Abstract: An adjustable annuloplasty device (1) which comprises a tubular, longitudinally extending cage (2) having a basically annular shape or being adapted to be brought into an annular shape upon release from a delivery device (3). The annuloplasty device additionally comprises a separate, tubular, longitudinally extending base (4) having at least a part of the basically annular shape of the cage (2) or being adapted to be brought into at least partially into the annular shape of the cage (2) upon release from a delivery device. The tubular cage (2) is attachable to the base (4) and the base (4) is flexible such that the annular shape of the base (4) is adjustable.

Abstract: A medical device including an artificial contractile structure, which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ, is provided. The medical device includes an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element adapted to contract an organ in such a way that the contractile element is in a resting or in an activated position; at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure; and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The actuator includes an electromotor and a transmission element linking the electromotor to the contractile element, the transmission element being configured to transmit to the contractile element a force induced by the electromotor.

Abstract: A medical device including an artificial contractile structure, which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ, is provided. The medical device includes an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element adapted to contract an organ in such a way that the contractile element is in a resting or in an activated position; at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure; and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The actuator includes an electromotor and a transmission element linking the electromotor to the contractile element, the transmission element being configured to transmit to the contractile element a force induced by the electromotor.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an actuating device for actuating a mechanical adjustment element of surgical implant, said mechanical adjustment element allowing to modify the functional shape and/or the functional size of the surgical implant when actuated, said actuating device comprising transmission means linked with one end to the mechanical adjustment element and able to move the mechanical adjustment element when said transmission means are actuated, connecting means (7) mounted on the other end of the transmission means and able to actuate the transmission means, said connecting means (7) comprising coupling means and driving means (24) comprising complementary shaped coupling means, said driving means (24) being designed to be removable and fitted into the coupling means for moving the mechanical adjustment element by driving into movement a movable part of the connecting means (7).

Abstract: A medical device including artificial contractile structures generally devised to be used in the medical field. Such structures may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of an organ. The medical device includes an artificial contractile structure having at least two contractile elements (100) adapted to contract an organ, in such way that each of the contractile elements (100) can be in a resting or in an activated position, independently of the position of each other, the activated position being defined with the contractile element (100) constricting the organ and the resting position being defined with the contractile element (100) not constricting the organ, and at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure. Each contractile element (100) is connected to an adjacent contractile element (100), while remaining flexible one with respect to the other.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring system for repairing an atrioventricular cardiac valve includes an external support ring (2), an inner adjustable ring (4), a sliding pushing element (6) mounted between the external and inner rings (2, 4), and actuating element designed to control the pushing element (6). The pushing element (6) is designed, when actuated by the actuating element, to slide between the external ring (2) and the inner ring (4) and to press on the inner ring (4) by using the external ring (2) as a support, in such a way that a precise part of the inner ring (4) is deformed without modifying the perimeter of the inner ring (4).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an actuating device for actuating a mechanical adjustment element of surgical implant, said mechanical adjustment element allowing to modify the functional shape and/or the functional size of the surgical implant when actuated, said actuating device comprising transmission means linked with one end to the mechanical adjustment element and able to move the mechanical adjustment element when said transmission means are actuated, connecting means (7) mounted on the other end of the transmission means and able to actuate the transmission means, said connecting means (7) comprising coupling means and driving means (24) comprising complementary shaped coupling means, said driving means (24) being designed to be removable and fitted into the coupling means for moving the mechanical adjustment element by driving into movement a movable part of the connecting means (7).

Abstract: A device for forming an anastomosis of blood vessels or ducts includes a first inner cylindrical element for engaging a corresponding first blood vessel/prosthesis end portion and a first middle cylindrical element into which the first inner cylindrical element is inserted to bend the legs of the first inner cylindrical element inwards to a predetermined extent so that deformable legs thereof engage the vessel/prosthesis wall. The device includes a second inner cylindrical element for engaging a corresponding second blood vessel/prosthesis end portion and a second middle cylindrical element into which the second inner cylindrical element can be inserted to bend the legs of the second inner cylindrical element inwards to a predetermined extent so that deformable legs thereof engage the vessel/prosthesis wall. The device also includes an outer element for reciprocally connecting the first and second middle cylindrical elements.

Abstract: An artificial contractile structure generally devised to be used in the medical field to assist the functioning of an organ, includes a support (2) and one or more fibers (5) fixed thereto. The fibers are made of a contractile material which can be activated by an activator so as to provide the structure in a rest or activated position, the activated position being defined with fibers of reduced length compared to their length in the rest position. The structure is adapted to be placed around a hollow part of an organ to be contracted. The fibers are distributed along the support in order to be able to reduce the volume of the hollow part, when the fibers are contracted. The fibers and the activator are designed so that the temperature of fluids or tissues surrounding the organ does not increase above 40° C., preferably 39° C., and more preferably 38° C.

Abstract: A medical device including artificial contractile structures generally devised to be used in the medical field. Such structures may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of an organ. The medical device includes an artificial contractile structure having at least two contractile elements (100) adapted to contract an organ, in such way that each of the contractile elements (100) can be in a resting or in an activated position, independently of the position of each other, the activated position being defined with the contractile element (100) constricting the organ and the resting position being defined with the contractile element (100) not constricting the organ, and at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure. Each contractile element (100) is connected to an adjacent contractile element (100), while remaining flexible one with respect to the other.

Abstract: An annuloplasty ring system for repairing an atrioventricular cardiac valve includes an external support ring (2), an inner adjustable ring (4), a sliding pushing element (6) mounted between the external and inner rings (2, 4), and actuating element designed to control the pushing element (6). The pushing element (6) is designed, when actuated by the actuating element, to slide between the external ring (2) and the inner ring (4) and to press on the inner ring (4) by using the external ring (2) as a support, in such a way that a precise part of the inner ring (4) is deformed without modifying the perimeter of the inner ring (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device including an artificial contractile structure which may be advantageously used to assist the functioning of a hollow organ. The medical device includes an artificial contractile structure including at least one contractile element (100) adapted to contract an organ, in such way that the contractile element (100) is in a resting or in an activated position, at least one actuator designed to activate the contractile structure, and at least one source of energy for powering the actuator. The ratio “current which is needed to maintain the contractile element in its activated position/current which is needed to change the position of the contractile element” is less than 1/500, preferably less than 1/800, and more preferably less than 1/1000.

Abstract: A device for forming an anastomosis of blood vessels or ducts includes a first inner cylindrical element for engaging a corresponding first blood vessel/prosthesis end portion and a first middle cylindrical element into which the first inner cylindrical element is inserted to bend the legs of the first inner cylindrical element inwards to a predetermined extent so that deformable legs thereof engage the vessel/prosthesis wall. The device includes a second inner cylindrical element for engaging a corresponding second blood vessel/prosthesis end portion and a second middle cylindrical element into which the second inner cylindrical element can be inserted to bend the legs of the second inner cylindrical element inwards to a predetermined extent so that deformable legs thereof engage the vessel/prosthesis wall. The device also includes an outer element for reciprocally connecting the first and second middle cylindrical elements.

Abstract: A device for forming an anastomosis of blood vessels or ducts comprises: first and second engagement structures (7, 10; 35) for respectively engaging a first end portion (2) of a blood vessel (1) or of a prosthesis and a second end or side portion (4, 4?) of the blood vessel (1) or prosthesis; and a mechanism (14, 14?) for reciprocally connecting the first and second engagement structures. The first engagement structure (7, 10) comprise one or more piercing elements (6) adapted to only partially penetrate the side wall of the blood vessel (1) so as to avoid direct contact between the elements (6) and the blood inside the vessel or prosthesis.

Abstract: An artificial contractile structure generally devised to be used in the medical field to assist the functioning of an organ, includes a support (2) and one or more fibers (5) fixed thereto. The fibers are made of a contractile material which can be activated by an activator so as to provide the structure in a rest or activated position, the activated position being defined with fibers of reduced length compared to their length in the rest position. The structure is adapted to be placed around a hollow part of an organ to be contracted. The fibers are distributed along the support in order to be able to reduce the volume of the hollow part, when the fibers are contracted. The fibers and the activator are designed so that the temperature of fluids or tissues surrounding the organ does not increase above 40° C., preferably 39° C., and more preferably 38° C.

Abstract: A device for forming an end-to-side anastomosis of blood vessels includes a first body for engaging an end portion of a blood vessel, a second body having a saddle portion that may be placed partly over a wall of a side portion of a further blood vessel and having a central hole which communicates with the wall for stably engaging the side portion of the further blood vessel. The first and second body are engaged together and in the engaging portion there are provided piercing elements adapted to penetrate the external surface of the wall without penetrating the internal surface of the wall of the further blood vessel so as to avoid direct contact between the piercing elements and the blood inside the vessel.

Abstract: Artificial contractile tissue including a structure (b,f) and several fibers (a,g) of variable length which are fixed at their ends to the structure (b,f). The fibers (a,g) are made of a contractile material which can be activated by an activator in such a way as to provide a tissue in a rest or in an activated position, the rest position being defined with non-rectilinear fibers (a,g) and the activated position being defined with fibers (a,g) of reduced length; the transition from the rest towards the activated position or vice-versa being defined by a fiber movement along a lateral direction which is perpendicular with respect to the fiber length.

Abstract: Method and device to convert movement of human body part such as heart, diaphragm, skeletal muscles, etc. into electrical energy using smart materials like electroactive polymers, piezoelectric materials or other materials which passive deformation produces electric signals.

Abstract: A device for forming an anastomosis of blood vessels or ducts comprises: first and second engagement structures (7, 10; 35) for respectively engaging a first end portion (2) of a blood vessel (1) or of a prosthesis and a second end or side portion (4, 4?) of the blood vessel (1) or prosthesis; and a mechanism (14, 14?) for reciprocally connecting the first and second engagement structures. The first engagement structure (7, 10) comprise one or more piercing elements (6) adapted to only partially penetrate the side wall of the blood vessel (1) so as to avoid direct contact between the elements (6) and the blood inside the vessel or prosthesis.

Abstract: A device for forming an end-to-side anastomosis of blood vessels or ducts includes a first engagement structure (7) for engaging an end portion (2) of a blood vessel or of a prosthesis, a second engagement structure (35) for stably engaging a side portion (4) of the blood vessel or prosthesis, and a mechanism (10, 14) for reciprocally connecting the first and second engagement structures (7, 35). The second engagement structure (35) includes one or more piercing elements (9) adapted to only partially penetrate the side wall (4) of the blood vessel or prosthesis so as to avoid direct contact between the elements (9) and the blood inside the vessel or prosthesis.