Abstract: An implantable medical device and method of implanting a medical device, the device including a housing surrounding an operative component and a resiliently deformable fixation member. The fixation member includes a ring shaped annulus circumscribing the housing and a plurality of elongated struts having a proximal end affixed to the housing and a distal end affixed to the annulus. The fixation member may be comprised of a hydrogel such that it may be in a smaller, dehydrated form during implantation, and then may absorb fluid to expand to a larger, hydrated form after insertion to engage the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An implantable medical device and method of implanting a medical device, the device including a housing surrounding an operative component and a resiliently deformable fixation member. The fixation member includes a ring shaped annulus circumscribing the housing and a plurality of elongated struts having a proximal end affixed to the housing and a distal end affixed to the annulus. The fixation member may be comprised of a hydrogel such that it may be in a smaller, dehydrated form during implantation, and then may absorb fluid to expand to a larger, hydrated form after insertion to engage the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system includes, in one embodiment, a first device including a first communication module coupled to a wireless communication network for transmitting data and a second device adapted for implantation in a patient's body including a second communication module coupled to the wireless communication network and adapted to receive data from the first device. The second device may include an equalizer coupled to the second communication module for reducing signal distortion of the data received wirelessly through the patient's body. The second device may convert a received signal to an acoustic or radio-frequency output signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of applying stimulation pulse therapy to excitable tissue may include one or more of the following steps: (a) delivering a PESP stimulation therapy to the excitable tissue for a cardiac cycle, (b) delivering a NES stimulation therapy to the excitable tissue during certain cardiac cycles, (c) determining physiologic demand of the patient based on at least one physiologic measurement, (d) determining physiologic demand being placed on a heart based on at least one physiologic measurement, and ceasing the delivery of the NES and PESP stimulation therapy when physiologic demand returns to a base level, and (e) determining physiologic demand being placed on a heart based on at least one physiologic measurement, and modulating the ratio of the number of cardiac cycles in which the NES stimulation therapy is delivered to the number of cardiac cycles in which the PESP stimulation therapy is delivered based on physiologic demand.

Abstract: A method of making an electret includes condensing vapor from the atmosphere of a controlled environment onto a dielectric article and then drying the article to remove the condensate. The dielectric article may be a nonconductive polymeric material, and the condensate may include a polar liquid. The method is particularly useful for forming an electret from a porous material such as a nonwoven fibrous web. The method can enable individual fibers in the web to exhibit at least quasi-permanent electrical charge.

Abstract: An active fluid transport device (10, 40, 54, 60) that includes a layer (12) of polymeric material. The layer (12) has a structured surface (13) that includes a plurality of substantially discrete flow channels (16). The flow channels (16) have a minimum aspect ratio of about 10 to 1 and a hydraulic radius no greater than about 300 micrometers. The device may also include a connector (20, 55) that allows a potential source (14) external to the structured surface (13) to be placed in fluid communication with the discrete flow channels (16). The potential source (14) promotes fluid movement through the flow channels (16) from a first location to a second location.

Abstract: Noise is attenuated through use of an acoustical insulation 10 that includes a molded, three-dimensional nonwoven web that contains organic microfibers 12 and heat activatable staple fibers 14 where the heat activatable staple fibers 14 are bonded to each other and to the microfibers 12 at various contact points. The web contains greater than 15 weight percent heat activatable staple fibers, has a thickness of about 0.5 centimeters or greater, and a density of less than 250 kilograms per cubic meter and preferably contains bulking staple fiber 16. The acoustical insulation is positioned between a source area and a receiving area such that a major face of the insulation intercepts and thereby significantly attenuates sound waves passing from the source area to the receiving area.

Abstract: A corneal prosthesis including an optical element having an optically transparent central portion and an anterior surface capable of supporting a layer of epithelial cells, the optical element being made of optical material having water content between 50% and 90% and a tensile strength greater than 20 kg/cm.sup.2, and a porous outer skirt secured to the periphery of said element, said skirt being sufficiently porous to permit cell ingrowth and tissue attachment. Also disclosed are methods of making, seeding and using corneal implants having epithelial layers thereon and porous implant material of a coherent mass of randomly oriented fibers having an interconnected network of pores.

Abstract: An anchor sheet and anchor body for holding a cannula within the abdominal cavity of a patient is described. The cannula is used during a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The anchor sheet and anchor body assist in holding the cannula in a preferred orientation relative to the abdominal cavity. An attachment mechanism such as a hook and loop fastener may be utilized to connect the anchor sheet to the anchor body.

Abstract: A corneal prosthesis including an optical element having an optically transparent central portion and an anterior surface capable of supporting a layer of epithelial cells, the optical element being made of optical material having water content between 50% and 90% and a tensile strength greater than 20 kg/cm.sup.2, and a porous outer skirt secured to the periphery of said element, said skirt being sufficiently porous to permit cell ingrowth and tissue attachment. Also disclosed are methods of making, seeding and using corneal implants having epithelial layers thereon and porous implant material of a coherent mass of randomly oriented fibers having an interconnected network of pores.

Abstract: A holding device for seeding cells on a surface of a prosthesis including chamber means for partially defining a first chamber with the first surface, and sealing means for providing a seal between the chamber means and the prosthesis so as to isolate the seeding surface from another portion of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intraocular lens comprising a lens element and a plurality of haptics extending therefrom, at least one of the haptics having an anchoring filament with an enlarged complete or partial mushroom-shaped end fixedly disposed inside a passage in the lens element. Also disclosed is a method for fixing a haptic having an anchoring filament to a lens element in a soft intraocular lens comprising the steps of (a) forming in the lens element a passage having a width that is less than the greatest width of the anchoring filament, (b) lubricating the anchoring filament of the haptic, the passage in the lens element, or both, (c) inserting the anchoring filament end-first into the passage, and (d) washing the intraocular lens to remove the lubricant.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intraocular lens comprising a lens element and a plurality of haptics extending therefrom, at least one of the haptics having an anchoring filament with an enlarged complete or partial mushroom-shaped end fixedly disposed inside a passage in the lens element. Also disclosed is a method for fixing a haptic having an anchoring filament to a lens element in a soft intraocular lens comprising the steps of (a) forming in the lens element a passage having a width that is less than the greatest width of the anchoring filament, (b) lubricating the anchoring filament of the haptic, the passage in the lens element, or both, (c) inserting the anchoring filament end-first into the passage, and (d) washing the intraocular lens to remove the lubricant.

Abstract: This invention provides a new method of preparing intraocular lenses for implantation which comprises folding, stretching, rolling, compressing or otherwise reconfiguring the lens to reduce the profile of the lens in at least one dimension and dehydrating the lens in that shape. The thus prepared artificial intraocular lens may be surgically implanted in the eye through a small incision where it will be rehydrated in situ.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis and its method of fabrication. The prosthesis takes the form of a flexible and conformable support tube having a luminal surface formed of a smooth, homogenous, and substantially non-thrombogenic hydrogel having relatively small pores or microvoids suitable for tissue ingrowth but resistant to thrombus formation, and having an outer surface formed of essentially the same hydrogel having a heterogenous microstructure which includes relatively large pores or macrovoids especially suitable for cellular ingrowth from perigraft sources and attachment sites. In one embodiment, the tubular substrate is foraminous and the inner and outer hydrogel layers merge through the interstices of the substrate to provide a unified ground substance characterized by strata having selectively different pore characteristics for promoting effective endothelialization and for reducing possibilities of thrombotic occlusion.