Abstract: Method of making a musculoskeletal tissue reconstruction implant by warp knitting an implant of a biodegradable polymeric material to form a porous matrix or scaffold having a tensile stiffness at least by 50% lower than the tensile stiffness of the musculoskeletal tissue the implant is configured to reconstruct.

Abstract: A modular intraocular lens (IOL) with a ring configured to prevent glare artifacts. The ring includes a flange on the posterior rim, in which an anterior surface on the flange has a first profile and a posterior surface of the flange has a second profile non-parallel with the first profile. Non-parallel surfaces of the flange can be configured to defocus light transmitted at off-axis angles through an optic and the flange.

Abstract: The invention relates in general to the field of heart surgery. In the surgical field, instruments are used in order to examine the interior of living organisms and/or to use for operative interventions. These also include implants for the production of the functionality of a heart. The invention relates to such an implantable device and a method for eliminating regurgitation in the area of the heart. The implantable device is an annuloplasty ring with a large number of tissue anchors. An unfolded annuloplasty ring is positioned in the cavity of a body element in order to constrict a bodily opening. Using the minimally-invasive technique, each tissue anchor of the annuloplasty ring is intravascularly inserted in advance into a precise position on the edge of the mitral valve annulus.

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: Various embodiments of an implant delivery systems including at least one removable actuator to reshape a valve annulus are described. The systems may use the removable actuator to customize annular reshaping at a treatment site and withdraw the actuator from the treatment site following custom reshaping to provide a low profile annuloplasty implant.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving overall vision in patients suffering from a loss of vision in a portion of the retina (e.g., loss of central vision) by providing a piggyback lens which in combination with the cornea and an existing lens in the patient's eye redirects and/or focuses light incident on the eye at oblique angles onto a peripheral retinal location. The piggyback lens can include a redirection element (e.g., a prism, a diffractive element, or an optical component with a decentered GRIN profile) configured to direct incident light along a deflected optical axis and to focus an image at a location on the peripheral retina. Optical properties of the piggyback lens can be configured to improve or reduce peripheral errors at the location on the peripheral retina.

Abstract: Provided is an artificial retina system for improving contrast sensitivity. The artificial retina system includes an artificial retina which is installed under the retina and includes a plurality of photodiode cells and a microcomputer. The microcomputer compares, with at least one reference value, the magnitude of an electric signal outputted from a photodiode in each of the photodiode cells. The microcomputer controls to amplify or reduce the electric signal outputted by each of the photodiode cells according to the result of comparison. Visual cells corresponding to each of the photodiode cells can be stimulated with an electric signal controlled by the microcomputer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a collagen construct comprising a plurality of elongate strips, wherein each strip contains a plurality of collagen fibres that are substantially aligned along the length of the respective strips, and the strips are braided or woven together to produce a collagen construct in the form of a rope that can be used for replacing tendons or ligaments, such as cruciate ligaments. Also disclosed is a method for making or producing the collagen construct from a collagen membrane having a plurality of collagen fibres being substantially aligned parallel to each other in a common direction. The membrane is cut along cut lines that are orientated substantially parallel to that common direction, thereby to separate elongate strips from the membrane. The strips are then braided or woven together to form the collagen construct.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for deploying implantable devices within the body. The delivery and deployment systems include at least one catheter or an assembly of catheters for selectively positioning the lumens of the implant to within target vessels. Various deployment and attachment mechanisms are provided for selectively deploying the implants.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve is provided with a cuff having features which promote sealing with the native tissues even where the native tissues are irregular. The cuff may include a portion adapted to bear on the LVOT when the valve is implanted in a native aortic valve. The valve may include elements for biasing the cuff outwardly with respect to the stent body when the stent body is in an expanded condition. The cuff may have portions of different thickness distributed around the circumference of the valve in a pattern matching the shape of the opening defined by the native tissue. All or part of the cuff may be movable relative to the stent during implantation.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses for reducing the risk of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) are described herein. PCO can be reduced with an IOL design that increases the pressure at the posterior capsular bend, for example, by including a sharper edge design, an enlarged optical zone, and/or an increased vault height. An example ophthalmic lens can include an optic (200) including an anterior surface (202) defining an anterior side of the optic, a posterior surface (204) defining a posterior side of the optic, and an edge (210) arranged between the anterior and posterior surfaces. The edge and the posterior surface can form an angle, where the angle is less than about 90 degrees. Additionally, the ophthalmic lens can have an increased vault height. At least one of the angle or the increased vault height be configured to increase pressure on a capsular bend in a subject's eye.

Abstract: Disclosed are adjustable intraocular lenses and methods of adjusting intraocular lenses post-operatively. In one embodiment, an adjustable intraocular lens can comprise an optic portion and a peripheral portion. The peripheral portion can comprise a composite material comprising an energy absorbing constituent and a plurality of expandable components. A base power of the optic portion can be configured to change in response to an external energy directed at the composite material.

Abstract: A system and method of customizing at least one characteristic for an intraocular lens include includes measuring at least one biometric parameter of an eye simulating a corneal spherical aberration and an anterior chamber depth of the eye, and empirically calculating a post-operative spherical aberration at an iris or pupil plane of the eye, based on a regression formula including the corneal spherical aberration, the anterior chamber depth, and the biometric parameter(s), in order to obtain a desired postoperative condition.

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 fiducial is generated on an internal anatomical structure of the eye of a patient with a surgical laser. A toric artificial intraocular lens (IOL) is positioned so that a marker of the toric IOL is in a predetermined positional relationship relative to the fiducial. This positioning aligns the toric IOL with the astigmatic or other axis of the eye. The toric IOL is then implanted in the eye of the patient with high accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular interim joint prosthesis that can be inserted into a long bone, for replacing an explanted joint endoprosthesis, wherein the interim joint prosthesis has a main body having a main-body coupling segment and has a shaft having a shaft coupling segment and the shaft coupling segment can be detachably coupled to the main-body coupling segment.

Abstract: Provided are a tubular therapeutic implement, a tubular therapeutic implement set, and a tubular therapeutic implement indwelling device, all of which enable appropriate indwelling at a branching portion in a tubular tissue. This stent graft 30 is provided with: a frame portion (32) having a plurality of frame pieces (321-325); and a tubular graft portion (33) which is provided along the frame portion, wherein the tube wall of the graft portion is provided with a lateral opening (through-hole 36 of a branching section 35) that is connected with an inner cavity of the graft portion, and when the region between one end and the other end of the graft portion is compartmented into a first region (P) that includes the lateral opening and a second region (Q) that dose not include the lateral opening, the frame pieces are not situated in the first region, but are in the second region.

Abstract: A method of treating and managing diseased ocular tissue in the bulbar conjunctiva comprises providing a device comprising a plurality of microneedles arranged on a substrate contacting the device with a diseased ocular tissue region formed in the bulbar conjunctiva stroma to form a plurality of micro-injury sites therein. A device comprises a contact lens substrate comprising a substantially elliptical corneal portion and a limbus portion located radially about the corneal portion. A scleral portion is located radially about the substrate. The device is at least partially degradable and comprises a therapeutic compound. At least a portion of the scleral portion is configured to overlay, and deliver the therapeutic compound to, a diseased ocular tissue located adjacent to the cornea of a patient.

Abstract: Modular IOL systems including a base and a lens, wherein the lens includes fixed and actuatable tabs for connection to the base. The modular IOL allows for the lens to be adjusted or exchanged while leaving the base in place, either intra-operatively or post-operatively. Drug delivery capabilities and/or sensing capabilities may be incorporated into the base. Injector devices may be used to facilitate placement of the base and the lens sequentially or simultaneously into the eye.

Abstract: A modular IOL system including intraocular primary and secondary components, which, when combined, form an intraocular optical correction device, wherein the secondary component is placed on the primary component within the perimeter of the capsulorhexis, thus avoiding the need to touch or otherwise manipulate the capsular bag. The secondary component may be manipulated, removed, and/or exchanged for a different secondary component for correction or modification of the optical result, on an intra-operative or post-operative basis, without the need to remove the primary component and without the need to manipulate the capsular bag. The primary component may have haptics extending therefrom for centration in the capsular bag, and the secondary component may exclude haptics, relying instead on attachment to the primary component for stability. Such attachment may include actuatable interlocking members.