Abstract: Mitral valve prolapse and mitral regurgitation can be treating by implanting in the mitral annulus a transvalvular intraannular band having an elongate and arcuate body. The elongate and arcuate body 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 displaced from the plane containing the first end and the second end. The transvalvular band is positioned so that it extends transversely across a coaptive edge formed by the closure of the mitral valve leaflets and the central portion is displaced towards the left ventricle relative to the first anchoring portion and the second anchoring portion. The ventricular direction displacement moves coaption to an earlier point in the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular implant apparatus is disclosed for implantation in the human eye. The apparatus includes an optic portion having a periphery and an optic axis, said optic portion lying substantially within an optic plane transverse to said optic axis; at least one flexible haptic extending from a point on or near the periphery of the optic portion; at least one flexible haptic having a fixation anchor portion distal to the periphery of the optic portion; and at least one flexible haptic having a centering anchor portion. The fixation anchor portion and the centering anchor portion are adapted to couple to a portion of the eye.

Abstract: The present invention relates to medical devices and in particular to frameless grafting prostheses and methods of making and using such devices. The frameless grafting prostheses include a stiffening member useful in the attachment of the frameless grafting prostheses to a wall of a body lumen.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for percutaneous valve replacement and/or augmentation are provided. The apparatus includes a valve having a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame, and a leaflet transition member coupled to the valve leaflet. The valve leaflet and leaflet transition member can transition from a first position where the valve leaflet and leaflet frame are at least partially outside a lumen of the valve frame to a second position where the valve leaflet and the leaflet transition member are within the lumen of the valve frame.

Abstract: A flexible intraocular implant for placing in a capsular bag, the implant comprising an optical portion of substantially circular shape that presents an optical axis, and a haptic portion connected to the periphery of the optical portion, said haptic portion comprising: a contact portion constituted by n (n?2) contact elements in the form of circular arcs all having the same radius of curvature and each having an outer edge that is in contact with the equatorial zone of the capsular bag, and n connection elements, each connection element being connected via respective ends to two consecutive contact elements, presenting a deformable curved shape, and presenting stiffness that is much less than that of the contact elements; and n deformable connection arms each connected to the periphery of the optical portion and to a contact element.

Abstract: The invention concerns an intraocular lens for the correction of astigmatic ametropia, which has both a torically refractive front face and a torically refractive rear face. The intraocular lens also has a torically refractive lens surface whose section curve in at least one principal meridian is described by an asphere. Finally the intraocular lens has a torically refractive lens surface with two principal meridians which include an intermediate angle that is not equal to 90°.

Abstract: In embodiments there is described a cardiovascular tube-shaped lockable and expandable bioabsorbable scaffold having a low immunogenicity manufactured from a crystallizable bioabsorbable polymer composition or blend.

Abstract: In embodiments there is described a cardiovascular tube-shaped lockable and expandable bioabsorbable scaffold having a low immunogenicity manufactured from a crystallizable bioabsorbable polymer composition or blend.

Abstract: A prosthetic tricuspid remodeling annuloplasty ring having two free ends can be configured to be stiff in the XY plane and relatively flexible along the Z axis. A tricuspid ring can be provided with a substantially elliptical shape in the XY plane, and a saddle shape in the Z direction. Disclosed tricuspid rings can include an inner core, an elastomeric interface, and an outer fabric covering. In some embodiments, the inner core can include a plurality of stacked layers of different materials. In some embodiments, the inner core can be formed of a single material and sized specifically to create a tricuspid ring that has a greater stiffness in the XY plane than along the Z axis.

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: A valve for use in a body lumen, where the valve includes a valve leaflet with delayed leaflet deployment relative an in vivo implant time. The valve includes a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame. The valve leaflet includes a commissure that can reversibly seal for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve, and a biodegradable adhesive between the valve leaflet and the valve frame to hold at least the commissure of the valve leaflet in a static relationship relative the valve frame for a predetermined time once implanted in vivo.

Abstract: An intraocular lens assembly for implantation in the posterior chamber of an eye has anchor portions with teeth rigid enough to penetrate the scleral wall of an eye. A method for implanting the lens includes the steps of: introducing the first haptic portion with a first anchor portion that includes a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom, into the posterior chamber of the eye until said teeth are anchored in the scleral wall at a desired location; and moving a second haptic portion with a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom, until said teeth are anchored in the scleral wall on the opposite side of the lens from the first anchor portion.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a two-element ophthalmic lens in which a lateral shift of the elements relative to one another can cause a variation not only in a spherical power provided by the lens but also in spherical aberration exhibited by that lens. In some implementations, the thickness profiles of the two elements are designed such that the variation in spherical aberration is positively correlated with that of the spherical power of the lens.

Abstract: A stent is provided for an endoprosthesis having a main body portion and two leg portions, particularly suitable for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurism. The stent includes barbs that are twisted and shaped set to point radially outward. Each barb, as formed, points substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent, even when in a non-deployed configuration. The motion to move the barb into a deployed configuration for gripping tissue is a twisting motion which moves the barb from being substantially aligned with the circumference of the stent to extending radially outwards from the stent.

Abstract: A stent is provided for an endoprosthesis having a main body portion and two leg portions, particularly suitable for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurism. The stent includes barbs that are twisted and shaped set to point radially outward. Each barb, as formed, points substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent, even when in a non-deployed configuration. The motion to move the barb into a deployed configuration for gripping tissue is a twisting motion which moves the barb from being substantially aligned with the circumference of the stent to extending radially outwards from the stent.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular stent having annularly spaced commissure portions. The tips of the commissure portions are preferably covered with fabric, and then additional fabric covers that fabric and the remainder of the stent, both inside and out (possibly also including a sewing ring insert at or near the base or inflow edge). The fabric is then covered by a layer of tissue, again both inside and out. A single sheet of additional tissue is mounted around the outside of the previously assembled components. This additional tissue forms the leaflet portions of the valve. The leaflet portions of the additional tissue are shaped by contact with a shaped mandrel, and the tissue of the structure is subjected to fixation (e.g., cross-linking) to produce a completed valve.

Abstract: An arthroplastic implant is for a basilar joint of a hand of a patient. The arthroplastic implant may include a body having a distal surface and a proximal surface opposite therefrom with the distal surface to be positioned adjacent a first metacarpal bone at the basilar joint of the hand of the patient. The arthroplastic implant may also include an anchor peg extending outwardly from the body to anchor the body within the basilar joint of the hand of the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to minimally invasive device for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents into a vessel wall. The device includes an introducer tube, a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen extending therebetween, the tubular member being slidably disposed within the introducer tube; a plurality of hollow delivery struts, each delivery strut adapted to pierce through inner most layers of the vessel wall and each comprising at least one exit port and at least one stopper to prevent the delivery strut from piercing through the outer most layers of the vessel wall. The delivery struts are disposed on the distal end of the tubular member and are in fluid communication with the first lumen. The invention also relates to methods of delivering the device of this invention and methods of treating conditions or diseases of body lumens.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical device comprising refractive optical structures, wherein the refractive structures are characterized by a change in refractive index, exhibit little or no scattering loss, and exhibit no significant differences in the Raman spectrum with respect to the non-irradiated optical, polymeric material.

Abstract: An ocular implant alters iris color for medical and cosmetic purposes and is made of an inert, nontoxic, foldable and preferably permeable to fluid flow material. It is an annular non-planar structure that fits over the iris yet leaves the natural lens uncovered and extends approximately to the iridocorneal angle. Two different kinds of arc sections of a non-uniform thickness make up the structure: passage arc sections and support arc sections. The passage arc sections permit humor aqueous flow under the implant. The support arc sections make contact with the iris and provide the necessary support for the passage arc sections. Auricles extend from the support arc sections and are configured to hold the implant in place by engaging the eye at the iridocorneal angle. The implant may include an artificial lens, a limbal ring, and various means to anchor for the artificial lens.