Abstract: A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

Abstract: A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

Abstract: A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

Abstract: A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

Abstract: At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.

Abstract: At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.

Abstract: Systems and methods resist posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ first, second, and third structures. The first structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a tongue. The second structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a region of a soft palate or uvula. The third structure is sized and configured for placement in or on tissue in a desired relationship. anterior of the first and second structures. The first and second structures each includes a ferromagnetic material. The third structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with both the first and second ferromagnetic materials by attracting both the first and second ferromagnetic materials, thereby resisting posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula.

Abstract: At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in a tissue region in an airway. An array of projections extends from the elongated body and is resiliently coupled to the elongated body. The array or projections is in a normally biased outward extending condition sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation after implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region. The array of projections is sized and configured to resiliently yield by flexing inward against the elongated body during implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region.

Abstract: At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in a tissue region in an airway. An array of projections extends from the elongated body and is resiliently coupled to the elongated body. The array or projections is in a normally biased outward extending condition sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation after implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region. The array of projections is sized and configured to resiliently yield by flexing inward against the elongated body during implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region.

Abstract: At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in an epiglottis and/or in a muscle along an upper respiratory tract. An array of projections extends from the elongated body, which is sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation.

Abstract: Systems and methods employ implants attached to the hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, or both the thyroid and cricoid cartilages and a source of magnetic force to move the hyoid bone, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, or both the thyroid and cricoid cartilages in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing, using attracting, repelling or a combination of attracting and repelling magnetic forces.

Abstract: At least one implant structure is sized and configured for implantation in, on, or near an extrinsic muscle region affecting movement and/or shape of a tongue, e.g., a genioglossus muscle. The position of the implant structure is stabilized relative to the extrinsic muscle region to maintain the tongue in a desired orientation, e.g., to maintain patency of an airway.

Abstract: At least one elongated tension-able body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in a tissue region in an airway. An array of projections extend from the elongated tension-able body, which are sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated tension-able body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation.

Abstract: At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in a tissue region in an airway. An array of projections extends from the elongated body and is resiliently coupled to the elongated body. The array or projections is in a normally biased outward extending condition sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation after implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region. The array of projections is sized and configured to resiliently yield by flexing inward against the elongated body during implantation of the elongated body in the tissue region.

Abstract: At least one elongated body is sized and configured for implantation in a desired orientation in an epiglottis and/or in a muscle along an upper respiratory tract. An array of projections extends from the elongated body, which is sized and configured to engage tissue and resist a reorientation of the elongated body within the tissue region out of the desired orientation.

Abstract: Systems and methods resist posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula during sleep, thereby keeping an airway open. The systems and methods employ first, second, and third structures. The first structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a tongue. The second structure is sized and configured for placement in or on a region of a soft palate or uvula. The third structure is sized and configured for placement in or on tissue in a desired relationship. anterior of the first and second structures. The first and second structures each includes a ferromagnetic material. The third structure includes a magnetic material that magnetically interacts with both the first and second ferromagnetic materials by attracting both the first and second ferromagnetic materials, thereby resisting posterior movement of both the tongue and the soft palate/uvula.

Abstract: A carrier is sized and configured for placement in or on a tissue region. The carrier includes at least one interior compartment. At least one ferromagnetic material is carried within the compartment. The compartment and the ferromagnetic material are mutually sized and configured to allow movement of the ferromagnetic material within the compartment in response to magnetic interaction with a magnetic material located outside the carrier. The magnetic interaction can include either a magnetic attracting force or a magnetic repelling force. The carrier can be used in association with a source of magnetism sized and configured for placement in or on a tissue region outside the carrier for magnetic interaction with the ferromagnetic material carried within the compartment, e.g., to stabilize the orientation of a tissue region within an airway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for securing a pair of suture lengths together or for using a single strand of suture to secure tissue(s) together at an operative site in a patient without necessarily tying a knot. The suture lock device according to the present invention includes a suturing securing device having an outer body member having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen defining a suture path through the outer body, an inner wedge member axially insertable into the outer body member to secure a portion of a suture between the wedge and the interior surface of the lock member, an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer tube carrying the outer body member at the distal end of the outer tube, the outer tube carrying the wedge proximal to the outer body member, and a pusher member slidable within the outer tube to push the wedge into the lock member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for securing a pair of suture lengths together or for using a single strand of suture to secure tissue(s) together at an operative site in a patient without necessarily tying a knot. The suture lock device according to the present invention includes a suturing securing device having an outer body member having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen defining a suture path through the outer body, an inner wedge member axially insertable into the outer body member to secure a portion of a suture between the wedge and the interior surface of the lock member, an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the outer tube carrying the outer body member at the distal end of the outer tube, the outer tube carrying the wedge proximal to the outer body member, and a pusher member slidable within the outer tube to push the wedge into the lock member.

Abstract: The present invention involves a surgical instrument for guiding a delamination instrument into the cornea of a human eye. The instrument generally includes a handle portion and an end portion. The end portion has at least two flat (or substantially flat) members extending therefrom and in different directions. Each of the members being adapted to be inserted through an incision in the cornea to form a guide for a corneal delamination instrument. With at least two members extending in different directions one may easily access either pocket formed from a corneal incision with a single tool.