Abstract: A universal rotator for heart valve prothesis is provided including a heart valve rotator body having a handle portion that extends in a direction remote from a polycarbonate plastic rotator. The rotator body is suitably joined to the end of the handle and includes a transverse slot with semi-circular wedge-shaped extensions adapted to engage a mitral heart valve and an aortic heart valve for rotation. The rotator is used to spin a subassembly of a heart valve within a sewing cuff and locking ring to a more favorable position. The rotator can be used with both sides of the heart valve corresponding to either the mitral or aortic positions. The universal heart valve rotator for bileaflet mechanical heart prostheses can be used to rotate both mitral and aortic valves with a single instrument.

Abstract: The refrigerated automatic fish feeder is an insulated cylindrical container having a removable cover and a motor driven rotating food tray. The food tray has food tray compartments to hold food and each food tray compartment has a trap door to allow dispensing of food at predetermined time intervals. The insulated container has a food drop door which opens at the same time as the trap door to allow the food to drop from the fish feeder into a fish tank. The fish feeder is cooled by use of a thermal electric device thermally connected between an external heat sink with a fan to dissipate heat and an internal heat sink. The movement of the food tray to dispense food and the operation of the thermal electric device for cooling is accomplished by an operation and control circuit having a fail safe circuit.

Abstract: A spine stabilizing prosthesis has first and second hollow, cylindrical bearing members interconnected by a hollow, cylindrical jacking screw adjustable to expand the prosthesis within a cavity to bridge respective opposite axial ends of the bearing members into pressure engagement with opposing vertebral faces. Walls of the bearing members are perforated by a plurality of bone fragment admitting apertures and forming a bone fragment receptacle so that bone can grow and fuse completely through said bearing members when the prosthesis is installed in the cavity. Respective axial ends of the bearing members are formed with rings of vertebrae engaging teeth having ramp surfaces permitting sliding engagement when rotated in one direction and biting into the facing surfaces when rotated in the opposite direction resisting rotation to permit further expansion apart of the bearing members by rotation of the jacking screw.

Abstract: An acetabular shell is implanted at an acetabulum in a deficient pelvis to establish an effective acetabular site with increased support in posterior and superior directions for an acetabular bearing insert to be affixed in place in the acetabular shell for the reception of a femoral head of a femoral component of a prosthetic hip implant, the acetabular shell including a domed portion having a convex outer surface for engaging the acetabulum, a concave inner surface for reception of the bearing insert, the inner surface extending along a spherical contour up to a generally hemispherical extent, and a rim between the outer and inner surfaces, the rim being placed adjacent an equatorial location along the domed portion and including a superior segment, an inferior segment longitudinally opposite the superior segment, a posterior segment and an anterior segment laterally opposite the posterior segment, an anchoring plate integral with the domed portion adjacent the superior segment of the rim, and a supplementa

Abstract: An acetabular or cotyloid implant intended in particular for the iliac joint socket, which comprises a metallic cage and an insert made of plastic material. The cage, which is spherical in form, is constituted by a metal frame of slight thickness composed of a network of narrow blades defining therebetween large free spaces, while the insert made of plastic material is solidly assembled with the cage.

Abstract: A patellar prosthesis includes an articulation component having a prosthetic articulation surface and a base component for fixation to resected patellar bone. Each of the articulation and base components include planar bearing surfaces in sliding engagement. The base component includes a fixed pin extending perpendicularly from its respective planar bearing surface. The articulation component includes an elongate groove in its respective planar bearing surface. The pin and groove have complementary wall profiles that provide for an elastic snap-retention of the pin within the groove. The articulation component is free to rotate about the axis of the pin received within the groove, and is free to translate parallel to the planar bearing surfaces, limited by the length of the groove. The articulation component enjoys only one rotational degree of freedom, and only two translational degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Spinal osteosynthesis device comprising, for one and the same vertebra, a hook (12), two vertebral bearing means associated with the said hook, the latter being adapted so as to be able to bear on the median portion of the vertebral posterior arch between two longitudinal rods (7) of the said device, this hook being provided with transverse means of connection (28) between the hook and the longitudinal rods, with the possibility of adjustment, in a sagittal plane from front to back and from top to bottom, and in a frontal plane from left to right, between the rods and the said hook. The hook (12) and the two anchoring screws or hooks afford three bearing points on the same vertebra, and this avoids having to equip the stage above. Moreover, this hook can be put in place, at the end of a surgical intervention, at the desired stage and at any level chosen by the surgeon, while at the same time permitting an appreciable saving in the time taken for it to be put into place compared with the earlier systems.

Abstract: A pair of inflatable prosthesis sacs are insertable in two cup portions of an adjustable brassiere each sac including an elastic foam core formed in between an outer layer and an inner layer made of elastic materials, an inflating device directly connectable with a prosthesis check valve formed on the sac for inflating the sac, and a deflating device formed on the sac for deflating the sac, thereby eliminating an air tube connected between an air pump and a brassiere cup in order for making a compact brassiere for its comfortable wearing.

Abstract: The present invention is a multi-cell stent having at least two different types of cells with each type of cell accomplishing a different purpose. For example, a first type of cell is intended to provide a maximum radial rigidity after stent deployment. A second type of cell is designed to provide increased longitudinal flexibility prior to stent deployment and after stent deployment into a main artery, the second type of cell can be readily balloon expanded at the ostium of a side branch artery to a comparatively large diameter without breaking any of the struts of the stent cell. By this technique, unobstructed blood flow into the side branch can be provided.

Abstract: A prosthesis for the replacement of a spinal disk includes a first disk half and a second disk half. The first disk half includes a portion of a socket attached to a first plate. The second disk half includes a portion of a ball attached to a second plate. The socket includes a plurality of expansion slots which expand to allow the portion of a ball to be inserted into the socket and which then contract to retain the portion of a ball therein. A first hole is provided through the first plate, a second hole is provided through the socket, and a third hole is provided through the second plate which together form an opening through the disk. The opening is adapted to receive an insert to either medicate a pair of vertebrae or provide a barrier therein. The disk is fastened to the vertebrae by any preferred combination of pins, tabs, or a first annulus or second annulus, each of which extend from the disk.

Abstract: An intrafocal peg includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end has a greater cross-sectional area than the second end. A blocking member is provided on the peg. The blocking member may take the form of a helical thread or a plurality of unconnected protruding members. The blocking member defines one or two notches. The peg is inserted into the fracture such that the posterior cortical wall of the metaphysis of the radius is located in a notch formed by segments of the blocking member at the first end of the peg. Blocking members may also be provided at the opposite end of the peg to form a second notch in which the anterior cortical wall or the metaphysis of the radius is located.

Abstract: An artificial bone replacement device includes opposite end connectors interconnected to each other by a flexible unit consisting of an outer plastic tube and an inner plastic tube. The flexible telescoped tubes provide a flexible joint permitting angular movement of the connectors relative to each other. The connector are constructed for connection to a bone structure of a cadaver or to a bone replacement element in a cadaver such as a tubular member. A shoulder replacement device includes a first connector having a projecting screw member for threading into the collar bone. The opposite connector includes a tubular member connected to the tubular plastic tubes and having an opposite outer end tubular connector for interconnection to a bone or an artificial replacement member. The tubes are secured to the connectors by a cross screw threaded through the respective connectors and tubes. A similar screw is provided to connect the outer tubular connector to the bone or a bone replacement element.

Abstract: An elastic intervertebral disc prosthesis comprising two opposite plates joined together by partitions capable of deforming elastically as a function of the load applied on the prosthesis.

Abstract: An intraluminal prosthesis for use in a blood vessel, e.g., the abdominal aorta, at which an aneurysm defining an aneurysmal space is located. The prosthesis basically comprises an expandable sleeve, an outer balloon, a pair of sealing rings or a sealing cover, a pair of expandable anchoring stents, and plural expandable support stents. The sleeve is an elongated tubular member defining a passageway having a pair of open ends for conveying blood therethrough. The outer balloon is disposed about the sleeve and is arranged to be filled with a fluid, e.g., a gel or saline, to cause it to extend outward to fill the aneurysmal space. The sleeve is arranged to be expanded and held in that state by the stents.

Abstract: An implant device is disclosed for expanding the girth of, and improving the appearance of a testis. A pair of soft, flexible bodies are implanted within the scrotum and joined to the testes. Each of the bodies and the testis to which it is attached, take the shape of a sphere. When implanted, the body covers a portion of the testis not including the testicular cord.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis includes a femoral component, a patella insert, a tibial bearing insert, a tibial tray and a reinforcement pin. The reinforcement pin is constructed such that it includes a ribbed region comprised of one or more circumferentially oriented ribs. The diameter of the ribbed region of the pin exceeds that of the non-ribbed region of the pin. The reinforcement pin is adapted to seat within a bore formed in the tibial bearing insert in an interference fit. A distal portion of the pin protrudes from the inferior surface of the tibial bearing insert and is adapted to fit, in a clearance fit, within a bore formed in a superior surface of the tibial tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical treatment for prevention of calcification and degeneration of biological tissue grafts used as a whole or in a part as heart valve substitutes, substitutes of blood vessel, pericardial substitutes, and surgical membranes for implantation in human. The process includes the steps of treatment of the grafts with partially degraded heparin to prevent the calcification of glutaraldehyde-treated xenografts.

Abstract: Disclosed are a tympanostomy tube made of pure titanium or a titanium alloy comprising a lumen formed longitudinally in an elongated tubular member and a concavity inwardly formed on said elongated tubular member in a circumferential direction at right angles to a longitudinal direction thereof, said lumen being longitudinally different in diameter and having a larger diameter at a position at which the concavity is not formed than at a position at which the concavity is formed; and a method for producing a tympanostomy tube comprising the steps of drilling a hole longitudinally in a rod member of pure titanium or a titanium alloy to form an elongated tubular member, and forming a concavity on said elongated tubular member in a circumferential direction at right angles to a longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: A body compatible stent is formed of multiple filaments arranged in at least two sets of oppositely directed helical windings interwoven with one another in a braided configuration. Each of the filaments is a composite including a central core and a case surrounding the core. In the more preferred version, the core is formed of a radiopaque and relatively ductile material, e.g. tantalum or platinum. The outer case is formed of a relatively resilient material, e.g. a cobalt/chromium based alloy. Favorable mechanical characteristics of the stent are determined by the case, while the core enables in vivo imaging of the stent. The composite filaments are formed by a drawn filled tubing process in which the core is inserted into a tubular case of a diameter substantially more than the intended final filament diameter. The composite filament is cold-worked in several steps to reduce its diameter, and annealed between successive cold-working steps.

Abstract: A body compatible stent is formed of multiple filaments arranged in two sets of oppositely directed helical windings interwoven with one another in a braided configuration. Each of the filaments is a composite including a central core and a case surrounding the core. In the more preferred version, the core is formed of a radiopaque and relatively ductile material having a linear attenuation coefficient of at least 25 cm.sup.-1 at 100 KeV, e.g. tantalum or platinum. The outer case is formed of a relatively resilient material, e.g. a cobalt/chromium based alloy. Favorable mechanical characteristics of the stent are determined by the case, while the core enables in vivo imaging of the stent. Alternative composite filaments employ an intermediate barrier layer between the case and core formed for example of tantalum, niobium or platinum. To improve compatibility, a biocompatible cover layer can surround the case.