Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis and delivery systems are provided for replacing a cardiac valve. The heart valve prosthesis includes a self-expanding frame includes a portion having a crimp that provides additional flexibility to the self-expanding frame in the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens includes an optic portion a haptic portion and a backstop. The optic portion of the lens includes an actuator that deflects a lens element to alter the optical power of the lens responsive to forces applied to the haptic portion of the lens by contraction of the ciliary muscles. Forces applied to the haptic portion may result in fluid displacements from or to the haptic portion from the actuator. The backstop provides support to the haptic so that bulk translation of the haptic is prevented in response to the forces applied by the capsular sac.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.

Abstract: An intraocular lens includes an optic having first and second sides. The optic has a first main lens surface at the first side, a second main lens surface at the second side, the first main lens surface providing a first main lens surface optical power, the second main lens surface providing a second main lens surface optical power, the first and second main lens surfaces providing a main lens having a main lens optical power and main optical axis defining radial, tangential and axial directions. The optic has: a first additional optical active part at the first side, providing a positive relative optical power with respect to the first main lens surface optical power; and a second additional optical active part at the second side, partly overlapping the first additional optical active part, providing a relative optical power and/or optical aberration with respect to the second main lens surface.

Abstract: A method for creating a flexible fastener line is disclosed. The fastener line comprises fasteners oriented in directions which are transverse or oblique to a tissue incision created by a cutting member. The fasteners can translate and/or rotate within the tissue when the tissue is stretched thereby creating flexibility within the tissue.

Abstract: Devices for treating mitral valve regurgitation, including a distal expandable anchor, a proximal expandable anchor, and a fixed length connecting member extending from the proximal expandable anchor to the distal expandable anchor, where at least one of the proximal and distal anchors includes first and second arm segments that extend from one end of the device toward the connecting member and the other anchor when in a collapsed delivery configuration, and where the at least one of the proximal and distal anchors that comprises the first and second arm segments has an expanded configuration in which the first and second arm segments extend radially outwardly such that the first and second arm segments extend away from one another toward the connector, and meet one another at a location axially spaced from the end of the device.

Abstract: A multifocal intraocular lens has an anterior lens surface which includes a first optic of a first radius and a second optic of a different radius. The posterior surface of the lens include an aspheric surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of an intraocular lens are described. The intraocular lens includes a lens having a center and having positive or negative optical power and a pinhole mask formed on the lens. The pinhole mask includes one or more annular sections whose centers substantially coincide with the center of the lens, each of the one or more concentric annular sections having variable opacity, and a central section that is permanently transparent, the radius of the central section being adapted to allow the central section to act as a pinhole when the one or more concentric annular sections are made opaque.

Abstract: An endoluminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by swivel joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.

Abstract: A stent graft (2) for placement in the thoracic arch of a patient has a first tubular body portion (6) with a first lumen therein for placement in the ascending aorta of a patient and a second tubular body portion (8) to extend along the thoracic arch and down the descending aorta. The second tubular body portion is of a lesser diameter than the first tubular body portion. There is a step portion (10) between the first body portion and the second body portion. The step portion is joined to and continuous with the first portion and the second portion. A first side of each of the first body portion, the step portion and the second body portion are substantially aligned so that there is a step (18) defined on a second side opposite to the first side of the body portion. There is an aperture (30) in the step portion and an internal tube (32) extending from the aperture towards the first body portion.

Abstract: A surgical ophthalmic procedure performs a medial canthoplasty of an eyelid system having the following steps: performing a medial subciliary skin incision in the medial inferior-eyelid skin, excising an ellipse of the medial inferior-eyelid skin extending medially upwardly; exposing the medial canthal tendon, creating an orbicularis flap from the inferior-lid orbicularis muscle, suturing the orbicularis flap to the medial canthal tendon, probing the lacrimal system to confirm the integrity of the canalicular system, excising the excess portion of the medial superior-eyelid skin, closing the medial canthal skin with deep fixation in the medial canthus, closing the medial suhciliary skin incision or extending the subciliary incision, making a supraciliary skin incision in the upper lid medially and performing an orbicularisorrhaphy by suturing the orbicularis of the upper lid to the orbicularis of the lid to further close the lid.

Abstract: A stent has strut parts bent in a zigzag shape, connected at both ends thereof, and formed in a ring shape, and bridge parts for connecting the strut parts in an axial direction, peak parts of strut parts excluding a strut part at the lead toward one end are all connected by bridge parts and clustered a plurality thereof at a time by the bridge parts, and connected to valley parts of struts adjacent toward the one end of the stent, and each strut part includes valley parts which are not connected to a bridge part.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing an impending multisystem failure in a patient, comprising steps of obtaining data of recorded speech of the patient, calculating an intensity function of the data across a plurality of frequencies, and determining the number of vibrations in the range of an octave in the recorded speech. A number of vibrations larger than four are indicative of an impending multisystem failure in the patient.

Abstract: A foldable accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) for implantation in a human eye, the AIOL including a hollow flattened sphere shaped housing including a shape memory optical element and a tubular casing mounted on the housing for reciprocation relative thereto for selectively compressing the shape memory optical element between a non-compressed shape and a compressed shape whereby the AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring to resize a dilated aortic root during valve sparing surgery includes a scalloped space frame having three trough sections connected to define three crest sections. The annuloplasty ring is mounted outside the aortic root, and extends in height between a base plane and a spaced apart commissure plane of the aortic root. At least two adjacent trough sections are coupled by an annulus-restraining member or tether that limits the maximum deflection of the base of the annuloplasty ring. In use, the tether is preferably located in proximity to the base plane of the aortic root. The annuloplasty ring is movable between a first, substantially conical configuration occurring during a diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle, and a second, substantially cylindrical configuration occurring during a systolic phase of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: Methods of controlling the degradation profile of a biodegradable stent scaffolding are disclosed. A bioabsorbable scaffold having a plurality of particles incorporated into the scaffolding that accelerate the absorption of the scaffolding after an induction time during degradation is disclosed.

Abstract: A woven prosthesis, such as a woven vascular graft, woven from warp and weft yarns. Velour warp yarns forming the prosthesis are selectively incorporated into a base layer of the prosthesis so as to provide a bulbous section without compromising the porosity of the prosthesis.

Abstract: An intra-ocular artificial lens with variable optical strength, wherein the artificial lens comprises two optical elements which are movable relative to each other in a direction extending transversely of the optical axis, wherein the optical elements have a form such that in different relative positions they together have different optical strengths, wherein the movable optical elements are connected to positioning means which are adapted for coupling to the iris of the eye for the purpose of driving. This measure makes use of the fact that one or both of the optical elements can be displaced relative to each other through the driving of the natural orbicularis muscle of the iris in order to obtain an accommodating function.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (1) including an anterior surface (4) and a posterior surface (5) and having a substantially antero-posterior optical axis (6). In this lens, one of these anterior and posterior surfaces includes a first diffractive profile (9) forming at least one first diffractive focal point (11) of order +1 on said optical axis, and a second diffractive profile (10) forming a second diffractive focal point (12) of order +1 on said optical axis which is distinct from the first diffractive focal point of order +1. At least one portion of said second diffractive profile is superposed to at least one portion of the first diffractive profile.

Abstract: A method of replacing a deficient native aortic valve with a self-expandable prosthetic valve is disclosed. The method involves advancing a self-expandable prosthetic valve through a tapered tube for crimping the prosthetic valve into a crimped diameter. The prosthetic valve is then advanced into a restriction tube for maintaining the prosthetic valve in the crimped diameter. The prosthetic valve is then advanced into a body and is positioned within the deficient native aortic valve. The prosthetic valve is then released from the restriction tube such that the prosthetic valve self-expands to an expanded diameter for anchoring within the deficient native aortic valve. The prosthetic valve comprises an expandable tubular support frame and a valve assembly positioned within the support frame. The valve assembly is formed with pericardial tissue and has three leaflets for providing blockage to a reverse flow of blood.