Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for treating aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, occurring in single and bifurcated lumens. The prosthesis comprises an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft, either a sheet or tube, affixed thereto along part or all of the circumference of the coiled sheet portion. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis in single and bifurcated lumens are also provided.

Abstract: A strand-like implant of resorbable polymer material is substantially formed as a random copolymer of L-lactide and glycolide, which are present in a composition in a range of more than 80 mole % lactide and less than 20 mole % glycolide to 95 mole % lactide and 5 mole % glycolide, particularly in a ratio of 90:10, and has in the textile structure a tensile strength of more than 200 N/mm2.

Abstract: A bifurcated vascular graft having a tubular trunk with an inner diameter. Tubular limbs having respective inner diameters extend longitudinally from the trunk, and the diameter of at least one of the limbs is unequal to half the trunk diameter. In one embodiment, the graft is flared such that the combined diameters of the limbs exceed the diameter of the trunk. In another embodiment, the graft is tapered such that the diameter of the trunk exceeds the combined diameters of the limbs. In a third embodiment, the limb diameters are unequal to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for implanting an articulated spinal fusion cage into the intervertebral space and adjusting the cage in situ to support the adjacent vertebrae in a normal curved alignment. The invention provides a greatly improved modular cage system having a base unit with a pair of sockets for receiving the ends of a pair of legs. The sockets permit pivotal movement of the legs about a posterior fulcrum from a closed, parallel insertion position to an anteriorly open, wedge-shaped orientation. The base has a threaded bore for receiving a driver, which is operable to urge the anterior ends of the legs apart as well as to support the front of the installed fusion cage. Interchangeable drivers are provided having various sized tips. The interior end surface of each leg unit includes a driver-receiving groove for providing torsional stability. Alternatively, a pair of pins and bores are provided on the inner surfaces of the opposed ends for receiving a driver tip.

Abstract: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic soft tissue xenograft for implantation into humans. The invention further provides methods for preparing a soft tissue xenograft by removing at least a portion of a soft tissue from a non-human animal to provide a xenograft; washing the xenograft in saline and alcohol; subjecting the xenograft to cellular disruption treatment; and digesting the xenograft with a proteoglycan-depleting factor and/or glycosidase and optionally following with a capping treatment. The invention also provides an article of manufacture produced by the above-identified method of the invention. The invention further provides a soft tissue xenograft for implantation into a human including a portion of a soft tissue from a non-human animal, wherein the portion has extracellular components and substantially only dead cells. The extracellular components have reduced proteoglycan molecules.

Abstract: Living annulus fibrosis cells are combined with annulus fibrosis extracellular matrix obtained from recently deceased human or animal donors to restore disc function and eliminate pain in patients with disc disease. Additional therapeutic substances like culture medium, growth factors, differentiation factors, hydrogels, polymers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or immunosuppressive medications could be added to the transplanted annulus fibrosis tissue. The process can be used to replace or repair other tissues or organs of the body such as the meniscus of the knee.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an epithesis, including the following steps: making a plastic shell using a two-piece mould realized based on a body impression, said shell being provided with apertures to be filled; possibly hardening of the shell in the mould; filling the shell with material in the mould; closing the shell and demoulding.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-forming prosthetic device. The present invention is further directed to a method of making the self-forming prosthetic device. In addition, the present invention is directed to a new bra for use with a prosthetic device in the form of a breast prosthesis.

Abstract: A spinal vertebral implant includes a substantially rectangular shaped base section made from a solid piece of bone. A nose section extends integrally from the substantially rectangularly shaped base section and preferably has a generally tapering shape to foster entry between adjacent vertebrae. The nose section tapers distally and inwardly from the base section to form a generally pointed or rounded distal tip portion and comprises a solid piece of bone. Serrated sides assist the implant in gripping adjacent upper and lower vertebrae and in being maintained therebetween. The serrated sides are angled in a manner that encourages the implant to be placed between the vertebrae and locked therebetween upon such placement. First and second implants may be placed into respective left and right sides of an intervertebral space. A method for placing one or more implants between the adjacent vertebrae comprises forming a slot configured to receive an implant and inserting the implant into the slot.

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: 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: An expandable intraluminal endoprosthesis comprises a tubular member having a first and second end and a wall surface disposed between said first and second end. The wall has a first diameter in a first, unexpanded state which permits intraluminal delivery of the member into a lumen of a body passageway, particularly a blood vessel, whilst being capable of acquiring a second diameter in an expanded and deformed state upon the exertion of a radially outwardly extending force to expand the lumen of the body passageway. At least a part of said wall of said tubular member comprises, at least one substantially continuous winding of mutually staggered primary undulations advancing substantially helically along a longitudinal axis of said tubular member. A first primary undulation is connected to an associated second primary undulation by means of a first connection element.

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 biocompatable nonbiodegradable breast prosthesis comprises a generally conical shell filled with a resilient mass comprised of a multiplicity of layers of resiliently compressible fabric. The shell fabric provides a pore size in the range of from about 2 to 15 microns, 5 microns being preferred. The filler fabric layers define a void content from 70 to 90% or more and are resilient when subjected to compressive forces in both wet and dry conditions. The layers preferably are a honeycomb weave and are formed of monofilament yarns.

Abstract: Coated implantable prosthetic devices are disclosed. The device is a prosthetic having a gold layer on the surface to which bioactive molecules are attached through a gold-sulfhydryl bond. The devices are easy and convenient to prepare. Gold coated implantable devices are also disclosed herein. The gold coated implantable device is a prosthetic device formed of a porous non-fabric material having a surface with projections and indentations and the gold layer on the surface of the porous non-fabric material forms a uniform layer across the material such that the gold layer also forms projections and indentations.

Abstract: A prosthetic cage for spine adapted to be implanted in an intervertebral disc space between two vertebral bodies in a spine and to accommodate fusion of the disc space, said cage being a tubular body with an internal aperture, an external surface of which having a plurality of wall apertures each perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and communicating with the internal aperture, and dual convex screw threads extended therefrom, such that the cage of the present invention has an advantage that the stability of fixation between the cage and the vertebral body can be achieved by simple variation of its shape.

Abstract: A system and method for endoluminal grafting of a main anatomical conduit (e.g., the aorta) and various branch conduits (e.g., side branch vessels such as the carotid, innominate, subclavian, intercostal, superior mesenteric, celiac, or renal arteries-or furcations such as the iliac arteries) which emanate from the main anatomical conduit. The grafting system generally comprises i) a primary graft having at least one opening therein and ii) at least one branch graft which is passable through the opening of the primary graft and into the branch conduit(s) such that the proximal end of each branch graft is in substantially fluid-tight sealing contact with the primary graft. Also disclosed is a specific system and method for grafting a bifurcated anatomical conduit (e.g.

Abstract: An implantable microporous ePTFE tubular vascular graft exhibits long term patency, superior radial tensile strength and suture hole elongation resistance. The graft includes a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube circumferentially disposed over the first tube. The first ePTFE tube exhibits a porosity sufficient to promote cell endothelization, tissue ingrowth and healing. The second ePTFE tube exhibits enhanced radial strength in excess of the radial tensile strength of the first tube.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to prostheses containing a radially-expandable member for placement within and occlusion of a hernia opening, which member is made from a biocompatible, flexible, porous textile suitable for reinforcing tissue.

Abstract: Artificial disc replacements for natural intervertebral discs make use of a shaped body having a final volume sized to consume at least a portion of an intervertebral disc space, and a filling within the shaped body enabling the body to cyclically compress and expand in a manner similar to the disc material being replaced. The filling may be a gas, liquid or a gel, in which case the body further includes valve means enabling the body to be filled, preferably following introduction into the disc space. Depending upon the application and other factors, one or more of the bodies may be used in the same disc space, and each may be provided according to different embodiments to distribute compressive stress or to meet other considerations. One or both of the top and bottom surfaces of the shaped body may configured to increase friction so as to maintain the body within the intervertebral space.