Abstract: A surgical method of repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, incorporating suture closure, or stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. The design of the spinal disc annulus stent allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

Abstract: A process for producing a rigid reticulated article involves coating a reticulated substrate which has open, interconnected porosity with a first dispersion comprising a ceramic or metal powder to form a first coating thereon; drying the coated reticulated substrate; contacting the coated reticulated substrate with one or more additional dispersions in succession to form one or more additional coatings thereon; drying the additional coatings between the steps of contacting; heating the coated reticulated substrate to pyrolyze organic components; and sintering the coated reticulated substrate to form a reticulated article, wherein each dispersion has a viscosity less than that of all preceding dispersions. A rigid reticulated article includes inner, intermediate and outer sintered layers of material in which the inner and outer layers are of different composition and the intermediate layer is a composite of the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) has been provided with an accommodation assembly that effects axial movement of the IOL optic through both the radial action of ciliary muscles and the axial forces resulting from vitreous pressure on the posterior wall of the capsular bag. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly comprises an IOL having substantially rigid, posteriorly extending fixation members which extend through slots in an accommodation ring encircling the optic. Axial forces exerted by vitreous fluids on the posterior wall of the capsular bag are transmitted from the posterior wall to the ring to the fixation members at the slot areas, causing axial movement of the IOL. At the same time, the angulation of the haptics converts radial forces due to contraction or expansion of the capsular bag into axial forces, causing still more axial movement of the IOL.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring holder includes a first member and a second member. The first and second members are configured to provide relative movement therebetween to engage an annuloplasty ring.

Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering and installing a new length of tubing between two sections of a patient's existing body organ tubing and at least partly outside of that existing structure. For example, the new length of tubing may be for the purpose of providing the patient with a coronary bypass. The new tubing may be an artificial graft, a natural graft (harvested elsewhere from the patient), or both. The new tubing is installed at the operative site primarily by providing at least one graft location with instrumentation inserted through the patient's existing tubular body organ structure. Assistance in installing the new tubing may be provided by minimally invasive surgical access openings in the patient's chest. The tubing may be delivered through the patient's existing tubular body structure or, alternatively, through the surgical access openings.

Abstract: A device, system, and method effects mitral valve annulus geometry of a heart. The device includes a first anchor configured to be positioned within and fixed to the coronary sinus of the heart adjacent the mitral valve annulus within the heart. A cable is fixed to the first anchor and extends proximately therefrom and slidingly through a second anchor which is positioned and fixed in the heart proximal to the first anchor. A lock locks the cable to the second anchor when tension is applied to the cable for effecting the mitral valve annulus geometry.

Abstract: A vessel valve including a sleeve or ring having a central opening and openable and closeable flap elements intended to allow the flow of blood through the central opening in one direction, whereas the flap elements are designed as circle segments, and the sector angle is 360 ? ° n wherein n is a number of circle segments and is equal to 3, 4, 5 or 6, and wherein each flap element at its outer edge is pivotably connected to an inwardly directed flange on the inside of the ring so that in a closed position they co-operate to form a sealing body and in an open position they allow free passage of blood. The ring is composed of n sections, whose pair-wise juxtaposed ends form recesses in the flange accommodating hinge elements which are arranged in the middle of the outer edge of each of the flap elements and which with assembled sections are locked by undercutting; and a method for the manufacture of such vessel valve.

Abstract: A stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape for insertion into a lumen of a vessel of a living being. The tubular main body includes a substantially biodegradable matrix having collagen IV and laminin that enclose voids within the matrix. The tubular main body also includes a biodegradable strengthening material in contact with the matrix to strengthen the matrix. The tubular main body is essentially saturated with drugs.

Abstract: An expandable stent including a light and water curable resin embedded in a stent wall wherein the wall is formed to be transmissive to light for curing the resin and transmissive to fluid for further curing of the resin. A catheter delivery system may be provided for in vivo delivery, expansion, rigidization, and installation of the stent into a body lumen.

Abstract: A method, and related tools for performing the method, of delivering a stent or other like device to the heart to connect the left ventricle to the coronary artery to thereby supply blood directly from the ventricle to the coronary artery may be used to bypass a total or partial occlusion of a coronary artery. The method may include placing a guide device and a dilation device through an anterior wall and a posterior wall of the coronary vessel and through a heart wall between the heart chamber and the coronary vessel. The dilation device may be used to form a passageway in the heart wall at a location defined by the guide device. The method may then include placing a stent within the passageway.

Abstract: A graft for repairing defects in arteries is formed from a flexible graft and at least one attachment system. A device and method is disclosed for implanting a graft within the vasculature of a patient, in which the graft is inserted into the patient at a different stage than the attachment systems, and which allows for direct percutaneous insertion of the graft and attachment systems. The method permits control over the position of the graft in the vasculature during the course of deployment of the graft and attachment systems by providing for traction forces to be applied to opposing ends of the graft.

Abstract: Anatomical orifice sizers that are optimally proportional to an associated prosthetic device such as a heart valve, and methods of use are provided. The sizers are desirably slightly larger than the rigid mounting diameter of the corresponding heart valve. The heart valve sizer may be cylindrical and have a diameter about 0.3 mm larger than the valve mounting diameter. The sizer preferably has a length of between about 19 mm to 22 mm, and the edges are desirably rounded to a minimum 1 mm radius. The method includes providing a set of cylindrical sizers having varying diameters; sequentially inserting at least two of the sizers through the annulus; measuring the push force needed to pass each sizer through the annulus; selecting a valve corresponding to the sizer for which the measured push force is between about 150 and 300 grams.

Abstract: A ventricular patch to restore the ventricular architecture of the heart includes a sheet of biocompatible material having a generally oval configuration, and a continuous ring fixed to the sheet. The ring has a generally oval configuration similar to the generally oval configuration of the sheet of biocompatible material. The ring defines a central generally oval region of the patch inside the ring and a circumferential region of the patch outside of the ring. The central generally oval region has a major axis and a minor axis. The ratio of the major axis to the minor axis is about 4:1.

Abstract: An intraocular lens with an optical lens part, which has a central lens area and at least one further annular lens area surrounding the central lens area, the central lens area and the at least one annular lens area forming at least one common focus and the annular lens area having concentric annular zones, in which the difference in pathlength between adjacent zones is an integral multiple of n=2 or more of the design wavelength.

Abstract: An anchor anchors a therapeutic device having an elongated body within a body lumen. The anchor includes a fixation member carried on the device which is adjustable from a first configuration that permits placement of the device in the body lumen to a second configuration that anchors the device within the body lumen. The anchor further includes a lock that locks the fixation member in the second configuration. The fixation member may be locked in any one of a plurality of intermediate points between the first configuration and a maximum second configuration.

Abstract: A stent having helical elements, a geometry for improved crimping, and a good stent-to-vessel ratio is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent has a plurality of first helical segments and a plurality of second opposing helical segments. The first helical segments are comprised of a plurality of first expandable elements and the second helical segments are comprised of a plurality of second helical elements. The expandable elements are joined to each other by a plurality of struts. When the stent is crimped a portion of one of the first expandable elements nest within another portion of the same expandable element and a portion of two first expandable elements nestle between the same two portions of second expandable elements.

Abstract: A spinal implant insertion instrument for intervertebral implant surgery formed from a hollow first element of various external diameters, including a channel to accommodate and incorporate a vertebral pedicle, and a second element joined by a hinge to the first element, allowing reduction of the external diameter of the leading edge of the spinal implant insertion element sufficient to allow the passage of the spinal implant insertion instrument into the intervertebral disc space in a safe fashion, as the first maneuver, to be followed by activation of the second element upon the first, restoring the internal diameter of the spinal implant insertion instrument to a sufficient radius to allow successive passage of cutting, reaming, tapping instruments, and subsequent implantation of a spinal interbody implant device.

Abstract: A mitral annuloplasty and left ventricle restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract: A stent delivery system comprising a catheter including a stent mounting region. A stent disposed about the stent mounting region of the catheter, the stent having a distal end and a proximal end, the stent further having an unexpanded state and an expanded state. At least one stent retaining sleeve having a first end overlying an end of the stent when the stent is in the unexpanded state, a second end engaged to at least a portion of the catheter adjacent to the stent mounting region. The outside surface of the stent retaining sleeve being composed of a first material, at least a portion of the first end of the inside surface being composed of a second material. The first material having a first predetermined hardness, the second material having a second predetermined hardness, the second predetermined hardness having a higher durometer value than the first predetermined hardness.