Abstract: Atrio-ventricular valve stent (1) having a tubular shape, with a sub annular anterior side (2), a sub annular posterior side (3) and sub annular lateral sides (13), the sub annular anterior side (2) comprising a self-folding native leaflet engagement member (4-9) that forms a straight extension of said sub annular anterior side (2) when the stent (1) is collapsed and that is folded on itself when the stent (1) is in an expanded state; said engagement member (4-9) forming an integral part of the stent (1) and wherein each sub annular lateral side (13) is longer than said sub annular anterior side (2) when the stent (1) is in an expanded state.

Abstract: Atrio-ventricular valve stent (1) having a tubular shape, with a sub annular anterior side (2), a sub annular posterior side (3) and sub annular lateral sides (13), the sub annular anterior side (2) comprising a self-folding native leaflet engagement member (4-9) that forms a straight extension of said sub annular anterior side (2) when the stent (1) is collapsed and that is folded on itself when the stent (1) is in an expanded state; said engagement member (4-9) forming an integral part of the stent (1) and wherein each sub annular lateral side (13) is longer than said sub annular anterior side (2) when the stent (1) is in an expanded state.

Abstract: A prosthesis for annuloplasty comprising a laminar or tubular element having a plurality of apertures along at least one portion. Preferably, the shape, dimensions, and arrangements of the apertures in this prosthesis are chosen in such a way as to give the prosthesis a differentiated flexibility in dependence on the location and direction of application of an external stress.

Abstract: A prosthesis for annuloplasty comprising a laminar or tubular element having a plurality of apertures along at least one portion. Preferably, the shape, dimensions, and arrangements of the apertures in this prosthesis are chosen in such a way as to give the prosthesis a differentiated flexibility in dependence on the location and direction of application of an external stress.

Abstract: A prosthesis for annuloplasty comprising a laminar or tubular element having a plurality of apertures along at least one portion. Preferably, the shape, dimensions, and arrangements of the apertures in this prosthesis are chosen in such a way as to give the prosthesis a differentiated flexibility in dependence on the location and direction of application of an external stress.

Abstract: An annuloplasty prosthesis having at least one inner support element of elastomeric material and an outer fabric covering the support element. The elastomeric material impregnates the facing portions of the covering fabric so that the support element is fixed firmly to the covering fabric, preventing relative sliding movements between the fabric and the support element.

Abstract: There are disclosed devices for conditioning a blood flow which include at least one element with portions which are exposed to the blood and are deformable cyclically at a frequency comparable to the frequency of the heartbeat, in which the cyclically deformable portions have a continuous coating of biocompatible carbonaceous material comprised of carbon crystals having a density of greater than 2.1 grams per cubic centimeter applied by sputtering directly on and completely covering at least those portions of the device which are exposed to the blood.

Abstract: A prosthetic device which includes a biocompatible carbon film firmly adherent to a substrate. The carbon preferably is turbostratic and is preferably very thin, e.g., less than about one micron. The thin carbon biocompatible film is dense and covers at least that portion of the substrate which will be in contact with body tissue and/or fluids to insure against physiological rejection and degradation of the prosthetic device. The carbon can be deposited on a variety of substrates, including low temperature substrates, in situ, without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the substrate. The prosthetic device of the invention is formed by triode sputtering vacuum deposition at a relatively low temperature to achieve the desired results with respect to the deposited carbon and the substrate and with respect to the required adherence therebetween.

Abstract: A prosthetic device which includes a turbostratic biocompatible carbon film firmly adherent to a substrate and having a density of at least 2.1 g/cm.sup.3. The carbon preferably is very thin, e.g. , less than about one micron. The thin carbon biocompatible film covers at least that portion of the substrate which will be in contact with body tissue and/or fluids to insure against physiological rejection and degradation of the prosthetic device. The carbon can be deposited on a variety of substrates, including low temperature substrates, in situ, without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the substrate. The prosthetic device of the invention is formed by triode sputtering vacuum deposition at a relatively low temperature to achieve the desired results with respect to the deposited carbon and the substrate and with respect to the required adherence therebetween.

Abstract: A prosthetic device includes a turbostratic biocompatible carbon film firmly adherent to a substrate and having a density of at least 2.1 g/cm.sup.3. The carbon preferably is very thin, e.g., less than about one micron. The thin carbon biocompatible film covers at least that portion of the substrate which will be in contact with body tissue and/or fluids to insure against physiological rejection and degradation of the prosthetic device. The carbon can be deposited on a variety of substrates, including low temperature substrates, in situ, without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the substrate. The prosthetic device of the invention is formed by triode sputtering vacuum deposition at a relatively low temperature to achieve the desired results with respect to the deposited carbon and the substrate and with respect to the required adherence therebetween.

Abstract: A prosthetic device which includes a biocompatible carbon film firmly adherent to a substrate. The carbon preferably is turbostratic and is preferably very thin, e.g., less than about one micron. The thin carbon biocompatible film is dense and covers at least that portion of the substrate which will be in contact with body tissue and/or fluids to insure against physiological rejection and degradation of the prosthetic device. The carbon can be deposited on a variety of substrates, including low temperature substrates, in situ, without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the substrate. The prosthetic device of the invention is formed by triode sputtering vacuum deposition at a relatively low temperature to achieve the desired results with respect to the deposited carbon and the substrate and with respect to the required adherence therebetween.

Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus for fixing and shaping animal tissue into the shape of a cardiac valve prosthesis, including a tapered form, with elongated through apertures, suspended in a reservoir of fixative and vacuum means for producing a reduced pressure within the tapered form.

Abstract: Sheets of incompletely fixed biological tissue comprising portions for defining valve flaps of a cardiac valve prosthesis are mounted on forming means which can separate in a substantially fluid-tight manner the opposite faces of such portions. These opposite faces are subjected to a fluid pressure difference which produces deformation of the portions towards a conformation substantially identical with the conformation of the valve flaps when mounted in the prosthesis. The biological tissue is finally fixed while the portions defining the valve flaps of the prosthesis are maintained in the said conformation. The sheets of biological tissue are then separated from the forming means to be subsequently mounted in the frame of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A pyrocarbon tip for a cardiac stimulator electrode is subjected to an anodic electrolytic treatment in which a strong, concentrated acid with oxidizing properties, or a mixture of two or more such acids, is used as the electrolyte. The treatment is carried out with a voltage greater than 1 V, preferably between 1 and 20 V, and with a current density greater than 3 mA/mm.sup.2, preferably between 30 and 40 mA/mm.sup.2. Pyrocarbon tips treated in this manner have very low bias voltages in use.