Abstract: Apparatus and methods for securing a bone implant are provided. The implant may be an expandable implant. The implant may be a non-expandable implant. The implant may be for repairing a bone fracture. The implant may be secured to a bone by anchors. The implant may include anchor receiving features. The anchor receiving features may be configured to direct an anchor into cortical bone. The anchor receiving features may be configured to receive an anchor driven through cortical bone. The implant may include bone engaging members configured to engage cancellous bone. An implant may include different profiles. The different profiles may be configured to secure the implant. The profiles may be configured to support the bone. The implant may have different flexing properties configured to position the implant in the bone. The implant may be positioned to receive an anchor driven through an outside of the bone.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for repairing a bone. The apparatus and methods may involve transferring a mechanical load from a first bone fragment to a second bone fragment. For example, the first bone fragment may be at the end of the bone. The second bone fragment may be in the diaphyseal region of the bone. The bone fragment at the end of the bone may be separated by a fracture from the bone fragment in the diaphyseal region of the bone. The fracture may interfere with transmission of the load from the bone fragment at the end of the bone to the bone fragment in the diaphyseal region of the bone. Transmission of the load across the fracture by the apparatus may promote healing of the fracture.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for preparing the interior of a bone for therapy. The therapy may include therapy for a bone fracture. The apparatus and methods may involve orienting a surgical instrument for proper deployment in the interior of the bone. An instrument guide may be positioned and retained against translation along, and rotation about one or more of three substantially orthogonal axes. Apparatus placed exterior to the bone may register the guide to a region inside the bone that is designated for preparation or treatment. One or more broaching members may be used to prepare the region for treatment. A broaching member may be expandable inside the bone. A broaching member may be flexible such that it broaches bone having a relatively lower density and it leaves bone having a relatively higher density substantially intact.

Abstract: A system and method for endoscopically forming an anastomosis between two naturally adjacent points in the digestive tract. The system and method utilizes elongate magnetic devices that, when connected across a tissue boundary, necrose tissue until an anastomosis forms and the devices are passed naturally. Despite the elongate shape of the devices, the resulting anastomosis is substantially round. As such, round anastomoses can be formed having increased diameters merely by increasing the lengths of the devices, obviating the need for wider endoscopes.

Abstract: An implant structure for use in pulling two soft body tissue areas closer together in a patient (e.g., two points along or adjacent to the patient's mitral valve annulus) includes at least two tissue anchor structures that are respectively implantable into the two tissue areas. A tether structure links the two tissue anchors and can be shortened and held in that condition by a cinch structure. Bracing structures are used between the anchors and the tether to help keep the longitudinal axes of the anchors transverse to the tether axis even when the tether is under tension. The tether may be sheathed in a cushioning sleeve to help protect adjacent tissue from erosion by the tether.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a disk in a dynamic storage device and providing precise movement of the head slider relative to tracks on the disk. The head suspension includes a load beam, a flexure having a slider mounting region, and a dimple interface transmitting a load beam force to the slider mounting region. The head suspension further includes a microactuator mounted to the load beam. Movement of the microactuator is transmitted through the dimple interface by action of frictional forces at the dimple interface so as to cause movement of the slider mounting region transverse to tracks on the disk. A method of precisely moving a head slider supported by a head suspension includes providing and driving a microactuator configured to transmit movement of the microactuator to a slider mounting region through a dimple interface by action of frictional forces at the dimple interface.

Abstract: Soft body tissue structure can be remodeled by shortening the distance between first and second portions of that tissue structure. First and second anchor structures are respectively implanted in the first and second portions of the tissue structure. These anchor structures are linked by a linking structure, the length of which between the anchor structures can be shortened to pull the tissue structure portions toward one another. Each of the anchor structures may include two screw structures that are driven into the associated tissue structure portion transverse to the linking structure and with a spacer between the two screws. The entire prosthesis can be implanted percutaneously if desired. An illustrative use of the prosthesis is to shorten the annulus of a patient's mitral valve, with at least a portion of the prosthesis implanted in the patient's coronary sinus.

Abstract: A head suspension for a reverse flow disk drive. The head suspension includes a load beam having a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end and a spring region between the mounting region and the rigid region. A flexure is mounted on the distal end of the rigid region. A slider is mounted on the flexure. The slider has a proximal end closest to the proximal end of the load beam, wherein the spring region, the rigid region, the flexure and the slider comprise an active portion. One or more read/write heads are located on the proximal end of the slider. A plurality of electrical traces extend along the head suspension to the proximal end of the slider. At least one airflow attenuator is provided that creates a region of reduced airflow velocity proximate at least a portion of the active portion. An actuator assembly and to a reverse flow disk drive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated lead suspension or component having an integrated circuit (IC) with an array of terminals. The suspension or component is formed from a laminated sheet of material including a spring metal layer and a conductive material layer separated by an insulating layer. The method includes forming an IC window in the spring metal layer, forming integrated conductive leads in the conductive material layer and forming holes in the insulating layer. The IC can then be mounted to the suspension or component in the IC window, and the array of terminals electrically interconnected to the integrated conductive leads through the insulating layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that gather a patient's body tissue and then secure the gathered tissue in a reduced area utilizing a securing structure. The securing structure mainly resides on one side of the tissue to minimize or eliminate both foreign material and the amount of manipulation or activity on the other side of the tissue. The securing device is matched to the desired amount of tissue manipulation to minimize the structure. The gathered and secured tissue can surround a septal defect to obstruct or close the defect itself.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making an anastomotic connection between an opening at an end of a graft conduit and an aperture in a side wall of a body tissue conduit using a hollow connector assembly are provided, wherein the cross-sectional area of the anastomotic connection is larger than that of the graft conduit. The tissue about the opening is introduced about and retained by first members of a distal portion of the connector assembly held by a loading tool. A delivery tool then collapses a proximal portion defined by second members of the connector assembly and delivers the second members into the lumen of the body tissue conduit via the aperture. Upon inserting the second members into the body tissue conduit, the delivery tool is disemployed and the second members expand such that they press against the interior wall of the body tissue conduit and such that the first members are held within the aperture against a medial wall of the body tissue conduit.

Abstract: A patient's soft body tissue can be remodelled by implanting first and second anchor structures in the tissue at respective first and second spaced locations. A linking structure between the anchor structures is then operated to change the distance between the first and second anchor structures. Examples of use are repair of a patient's mitral and/or tricuspid valve(s) and/or remodeling of a patient's left ventricle.

Abstract: A head suspension or head suspension component that includes a spring metal support layer, an insulating layer and a conductive layer, into which three dimensional heat dissipation structures have been integrally formed to dissipate heat from the head suspension, especially in an area adjacent to an integrated circuit mounted on the head suspension. The heat dissipation structures may include a plurality of heat fins formed into or onto one or more conductive traces of the conductive layer, or may include a plurality of projections or indentations formed into or onto conductive traces. Use of a partial etching technique allows for simultaneous etching of both the traces and the heat fins within the traces, thereby decreasing production costs and increasing head suspension reliability. Heat fins may also be formed into the support layer in a region adjacent to the conductive layer heat fins, if desired in order to dissipate even more heat from the region.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension or flexure having an integrated circuit (IC) mounting region on which an IC chip with an array of solder-covered terminals can be mounted. The suspension or flexure include a stainless steel layer, integrated conductive leads and an insulating layer between the conductive leads and the stainless steel layer. The stainless steel layer has an IC window for receiving an array of terminals of an IC. The integrated conductive leads extend along the stainless steel layer into the IC window, and include an array of bond pads in the IC window corresponding to the array of terminals of the IC to be mounted to the suspension or flexure. The insulating layer extends into the IC window and includes an array of solder mask holes corresponding to the array of conductive lead bond pads.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension or flexure having an integrated circuit (IC) mounting region on which an IC chip with an array of solder-covered terminals can be mounted. The suspension or flexure include a stainless steel layer, integrated conductive leads and an insulating layer between the conductive leads and the stainless steel layer. The stainless steel layer has an IC window for receiving an array of terminals of an IC. The integrated conductive leads extend along the stainless steel layer into the IC window, and include an array of bond pads in the IC window corresponding to the array of terminals of the IC to be mounted to the suspension or flexure. The insulating layer extends into the IC window and includes an array of solder mask holes corresponding to the array of conductive lead bond pads.

Abstract: A head suspension or head suspension component that includes a spring metal support layer, an insulating layer and a conductive layer, into which three dimensional heat dissipation structures have been integrally formed to dissipate heat from the head suspension, especially in an area adjacent to an integrated circuit mounted on the head suspension. The heat dissipation structures may include a plurality of heat fins formed into or onto one or more conductive traces of the conductive layer, or may include a plurality of projections or indentations formed into or onto conductive traces. Use of a partial etching technique allows for simultaneous etching of both the traces and the heat fins within the traces, thereby decreasing production costs and increasing head suspension reliability. Heat fins may also be formed into the support layer in a region adjacent to the conductive layer heat fins, if desired in order to dissipate even more heat from the region.

Abstract: A head suspension for a reverse flow disk drive. The head suspension includes a load beam having a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end and a spring region between the mounting region and the rigid region. A flexure is mounted on the distal end of the rigid region. A slider is mounted on the flexure. The slider has a proximal end closest to the proximal end of the load beam. One or more read/write heads located on the proximal end of the slider. The head suspension can include one or more of an airflow attenuator, micro-actuators, and/or an inverted gimbal.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension for mounting to the end of an actuator arm includes a load beam having a mounting region, a rigid region, and a spring region between the mounting region and the rigid region. The load beam also has a stationary section including first and second outer stationary portions with an open region formed therebetween, a moving section including an inner moving portion located in the open region between the first and second outer stationary portions, and a gap separating the stationary section and the moving section. The gap has first and second gap portions separating the inner moving portion from the first and second outer stationary portions, respectively.

Abstract: A disk drive suspension for mounting to the end of an actuator arm. The suspension includes a load beam having a base at a proximal end, a rigid region, a spring region between the rigid region and the base, a flexure for receiving and supporting a read/write head on a distal end of the load beam, a moving section, and a stationary section. The moving section is supported from the stationary section by at least 2 transversely extending resilient support beams. The support beams allow the moving section to pivot with respect to the stationary section. A microactuator is located on the load beam to pivot the moving section and shift the flexure including the read/write head along a transverse tracking axis in response to tracking control signals.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly including a load beam having a rigid region, a mounting region on a proximal end of the load beam, and a flexure on a distal end of the load beam. The flexure has a read/write head attachment region for supporting a read/write head on the distal end of the load beam. Deformation of the head suspension assembly displaces the head attachment region. A strain transducer circuit that acts as a strain gauge is mounted on the head suspension assembly. The resistance of the transducer circuit varies with strain in the circuit, which, in turn, varies with displacement of the read/write head. The magnitude of resistance change of the transducer circuit indicates the magnitude of head off-neutral motion.