Abstract: A stentless support structure capable of being at least partly assembled in situ. The support structure comprises a braided tube that is very flexible and, when elongated, becomes very long and very small in diameter, thereby being capable of placement within a small diameter catheter. The support structure is preferably constructed of one or more thin strands of a super-elastic or shape memory material such as Nitinol. When released from the catheter, the support structure folds itself into a longitudinally compact configuration. The support structure thus gains significant strength as the number of folds increase. This radial strength obviates the need for a support stent. The support structure may include attachment points for a prosthetic valve.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a retinal prosthetic method and device that mimics the responses of the retina to a broad range of stimuli, including natural stimuli. Ganglion cell firing patterns are generated in response to a stimulus using a set of encoders, interfaces, and transducers, where each transducer targets a single cell or a small number of cells. The conversion occurs on the same time scale as that carried out by the normal retina. In addition, aspects of the invention may be used with robotic or other mechanical devices, where processing of visual information is required. The encoders may be adjusted over time with aging or the progression of a disease.

Abstract: A stentless support structure capable of being at least partly assembled in situ. The support structure comprises a braided tube that is very flexible and, when elongated, becomes very long and very small in diameter, thereby being capable of placement within a small diameter catheter. The support structure is preferably constructed of one or more thin strands of a super-elastic or shape memory material such as Nitinol. When released from the catheter, the support structure folds itself into a longitudinally compact configuration. The support structure thus gains significant strength as the number of folds increase. This radial strength obviates the need for a support stent. The support structure may include attachment points for a prosthetic valve.

Abstract: Aortic regurgitation can be treating by implanting in the aortic annulus a transvalvular intraannular band. The band has a first end, a first anchoring portion located proximate the first end, a second end, a second anchoring portion located proximate the second end, and a central portion. The central portion is positioned so that it extends transversely across a coaptive edge formed by the closure of the aortic valve leaflets. The band may be implanted via translumenal access or via thoracotomy.

Abstract: A vascular device having a plurality of struts having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion of the struts are retained in a converged position. The struts diverge radially outwardly. A plurality of vessel penetrating members extend from the proximal portion of the struts for engaging the internal wall of the vessel, wherein release of the retention of the distal portions of the struts causes the distal portions to move outwardly away from the longitudinal axis and the proximal portions of the struts to move inwardly toward the longitudinal axis such that the vessel engaging members pull the internal wall of the vessel radially inwardly.

Abstract: An active retinal implant (10) to be implanted into an eye has an array (16) of stimulation elements (17) that emit stimulation signals to cells of the retina, wherein the stimulation elements (17) are designed as radiation-emitting elements.

Abstract: A lens including a flexible refractive optic having a fixed refractive index, an electro-active element embedded within the flexible refractive optic, wherein the electro-active element has an alterable refractive index, and a controller electrically connected to the electro-active element wherein when power is applied thereto the refractive index of the electro-active element is altered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tubular stents that are implanted within a body lumen to support the organ, maintain patency and/or deliver drugs or agents. The stent has a cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis and includes a helical section having of a plurality of longitudinally oriented strut members and a plurality of circumferentially oriented hinge members connecting circumferentially adjacent strut members to form a band. The band is wrapped about the longitudinal axis in a substantially helical manner to form a plurality of helical windings. The helical section further includes a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section there between.

Abstract: An interior bag for a capsular bag of an eye comprises a discriminatingly permeable interior bag that selectively reduces fluid flow volume through the interior bag. The interior bag is secured inside the capsular bag. A structure, adapted to hold a refractive device, is attached to the interior bag.

Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis for implantation at a native valve having leaflets includes a distal fixation member configured to be implanted downstream of a native valve and includes engagement arms configured to apply, to a native valve's downstream side, a first force directed upstream, when the distal fixation member is implanted. The number of engagement arms matches the number of native valve leaflets. The prosthesis also includes a proximal fixation member configured to be implanted at least partially upstream of the native valve such that the proximal fixation member applies, to a native valve's upstream side, a second force directed downstream when the proximal fixation member is implanted. The application of the first and second forces is configured to couple the prosthesis to the native valve. The engagement arms and the proximal fixation member are configured to capture the leaflets of the native valve therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an implant with a surface layer having a topographic modification. The topographic modification includes a line pattern with ridge and groove widths of 0.9 to 1.1 ?m and a ridge height of more than 0.9 ?m.

Abstract: A system of ophthalmic lenses contains a first lens for a first eye of a subject and a second lens for a second eye of a subject. The first lens includes a first lens shape having a first base refractive power and a first diffractive pattern imposed on the first lens shape, the diffractive pattern having a first lower diffraction order with a first lower diffractive power and a first higher diffraction order with a first higher diffractive power. The first lens includes lower and higher optical powers equal to the first base refractive power plus the first lower and higher diffractive powers, respectively. The second lens includes a second lens shape having a second base refractive power and a second diffractive pattern imposed on the second lens shape, the second diffractive pattern having a second lower diffraction order with a second lower diffractive power and a second higher diffraction order with a second higher diffractive power.

Abstract: A stent is formed from a wire that in cross-section includes an outer member having a lumen and a radiopaque core member partially filling the lumen. A substance for elution through openings formed through the outer member fills the portion of the lumen not filled by the radiopaque core member. In a method of forming the stent, a composite wire including an outer member and a dual core member is shaped into a stent pattern. The dual core member includes a first core member and a second, radiopaque core member. The shaped composite wire is processed to remove the first core member from the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member and the second core member. The portion of the lumen that was occupied by the first core member may be filled with a substance for elution through openings from through the outer member to the lumen.

Abstract: A description has been provided herein of an intrastromal segment especially designed for use as a prosthesis inside the corneal tunnel of patients suffering from keratoconus. The segment consists of a lengthened body of variable dimensions in the form of an arc with noticeably rounded ends, devoid of any communicating orifice, and endowed with a transverse section that may be triangular, trapezoidal, hexagonal or oval, with at least three marks connecting to the narrowest side for which two ends aid the safe handling of the segment and the mid-section mark serves as a positional reference point. The segment will be connected to a disposable guide track along which it moves and from which it is pushed into the implantation position.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intraocular accommodative lens, comprising an optical arrangement and haptics, the lens being adapted for variable focusing by movement of at least one part of the optical arrangement by at least one of the haptics, wherein the haptics comprise a part adapted to transfer a movement from the ciliary mass to the optical arrangement. This forms an attractive way of driving the variable lens, in particular for locations of the lens avoiding the capsular bag.

Abstract: Devices and related methods of use are provided for improving heart function. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a device includes a ring-like structure configured to be secured to a heart valve; at least one elongate member extending from the ring-like structure, wherein an end of the elongate member is configured to be secured to heart geometry other than a heart valve; and an adjustment mechanism for simultaneously altering a dimension of the ring-like structure and a length of the elongate member.

Abstract: An intraocular lens is adapted for insertion into a capsular bag having a zonular contact region. The intraocular lens comprises a shape changing optical element and an accommodating element comprising at least one force transmitting element and a plurality of spaced apart contacting elements each adapted to contact a portion of the zonular contact region and transmit compressive displacement radially inward at an oblique angle to the optical element and configured to cooperate with at least one of the ciliary muscle of the mammalian eye, the zonules of the mammalian eye and the vitreous pressure in the eye to effect an accommodating shape and a disaccommodating shape change to the optical element.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for manufacturing an intraocular lens in a closed mold, wherein an acrylic monomer composition containing a single high refractive index monomer according to formula (I): is polymerized by employing an initiator that is activated by light having a wavelength of 390 nm or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to a intra lens (1) comprising a posterior surface and an anterior surface, said posterior surface having a curvature which is optimized for providing a minimal spherical aberration, wherein said curvature is optimized using the posterior chamber depth of an eye in which the IOL is to be inserted.

Abstract: Presented is an accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL). The AIOL includes an optic and at least one haptic plate coupled to the optic by at least one connector, the connector being less rigid than the haptic plate, the at least one haptic plate surrounding the optic, and the optic and haptic plate having a combined surface area between 80 mm2 and 100 mm2. The at least one haptic plate may form a continuous 360-degree boundary around the optic. The at least one haptic plate has a width in a radial dimension of 1.0-3.5 mm across its entire angular extent.