Abstract: A bicondylar knee implants with improved fixation means for resurfacing only the weight-bearing surface of the femoral medial and lateral condyles, while preserving the cruciate ligaments and avoids displacing the patella. The inventive device includes metallic convex articular surfaces for resurfacing the medial and lateral femoral condyles, and concave multifacial non-articular surfaces to be affixed to the resected distal surfaces of the femur. The prosthesis provides claws situated at the anterior and posterior ends of the medial and lateral metallic condyles, which will firmly attach the implant against the resected femoral condyle. The prosthesis is designed to be implanted through a direct lateral approach and does not resurface the femoropatellar joint. Furthermore, a minirobot or electromechanical actuator is used to perform the femoral and tibial bone cuts using electromagnetic bone chipper.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent, the valve assembly including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each of the leaflets having a free edge having a first end and a second end, and a second edge secured to the cuff, the second edge having a first end, a second end, a first folded portion adjacent the first end, a second folded portion adjacent the second end, and an unfolded portion between the first and second folded portions. The first and second folded portions couple the leaflet to ones of the commissure features.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including an implantable device shaped to define (a) at least two artery-contact regions, the artery-contact regions comprising struts that are configured to stretch an arterial wall by applying pressure to the arterial wall, and (b) at least two crimping regions that comprise locking mechanisms configured to prevent the crimping regions from becoming crimped due to pressure from the wall of the artery on the artery-contact regions. The crimping regions are configured to be crimped during insertion of the device, via a catheter, by the locking mechanisms being unlocked during insertion of the device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An orthopedic implant can be used for fixation of a joint or fracture and can include a tapered member and at least one fixation member. The tapered member can be configured for placement in association with one or more bone segments. The tapered member can have a longitudinally extending body that defines an upper surface portion, an opposed lower surface portion and first and second sides, where at least the first and second sides can be formed of porous metal and can have a porous metal outer surface. The at least one fixation member can be integrally formed with the tapered member and can extend laterally outwardly from the tapered member body. The at least one fixation member can be configured to secure the implant to the one or more bone segments to provide fixation of the one or more bone segments relative to the tapered member.

Abstract: An implant system for total shoulder arthroplasties, hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties including a humeral stem having an enlarged head portion with interfaces adapted to removably receive various modular interchangeable components, such as articulating liners, spacers, and adapter inserts. The humeral stem functions as a universal platform that may be used in either conventional or “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties, as well as hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and may remain implanted in place during a revision in which the implant system is converted between the foregoing configurations, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing a ligament graft for a ligament reconstruction procedure are provided. In general, the described techniques utilize a graft holder construct having a graft preparation holder and a suture assembly removably coupled thereto. The graft preparation holder includes an elongate support rail having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of leaf segments positioned along the longitudinal axis in a spaced relationship and extending laterally from the support rail. The leaf segments can bend to a graft holding configuration so as to define a graft receiving channel configured to receive a graft therethrough. The holder also has at least one support structure configured to mate with the leaf segments to provide stability and rigidity to the segments. The suture assembly has at least one suture tail that can be pulled to affix the suture assembly to a graft without penetrating the graft.

Abstract: A collar arranged to couple to a prosthetic component for implantation at the end of a long bone, the prosthetic component having a distal portion arranged to couple to the bone and a proximal neck portion arranged to couple to an articulation component. The collar comprises a plate including a neck hole to receive a neck portion, such that the collar can rotate about the neck portion. The collar further comprises a plurality of attachment portions for coupling the plate to bone fragments or soft tissues. The collar is lockable to the neck portion to prevent further rotation. A prosthesis comprising a combination of a collar, a prosthetic component and an articulation component, and a surgical method of using the collar are also disclosed.

Abstract: A synthetic bone graft is described which is adapted to be received within a bone defect and which is structurally load-bearing. The bone graft comprises an entirely synthetic graft body corresponding in shape and size to the bone defect. The graft body is composed of a plurality of superimposed multilayered structures, each of the multilayered structures having a biopolymer layer joined to a biomineral layer to define an interface therebetween. The biomineral layer has a stiffness that is greater than that of the biopolymer layer, and the biopolymer layer has a toughness that is less than that of the biomineral layer.

Abstract: An instrument for assembling an implant on a neck. The implant and neck being coupled via a taper having a taper axis. The instrument includes a frame having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the frame including a retaining member adapted to engage a portion of the neck and a connector adapted to engage a corresponding feature of the stem. The instrument also includes a force applier retained in the proximal portion of the frame. The force applier includes a screw having a screw axis that is coaxial with the taper axis, wherein the screw is adapted to engage the implant. As the screw is turned, the force applier applies a force on the implant while the neck is held in place by the frame, thereby causing the tapers of the implant and neck to engage.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of commissure features disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The stent includes a plurality of struts, selected ones of the struts having multiple widths along their length and being wider adjacent the commissure features than at locations spaced away from the commissure features. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly includes a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure features.

Abstract: A stent and method for treating an end of a pre-woven stent is provided. The method includes providing a pre-woven stent including a plurality of sharp ends. A pair of wire portions that extend in opposite helical directions around the stent are bent and woven into the stent to define a pair of overlapping crown portions. When the wires are woven into the stent a double weave portion of the stent is defined. The wires can be cut to define tail portions that are removed from the stent, leaving a single crown portion. The sharp ends can be alternatively treated by curving the ends to define rounded looped ends.

Abstract: An implantable device consisting of a plurality of links and configured to be in one of two modes, either flexible in at least one plane or rigid in all planes. The implantable device is inserted into a body cavity in the flexible mode and transformed to the rigid mode resembling a figure eight and anchoring the device in the body cavity.

Abstract: A device for treating acid reflux comprising a sleeve configured and dimensioned for insertion into the esophagus of the patient, the sleeve having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion between the distal and proximal portions. The sleeve includes a an inner member applying a radial force on the sleeve for securement within the esophagus, and a skirt connected to the sleeve to block acid backup from the stomach while not inhibiting passage of food into the stomach.

Abstract: A modular reverse shoulder orthopedic implant includes a humeral stem component and a separable fracture epiphysis component having a number of suture holes formed therein. The fracture epiphysis component is configured to receive a number of sutures for surgically repairing a proximal humeral fracture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treatment of morbid obesity by placement of a series of flow reduction elements in the small intestine to induce satiety are disclosed. The flow reduction elements restrict the movement of partially digested food and reduce the flow rate through the small intestine which causes the emptying of the stomach and the duodenum to occur slower. The flow reduction elements are attached to an elongated tube and are constructed from various shapes and configurations. The flow reduction elements may be inflated with fluid or may be constructed from self-expandable materials. The device is anchored in the antrum of the stomach with an anchoring member. The transoral gastric device can be inserted with a delivery catheter through the working lumen of an endoscope or alongside an endoscope and may be removed with the aid of an endoscope if desired.

Abstract: A talar implant system comprises a body. The body includes a bone contact surface and an articulation surface located opposite the bone contact surface. The body defines at least one angled fastener hole extending therethrough from the articulation surface to the bone contact surface along a longitudinal axis. The articulation surface is configured to mimic articulation of the talar dome. A fastener is sized and configured to be received within the at least one fastener hole at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fastener hole. A fastener cap is sized and configured to be received within a proximal end of the at least one fastener hole. The fastener cap couples the body to the fastener.

Abstract: A prosthetic device includes one or more components configured to be disposed in a joint. The component includes at least one feature configured to provide information about the component. The information can be used to determine or create the relationship between the component and the joint and/or other components. This relationship may be used to evaluate and/or modify the expected performance of the prosthetic device and assist in determining the optimal relationship between one or more components and a patient's anatomy.

Abstract: An acetabular cup assembly includes a shell and a liner. The shell has an inner surface, an outer surface, a face positioned at an upper end of the shell, and an apex positioned at a lower end of the inner surface. The inner surface includes a tapered inner wall and a plurality of inwardly-facing recesses provided along the inner surface adjacent the face. The plurality of inwardly-facing recesses include a main portion and an asymmetrically-extending portion. Each of the asymmetrically-extending portions extend circumferentially in one direction resulting in the recesses having an asymmetric shape. The segmented portion of the tapered inner wall has a wide portion between the asymmetrically-extending portion and the face and a narrower portion between the asymmetrically-extending portion and the adjacent inwardly-facing recess. The liner is adapted to fit within the shell and engage the inner surface of the shell establishing an interference fit.

Abstract: A glass, glass-ceramic, or ceramic bead is described, with an internal porous scaffold microstructure that is surrounded by an amorphous shield. The shield serves to protect the internal porous microstructure of the shield while increasing the overall strength of the porous microstructure and improve the flowability of the beads either by themselves or in devices such as biologically degradable putty that would be used in bone or soft tissue augmentation or regeneration. The open porosity present inside the bead will allow for enhanced degradability in-vivo as compared to solid particles or spheres and also promote the growth of tissues including but not limited to all types of bone, soft tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

Abstract: An intra-articular device comprises a membrane shaped like a cap having a peripheral geometry similar to that of a head of a bone for a joint to be restored and an open end sized to be applied over the bone proximate the head, so that the open end can be stretched over the head of the bone and held in position on the bone interposed between the head and its corresponding articular component of the joint. The membrane is made of a polyether-urethane-urea material selected to have a property of absorbing the joint's own synovial fluid so as to swell and have a viscoelastic property similar to the body's own articular hyaline cartilage. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane cap is adapted for use on a femoral bone for restoring a hip joint.