface adapted to come in contact with the tissue of the human body and is capable of being oxidized. An organic linker is carried on the surface and forms an oxidative coupling with the surface. A bioactive agent is bonded to the organic linker by a chemical reaction or photochemical function.

Abstract: A biocompatible titanium implant with a modified exterior surface having a covering layer that comprises a hydrated titania gel. The exterior surface of the titanium implant is processed by a hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution that contains metal ions which not only promotes a reaction between the titanium implant and the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution but also provides a high apatite formation ability to the hydrated titania gel on the surface of the implant.

Abstract: A composition for injecting into tissues surrounding the urethra or ureter. It comprises a plurality of physiologically acceptable solid polymer particles dispersed in a physiologically acceptable biodissipatable liquid carrier. The polymer comprises a hydrophilic component. The solid polymer particles are a glycerine insoluble poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer or copolymer or a mineral oil insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer or copolymer. The plurality of solid polymer particles are capable of hydrating and upon hydration of absorbing at least about 30% water and of swelling to a predetermined volume. The solid particles are substantially insoluble in body fluids and substantially insoluble in and non-swellable by the liquid carrier. The composition is especially suitable in treating patients with urinary incontinence and patients with vesicoureteral reflux via injection into the tissues around the urethra or ureter.

Abstract: A surgical stent (10) is provided which can be radially expanded away from a central axis (2) within a body lumen, such as an artery. The stent (10) is formed from a series of struts (20) circumscribing a cylindrical contour of the stent (10). Each strut (20) has a series of bends (30) formed therein with each bend including at least one trough (32) and at least one crest (36). Gaps (40) are provided between adjacent struts (20). Each gap (40) is spanned by an axial element such as a tie bar (50) or links (180). Each tie bar (50) attaches to adjacent struts (20) through troughs (32) so that when the stent (10) is radially expanded, the struts (20) are not drawn together, but rather maintain their position and the stent (10) hence maintains its axial length without contracting. Other elements such as the links (180) can be provided spanning the gaps (140) to provide enhanced flexibility for the surgical stent (110) including such links (180).

Abstract: The present invention provides controlled expansion endoluminal prostheses and methods for their deployment and expansion. The present stent-grafts generally comprise a radially expansible tubular frame and a plastically expansible liner on the frame. Either the frame or the liner includes a reinforcing element which limits expansion of the stent-graft at a predetermined expanded size. In some embodiments, the reinforcing element restrains the frame, for example, by limiting the circumferential diagonals of perforations on a perforate frame structure. Generally, however, the reinforcing element is included in the liner as circumferentially oriented yarn. A particularly advantageous liner includes composite circumferential yarns having inexpansible fibers wrapped around an expansible fiber, such as a partially oriented yarn, PTFE, or the like.

Abstract: A cage and rack system includes at least one cage, a shelf, and a water docking system that holds the cage in the position on the shelf in which a cage-mounted animal watering valve is coupled to a water manifold so as to assure the supply of water to the watering valve without leakage. The water docking system includes a latch mechanism and a coupling. The latch mechanism includes a latch catch which is movable 1) from an unlatched position in which it is disengaged from the cage and permits removal of the cage from the rack 2) to a latched position holding the cage in its docked position. The coupling may comprise either a friction-fit quick-connect or a locking quick-connect coupling and includes a male fitting and a female fitting. The male fitting is designed to prevent leakage by sequentially engaging two internal seals of the female fitting so as to first seal against the female fitting and then open an internal valve element of the female fitting.

Abstract: A prosthesis for use in hernia repair surgery having a preformed prosthetic fabric supported along its periphery by shape memory alloy wire having a transformation temperature corresponding to normal body temperature allowing the prosthesis to be tightly rolled into a cylindrical configuration for delivery through a laparoscopic instrument and which deploys to a predetermined shape as it warms up to body temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides modular intraluminal tubular prostheses, particularly stents and stent-grafts, for the treatment of disease conditions, particularly aneurysms. Modular sections of the prostheses, or "prosthetic modules," may be selectively combined to form a composite prosthesis having characteristics which are tailored to the specific requirements of the patient. Each prosthetic module preferably includes one or more standard interface ends for engaging another module, the module/module interface typically comprising ends which overlap and/or lock within a predetermined axial range. Advantageously, the axial length, cross-section, perimeter, resilient expansive force, axial flexibility, liner permeability, liner extensibility, radial conformability, liner/tubal wall sealing and anchoring, and other prosthetic characteristics may be varied along the axis of the composite prosthesis, and also along the axis of each prosthetic module.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoluminal prosthesis for deployment in a body lumen of a patient body, the prosthesis comprising a tubular fabric liner and a radially expandable frame supporting the liner. A plurality of imagable bodies are attached to the liner, the imagable bodies providing a sharp contrast so as to define a pattern which indicates the prosthesis position when the prosthesis is imaged within the patient body. Preferably, each imagable body comprises a plate having first and second opposed major surfaces and a passage therebetween to facilitate stitching the imagable body to the liner. Advantageously, the imagable bodies can be aligned with the openings of a perforate frame structure so that at least some of the imagable bodies are visible through associated openings, but need not actually be attached to the frame directly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved method for preparing a composite bone graft. The method includes providing a bone marrow aspirate suspension and passing the bone marrow aspirate suspension through a porous, biocompatible, implantable substrate to provide a composite bone graft having an enriched population of connective tissue progenitor cells. Because the method is preferably performed intraoperatively it reduces the number of occasions the graftee must undergo invasive procedures. The invention also relates to an improved composite bone graft prepared according to the present method. The improved composite graft includes an enriched population of connective tissue progenitor cells and a greater number of connective tissue progenitor cells per unit volume than that found in the original bone marrow aspirate. The present invention also relates to a kit including the apparatus used for preparing the composite bone graft.

Abstract: A delivery system for implantation of a medical device in a body lumen consists of an elongate flexible catheter for delivering the medical device a predetermined location in a lumen. The medical device surrounds the flexible catheter near its distal end and is held in a delivery configuration where the medical device has a reduced radius along its axial length by a storage sleeve. The storage sleeve surrounds the medical device. Where the catheter has an outer sleeve, the storage sleeve not only provides a means for retaining the medical device in its delivery configuration, but also protects the outer sleeve from creep during storage and/or elevated temperature conditions. The storage sleeve is removed from the system prior to use.