Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves may be delivered to a targeted native heart valve site via one or more delivery catheters. In some embodiments, the prosthetic heart valves are implanted using catheter-based deployment systems that include multiple control wires. In particular implementations, the deployment systems can include a retrieval catheter that can be used to recapture the prosthetic heart valve back into a delivery sheath after being expressed from the delivery sheath. The prosthetic heart valves can include a plurality of optional suture knots to enhance migration resistance. Some delivery catheter systems can include a controllably bendable control catheter and/or a deflectable catheter to facilitate deployment of the prosthetic heart valve to a native tricuspid valve site via a superior vena cava or inferior vena cava.

Abstract: Heart valve replacement often involves complications associated with paravalvular leaks. Vascular plug and occlusive devices, as well as heart valves particularly beneficial in treating the phenomenon of paravalvular leaks are described to address this issue.

Abstract: The invention provides surgical procedures for implanting a keratoprosthesis in an eye of a subject in need using a kit comprising keratoprosthesis comprising a central optical core, a peripheral skirt around said central optical core, comprising at least one biocompatible polymer; and a marking tool comprising a polymeric surface in the shape of said central optical core.

Abstract: A radiopaque frame is transluminally advanced to an atrium of a heart of a subject. The frame is expanded within a valve adjacent the atrium such that part of the frame remains disposed in the atrium. While the frame remains expanded within the valve, progressive portions of an annuloplasty structure are progressively positioned and anchored around the annulus using multiple anchors by, for each of the anchors sequentially (i) while fluoroscopically imaging the frame and a distal end of a delivery tool, and facilitated by mechanical guidance from the frame, positioning the distal end of the delivery tool between the frame and a wall of the atrium; and (ii) driving the anchor into the annulus laterally from the frame. Subsequently, the frame is contracted and withdrawn from the subject while leaving the annuloplasty structure anchored around the annulus. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve with a dihedral guard safety mechanism includes a base, three or more leaflets that extend from the base, hinges located at the connection between the base and each leaflet, allowing the leaflet to rotate, a dihedral guard that protrudes out from the inner edge of the base, and a dihedral guard slot on the bottom face of each leaflet that forms a flush connection with the dihedral guard safety mechanism when the prosthetic heart valve is in a closed position. The dihedral guard is set at a specified angle and lays under each leaflet, preventing the leaflets from falling to a position or angle lower than the dihedral guard when the valve is subject to negative pressure, in turn, mitigating a potential prosthetic heart valve failure.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves having a conical shaped base valve structure formed from collagenous mammalian tissue and an expandable stent structure. The base valve structure includes a plurality of elongated ribbon members that are positioned proximate each other in a joined relationship, wherein the elongated ribbon members are positioned adjacent each other and form a plurality of fluid flow modulating regions that open when fluid into and through the base valve structure exhibits a positive pressure relative to the exterior pressure, i.e., a positive pressure differential, wherein the fluid is allowed to be transmitted out of the base valve structure, and transition to a closed configuration when the pressure differential between the interior valve pressure and exterior pressure reduces, wherein the fluid is restricted from flowing out of the base valve structure.

Abstract: A transcatheter growth device for treating congenital illnesses in infantile and other pediatric heart disease patients and methods for making and using the same. The growth device includes an elongated device frame with alternating annular growth cell members and spacing members that axially span proximal and distal end regions of the device frame. The growth cell members and spacing members define a radial periphery for the growth device. Each growth cell member can comprise a scaffolded growth cell member with first and second annular strut arrangements coupled via a growth cell junction to provide device frame flexibility. A retention member for engaging a selected lumen within a patient and a covering member for sealing the growth device, when deployed, are disposed at the device periphery. The growth device advantageously can be deployed for treating heart disease alone or in combination with one or more additional growth devices.

Abstract: A stent device includes generally cylindrical rings aligned along a longitudinal axis, and interconnected by interconnecting members. Each interconnecting member includes a first coupling end, a second coupling end, and an elongate portion therebetween. The first coupling end, the elongate portion, and the second coupling end combine in either a first orientation or a second orientation, which are substantially mirror images. For each interconnecting member, the first coupling end can intersect with a midpoint of a transition region of a substantially repeating curved segment on one of the rings, and the second coupling end can intersect with a midpoint of a curved segment of a different and immediately adjacent ring. The interconnecting members can be arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the device. Along each row, consecutive interconnected members alternate between the first orientation and the second orientation. A cover may be provided over the stent device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of adjusting the diameter of an endoluminal prosthesis that allows for controlled radial deployment of the endoluminal prosthesis and the ability to revise the positioning of the endoluminal prosthesis after unsheathing. The endoluminal prosthesis includes a stent graft having a tubular graft wall, a stent, a main strand, a proximal strand, and a distal strand.

Abstract: An artificial joint is characterized by: having a first member including a caput part on which a prescribed curved surface is formed, and a second member including a fossa part having a surface which abuts the prescribed curved surface of the caput part; the second member being rotatable in a flexing direction of a joint with a prescribed point on the caput part being the center of rotation; and the prescribed curved surface of the caput part being defined by a curve which depicts a convex arc toward the side abutting the fossa part when the caput part is viewed from the axial direction of the rotation, and in which, when two arbitrary points are taken on the curve, the radius of curvature of the point positioned further toward the flexing side of the joint on the curve is smaller than the radius of curvature of the other point.

Abstract: Prosthetic valve support structures of this specification include a body portion, an atrial flange portion, and a leaflet engaging portion. As the support structure (and the valve as a whole) is pushed out of or otherwise unrestrained from a delivery device, the free end(s) of the leaflet engaging portion will begin to bend radially outward or away from the body portion and will continue bending as more is exposed until its free end(s) are angled in an inflow direction, thereby positioning themselves between the radial outside of the native valve leaflets and the outflow track beyond the native valve annulus. As the support structure fully expands, the native valve leaflets remain trapped or engaged between the leaflet engaging portion and the body portion.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device can include a frame that is radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The frame can have a first set of a plurality of struts extending in a first direction, and a second set of a plurality of struts extending in a second direction, and each strut of the first set of struts can be pivotably connected to at least one strut of the second set of struts. Each strut can be curved helically with respect to a first, longitudinal axis of the frame, and each strut can be curved with respect to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first, longitudinal axis of the frame.

Abstract: A graft securing system including at least one expandable frame moveable from a collapsed state to an expanded state, and at least one anchor coupled to the frame via an elastic support strut, said anchor including: an anchor base, at least one deflectable prong protruding from said anchor base and having at least one penetration tip and at least one restraining sleeve at least partially slideably moveable along the at least one prong and wherein in the collapsed state, the support strut is biased radially centrally bringing the at least one anchor to point generally axially, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

Abstract: A prosthetic mitral valve includes an anchor assembly, a strut frame, and a plurality of replacement leaflets secured to the annular strut frame. The anchor assembly includes a ventricular anchor, an atrial anchor, and a central portion therebetween. The ventricular anchor and the atrial anchor are configured to flare radially outwards relative to the central portion. The annular strut frame is disposed radially within the anchor assembly and is attached to the anchor assembly. The central portion is configured to align with a native valve orifice and the ventricular anchor and the atrial anchor are configured to compress native cardiac tissue therebetween.

Abstract: A system for treating mitral regurgitation may include an outer sheath having a lumen extending to a distal end of the outer sheath, an intermediate sheath slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer sheath, the intermediate sheath having a lumen extending to a distal end of the intermediate sheath, and an inner sheath slidably disposed within the lumen of the intermediate sheath, wherein the inner sheath includes a first anchor disposed within a lumen of the inner sheath, the first anchor being configured to penetrate and secure to a first papillary muscle. The intermediate sheath may include a tissue grasping mechanism at the distal end of the intermediate sheath, the tissue grasping mechanism being configured to hold and stabilize the first papillary muscle for penetration and securement of the first anchor to the first papillary muscle.

Abstract: A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of commissure points is disposed on the stent. The valve assembly is disposed within the stent and includes a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet has a free edge. An end portion of the free edge of each leaflet is folded and sutured to a corresponding one of the plurality of the commissure points.

Abstract: A system has a heart valve assembly that includes a stent-frame having an anchoring section and an outflow section, with the anchoring section having a distal annulus section and a support section that is positioned between the distal annulus section and the outflow section. The distal annulus section has a concave inflection. A leaflet assembly is stitched to the anchoring section. The system also includes a balloon on which the heart valve assembly is crimped, the balloon having a central valve contact portion that has an outflow portion, a neck portion, and a central portion between the outflow portion, and the neck portion. The outflow portion of the balloon receives the outflow section of the stent-frame, the central portion of the contact portion of the balloon receives the support section of the stent-frame, and the neck portion receives the annulus section of the stent-frame.

Abstract: Anchor devices and methods used to secure a prosthetic valve to a native valve annulus are described. The anchor device can be a separate expandable element from the prosthetic valve that is first advanced to the annulus and deployed, after which an expandable prosthetic valve is advanced to within the annulus and deployed. The combination of the two elements can apply a clamping force to the valve leaflets which holds the prosthetic valve in place. The anchor device can have a lower or ventricular portion and an upper or atrial portion. The anchor device can include one or more leaflet clamping portions. One, two, or more upstanding vertical posts between the clamping portions can extend upward at the valve commissures and support the upper portion, which can include one or more structures for leak prevention.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a cardiac implant delivery device including catheter having a distal end and a telescoping capsule assembly secured to the distal end. The capsule assembly can include a distal capsule and a proximal capsule. Other embodiments include additional capsules positioned between the proximal and distal capsules. The capsule assembly has a loaded arrangement and a deployed arrangement. As the capsule assembly transitions from the loaded arrangement fully covering the implant to the deployed arrangement, the proximal capsule and any intermediate capsules move distally in the direction of the distal capsule to unsheathe the implant. In various embodiments, the cardiac implant is a prosthetic heart valve. Methods of delivering a cardiac implant are also disclosed. Various methods include methods of delivering a replacement tricuspid heart valve.

Abstract: The devices and methods of this disclosure relate to a heart valve prosthesis that is configured to be implanted within a native heart valve having a smaller perimeter annuli with a generally elliptical shape.