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 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: The invention relates to a hip joint socket for insertion into bone tissue, with an outer metal shell and an inner ceramic shell, the ceramic shell being anchored in the metal shell. To reduce its size while simultaneously reducing the wall thickness of the ceramic shell the inside of the metal shell and the outside of the ceramic shell have a spherical shape accurately fitted to one another and means are disposed for equalizing the transmission of force between the ceramic shell and the metal shell.

Abstract: A radially expansible lumenal prosthesis comprises a plurality of body segments which are joined by universal articulation structures. Each universal articulation structure consists of a serpentine ring and two pairs of beam members. By joining adjacent body members to the serpentine ring using beam members, an articulated connection is provided while permitting radial expansion of all components. Optionally, linear elements within the body segment or segments may be protected and/or anchored by loop structures joined to or between longitudinal elements of the terminal body segments.

Abstract: A method for administering a pharmaceutical to an animal includes imbibing a plurality of carriers with the pharmaceutical, placing a barrier into the animal, defining a first zone and a second zone within the animal, the barrier permitting passage of the pharmaceutical between the zones and impeding passage of the carriers between the zones, and placing the imbibed carriers into the first zone. Also, a method for treating mastitis in a mammal includes imbibing a plurality of carriers with an antibiotic effective in combating a mastitis-causing pathogen, placing a barrier into the udder of the mammal, defining a first zone and a second zone within the udder, the barrier permitting passage of the pharmaceutical and impeding passage of the carriers, and placing the imbibed carriers into the first zone.

Abstract: A prosthetic device has first and second components engaging one another in a manner providing for minimal contact bearing surface area to reduce torque during relative motion of said first and second components. In an embodiment of the invention, the first component is an acetabular component and the second component is a femoral component, each adapted for implantation in respective bone structures. The acetabular component has a conical cavity with a circumferential recess and an apex area functional as a primary load bearing surface. The second component is a femoral component with a tapered portion ending in a femoral vertex. In operation, the femoral vertex engages the apex area permitting the femoral component to pivot through a range of normal cooperative motion of the femur and iliac bones.

Abstract: A plastic lens insertible into the eye lens zone from a natural lens has been removed, the plastic lens having a light passing intermediate and bead-like optical portion; the lens also having a peripheral portion or portions bounding the intermediate portion and characterized as subtsantially light blocking.

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: An artificial lens unit insertable into a capsular eye lens zone from which a natural lens has been removed, comprising the lens having a light refracting optical portion defining an axis, and consisting of plastic; the unit including haptics for positioning the lens in the capsular zone, the haptics extending at angles relative to a plane normal to the axis and passing through the lens; and the haptics' angles characterized in that the lens is displaced in the direction of the axis by the haptics in response to eye muscle constriction of the periphery of the capsular zone toward the axis.

Abstract: An intraocular lens comprising an optic and at least one elongated, resilient fixation member joined to the optic. The fixation member has a proximal segment joined to the optic, a distal segment and an intermediate segment joining the proximal and distal segments. The proximal segment has an inside radius of at least about 0.5 millimeter and a majority of the length of the intermediate segment has an outside radius of no more than about 2 millimeters. The distal segment is substantially longer that either of the proximal or intermediate segments and has an outside radius of between about 4.5 and about 5.5 millimeters.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixation of bone during surgical procedures using a bone screw. The apparatus includes a body member which is able to cover at least a portion of the bone. The apparatus also includes an attachment member which is able to be secured to the bone and is able to receive the bone screw. The apparatus also includes an extension member which is connected to the body member and the attachment member.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a bone implant which has at least in sections a surface structure with open pores. The positive model for the implant is moulded from a base body made of a modelling material coated at least in sections with a porous coating having a predetermined pore structure. Also disclosed is a bone implant made of metal or plastics with a local distribution of pore sizes and/or densities at the surface of the implant that corresponds to the trabecular structure of the osseous environment in which the implant is implanted.

Abstract: A spinal implant for engagement in a space left by ablation of a vertebral body between a pair of adjacent vertebrae has a tubular center element extending along an axis and a pair of end elements. The center element is formed with upper and lower screwthreads of opposite hand and with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures. The upper and lower tubular end elements are each formed with a plurality of radially throughgoing apertures, each have a circular-section inner end threaded onto a respective one of the screwthreads, and each have an outer end adapted to bear on a respective one of the adjacent vertebrae.

Abstract: A delivery system for implantation of a medical device in a vessel which has three concentric shafts, an inner shaft for carrying a medical device, a middle pull back shaft and an outer stiffening shaft. The inner and outer shafts are connected together at the proximal end of the delivery system to preclude the inner shaft from moving axially relative to the outer shaft as the middle pull back shaft is retracted. This allows for accurate placement of the medical device.

Abstract: A tibial knee component includes reference marks to which a surgeon can reference the location of the point of contact between the tibial component and a femoral knee component. In one embodiment of the invention, the femoral component also includes reference marks to aid the surgeon in determining the contact point and to aid in orienting the knee in specific predetermined degrees of flexion.

Abstract: An endovascular graft prosthesis for arrangement at or in the vicinity of a bifurcation in the arterial system of a patient, e.g. for the purpose of repairing an aneurysm or the aortic bifurcation comprises a substantially tubular main body for location in the principal upstream arteria above the bifurcation such as th aorta and substantially tubular legs joining said main body in a bifurcation and extending into each of two branch arteries such as the iliac arteries. The main body (8) is substantially bag-shaped with an open proximal upstream end and a distal downstream bottom region in which two outlet openings (9, 10) are provided and is attachable to the inner side of the principal arteria (2) by means of an expandable stent device (11).

Abstract: An intraocular implant for use in a human eye following cataract, refractive or other eye surgery. The implant has a holder and imaging optics which may be folded to a compact configuration, inserted into the eye separately, and then assembled by the surgeon in the eye by mounting the optics on the holder after the holder has been implanted in the eye. These optics include a lens which is adjustable within the eye relative to the holder by the surgeon during surgery to focus the optics on the retina of the eye and are adjustable postoperatively by the implantee to near and distant focus positions by movement of the implantee's head and by magnetic action.

Abstract: An insertion device 10 for inserting material 13 into a body cavity is provided. An elongate, tubular holder 12, shaped for insertion into the body cavity, is adapted to hold the material to be inserted. The holder 12 has a material expulsion end portion 14 and a plunger 20, which is telescopically and slidably mounted in the holder, which is adapted to expel the material from the holder when pushed manually into the holder. The holder, and preferably the plunger as well, comprises an outer paper layer 28 and a polymer layer 30, adhered to the paper layer on its outer surface, the layer having adequate water resistance to maintain its integrity during insertion into the body cavity.

Abstract: An intraluminal stenting graft for implantation in a blood vessel including a collapsible tube member having a first end and a second end. The tube member further includes an outer layer and an inner layer extending between the ends. The outer layer is joined to the inner layer to form a plurality of cylinders extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end. The cylinders provide structural support to the tube member. An absorbent is positioned in at least one of the cylinders. When an absorbate is introduced to the plurality of cylinders and the absorbent, the absorbent absorbs the absorbate. The absorbent increases in volume as a result of such absorption to support the collapsible tube member at the site of implantation of the intraluminal stenting graft in a blood vessel.

Abstract: A transvenous cardioversion lead system capable of delivering electrical energy to cardiac tissue is provided. Lead system comprises an inner conductor surrounded by an insulative layer which, in turn, is surrounded by a second conductor mounted coaxially with the inner conductor. At least a portion of the second conductor is surrounded by an outer conductive sheath formed from a suitable material having an non-abrasive affect. This prevents damage to cardiac tissue during normal transvenous operating position while at the same time preventing thrombogenesis on the lead surface.