Abstract: An implantable medical device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as a urethra or ureter of a patient to treat urinary incontinence or ureteral reflux. The device includes an adjustable, self-sealing element having a continuous wall, including an inner surface defining a chamber. The adjustable element expands or contracts due to fluid volume introduced into the chamber for restricting a body lumen. After being implanted into a patient, the size of the adjustable element is altered by first locating the adjustable element implanted adjacent the body lumen, and then establishing fluid communication with the adjustable element. The volume of the adjustable element is then adjusted by either introducing or removing volume from the chamber of the adjustable element.

Abstract: A stent shaped as a three-dimensional body which is formed by interlaced threads (1) arranged in multistart turns of a helical line. The threads (1) are arranged in at least two groups (2 and 3) of the helical turns featuring opposite senses of helix. The stent ends are established by sections (5) where the turns of one helical line merge into those of the other helical line, said sections appearing as a single length of the thread (1).

Abstract: A breast implant has at least an outer shell which is composed of a resorbable material. The implant, which can be formed entirely of bioresorbable material such as a collagen foam, is sized and shaped to replace excised tissue. The implant supports surrounding tissue upon implantation, while allowing for in-growth of fibrous tissue to replace the implant. According to various alternative embodiments, the implant is elastically compressible, or can be formed from self-expanding foam or sponges, and can be implanted through a cannula or by injection, as well as by open procedures. The implant can carry therapeutic and diagnostic substances.

Abstract: The stent (1) has surface sculpturing, preferably on its outer surface (2) only, constituted, for example, by microspheres (3), having the function of increasing the actual geometric surface area of the stent, of creating undercuts and roughness to encourage the application of coatings of active or activatable agents, as well as of improving the attachment of the stent (1) to the blood vessel wall.

Abstract: A stirrup shaped cervical implant is provided for use in keeping spinal vertebrae separated. The implant includes a ring portion connected to a truncation. The ring portion includes legs having barbed saw teeth. The crests of each of the barbed saw teeth are aligned to match the contours of the adjacent vertebra.

Abstract: A stent-graft having an exo-skeleton attached to a tubular graft, the tubular graft having a peripheral wall defining a lumen therein extending between first and second ends. The exo-skeleton may assume contracted and enlarged conditions, and includes one or more serpentine elements, each extending both peripherally and axially along at least a portion of the peripheral wall. Coiled-sheet stents are provided on the ends of the tubular graft for anchoring the ends within a body passage. Each serpentine element is a zigzag structure extending peripherally about the peripheral wall, with a plurality of serpentine elements distributed axially along the peripheral wall. The serpentine elements are individually attached to the peripheral wall and/or connector elements may extend between adjacent serpentine elements. Alternatively, each serpentine element may define a generally sinusoidal shape extending axially along the peripheral wall.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Abstract: A knee prosthesis comprises, in combination, a tibial component, a femoral component and two meniscal components. One of the meniscal components is configured to co-operate with the tibial component such that relative movement therebetween is prevented. The other meniscal component is configured to co-operate with the tibial component such that limited relative movement therebetween is allowed. The tibial component has two fixed bollards projecting upwardly from an upper surface thereof. The two bollards have annular outwardly extending portions engageable in corresponding recesses in the one meniscal component in a snap fit manner.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more interconnective elements. The individual radially expandable cylindrical elements consist of ribbon-like material disposed in an undulating pattern. Portions of the expanded stent project outwardly into engagement with the vessel wall to more securely attach the stent.

Abstract: An angioplasty stent comprises a body comprising a plurality of successive segments connected in pairs by bridge means so that the successive segments can be oriented relative to one another for the purposes of bending of the body in any direction defined by a linear combination of respective orientation axes defined by the bridge connection means. During the radial expansion of the stent, the axial contraction of the segments resulting from the opening-out of the respective loops is compensated by axial projection of the bridge elements from the respective concave portions. The wall of the body comprises arms for supporting a lumen as well as regions which are selectively deformable during the expansion of the stent, the arms and the selectively deformable regions having different cross-sections and/or cross-sectional areas. At least one portion of the body may have a substantially reticular structure, the branches of which define geometrical figures identifiable as fractals.

Abstract: An intraocular lens having an optic and a plurality of fixation members coupled to the optic. The fixation members are adapted to flex about points located closer to the outer edge of the IOL than to the optic. The fixation members may have a converging width intermediate region projecting outward from the optic and a pair of leg portions extending generally perpendicularly thereto. The leg portions include foot members and flex radially inward with respect to the intermediate region. Because the optic and intermediate regions are relatively stable, the leg portions flex inward but the optic does not vault or bow upon a compressive fit within the surrounding eye.

Abstract: A device implantable in the vascular ducts. The device includes an elongated intraluminal element that occupies a section of the vascular lumen so as to increase the speed at the vascular wall at the level of the element without decreasing the blood flow and without exerting any substantial mechanical action on the vascular wall, the element also includes a fixing device in the vascular lumen.

Abstract: A prosthetic stentless aortic tissue valve includes a substantially annular valve body having a leaflet carried therein for occluding blood flow therethrough. A root extends generally coaxially from the valve body. Visual marking are provided on the root and act as a sculpting guide for a surgeon during implantation of the prosthetic heart valve to sculpt portions of sinus areas of the root.

Abstract: A prosthesis has a cylindrical stent and a cover provided about the outer periphery of the stent. The cover can be made from a water absorbent material, and a matrix of protein. The cover can be made from either tissue or hydrogel.

Abstract: An intraluminal prosthesis composed of a self-expandable stent and a biodegradable constraining element being capable of biodegrading in vivo over a predetermined period of time to permit radial expansion of the stent. The constraining elements are applied to the stent to produce a compressed configuration. Dissolution of the constraining elements in vivo allows for expansion of the stent to an expanded configuration.

Abstract: A prosthesis has a stent, and a cover that covers a portion of the stent. The cover has at least two layers of materials that can define at least one chamber therebetween, with a drug loaded into the at least one chamber by a dug dispersing element. The cover can be provided inside the luminal walls of the stent, or the stent can be retained in the at least one chamber. The cover can also be deployed to treat vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable self-expanding stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery. The stent is made with a plurality of cylindrical elements which are interconnected by a plurality of interconnecting members which connect adjacent cylindrical elements, some of the interconnecting members have one or more bending points formed therein for promoting the bendability of the interconnecting member. The bending point can be formed by reducing the strut wall thickness of the interconnecting member to promote the bending of the strut or it can be formed by reducing the strut width of the interconnecting member, or a combination of both. The bending points on the interconnecting member enhances the bendability and flexibility of the composite stent device by creating mechanical hinges which help to bend the stent as it is delivered through the tortuous anatomy of the patient or conforms to a curved portion of a body vessel, where the stent may be implanted.

Abstract: An implantable valve having a valve element or leaflet and a base that is attachable to a vessel wall using a connector such as a screw, pin or a staple. The valve can be implanted using a catheter to position the valve in a desired location and drive the connector into the vessel wall. The valve can be used as a venous valve to control blood flow within the veins, arteries, heart or the aorta of a patient.