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: 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. A method of treating esophageal atresia may include inserting an elongate member of an esophageal atresia device into a mouth of a patient, the esophageal atresia device including a rotatable member including a threaded region, and rotating the rotatable member relative to the elongate member to longitudinally move the distal end of the elongate member relative to the rotatable member in order to apply a force to a proximal pouch of the patient's esophagus.

Abstract: Devices and related methods of use are provided for improving heart function. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a device includes a ring-like structure configured to be secured to a heart valve; at least one elongate member extending from the ring-like structure, wherein an end of the elongate member is configured to be secured to heart geometry other than a heart valve; and an adjustment mechanism for simultaneously altering a dimension of the ring-like structure and a length of the elongate member.

Abstract: A hybrid modular endovascular graft wherein a main graft is sized to span at least a portion of a target vessel lesion in a large percentage of patients. Graft extensions may be secured to the main graft to extend the main graft and provide a sealing function for some applications.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for enhancing cancer immunotherapy featuring co-transplantation of encapsulated xenogeneic cells with separately encapsulated autologous or allogeneic cells, e.g., autologous or allogeneic tumor cells. For example, both a first cellular transplantation device housing a patient's own tumor cells and a second cellular transplantation device housing xenogeneic cells may be implanted into a patient. The presence of the xenogeneic cells elicits an enhanced immune response, e.g., the xenogeneic cells will draw in a large number of immune cells. Shed tumor antigens from the first cellular transplantation may then be taken up by the immune cells that were drawn to the xenogeneic cells. This will generate an anti-tumor immune response that is amplified relative to a response elicited by the encapsulated tumor cells alone.

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: A method of fabricating a vascular graft that includes preparing a biodegradable polyester electrospun tubular core; applying an adhesive composition comprising poly(lactide) copolymer to an outer surface of the biodegradable polyester electrospun tubular core; and surrounding the adhesive-applied biodegradable polyester electrospun tubular core with a polyester sheath.

Abstract: A valve loading system that uses a valve loader to transfer a valve or other medical device from a storage cartridge into a deployment catheter. The valve or other medical device can be implanted or positioned within a patient using the catheter after the valve or other medical device has been compressed and loaded into the catheter using the valve loader. The process then can be repeated by using the valve loading system to load or introduce another valve or other medical device into the catheter. The valve loading system includes a loading pin sized to limit contact with the medical device during a loading procedure.

Abstract: Needle injectors and injector carriers for endothelial keratoplasty are provided. Needle injectors include first, second, and third portions each having a respective conduit therein. A first end of the second conduit is fluidly coupled to a second end of the first conduit, where the second conduit has a maximum diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the first conduit. A first end of the third conduit is configured to be fluidly coupled to a second end of the second conduit, where a second end of the third conduit is configured with a cutting surface for cutting and penetrating eye tissue. Injector carriers include a container, a cap configured to seal an opening of the container, and a coupling means configured to couple the needle injector to the cap and allow the needle injector to be disposed within the container.

Abstract: The invention concerns an intraocular lens implant for placement into an intracapsular space of a lens capsule of an eye and a composition, kit and methods related to the lens implant. The lens implant is designed for a placement into a posterior portion of the intracapsular space after removal of a native lens body and has a convex posterior surface. The lens implant is formed of one part and is manufactured from a suitable transparent non-structural cellular material. This keeps an anterior portion of the intracapsular space free of the implant which is dimensioned to comprise at most 40% of a volume of the native lens body.

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: A cardiovascular graft is provided with highly reduced thrombogenicity. The cardiovascular graft is an electrospun non-woven mesh produced from supramolecular polymers with large diameter fibers. The cardiovascular graft can be implemented as a vascular graft into the human body to allow vascular bypass/reconstruction, or repeated venous access for dialysis treatment, as well as other disorders of small-diameter blood vessels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resorbable implant material made of magnesium or magnesium alloy and to a process for the production thereof. A disadvantage of the known resorbable implants is that their resorption has hitherto only been trackable using x-ray or CT examinations. The invention provides a resorbable implant material comprising homogeneously distributed fluorescent nanodiamonds in a matrix of magnesium or a magnesium alloy. Fluorescent nanodiamonds are biologically nonhazardous and provide a stable emission in the near infrared range due to nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV centres). This allows detection of the implant material in the blood plasma of the patient. The resorbable implant material according to the invention is produced by a process wherein magnesium or a magnesium alloy is melted, nanodiamonds are added to the melt and the melt of magnesium or a magnesium alloy provided with nanodiamonds is subjected to an ultrasound treatment.

Abstract: Stents as described herein can comprise a tubular body in which a midbody extends to a first end and also extends to an opposing second end, where the midbody includes a thread arranged helically along at least a portion of its length. The thread can exhibit various shapes and dimensions selected to enhance particular aspects of performance when the stent placed in an anatomical structure of a patient.

Abstract: A double-sided aspheric diffractive multifocal lens and methods of manufacturing and design of such lenses in the field of ophthalmology. The lens can include an optic comprising an aspheric anterior surface and an aspheric posterior surface. On one of the two surfaces a plurality of concentric diffractive multifocal zones can be designed. The other surface can include a toric component. The double-sided aspheric surface design results in improvement of the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the lens-eye combination by aberration reduction and vision contrast enhancement as compared to one-sided aspheric lens. The surface having a plurality of concentric diffractive multifocal zones produces a near focus, an intermediate focus, and a distance focus.

Abstract: An artificial cornea and an associated manufacturing method are disclosed. The artificial cornea has two sides, each of which has an associated microstructure. In an embodiment, microlines can be provided on an anterior side, and a posterior side can have micropores. Both the geometry of the microstructures and their dimensions can be customized for an individual patient. The geometry of the artificial cornea itself and its dimensions can also be customized as such. In addition, the lifetime of the artificial cornea can be significantly enhanced by adding co-polymer(s) into the hydrogel to strengthen its mechanical properties. Patient recovery can be aided by adding peptides into the artificial cornea surfaces to improve cell growth post-operation.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis may include an expandable framework configured to shift between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, and a covering including a plurality of polymeric cover segments disposed about at least a portion of the expandable framework. A portion of each of the plurality of polymeric cover segments may be fixedly attached to the expandable framework. The plurality of polymeric cover segments is longitudinally spaced apart from each other in the delivery configuration. The plurality of polymeric cover segments longitudinally overlaps each other in the deployed configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving vision of a subject implanted with an intraocular lens (IOL). In some embodiments, a method includes determining at least one modification to be made to an IOL implanted in a subject to improve the vision of the subject, wherein the IOL has a first index of refraction; and based on the determination, applying laser radiation to at least one selected area of the IOL to form, within the IOL, at least one additional layer having a different index of refraction than the first index of refraction and a particular shape within the IOL configured to improve the vision of the subject.

Abstract: A two-step delivery method, system and device is disclosed comprising, in various embodiments, a self-expanding frame. A self-expanding frame is delivered and expanded within a heart chamber followed by delivery of a prosthetic valve comprising prosthetic valves thereon into the expanded self-expanding frame, which is in turn connected to a valve connection region defined on and by the delivered and expanded frame.

Abstract: Described herein are intraocular lenses and methods of implantation. In one aspect, the lens includes a shape changing optical element; a force translation element having a first end region coupled to the optical element and a second end region extending towards a ciliary structure, and an attachment portion coupled to the second end region of the force translation element and configured to contact the ciliary structure. The force translation element is configured to functionally transmit movements of the ciliary structure into a force exerted upon the optical element to effect an accommodating and a disaccommodating change of the optical element.