Abstract: Systems and methods are described for implants with composite coatings to promote tissue in-growth and/or on-growth. An implant includes: a substrate; a structured surface formed on at least a portion of the substrate; and a biocompatible coating deposited on at least a fraction of the structured surface. The systems and methods provide advantages in that the implant has good biocompatibility while the biocompatible coating has good strength.

Abstract: An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine has a body two top side and two bottom side junctions, with at least a pair of diagonally opposed junctions having a distance therebetween that does not significantly exceed the implant body height. The implant also includes one or more bone penetrating protrusions extending outwardly from at least the upper and lower walls of the implant. The implant is inserted on its side between adjacent vertebral bodies and then rotated 90 degrees into place. The protrusions penetrate the endplates upon rotation, thereby securing the implant within the spine. The implant has at least one passage therethrough from the upper wall to the lower wall to promote fusion through the implant. Because of the specialized opposed junctions overdistraction between the adjacent vertebral bodies is avoided when the implant is rotated from an initial insertion position to a final deployed position.

Abstract: A method for fixing a portion of a piece of tissue in a bone tunnel comprising the steps of placing the portion of a piece of tissue in the bone tunnel, advancing spaced-apart first and second metal wires though the bone, transversely of the bone tunnel, so as to intersect the bone tunnel and extend into the portion of a piece of tissue, removing one of the wires and replacing the one removed wire with a first rod, and removing the other of the wires and replacing the other removed wire with a second rod, whereby to retain the portion of a piece of tissue in the bone tunnel with the rods.

Abstract: An implantable coil stent comprises at least a first curved segment and a second curved segment which arc about the longitudinal axis of the stent. An expandable link extends between the second end of the first curved segment and the first end of the second curved segment.

Abstract: A stent for insertion into a blood vessel is made from a sheet having a longitudinal axis and a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the first portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a first distance. The second portion has a proximal end and a distal end and a first lateral side and a second lateral side with the lateral sides of the second portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and disposed apart from each other a second distance that is less than the first distance. The proximal end of the second portion communicates with the distal end of the first portion. The first lateral side of the first portion is connected to the second lateral side of the first portion and the first lateral side of the second portion is connected to the second lateral side of the second portion to form the stent.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: A two-optic accommodative lens system. The first lens has a negative power and is located posteriorly against the posterior capsule. The periphery of the first optic contains a pair of clasps. The second optic is located anteriorly to the first optic and is of a positive power. The peripheral edge of the second optic contains a pair of locking arms that fit into the clasps contained on the periphery of the first optic to lock the second optic onto the first optic, but allow for rotation of the arms within the clasps. Hinge structures on the locking arms allow the second optic to move relative to the first optic along the optical axis of the lens system in reaction to movement of the ciliary muscle.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive prosthetic foot is provided incorporating a cushioned ankle including an ankle block formed of a resilient material or bladder having desired compliance and energy return characteristics. The ankle block is sandwiched between a foot element and an ankle element. One or more openings extends through the ankle block with a substantially transverse orientation relative to a forward walking motion. The size and shape of these openings, as well as the insertion of different types of stiffeners therein, provide desired performance characteristics to the ankle block. When the ankle block takes the form of one or more inflatable bladders, the pressure within these bladders is individually controlled by valves to provide desired performance characteristics to different portions of the prosthetic foot. A pump system can also be used to control and generate fluid pressure into these bladders.

Abstract: A radially expandable stent-graft endoprosthesis is provided. The graft included in the stent-graft is a knitted tubular structure circumferentially disposed and securably attached to the stent. The knitted tubular structure has a knit pattern of interlacing yarns in an Atlas or a modified-Atlas pattern to provide greater than 150 percent longitudinal stretchability. A knitted tubular graft and a knitted medical fabric with greater than 150 percent longitudinal stretchability are also provided.

Abstract: An accommodative intraocular lens is disclosed. The lens provides multiple focuses as the result of a bi-directional shift along the eye's optical axis, and also minimizes or prevents posterior chamber opacification. The lens includes a first component which consists of an optical body and a haptic body, a second component which is structurally adapted to maintain substantial contact with the posterior surface of the capsular bag of the eye (when implanted in the eye), and a transition zone connecting the first and second components. The method of implanting the lens in the eye and the method of making the lens are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stent delivery system with an adjustable length balloon. The system includes a stent delivery catheter having an expandable member with an inflated length that can be adjusted according to the length of a stent to be expanded. An exterior sheath having an expandable distal tip is disposed about the expandable member such that the sheath can be longitudinally adjusted so as to expose a desired length of the expandable member. The exposed length of the expandable member provides an effective working length required to expand the stent for deployment. Additionally, where subsequent expansions of the deployed stent may be necessary, post dilitation may be achieved by re-positioning the catheter and re-adjusting the sheath to form an effective working length of the expandable member which corresponds to the length of the stent that needs further expansion.

Abstract: A hinging breast implant capable a being variably sized and that includes an exterior shell and an inner bladder is described. The exterior shell is typically a bellows having a plurality of pleats so that the outer size of the implant is variable so that different sizes and shapes can be obtained. The rear of the housing closest to the patient's interior is typically shaped in order to conform to the patient's rib cage and internal connective tissues. Conversely, the front of the housing is shaped to naturally conform to the outer shape of the patient. The inner bladder can be filled with a suitable filling material, liquid, gas or solid. As the bladder is filled, the exterior shell expands in a manner that creates a lifting effect and a ballooning effect. An appendage, used to fill the bladder external to the patient, is connected to both the exterior shell and the inner bladder.

Abstract: An articulated stent for delivering through a bodily conduit, for example, a peripheral or coronary artery, which has one or more curved portions and for implantation therein. The articulated stent includes at least two substantially rigid segments and a flexible connector for connecting adjacent segments. The connector assumes a cylindrical configuration when relaxed and a differentially stretched and compressed curved configuration when flexed.

Abstract: A modular prosthetic knee implant system includes a femoral component, a femoral stem, a femoral stem collar, an augment and a bolt. The modular prosthetic knee system can be assembled in different ways. If assembled without the augment, the stem is at a valgus angle. If assembled with the augment, the stem is at a neutral angle. The stem collar has an inferior surface that is angled with respect to its superior surface, and the augment has a superior surface that is angled with respect to its inferior surface. The components also include mating anti-rotation members to fix the relative positions of the members.

Abstract: An IOL described herein includes an optic and at least a first haptic and a second haptic connected to the optic and extending outwardly therefrom; each haptic is formed with either a frog leg configuration or a running leg configuration, which include a base adjacent the optic, a distal foot portion and an intermediate portion connected between the base and the distal foot, the base being connected to the intermediate portion through a first flexible elbow having an angle in a first circumferential direction relative to the to optic and the intermediate portion being connected to the distal foot portion by a second flexible elbow having an angle in a circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction.

Abstract: An implant for insertion in a portion of the human or animal blood circulation, in particular a stent, has a main body (2), at least a first material which is connected to the main body (2) and which includes at least one cell proliferation-inhibiting first substance, and a second material which decomposes in the implanted condition and which is of such an arrangement and nature that in a first condition prior to the commencement of its decomposition it prevents contact between the first substance and the surroundings of the main body (2) and in a second condition after the commencement of its decomposition it permits contact between the first substance and the surroundings of the main body (2) wherein the second material is further such that the second condition is achieved only after a first time interval which is sufficient for the formation of a body tissue coating (7) which encloses at least a portion of the surface of the main body (2).

Abstract: A prosthetic valve for implantation within a fluid conducting lumen within a body includes an elongate generally cylindrical radially collapsible valve body scaffold defining a fluid passageway therethrough for retentive positioning within the lumen. A radially collapsible leaf valve member is supported by the scaffold includes a number of valve leafs deflectable between a closed position restricting fluid flow through the passageway and an open position permitting fluid flow through the passageway. The leaf valve member includes an interior leaf valve frame defining a valve leaf aperture which is sealed by a fluid impermeable non-thrombogenic lining to prevent fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.

Abstract: This invention discloses a percutaneously deliverable heart valve and methods of implantation thereof comprising a valve implantation system to be placed at a body channel of a patient comprising a flexible tissue valve with a plurality of valvular leaflets, each of the leaflets having an in-flow edge, an out-flow edge, and side edges, the plurality of leaflets being sewn together at least a potion of their side edges to form an annulus at about the in-flow edge and a plurality of commissure tissues; an annulus base support secured to the annulus, wherein the annulus base support is collapsible and expandable, and commissural fixation means for securing each of the plurality of commissure tissues onto a wall of the body channel.

Abstract: A device for replacing a cardiac valve includes an elongated support element (2), two series of elongated blades (30) arranged around the circumference of the elongated elements (2), where the blades (30) have opposite cutting edges (30a, 30b) and can be extended corolla-shaped such that their cutting edges are set in the extension of one another thereby forming circular cutting edges. The blades (30) can be brought closer together so that their circular cutting edges are urged to cut the native valve (55, 56) so as to separate it from the corporeal duct (50).