Abstract: Disclosed is a heart valve of the bi-leaflet type having an improved hinge arrangement that allows the valve to respond more quickly to flow reversal and minimizes fluttering of the leaflets in the open position. The leaflets are slidably and pivotally mounted in a heart valve body for movement between closed and open positions. The leaflets have notches which matingly engage complementary surfaces on pivot projections extending inward from the valve body sidewall. The shape and relationship of these complementary surfaces provides for improved operating characteristics.

Abstract: A corneal prosthesis including an optical element having an optically transparent central portion and an anterior surface capable of supporting a layer of epithelial cells, the optical element being made of optical material having water content between 50% and 90% and a tensile strength greater than 20 kg/cm.sup.2, and a porous outer skirt secured to the periphery of said element, said skirt being sufficiently porous to permit cell ingrowth and tissue attachment. Also disclosed are methods of making, seeding and using corneal implants having epithelial layers thereon and porous implant material of a coherent mass of randomly oriented fibers having an interconnected network of pores.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring prosthesis which is formed from a selectively flexible body element having at least one defined length about its circumference which is substantially rigid. The remainder of the body element gradually increases in flexibility. The body element is a substantially annular shaped body element which is designed to be sutured to the annulus of a heart valve. The body element is formed from a non-corrosive, anti-magnetic material, and is wrapped in a material through which sutures can be drawn to suture the prosthesis to the heart valve annulus.

Abstract: A vascular connector has a rough surfaced skirt which is trimmed to a size for surgical attachment, and a smooth central tube centrally extending through the skirt to a point upstream of the rough surface. A collar centrally affixed to the skirt releasably engages the tube, which in turn may be fabricated as a permanently attached input conduit of a total artificial heart. For installing the connectors, a skeletal frame fixture secures the central tubes or collars of plural connectors in defined positions corresponding to the attachment ports of the intended pump device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heart valve of the pivotal bi-leaflet or single occluder type having improved washing characteristics in the region of the support arrangement. The leaflets include cylindrical, or other circular cross-sectional, pivot enlargements at opposite sides of the leaflets, and the valve body includes a number of projections extending inward from its sidewall. The leaflets are mounted in the valve body such that the projections encircle the pivot enlargements at the opposing ends of the leaflets, thereby confining their movement to substantially pivotal rotation between open and closed positions. The projections are spaced from one another, with the region between adjacent projections defining channels through which blood can flow. Some blood flows through these channels both when the valve is in its open position and its closed position, thereby providing blood flow across the pivot enlargements and projections and, thus, minimizing stagnation in the region of the support arrangement.

Abstract: The impellor of a blood pump is supported by permanent magnets on the impellor and pump housing and stabilized by an electromagnet on the housing. A control circuit supplies current to the electromagnet to maintain the axial position of the impellor at a control position in which the impellor is in mechanical equilibrium under permanent magnet forces and static axial forces on the impellor to minimize energy consumption in the support of the impellor. The impellor is rotated magnetically and stator coils in the housing are supplied with electric currents having a frequency and amplitude adjusted in relation to blood pressure at the pump inlet to match the flow characteristics of the pump to physiological characteristics of the natural heart. A cavity is formed in the impellor to match the average specific gravity of the impellor and portions of the suspension and drive systems thereon to the specific gravity of blood to further minimize power consumption by the pump.

Abstract: A spinal disc prosthesis comprises an upper flat rigid plate, a lower flat rigid plate, and a flat elastomeric core interposed between said plates and adhered to the plates. A plurality of spaced-apart protuberances extend outwardly from the exposed faces of the plates for engagement with vertebrae above and below the plates. A porous coating covers the exposed surfaces of the plates. The elastomeric core is made of a polyolefin rubber having mechanical properites similar to a natural spinal disc.

Abstract: A blood pump with a blood chamber including inlet and outlet ports, the blood chamber being actuated to repeat the cycle consisting of suction and ejection. The blood pump chamber includes, as a driving device, an ultrasonic motor capable of a) converting high frequency wave vibration into rotation by the action of a piezoelectric element provided therein and b) outputting the rotation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the stress patterns at the interface between bone and cement of an existing prosthesis are calculated by a finite element model. For this model the external load, material properties and boundary conditions are provided. By means of advanced digital computers, stresses and strains in the model are calculated. Desired stress patterns are achieved through an optimization procedure to determine that geometry which generates those stress patterns which approximate the desired ones best.

Abstract: The stem of the endoprosthesis comprises a core which provides the necessary strength to the endoprosthesis and a jacket or sleeve of thermoplastic having a softening temperature below 60.degree. C. The jacket can be made flowable upon heating so that during implantation, the jacket can be adapted to the bone cavity. In addition, the jacket can be heated at any subsequent time to return to a plastically deformable state in order to facilitate re-operations.

Abstract: A prosthetic glenoid component is provided for attachment to a glenoid surface of a scapula to replace a natural socket of a shoulder. The glenoid component includes a molded plastic body having an outer concave bearing surface for engagement by a corresponding humeral head and an inner convex surface for abutting the glenoid surface. A plurality of attachment pegs are integrally molded on the inner surface of the glenoid component for penetrating the glenoid surface to secure the plastic body to the glenoid surface.

Abstract: The nasal implant of this invention is characterized by a composition of hard-grade silicone fashioned into a special shape. One variation in the composition material is to use soft silicone only for the tip in order to overcome the fear of some surgeons to use hard silicone in this particular area.A special and improved shape of the implant, in the form of a modified hourglass, provides a well rounded and larger tip portion thanb that of the prior art. The supra-tip of this improved implant shows a depression dorsally, is less wide than the rest of the implant and has a pronounced slope laterally. These features, particularly at the supra-tip region avoid the unnatural effects of the prior art devices. Moreover this implant has a variable thickness form upper end to tip -that is it starts thin, increases in thickness and then goes thinner again- whereas the prior art starts thin and continually increases throughout.

Abstract: An annular valve body having a central passageway for the flow of blood therethrough with two curved leaflets each of which is pivotally supported on an accentric positioned axis in the central passageway for moving between a closed position and an open position. The leaflets are curved in a plane normal to the eccentric axis and positioned with the convex side of the leaflets facing each other when the leaflets are in the open position. Various parameters such as the curvature of the leaflets, the location of the eccentric axis, and the maximum opening angle of the leaflets are optimized according to the following performance criteria: maximize the minimum peak velocity through the valve, maximize the net stroke volume, and minimize the mean forward pressure difference, thereby reducing thrombosis and improving the hemodynamic performance.

Abstract: A valve for use in a fluid fillable and implantable device in cooperation with a fill tube includes a main body portion having a channel for receiving the fill tube and wherein the main body portion has an unevenly stressed section that includes a selected section of the channel and wherein the unevenly stressed section is stressed so that the selected section of the channel folds back occluding the channel when the fill tube is withdrawn. The valve also includes a gel-filled chamber in which the main body portion is disposed. The main body portion includes a free end that is occluded by the gel once the fill tube has been withdrawn from the fill tube channel.

Abstract: Radially expandable endoprostheses or stents are provided, as well as their method of manufacture. These stents include a plurality of adjacent generally circumferential sections that are substantially axially positioned with respect to each other. At least one of the generally circumferential sections has a generally circumferentially disposed expandable segment that imparts circumferential and radial expandability to the stent.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed to provide hybrid, modular systems for the constitutive delivery of appropriate dosages of active factor to a subject and, in some instances, to specific anatomical regions of the subject. The systems include a cell reservoir containing living cells capable of secreting an active agent, which is preferably adapted for implantation within the body of the subject and further includes at least one semipermeable membrane, whereby the transplanted cells can be nourished by nutrients transported across the membrane while at the same time protected from immunological, bacterial, and viral assault. The systems further include a pumping means, which can be implantable or extracorporeal, for drawing a body fluid from the subject into the cell reservoir and for actively transporting the secreted biological factors from the cell reservoir to a selected region of the subject.

Abstract: Improved expandable tubular prostheses and methods for their use are provided by this invention. The prostheses include a resilient member having longitudinal sides and transverse ends and are disposed in a tubular configuration about a transverse axis. The resilient member comprises ratcheting means for allowing the selective radial expansion and locking of the tubular prostheses in at least one fixed diameter. The prosthesis can also be removed after temporary use.

Abstract: A tampon having a single layer wrap of fibers attached together by a powder binder. The wrap is embossed around a tampon pledget. The wrap in one embodiment includes a blend of hydrophobic synthetic fibers and hydrophilic cellulosic fibers laminated together with bonding powder. Another embodiment has only hydrophilic cellulosic fibers laminated together with bonding powder.

Abstract: In a prosthetic heart valve comprising a generally annular stent and at least two obturators mounted in the stent so as to be above to pivot between an open position and a closed position, the stent is provided with at least one element which projects inwardly of the stent itself, while each of the obturators has recesses which cooperate with the projecting element of the stent with clearance in a generally-hinged configuration which enables the obturators to pivot between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: The invention provides an array of electrodes suitable for use as an auditory prosthesis. The array comprises a carrier member formed from electrically insulating flexible material, having a surface and a core, the carrier member including at least a pair of electrodes molded therein, the electrodes comprising a length of contact material formed in a semi-circular shape, having a convex contact surface and a locking portion defining an internal space. The electrode is molded in the carriers so that the convex contact surface of the electrode is preferably flush with the carrier member surface. The locking portion of the electrode is molded into the core of the carrier member in the electrode connected to a lead wire which is molded in the core of the carrier member. The invention further provides a method for fabricating such an array of bipolar electrodes.