Abstract: A phalangeal joint prosthesis for replacing damaged interphalangeal finger joints. The prosthesis includes first and second pins, each having an elongate shaft for inserting into the articulaling end of a first or a second phalange on respective sides of a finger joint. Each pin further includes a head with a lower surface mounted on the shaft and a convex cylindrically-shaped bearing surface that is opposite the lower surface and defines an axis of curvature. The prosthesis further includes a spacer configured to be disposed between the heads of the first and the second pins. The spacer has opposed bearing surfaces that are each configured to mate with the bearing surface of one of the heads so that the beating surfaces of the heads are generally oriented toward each other. The spacer couples the first and second pins in a spaced relationship with parallel axes of curvature to permit the prosthesis to flex and extend in a single plane while constraining abduction, adduction and rotation of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A hip prosthesis is disclosed herein intended to be fitted into a skeletal pelvis socket and which has a replacement socket that includes a metal semi-spherical acetabulum base with a plastic acetabulum liner for movably holding a spherical ball against the liner by a ligament rod. The rod passes through a head of a stem implanted into a femur and terminates with a ligament anchor plate fitted in the acetabulum base via an eyelet and pin connection. A tensioning nut is carried on the stem head in threadable connection with the rod. A conical cutout in the spherical ball permits movement of the ball with the apex of the cone at the center of the spherical ball under adjustable tensioning of the rod. A Wear compensation system is included by incorporating an open passageway in the base which communicates with a blister in the liner for accommodating the introduction of cement to compensate for wear. A boot of mesh material encloses portions of the base, liner and the ball.

Abstract: A trial femoral prosthesis for use in knee joint replacement surgery includes a trial prosthesis body that is generally J-shaped. The prosthesis body provides a distal articulating surface and a proximal non-articulating surface. The articulating surface includes medial and lateral condylar portions, a distal portion, and an anterior portion. An elongated stem extends from the distal non-articulating surface for anchoring the trial prosthesis to the intramedullary canal of the patient's femur. Wedge trial insert members are connectable to the trial prosthesis body at the non-articulating surface. The inserts can be of different shape and different thicknesses and can be independently placed on opposite sides of the stem. However, the prosthesis body can be used independently without any inserts. The apparatus assists a surgeon who is going to revise a total knee that had been previously implanted. If a surgeon needs a wedge insert for the trial, a corresponding wedge is placed on the final knee implant.

Abstract: An intervertebral disk prosthesis designed to replace at least partially an intervertebral disk which is composed of a left half-disk, and a right half-disk, each of the half-disks covering a half-disk surface. The prosthesis is at least one prosthetic member each of which having a rigid upper plate, a rigid lower plate, and an elastic cushion placed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The elastic cushion has an upper face attached to the upper plate and a lower face attached to the lower plate. Each prosthetic member covers no more than the half-disk surface so as to replace either or both of the left half-disk and the right half-disk.

Abstract: A method of inserting a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) into the eye of a patient comprising holding a foldable IOL with forceps with the IOL being in a first folded condition in which the IOL has at least one fold and folding the IOL into a second folded condition in which the IOL has at least the first fold and a second fold. The IOL is retained in the second folded condition in a tubular member. The IOL is then transferred in substantially the second folded condition into the eye of the patient.

Abstract: The length of dwelling of a voice prosthesis in the fistula of a patient is extended by supporting the soft hollow body of the prosthesis with an elongated, rigid cartridge and mounting the flapper valve by means of a tab which extends through a slot in the flange of the cartridge. An enlarged cavity in the flange or the body communicates with the slot and receives the leading portion of the tab. The cavity is filled with adhesive to secure the valve to the cartridge.

Abstract: Implantable training appliance for a muscle, which is present for supporting the heart muscle, having a first chamber (3) which is filled with a gaseous and/or a liquid medium, has elastically deformable walls (4), and is surrounded by the muscle to be trained, and is connected to a second chamber (10, 11) which is connected to the first chamber and can exert a counterpressure on a medium flowing into the second chamber (10, 11). Through the periodic stimulation of the muscle surrounding the first chamber (3), to and fro flow of the medium between the two chambers is achieved by repeatedly compressing the first chamber (3). After sufficient muscle training the chambers are removed and the remaining hollow muscle is connected to the circulation system as a heart-supporting pump.

Abstract: The method of implanting a femoral and a tibial knee prosthesis and instruments for surgically implanting the femoral and tibial prosthesis component as disclosed. The method includes the formation of a plurality of surgical cuts on the patient's distal femur. A trial tibial prosthesis is then fitted to the surgically prepared distal femur. The trial prosthesis has a femoral articulating surface and a non-articulating surface that fits the patient's distal femur at the surgical cuts. A surgeon then forms a transverse cut on the patient's proximal tibia. The surgeon places a tibial trial prosthesis on the patient's proximal tibia, the trial prosthesis including a tibial trial stem that fits the patient's intramedullary canal, a tibial trial metallic tray or plate, and a plastic trial insert that fits the tibial tray or plate. The plastic insert includes a tibial articulating surface that can articulate with the femoral articulating surface.

Abstract: An improved acetabular cup prosthesis has a cup body with correspondingly shaped outer convex and inner concave surfaces. The cup body has an apex and a base that defines a plane. The cup body outer convex surface has first and second curved, shaped portions positioned in between the base and the apex. In one embodiment, the outer convex surface has specially shaped portion in between the rim and a distance about one third of the distance of the rim to the apex. This specially shaded portion forms an interference fit with a patient's acetabular socket.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens to be implanted within the natural capsular bag of a human eye from which the natural lens matrix has been removed through an anterior capsulotomy in the bag circumferentially surrounded by a capsular remnant. During a postoperative healing period following surgery, the anterior capsular remnant fuses to the posterior capsule of the bag by fibrosis about haptics on the implanted lens, and the lens is deflected rearwardly to a distant vision position against the elastic posterior capsule of the bag in which the posterior capsule is stretched rearwardly. After fibrosis is complete, natural brain-induced contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle relaxes and stretches the fused remnant and increases and reduces vitreous pressure in the eye to effect vision accommodation by the fused remnant, the posterior capsule, and vitreous pressure.

Abstract: A metacarpophalangeal prosthesis includes a metacarpal component having a head portion and a phalangeal component having a socket portion. The head portion rotatably engages the socket portion member. The head portion is either circular or spherical, and the socket portion member is formed so as to cooperate rotatably with the head portion. In its preferred embodiment, a pair of shoulders are formed on the sides of a circular disk-like head portion and a pair of spaced apart surfaces are formed on the socket portion which contact the shoulders of the head portion when the phalangeal component is at maximum flexion. This contact constrains radial and ulnar deviation between maximum flexion and maximum extension such that at maximum flexion radial and ulnar deviation are constrained virtually altogether, while at the neutral position and at maximum extension, limited range of motion and limited radial and ulnar deviation is permitted.

Abstract: A blood reservoir adapted for use in an extracorporeal circulatory support circuit. The blood reservoir includes a visible inlet tube that extends vertically outside the housing of the reservoir to allow visual observation of venous blood flowing in the inlet tube. The inlet tube is releasably held generally adjacent the top of the housing to allow the reservoir to be converted between top and bottom mounted venous blood inlets with a single inlet, as well as permitting the inlet tube to be moved to a position extending downwardly from the reservoir to allow draining the reservoir through the inlet tube after surgery. A generally funnel-shaped inlet portion may be provided in the inlet adjacent the chamber to decelerate blood before it enters the chamber, and a diverter cone may be provided over a venous inlet portion to divert the incoming blood.

Abstract: An method for implanting a coiled prosthesis within a body passageway having a longitudinally extending central axis first places a coiled prosthesis upon a catheter in a coiled, smaller diameter configuration. The prosthesis and catheter are inserted into the body passageway by catheterization of the body passageway. The prosthesis is expanded in order to unwind the coiled ring prosthesis to a larger diameter configuration that has a diameter larger than the smaller diameter configuration of the prosthesis initially. The prosthesis forms an annular ring having spaced apart first and second annular surfaces. The body passageway is supported in a direction away from the annular ring and along the passageway wall with multiple, longitudinally extending strut support members that each extend away from the ring, and each of which extends partially circumferentially around the passageway. After the prosthesis has been expanded, the catheter is withdrawn from the body passageway.

Abstract: An intravascular graft for restoring normal blood flow in vessels, or for defining new blood flow pathway in arteries includes a proximal collar to aid in anchoring the graft in place. The graft may contain defects in the graft wall to allow blood flow therethrough. Struts encircling the graft provide structural stability. Additional elements which aid in anchoring the graft in place include barbed collars and graft walls which contain ridges. Additional elements to aid in placement include a drawstring associated with the graft collar. A graft designed for use with vessels configured similarly to the basilar artery contains a cap at the distal end of the graft. A catheter to facilitate placement of intravascular grafts is also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoscopic assisted mastopexy, with or without augmentation, or an endoscopic assisted reduction mammoplasty is disclosed in which an incision is made at a point on the body remote from the breast which is not ordinarily visible, such as in a preexisting scar, under an armpit or elsewhere accessible to the upper hemisphere of the breast. In the mastopexy with augmentation, dissection is carried up to the fascia of the pectoralis muscle and above the fascia and with the scope for visualization, an endotube is inserted from the incision over the pectoral fascia. A tissue expander is inserted and inflated to dissect the fascia away from the muscle to form a posterior pocket and then removed. With blind dissection, with external palpation, using scissors, from the incision, the skin is undermined in the upper quadrant.

Abstract: Prosthetic systems, specifically acetabular implant systems, each comprising a preformed modular mantle designed to secure an acetabular implant within the acetabulum are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of inserting a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) into the eye of a patient comprising holding a foldable IOL with forceps with the IOL being in a first folded condition in which the IOL has at least one fold and folding the IOL into a second folded condition in which the IOL has at least the first fold and a second fold. The IOL is retained in the second folded condition in a tubular member. The IOL is then transferred in substantially the second folded condition into the eye of the patient.

Abstract: An improved transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream embodying at least two electrode elements forming the applicator and with the electrodes separated from each other by insulating means. A reservoir means, in at least one of said electrode elements of said applicator, containing said medicament; and a circuit, including a power source, for supplying electric power to said electrodes and such reservoir means. Suitable cover means partially enclosed at least said reservoir means, and adhesive means affixes the applicator to the skin, so as to complete an electrical circuit through the skin when the applicator is affixed thereto, thus creating at least one physico/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.

Abstract: A template assembly is provided for marking locations on the disc annulus for the implantation of an interbody fusion device or the introduction of a working instrument. The template assembly includes a tubular body sized for percutaneous introduction into a patient and advancement to an affected intervertebral disc. An elongated shaft slidably extends through the tubular body and is threadedly engaged to the tubular body at its proximal end so that rotation of the shaft relative to the tubular body advances the shaft through the body. A guide foot is pivotably connected to the distal end of the tubular body to be pivoted from a first position aligned with the tubular body to a second deployed position oriented substantially perpendicular to the tubular body. The guide body is pivoted from the first position to the second position by advancement of the elongated shaft through the tubular body.

Abstract: Hydrogel coated multifocal intraocular implantable lens having an anti-glare edge surrounded by a hydrogel ring having nutrient passage capabilities.