Abstract: A stent comprises a first longitudinally extended cylindrical-shaped member. The first member comprises a plurality of first longitudinal struts and an array of first radial struts extending between the first longitudinal struts. The stent further comprises an overlapping region to form a dense mesh.

Abstract: An ophthalmic implant configured for peri-operative, intra-operative, or post-operative assembly and disassembly. Drug delivery devices may be implanted with an intraocular lens, and later removed and replaced with new drug delivery devices.

Abstract: A method of sewing preserved animal tissue to a manmade work piece that forms a part of a prospective bioprosthetic heart valve. The method utilizes a needle having an attached suture length and also having a relative object visibility of less than 0.8 relative to a standard straight surgical needle. Also, this needle has a volume of less than 7 mm3 and a surface area of less than 70 mm2, is formed entirely of 300 series stainless steel, and has an eye, and the suture length is threaded through the eye. The needle having an attached suture length is used to manually sew the animal tissue to the manmade work piece that forms a part of the prospective bioprosthetic heart valve, while maintaining sufficient optical closeness to maintain the visibility of the needle.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve can include a support structure, an actuator member, and a plurality of leaflets. The support structure can have a plurality of struts and a plurality of rivets. The struts can have openings formed therein. The rivets can have first portions and second portions. The first portions can extend through the openings of the struts, and the second portions are larger than the first portion and the openings of the struts. The struts are pivotable about the rivets to radially expand and compress the support structure. The actuator member can be coupled to the struts of the support structure and configured to selectively actuate expansion and compression of the support structure. The leaflets can be coupled to the support structure and configured to allow unidirectional blood flow through the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: An esophageal atresia bridge device including a proximal anchor, a distal anchor, and a brace extending between the proximal anchor and the distal anchor. The brace permits the proximal anchor to move toward the distal anchor to apply a controlled tension that pulls the esophagus together and stretches the esophagus over time.

Abstract: A multi-spiral, self-expanding stent is constructed from superposed individual spiral strands. Each spiral strand comprises a terminal bend that separates the strand into a first portion and a second portion. Particularly, the first portion of each strand bends in a first spiral direction to the terminal bend, and the second portion bends in the opposite direction after the terminal bend. Advantageously, the disclosed stent is able to change its shape, diameter, and length to accommodate the corresponding shape, diameter, and length of patient's diseased vessel.

Abstract: Systems, devices, kits, and methods are described for securing a bioprosthetic heart valve within an anatomical feature of a patient. Kits can comprise a bioprosthetic heart valve, a curable composition, and an applicator configured to deliver the curable composition to a target area. The bioprosthetic heart valve can comprise a support structure and one or more valve leaflets coupled thereto. The support structure can comprise a sewing portion peripheral of the bioprosthetic heart valve. The support structure and the valve leaflets can define a central flow orifice. The curable composition can comprise a pre-polymer composition and an initiator. Methods can comprise positioning the bioprosthetic heart valve within the anatomical feature of a patient, applying the curable composition to one or both of the bioprosthetic heart valve and the anatomical feature, and curing the curable composition for a cure time. The applying can be performed before or after the positioning.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve having an inflow end and an outflow end includes a stent having a collapsed condition, an expanded condition, and cells arranged in circumferential rows. The stent has an anterior side configured to be disposed adjacent an anterior native valve leaflet and a posterior side configured to be disposed adjacent a posterior native valve leaflet. A valve assembly having a plurality of leaflets is disposed within the stent and a flange is disposed about the stent. The flange includes a flared portion adjacent the inflow end and a body portion extending from the flared portion to the outflow end, the flange extending between a first set of attachment points adjacent the inflow end, and a second set of attachment points adjacent the outflow end.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for restoring vision to a subject. In one embodiment, the vision restoration device comprises a projector configured to project one or more digital images onto a central retina of the subject and one or more lenses coupled to the projector and configured to focus the one or more digital images. The vision restoration device can also comprise an extraocular component configured to be implanted within the subject and comprising one or more processors programmed to execute instructions stored in a memory to wirelessly receive the one or more digital images from an extracorporeal device. The intraocular projection component can be connected or coupled to the extraocular component by a trans-scleral communication wire configured to cross the sclera of the eye. The trans-scleral communication wire is configured to transmit digital data between the extraocular component and the intraocular projection component.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for regulating blood flow in an ascending aorta of a subject including inserting a device into the ascending aorta. When in a deployed state, the device defines an inner surface that defines a conduit through the device, at least a portion of the inner surface diverging, such that a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the downstream end of the diverging portion is greater than a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the upstream end of the diverging portion. The device is deployed within a longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta, such that the device defines the conduit throughout deployment of the device within the longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implants can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. In particular, the intraocular implants can include a mask having an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion such as a clear lens or aperture. This construct is adapted to provide an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The intraocular implant may have an optical power for refractive correction. The intraocular implant may be implanted in any location along the optical pathway in the eye, e.g., as an implant in the anterior or posterior chamber.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a stent assembly comprising a stent; a swellable coating disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of the stent; optionally, a carrier dispersed in the swellable coating and/or disposed on at least a portion of an exterior surface of the stent; and an active agent comprised in at least one of the swellable coating or the carrier, if present. Use of the stent assembly as a ureteric stent, and method of preparing a stent assembly are also provided.

Abstract: A method of treating an aneurysm, including determining a diameter associated with a vessel having the aneurysm; selecting one of a plurality of braided implants for treating the vessel, wherein each braided implant comprises a porosity substantially consistent over up to a 1 mm diameter range, each braided implant configured to provide consistent porosity over different diameter ranges; and treating the vessel with the one of the plurality of braided implants.

Abstract: Adjustable ophthalmic devices, systems including adjustable ophthalmic devices, and methods of adjusting an optical power of an ophthalmic device are described. In an embodiment, the ophthalmic devices include a body including an inner surface defining an aperture through the body, wherein the inner surface includes a feature selected from a sharp surface feature, a layer on at least a portion of the inner surface having a surface energy different than a surface energy of the inner surface, and a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the ophthalmic device includes two immiscible liquids disposed in the aperture defining a meniscus, wherein a curvature of the meniscus is defined at least in part by a position of an interface between the layer and the inner surface, a position of the sharp surface feature, or combination thereof.

Abstract: An illustrative stent may comprise an elongated tubular member having a first end and a second end and an intermediate region disposed therebetween. The elongated tubular member may include at least one barb attached thereto. The barb may be configured to be tucked under a filament of the stent during delivery of the stent and protrude radially from the stent, when the stent is deployed.

Abstract: Implantable stents that include strips that are each comprised of main struts connected by first connectors, and adjacent strips are connected by second connectors. The strut connectors have a structure, including areas of expanded or reduced width or thickness, to account for venous applications. When used for venous applications, the stents convey benefit from configurations that improve flexibility (due to the greater elasticity of venous applications) while maintaining enough stiffness to resist pressure on the venous structure in selected areas (such as for the May-Thurner syndrome). The stents include particular structural characteristics that are particularly advantageous for (although not limited to) venous applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial eye lens comprising an optical part, which has a first optical side as viewed in a direction of an optical principal axis of the artificial eye lens and an opposite second optical side, wherein a structure with at least one depression is formed in a haptic arrangement of the artificial eye lens and/or in a surround that surrounds the optical part at least in certain areas and that differs from the haptic arrangement, wherein the structure is formed as a micro-perforation with a multiplicity of perforation zones and at least some perforation zones are filled at least in certain areas with at least one medicament for the purposes of producing a medicament repository. The invention also relates to a method for producing such an artificial eye lens.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a native heart valve may be provided. The prosthetic valve may include an annular valve body, as well as a plurality of ventricular anchoring legs and a plurality of atrial anchoring arms configured to extend radially outward from the annular valve body. The ventricular anchoring legs and grasping segments of the atrial anchoring arms may be configured to substantially restrict axial movement of the annular valve body within the native heart valve. In addition, anchoring segments of the atrial anchoring arms may be configured for lateral deformation relative to the native heart valve.

Abstract: A method of corneal and scleral inlay crosslinking and preservation is disclosed herein. The method includes cross-linking at least a portion of a donor cornea or a donor sclera so as to kill cellular elements in the portion of the donor cornea or the donor sclera, and make the portion of the donor cornea or the donor sclera less antigenic to a body portion of a recipient patient in which the portion of the donor cornea or the donor sclera is to be implanted; and storing the cross-linked donor cornea or the donor sclera for a long period of time prior to implanting the portion of the donor cornea or the donor sclera into the body portion of the recipient patient.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to heart valve prostheses with the reduced need of pacemaker implantation and improved means for positioning the replacement heart valve. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the stent scaffold of the valve prosthesis includes axially extending locators. The locators may be positioned within the cusp of the native aortic valve. Placement of the locators within the cusps may prevent further proximal movement of the stent scaffold into the left ventricle. By adjusting the location of the proximal end of the locators with respect to the proximal end of the stent scaffold, infra-annular placement of the stent scaffold in the aortic annulus may be assured. In another aspect, means for visualizing the positioning of replacement heart valves at an implant site inside an individual's body is disclosed.