Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve with outer skirts are disclosed. A prosthetic valve can include a frame that is radially collapsible and expandable between a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration, a leaflet structure positioned within the frame and secured thereto, and an outer skirt positioned around an outer surface of the frame. The outer skirt comprises first and second sets of interlaced yarns forming multiple rows between an inflow edge and outflow edge of the outer skirt, where the multiple rows include groups of floating yarns.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve has a frame including a plurality of strut members, the frame being radially expandable and collapsible between a collapsed state and an expanded state, the frame having an inflow end and an outflow end and defining a longitudinal axis. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame. A covering is disposed around an exterior of the frame and includes a cushioning layer, a first strip of material coupled to the cushioning layer and folded to encapsulate apices of the strut members of the inflow end of the frame, and a second strip of material coupled to the cushioning layer and folded to encapsulate apices of the strut members of the outflow end of the frame. The cushioning layer includes texturized filaments that provide compressible volume and a plush surface to the cushioning layer when the frame is in the expanded state.

Abstract: A system for detecting and cleaning contaminants from an imaging optical path, comprising an imaging device configured to receive a slide and capture a first slide image, at least a computing device configured to determine a contaminant presence indicator associated with a contaminant within an optical path of the imaging device based on the first slide image and execute a contaminant cleaning protocol as a function of the contaminant presence indicator, a contaminant removal mechanism configured to remove the contaminant from the optical path according to the contaminant cleaning protocol, wherein the computing device is further configured to re-evaluate the contaminant presence indicator based on a second slide image of the slide captured using the imaging device and request a user input upon a positive re-evaluation of the contaminant presence indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of use of a mechanism that converts rotary motion into linear motion are disclosed. The method includes mechanically connecting, using a first connecting component, a rotary component and one or more movable components, mechanically connecting, using a second connecting component, a plurality of gripping components and the one or more movable components, generating, using the rotary component, rotary motion about a rotational axis, transferring, using the first connecting component, the rotary motion to the one or more movable components, transferring, using the second connecting component, the off-axis motion of the one or more movable components to the plurality of gripping components and moving the plurality of gripping components linearly in opposite directions.

Abstract: A system for microscopy slide locking include a stage slot configured to fit a microscopy slide, the stage slot including a first corner and a second corner diagonally across the first corner, a static securing element disposed at the first corner and configured to contact a microscopy slide at a first pair of its orthogonal, intersecting edges, and a dynamic securing element disposed at the second corner and configured to contact the microscopy slide at a second pair of its orthogonal, intersecting edges diagonally opposite the first pair of its orthogonal, intersecting edges, wherein the dynamic securing element includes a translating portion configured to slide in a translational direction between a proximal position and a distal position and a rotating portion rotationally connected to the translating portion and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation normal to a face of the microscopy slide and the translational direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve and method for crimping the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A method of radially compressing a prosthetic valve can include partially inserting the valve while in a radially expanded configuration into a crimping device comprising crimper jaws, wherein a portion of the valve comprising an outer skirt extends outside of the crimper jaws. The method can further include crimping the valve to a first partially collapsed configuration, further inserting the valve into the crimping device, such that the outer skirt is between the crimper jaws, and crimping the valve to a second partially collapsed configuration, wherein a diameter of the valve is smaller in the second partially collapsed configuration than in the first partially collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A system for detecting and cleaning contaminants from an imaging optical path, comprising an imaging device configured to receive a slide and capture a first slide image, at least a computing device configured to determine a contaminant presence indicator associated with a contaminant within an optical path of the imaging device based on the first slide image and execute a contaminant cleaning protocol as a function of the contaminant presence indicator, a contaminant removal mechanism configured to remove the contaminant from the optical path according to the contaminant cleaning protocol, wherein the computing device is further configured to re-evaluate the contaminant presence indicator based on a second slide image of the slide captured using the imaging device and request a user input upon a positive re-evaluation of the contaminant presence indicator.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve has a frame including a plurality of strut members, the frame being radially expandable and collapsible between a collapsed state and an expanded state, the frame having an inflow end and an outflow end and defining a longitudinal axis. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame. A covering is disposed around an exterior of the frame and includes a cushioning layer, a first strip of material coupled to the cushioning layer and folded to encapsulate apices of the strut members of the inflow end of the frame, and a second strip of material coupled to the cushioning layer and folded to encapsulate apices of the strut members of the outflow end of the frame. The cushioning layer includes texturized filaments that provide compressible volume and a plush surface to the cushioning layer when the frame is in the expanded state.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve has a frame including a plurality of strut members, an inflow end, and an outflow end. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame, and a covering is disposed around an exterior of the frame. The covering includes a cushioning layer, and a first strip member folded over an inflow circumferential edge portion of the cushioning layer to form a first protective portion. A second strip member is folded over an outflow circumferential edge portion of the cushioning layer to form a second protective portion. The first strip member and the second strip member are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a docking device involves implementing a three-dimensional (3D) weaving technique to form a 3D textile structure using a plurality of different types of fibers, heating the 3D textile structure on a shape-setting mold at a temperature above a melting point of a first type of fiber of the plurality of different types of fibers to set a cylindrical shape of the 3D textile structure, maintaining the 3D textile structure on the shape-setting mold to cool off for a period of time, and removing the 3D textile structure from the shape-setting mold.

Abstract: A docking device includes a hollow cylindrical body portion having an internal surface and an outer surface. The hollow cylindrical body portion is formed of a three-dimensional (3D) woven fabric comprising a plurality of different types of fibers.

Abstract: Methods of manufacture, including exposing the upper to steam while in a tensioned state to at least partially melt the fusible yarn to adjacent yarns is described. Subsequent cooling of the fusible yarn retains the upper in a stretched condition.

Abstract: A delivery cylinder includes a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion having a plurality of struts coupled to the first tubular portion and defining a volume for containing a radially compressed prosthetic implant. The struts include proximal end portions and main body portions extending from the proximal end portions in both an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration. The proximal end portions of each strut include a pair of first recessed portions defined in longitudinal edges of the strut, and a pair of second recessed portions defined in the longitudinal edges distally of the pair of first recessed portions. The pair of first recessed portions reduces a width of the strut to induce bending of the strut at the pair of first recessed portions, and the pair of second recessed portions reduces the width of the strut to induce bending at the pair of second recessed portions.

Abstract: A delivery cylinder for a prosthetic implant can include a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion. The second tubular portion has a plurality of strut members coupled to the first tubular portion that define a volume for containing the prosthetic implant in a radially compressed state. The strut members can include respective flex regions configured such that application of force to the strut members causes deformation of the flex regions and corresponding radially inward or outward movement of the strut members relative to a longitudinal axis of the delivery cylinder between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration.

Abstract: A lightweight, breathable, translucent and high-strength upper formed from a half-gauge knit, at least in part from a high tenacity yarn and a fusible yarn, is described. The upper may include a knit heel structure. Methods of manufacture, including exposing the upper to steam while in a tensioned state to at least partially melt the fusible yarn to adjacent yarns is also described. Subsequent cooling of the fusible yarn retains the upper in a stretched condition.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve has a frame including a plurality of strut members, an inflow end, and an outflow end. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame, and a covering is disposed around an exterior of the frame. The covering includes a cushioning layer, and a first strip member folded over an inflow circumferential edge portion of the cushioning layer to form a first protective portion. A second strip member is folded over an outflow circumferential edge portion of the cushioning layer to form a second protective portion. The first strip member and the second strip member are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve and method for crimping the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A method of radially compressing a prosthetic valve can include partially inserting the valve while in a radially expanded configuration into a crimping device comprising crimper jaws, wherein a portion of the valve comprising an outer skirt extends outside of the crimper jaws. The method can further include crimping the valve to a first partially collapsed configuration, further inserting the valve into the crimping device, such that the outer skirt is between the crimper jaws, and crimping the valve to a second partially collapsed configuration, wherein a diameter of the valve is smaller in the second partially collapsed configuration than in the first partially collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a frame having a plurality of strut members, an inflow end, and an outflow end. The prosthetic heart valve further includes a leaflet structure situated at least partially within the frame, and a covering disposed around the frame. The covering has a first layer and a second layer, wherein the second layer has a plush surface. The first layer is folded over a circumferential edge portion of the second layer to form a protective portion that extends beyond the strut members in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. The prosthetic valve can comprise an annular frame, leaflets, an inner skirt, and an outer skirt. The outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack that buckles outward radially when the valve is in the expanded configuration and which lies flat when the valve is in the collapsed configuration. In some embodiments, the outer skirt is stiffer in the axial direction of the valve than in the circumferential direction of the valve. In additional embodiments, the outer skirt comprises a self-expandable fabric comprising fibers made of a shape memory material having a shape memory set to enhance the radially outward buckling of the outer skirt. Methods of crimping such valves to a collapsed or partially collapsed configuration are also disclosed.

Abstract: A textured fabric for an implantable bioprosthesis is provided. The textured fabric can include a woven base layer and a plurality of loops projecting from the woven base layer. The plurality of loops are formed from a composite core-sheath yarn. The core can be made of a material that is different from the sheath. The core material can be selected to impart strength and resiliency to bending and the sheath material can be selected to impart a larger surface area or texture that facilitates cellular or tissue in-growth.