Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 08/06

20060195174 - Counter rotational layering of eptfe to improve mechanical properties of a prosthesis: A prosthesis, and method for forming same, are provided which includes expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tubes having angularly offset node and fibril configurations. Also, the node and fibril configurations are angularly offset from the longitudinal axes of the respective tubes, providing resistance against failure in the longitudinal direction....

20060195173 - Intraluminal lining: The present invention is directed to a prosthesis for implantation within a body lumen. The prosthesis includes a biocompatible elongate intraluminal liner in the form of a graft, with a biocompatible adhesive being disposed on an exterior surface of the graft. The adhesive is active in an intraluminal environment so...

20060195172 - Multi-unit stent-graft: A new stent-graft is provided with an improved structure design which comprises multiple stent-graft units with/without one or two open stents sutured to combine the uniform prosthesis without a connector bar in the place where flexing required. Each stent-graft unit comprises a stent sutured to a tubular graft. The new...

20060195176 - Coated implantable medical device: Bioactive-coated medical devices are provided, including coated vascular stents. The medical device coating can include a coating layer posited over at least a portion of the medical device surface, and can include a butyl methacrylate polymer or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer in combination with a bioactive material that can function...

20060195175 - Modular vascular prosthesis having axially variable properties and improved flexibility and methods of use: The present invention provides a vascular prosthesis featuring a plurality of modular segments interengaged by flexible, and preferably lockable, inter-engageable elements forming joints. The segments may have a number of different mechanical properties and may be assembled by the clinician to customize the prosthesis for a specific patient or application....

20060195177 - Stent for implantation in a blood vessel, especially in the region of the aortic arch: A stent for implantation in a blood vessel is disclosed, especially in the region of the aortic arch. The stent is comprising rings which are disposed successively in the stent's longitudinal direction and which are made up of meandering circumferential supports. The stent further comprises a prosthesis material which is...

20060195178 - Aneurismal sack deflator: An aneurismal sack deflator is disclosed including a body having an aneurismal sack neck closure surface. An internal surface defines at least a portion of a fluid passageway, with the internal surface configured to provide a Venturi effect to thereby reduce fluid pressure in the fluid passageway. A semi-permeable region...

20060195179 - Method for creating an internal transport system within tissue scaffolds using computer-aided tissue engineering: An artificial tissue including an internal mass transport network having a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are designed to substantially mimic naturally occurring vascular network and a method for creating an internal transport system within a tissue scaffold to improve circulation, diffusion, and mass transport properties by utilizing computer-aided...

20060195181 - Heart valve system: A valve system including an aortic valve and a holder. The holder includes a holder body, which has a central portion, engagable with a holder handle, and downwardly extending leg portions that engage the valve in the areas between the commissure posts. The central portion of the holder further includes...

20060195180 - Implantable small percutaneous valve and methods of delivery: An implantable prosthetic valve that is transformable from a first helical pre-implantation configuration to a second valvular functional configuration, and methods of delivery....

20060195182 - Method and apparatus for replacing a mitral valve with a stentless bioprosthetic valve: A stentless bioprosthetic valve includes at least one piece of biocompatible material comprising a bi-leaflet conduit. The conduit has a distal end, a proximal end defining a first annulus for suturing to the valve annulus of a heart, and leaflets extending between the proximal and distal ends. The distal end...

20060195183 - Apparatus and methods for replacing a cardiac valve: An apparatus and method for replacing a cardiac valve includes an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends, a main body portion extending between the ends, and a prosthetic valve within the main body portion. The main body portion has an annular shape for expanding into position...

20060195184 - Conformable prosthesis for implanting two-piece heart valves and methods for using them: A heart valve assembly includes an annular prosthesis and a valve prosthesis. The annular prosthesis includes an annular ring for dilating tissue within a biological annulus and a conformable sewing cuff extending radially from the annular member. The valve prosthesis includes a frame and a valve component. The annular ring...

20060195186 - Connectors for two piece heart valves and methods for implanting such heart valves: A heart valve assembly includes an annular prosthesis including an annular member and a sewing cuff extending radially from the annular member, and a valve member including a frame and a plurality of leaflets carried by struts. The annular prosthesis includes a plurality of pockets extending upwardly from the annular...

20060195185 - Two piece heart valves including multiple lobe valves and methods for implanting them: A heart valve assembly including an annular prosthesis implantable within a biological annulus, a prosthetic valve including a multiple lobular shape for implantation above the biological annulus, and one or more connectors for securing the prosthetic valve to the annular prosthesis. A flexible sewing cuff extends radially from the annular...

20060195187 - Ophthalmic implant for treatment of glaucoma: An implant is placed within Schlemm's canal of the eye and provides tension to the trabecular meshwork. The tension is continuous and increases the aqueous outflow without the necessity of administering cholinergic drugs to treat glaucoma....

20060195188 - Biosynthetic composite for osteochondral defect repair: A composite for osteochondral defect repair includes a porous scaffold and a periosteal graft secured to a surface of the scaffold. The composite provides cartilage growth from autologous periosteum chondrogenesis. Biological resurfacing of large osteochondral defects, or a complete joint is feasible using the porous scaffold/autologous periosteal composite. The use...

20060195190 - Implant for intervertebral space: An implant for an intervertebral space with a shaped body. The implant has a top contact surface to be placed on a base plate of a body of the vertebra adjoining the implant from above, a bottom contact surface to be placed on a cover plate of a body of...

20060195189 - Prosthetic joint of cervical intervertebral for a cervical spine: In an intervertebral joint prosthesis for an intervertebral space of the cervical spine, the intervertebral space is delimited by the end plates of the adjacent vertebral bodies. The bearing surfaces of these end plates, when viewed in a frontal plane, have edge zones laterally adjacent to a substantially flat central...

20060195191 - Modular disc device: The disclosure generally relates to a modular disc that is insertable by sections into a disc space located between vertebral bodies. The primary segments of the modular disc are one or more middle members engageable with first and second side members. The first and second side members are successively inserted...

20060195192 - Artificial functional spinal unit assemblies: An artificial functional spinal unit is provided comprising, generally, an expandable artificial intervertebral implant that can be placed via a posterior surgical approach and used in conjunction with one or more artificial facet joints to provide an anatomically correct range of motion. Expandable artificial intervertebral implants in both lordotic and...

20060195193 - Implant for closing an opening in the annulus fibrosus: In an implant in the form of a plug for closing an opening in the annulus fibrosus, in order to ensure as reliable a fixing of the plug as possible and a secure closure, it is proposed that the plug have rigid anchoring elements for the end plates of adjacent...

20060195194 - Shoulder implant for glenoid replacement and methods of use thereof: The invention features a glenoid (shoulder socket) implant prosthesis, a humeral implant prosthesis, devices for implanting glenoid and humeral implant prostheses, and methods of their use for the treatment an injured or damaged shoulder....

20060195195 - Mobile bearing knee prosthesis: In one embodiment of the present invention a mobile bearing knee prosthesis may include an interface (e.g., a spherical radius interface) comprised of a concave superior surface on a tibial tray and a convex inferior surface on a tibial insert. In another embodiment of the present invention a mobile bearing...

20060195196 - Modular tibial implant with a mortise coupling: A modular tibial implant apparatus includes a tibial plate and a tibial stem mortised to the tibial plate. A method for anchoring a tibial plate and a tibial stem relative to a proximal tibia includes anchoring the tibial stem in the proximal tibia and mortising the tibial plate to the...

20060195197 - Sensing systems and methods for monitoring gait dynamics: Systems and method for monitoring gait dynamics are disclosed. The performance of an orthotic or prosthetic device or other device associated with a limb may be measured based on the resistance of a bending sensor. Data from the sensors is gathered or processed, particularly for purposes of alignment, safety, failure,...

20060190069 - Unidirectional delivery system: A tubular prosthesis delivery system has an inner tubular member having a distal end including a prosthesis-carrying portion and a proximal end intended to remain outside the patient. An outer tubular member has a distal end spaced from the prosthesis-carrying portion of the inner member. A coupling member couples the...

20060190071 - Endoluminal expansion system: An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to...

20060190070 - Rail stent and methods of use: Devices, systems and methods are provided for stenting body lumens. In particular, stents are provided which are advanceable directly over a guidewire and expandable within a target location of a body lumen by retraction of the guidewire and/or by releasing constraining element(s) disposed around at least a portion of the...

20060190072 - Flexible cells for axially interconnecting stent components: Interconnects for connecting axially expandable segments of stents are disclosed. The interconnects include a proximal connector, a first arm, a second arm and a distal connector. The connectors secure the interconnect to the adjacent axially expandable members. The first arm and the second arm provide flexible elements of the interconnect...

20060190073 - Method and apparatus for making a braided stent with spherically ended wires: A method and apparatus for cutting a braided wire stent to a predetermined length such that a ball or sphere is formed on the end of each cut wire of the stent. These spheres are advantageous in that they provide added comfort to the patient and also act against the...

20060190075 - Stent retrieval member and devices and methods for retrieving or repositioning a stent: An implantable stent includes a stent retrieval member for repositioning or retrieval of the stent after it has been implanted into a bodily lumen. The stent includes a distensible tubular stent having a tubular structure having a tubular wall defined by an interior surface and an exterior surface and having...

20060190074 - Valve apparatus, system and method: A venous valve with a frame and a cover on the frame for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve....

20060190076 - Temporary absorbable venous occlusive stent and superficial vein treatment method: A temporary absorbable venous occlusive stent for use in a varicose vein treatment method includes a stent body, a bio-absorbable material associated with the body, and a closure for blocking blood flow past the stent when implanted in a vein. The stent produces localized blood clotting, fibrosis and vein collapse...

20060190077 - Annuloplasty system: An annuloplasty system including an annuloplasty prosthesis and a holder for the prosthesis. At least one rigid, downwardly extending penetrating member extends into the prosthesis. Preferably, at least one outwardly extending member extending alongside a lower surface of the prosthesis, preventing the prosthesis from moving downward and off of the...

20060190078 - Method and system for joint repair: A method and system for repairing a defect area in a surface of a joint include providing a mold having a first surface and a second surface, positioning the mold within the joint such that at least part of the mold first surface overlies the defect area, and depositing a...

20060190079 - Articulating spinal disc implants with amorphous metal elements: Described are artificial disc implants for insertion between first and second adjacent vertebrae in a patient. The implants have a first member and a second member in articulating relationship. At least one member of the implant includes an amorphous metal element. Also described are related methods of making and using...

20060190081 - Facet stabilization schemes: The present invention relates to methods of stabilizing a facet joint, wherein the facet joint comprises an inferior articular facet of the superior level, a superior articular facet of the inferior level, and an interfacet space that is defined between the opposing faces of the inferior and superior articular facets....

20060190080 - Implanted prosthetic device: An orthopedic device adapted for implantation into a body where it contacts bone tissue is disclosed which has at least one spaced apart polarized magnetic element, at least one piezoelectric element or a combination of a polarized magnetic element and a piezoelectric element which are in direct contact with one...

20060190082 - Intervertebral prosthesis system, in particular for the cervical spine: An intervertebral prosthesis system, in particular for the cervical spine, includes at least two types of prothesis. The type of prothesis includes a first cover plate that is configured to be connected to a first vertebral body, a second cover plate that is configured to be connected to a second...

20060190083 - Elastomeric spinal disc nucleus replacement: A spinal disc nucleus replacement including an elastomeric sheath (12) assembled around a rod (14), a portion of the sheath being arranged for sliding along the rod, and a sheath compactor (18) adapted to slide a portion of the sheath along the rod from a first position to a second...

20060190084 - Interior insert ball and dual socket joint: A spinal implant is inserted between adjacent vertebrae to function as an disk prosthesis. The prosthesis has two plates fastened to adjacent vertebrae facing each other. The facing sides of the plates each have a depending skirt formed as concentric arcs of about 90 degrees. The skirts are either bowed...

20060190085 - Spinal disc annulus repair device: A stent, or device for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall, or annulus fibrosus, after surgical incision or pathologic rupture, which is inserted through an aperture into the subannular space. The stent has radial extensions which are caused or allowed to expand into an expanded configuration to bridge...

20060190086 - Knee implant: A modular prosthetic device is provided for replacement of the knee. The device is assembled from a plurality of components, each of which can be inserted through a small incision. After inserting the components through the incision, the device can be assembled within the knee cavity. The modularity of the...

20060190087 - Tibial component: A tibial knee joint prosthesis for attachment to a suitably prepared tibial bone, providing bearing portions in the lateral and medial compartments. The lateral and medial bearing surfaces of the component are inclined at different angles in the anterior to posterior direction of the knee, so that when mounted to...

20060190088 - Prosthesis for correction of flatfoot deformity: An internal human prosthesis used in surgical procedures to treat flatfoot deformities, including pediatric, adult congenital, and adult acquired deformities. The internal prosthesis is inserted between the human talus and calcaneus bones. In a preferred embodiment, the prosthesis has a truncated conical shape along its long axis and a central...

20060190089 - Internal adaptor for hip acetabular cage: An acetabular cup assembly for a prosthetic hip joint includes an outer shell for attachment to the acetabulum. The outer shell has an inner surface receiving an adaptor. Complimentary coupling features are provided on the inner surface of the outer shell and the outer surface of the adaptor for coupling...

20060190090 - Polyaxial screw for acetabular cup: The invention relates to a device which is used for solidly connecting an acetabular cup shell to bone using at least one screw. According to the invention, the screw passes through a hole housing a ring mounted in the shell of the acetabular cup. The ring is mounted within an...

20060190092 - Hip stem prosthesis: A hip stem prosthesis is provided for treating a deficient hip joint....

20060190091 - Bone implants: This invention relates to a bone implant that includes a bioinert substrate covered with a ceramic layer containing a plurality of indentations. The total surface area of the indentations is 30-70% of the total surface area of the ceramic layer. This invention also relates to a method of preparing such...

20060190093 - Method for controlling a dynamic system: A method for providing a controlled force to a dynamic system includes applying a force to a first actuator, transmitting the force from the first actuator to a second actuator through a closed fluid path containing a captured volume of fluid, and providing, via the second actuator, a controlled force...

20060184226 - Delivery system for self-expanding stent, a method of using the delivery system, and a method of producing the delivery system: A medical appliance is provided that includes an outer sheath adapted to enclose a self-expanding stent in an inner space before deployment of the self-expanding stent and an inner sheath arranged between the outer sheath and the self-expanding stent before deployment of the self-expanding stent. The inner sheath includes longitudinal...

20060184225 - Force distributing system for delivering a self-expanding stent: The invention provides a system that distributes along the length of a stent those forces exerted on the stent during release of the stent from a sheath. The system includes a catheter inner member, a stent, and a sheath. Multiple longitudinally spaced protrusions extend from the outer surface of a...

20060184224 - Stent delivery system and method of use: A stent delivery system may be used to position a stent in a body lumen. An endoscope may be positionable in the stent delivery system facilitating direct visual observation during placement of the stent. The stent delivery system may include a first conduit, wherein the endoscope is positionable. A second...

20060184229 - Implantable prosthesis with displaceable skirt: An implantable prosthesis is provided having a radially-expandable tubular body and at least one skirt extending therefrom. The skirt terminates in a peripheral edge, wherein at least portions of the peripheral edge are free and displaceable to a greater diameter of the tubular body. Thus, with the implantable prosthesis being...

20060184227 - Increased friction inner member for stent-graft deployment: A system for treating a vascular condition and methods for assembling and using such a system. The system includes a catheter inner member, a stent framework, a graft material aligned with the stent framework to form a stent-graft assembly, and a slidable sheath. Multiple bands are spaced along the length...

20060184228 - Vascular endograft: An endograft for a vessel having a vascular branch extending from the vessel is provided. The endograft includes a main body having a wall separating interior and exterior surfaces and adapted to be inserted within the vessel. The main body is characterized by a single proximal opening and a single...

20060184230 - Delayed memory device: A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly and handle. A pull wire travels from the...

20060184232 - Methods and apparatus for curved stent: The present invention provides a stent comprising a tubular flexible body having a wall with a web structure that is expandable from a contracted delivery configuration to deployed configuration. The web structure comprises a plurality of neighboring, interconnected, web patterns, each web pattern composed of adjoining webs. Each adjoining web...

20060184231 - Self contracting stent: A self-contracting stent for use at a treatment site comprising shape memory material is provided. The stent may have an initial diameter for delivery to the treatment site and an expanded diameter when deployed at the treatment site. The stent further may have a contracted diameter when subjected to a...

20060184233 - Flexible and conformable stent: An expandable stent is fabricated from a plurality of radially undulating rings, each pair of adjacent radially expandable undulating rings being interconnected by a multiplicity of flex members. Each flex member contacts a portion of an apex on one ring at a circumferential location and a portion of an apex...

20060184234 - Method of securing a graft: Disclosed is an anastomosis catheter, for achieving a tissue to tissue or synthetic graft to tissue attachment. The catheter includes a plurality of deployable tissue anchors, which may be laterally deployed into surrounding tissue. The anchors may be used to achieve end to end or end to side anastomoses. Methods...

20060184235 - Implantable medical devices having recesses: In general, the invention is directed to devices and methods that are useful for surface preparation of implantable medical devices. In the case of a vascular graft, the invention presents devices and methods that enhance endothelial cell seeding by providing recesses in the luminal surface that can receive endothelial cells....

20060184236 - Intraluminal device including an optimal drug release profile, and method of manufacturing the same: An intraluminal device, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of manufacturing the same. The device includes a body. At least one therapeutic agent coating is positioned on the body and positioned substantially on an interface portion to provide an optimal drug release profile. The stent delivery system includes...

20060184237 - Method of incorporating a drug-eluting external body in a medical appliance and a self-expanding stent including a drug-eluting external body: A medical appliance is provided that includes a self-expanding stent; a sheath adapted to enclose the self-expanding stent in an interior space during deployment; and an external body comprising a bioactive agent attached to the self-expanding stent and adapted to lie outside the interior space of the sheath when the...

20060184238 - Braided stent to be implanted in a blood vessel: A braided stent to be implanted in a blood vessel comprises a hollow body which is stretchable in its longitudinal direction and whose circumferential surface is formed by a braid of a multiplicity of filamentary elements which, in the expanded state of the braided stent, intersect a plane, perpendicular to...

20060184239 - Intraparietal aortic valve reinforcement device and reinforced aortic valve: An intraparietal reinforcement device (1) for use in a biological prosthesis (10), as well as a biological prosthesis (10) provided with a device of this type, is particularly suitable for use within the organic tissue of the biological prosthesis (10), and for reinforcing the structure of the prosthesis so that...

20060184240 - Annuloplasty chain: An annuloplasty chain (10) is disclosed. The chain (10) can be fabricated from metal, and include a shielding layer (60) and a suturing layer (80)....

20060184241 - Self-molding annuloplasty ring: A resilient self molding annuloplasty ring which may be enlarged prior to implantation to facilitate implantation within a dilated or otherwise incompetent valve annulus having sufficient contractive force to render a valve competent. The self-molding annuloplasty ring may further comprise integral attachment devices to aid in the implantation process. The...

20060184242 - Method and apparatus for percutaneous reduction of anterior-posterior diameter of mitral valve: A method and apparatus for treating mitral regurgitation by approximating the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve. The distal end of the device is inserted into the coronary sinus of the heart and the proximal end of the device rests within...

20060184243 - System and method for aligning an optic with an axis of an eye: A method increases the depth of focus of an eye having a line of sight. A pharmacologic agent is applied to the eye to cause a reduction in the size of the pupil of the eye. The pupil is aligned with a visible feature of a mask comprising a pin-hole...

20060184244 - Biasing system for intraocular lens: An accommodating intraocular lens comprises first and second viewing elements interconnected by a biasing member such that the viewing elements are relatively movable in response to the ciliary muscle of the eye. The viewing elements are positioned further apart when in the accommodated position than when in the unaccommodated position....

20060184245 - Active retina implant with a multiplicity of pixel elements: An active retina implant has a multiplicity of pixel elements that convert incident light into electric stimulation signals for cells of the retina with which stimulation electrodes are to make contact. Each pixel element is provided with at least one image cell that converts incident light into electric signals, there...

20060184246 - Non-soft tissue repair: An implant for filling and/or distracting a body region, particularly a non-soft tissue cavity, has a plurality of segments wherein at least two of the segments are flexibly connected. The segments have a crush-strength sufficient to create and/or maintain the distraction of two or more non-soft tissue body surfaces, and...

20060184247 - Percutaneous spinal implants and methods: An apparatus includes an elongate member having a proximal portion configured to be deformed from a first configuration to a second configuration. The elongate member has a distal portion configured to be deformed from a first configuration to a second configuration. A non-expanding central portion is positioned between the proximal...

20060184248 - Percutaneous spinal implants and methods: An apparatus includes a guide shaft, an expansion member coupled to the guide shaft, and an actuator. The expansion member is configured to impart a force from within an interior of an implant to deform the implant. The actuator is coupled to the expansion member, the actuator is configured to...

20060184250 - Cement-less type artificial joint stem with the use of composite material: This invention provides cement-less type artificial joint stems with the use of complex material which can be connected to bone without using cement, does not get loose over a long period of time, has excellent durability, and has appropriate external form and stiffness to meet the condition of each patient....

20060184249 - Ball and shaft of a joint prosthesis: A prosthesis for replacement of a ball and socket joint in the human body. The prosthetic components comprise a shaft, having a body, a neck attached to the body and a ball attached to the neck, the shaft being insertable through a hole in the femur of the patient and...

20060184251 - Coated medical devices and methods of making and using: A medical device generally includes a structural member having a surface wherein at least a portion of the surface is coated with a nanostructured material to a thickness of at least about 25 micrometers, and wherein the nanostructured material comprises a ceramic, ceramic composite, ceramic metal composite, or a combination...

20060184252 - System and method for data communication with a mechatronic device: Embodiments include a system for controlling motion of a human limb. The system may include a plurality of mechatronic devices, each of which may be in communication with at least one other of the plurality of mechatronic devices. Each of the mechatronic devices includes one or more of a processor,...

20060173524 - Medical implant delivery and deployment tool: An apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a replacement heart valve implant comprising a valve and an expandable anchor; and a deployment tool adapted to endovascularly deliver the replacement heart valve implant to an implant site within the patient, the deployment tool...

20060173525 - Methods and systems for deploying luminal prostheses: Stents and other luminal prostheses may be introduced to body lumens, such as ureters, within a lubricious sleeve. The sleeve may be packed within a distal end of the stent so that it may be everted and withdrawn to cover an exterior surface of the stent as the stent is...

20060173526 - Two balloon staged stent expansion: A catheter with two balloons for implanting a stent without flaring at the ends of the stent during implantation has an outer balloon overlying an inner balloon. The length of the inner balloon is shorter than the length of the outer balloon and shorter than a stent which is mounted...

20060173527 - Stent for insertion and expansion in a lumen: A stent with at least two portions of a stent structure that are moved toward one another or away from each other upon expansion of the stent is characterized in that between the two portions there is at least one coupling arrangement by means of which, after a predefined movement...

20060173528 - Stent with self-deployable portion: The present invention provides methods and devices for placement of a stent in a bifurcation or ostial lesion. The stent comprises a main body and a flaring portion. The main body is designed to expand and support a main vessel while the flaring portion deploys at least partially in response...

20060173530 - Flexible cells for interconnecting stent components: Axially flexible stents for tracking through tortuous segments of tubular structures in body passages are disclosed. The stents, which utilize flexible interconnects, conform to such tortuous segments, track easily, and have sufficient surface areas to prevent gaps between stent components. In a preferred embodiment the interconnects have the form of...

20060173529 - Metal structure compatible with mri imaging, and method of manufacturing such a structure: The present invention relates to tubular radially expansible metal structures, having an abluminal wall, a luminal wall and a radial wall thickness therebetween with struts defining through-apertures in the wall, the structure further defining a plurality of expansible rings arranged adjacent one another along the longitudinal axis of the structure,...

20060173531 - Stent with variable features to optimize support and method of making such stent: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in lumens having variable characteristics such as curvatures, changing diameters as found in ostial regions or variable wall compliance during systolic cycles. The stent can include an end region which is fabricated to have a greater radial strength than the remaining axial length...

20060173532 - Intraluminal support frame and medical devices including the support frame: Intraluminal support frames for placement within a body vessel are provided. The support frames include a plurality of ring structures and first and second sets of connector segments. Connector segments of the first set join adjacent pairs of ring structures while connector segments of the second set join at least...

20060173533 - Endovascular graft: An endovascular graft, which is configured to conform to the morphology of a vessel to be treated, includes a tubular ePTFE structure; an inflatable ePTFE structure disposed over at least a portion of the ePTFE tubular structure; and an injection port in fluid communication with the inflatable ePTFE structure for...

20060173534 - Bifurcated stenting apparatus and method: A bifurcated stent and a stent configuration for manufacture of a bifurcated stent are disclosed. The bifurcated stent includes a first mono-tubular stent, a second mono-tubular stent and a third mono-tubular stent connected at their proximal ends to form the bifurcated stent. The first, second and third mono-tubular stents are...

20060173535 - Micro-porous mesh stent with hybrid structure: A prosthesis for treating a body passage includes a micro-porous tubular element and a support element. The tubular element is formed from a thin-walled sheet having a wall thickness of 25 micrometers or less, preferably a coiled-sheet exhibiting temperature-activated shape memory properties. The mesh pattern includes a plurality of openings...

20060173536 - Body lumen device anchor, device and assembly: An anchor anchors a therapeutic device having an elongated body within a body lumen. The anchor includes a fixation member carried on the device which is adjustable from a first configuration that permits placement of the device in the body lumen to a second configuration that anchors the device within...

20060173537 - Rolled minimally invasive heart valves: Expandable heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement surgeries are disclosed. The valves are rolled into a first, contracted configuration for minimally invasive delivery and then unrolled or unfurled at the implantation site. One- and two-piece stents may be used in conjunction with a plurality of flexible leaflet-forming membranes. The...

20060173538 - Artificial heart: The present invention relates to a heart prosthesis/artificial heart comprising a series of drawing and pressing means and intended to be implanted in a patient to replace the pumping activity of a heart, whereby it comprises at least two compartment, substantially surrounded by rigid-wall provided house containing a number of...

20060173539 - Corneal implants and methods and systems for placement: A system comprising a hollow member is used to deliver a constrained corneal implant into a corneal pocket. The hollow member may be tapered and the system may further include an implant deformation chamber and an axial pusher to advance the implant through the hollow member....

20060173540 - Intraocular lens and injector for the same: An injectable intraocular lens (10) made of flexible material, said lens (10) having an optical portion (11) that is preferably of approximately circular shape, said injectable intraocular lens being characterized in that it also has two side flats (15) provided on opposite edges of the optical portion (11), said flats...

20060173541 - Ocular prosthesis and fabrication method of same: An ocular prosthesis includes a posterior sclera portion partially nested with an anterior clear portion. An iris disk piece and/or a retinal chip may also be disposed between the posterior and anterior portions. A method for manufacturing the ocular prosthesis includes scanning an impression of an eye socket or an...

20060173542 - Biomaterial for artificial cartilage: A biomedical material for artificial cartilage is provided which employs a core material comprising a structure made of organic fibers, is flexible and has nearly ideal deformation properties, can be bonded and fixed to living-body bones such as vertebral bodies without fail at a high force, and is free from...

20060173543 - Support device for vertebral fusion: A support for vertebral fusion prevents subsidence and eliminates the need for posterior surgery and instrumentation. The support is constructed of an implantable man-made material. One embodiment is generally a U-shaped metal support that rests on the apophyseal ring of a patient's vertebrae, with the open portion of the U...

20060173544 - Intervertebral nucleus prosthesis and surgical procedure for implanting the same: An intervertebral nucleus prosthesis is proposed, which is characterized in that it consists of at least one, in particular, spherical body movable in two directions of a plane and made of a rigid, non-oxidizing, biocompatible material with a diameter adapted to the biological nucleus, the spherical body being mounted non-displaceably...

20060173545 - Spinal disc annulus reconstruction method and deformable spinal disc annulus stent: A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In...

20060173546 - Elbow prosthesis: A method and apparatus for replacing a selected portion of the anatomy is described. In particular, a prosthesis can be provided to replace a portion of an articulating joint, such as an elbow. The apparatus can be modular for various reasons and each of the modular portions can include a...

20060173547 - Modular femoral knee stem extender: A knee prosthesis includes a femoral component and a stem for implanting in a femur. A modular junction is provided for attaching the stem to the femoral component. The femoral component may include a boss having a slot for receiving the components of the modular junction. A portion of the...

20060173548 - Retentive and removable trial bearing insert: A retentive and removable trial bearing insert is used with a total hip replacement joint. The joint includes a dual mobility or bipolar prosthetic cup which has a part-spherical bearing insert with a part-spherical inner bearing surface which engages a part-spherical bearing head on a femoral stem. The bearing comprises...

20060173549 - Set of mobile necks for inserting into the stem of a hip prosthesis: A description is given of a set of mobile necks for inserting into the stem of a hip prosthesis, in which the mobile necks are produced with different inclinations and lengths in such a way that their free ends, when inserted in the stem, terminate at nine mutually equidistant points...

20060173550 - Hip prosthesis: Hip prosthesis structure includes a stem to be inserted into the upper portion of the femur, this stem having in its top a cavity for housing the free end of a shaped neck which carries on its other end a spherical head to be joined to the acetabulum of the...

20060173551 - Tissue augmentation material and method: A permanent, biocompatible material for soft tissue augmentation. The biocompatible material comprises a matrix of smooth, round, finely divided, substantially spherical particles of a biocompatible ceramic material, close to or in contact with each other, which provide a scaffold or lattice for autogenous, three dimensional, randomly oriented, non-scar soft tissue...

20060173552 - Prosthetic and orthotic systems usable for rehabilitation: Disclosed are adjustable powered rehabilitation devices and methods for using the same to rehabilitate and/or train a user. The rehabilitation devices preferably have a plurality of selectable power settings that correspond to one or more rehabilitation-oriented actions or functions of the rehabilitation devices. For example, the power of the rehabilitation...

20060173553 - Lightweight prosthesis: The invention relates to a light prosthesis as a purely optical substitute for a missing limb, including a shaped body (1) for replacing the missing limb as naturally as possible and a socket (2) for connecting the prosthesis to the stump (3) of the missing limb. In order to provide...

20060173554 - Knee disarticulation/low-profile prosthetic knee-joint assembly including adjustable distal coupling: Improvements to a prosthetic knee-joint assembly include: a proximal segment having lower-profile design with a surface adapted for mounting to an above-knee prosthetic limb socket; a releasable lock featuring at least one of two complementary surfaces with radial grooves, which increase friction between the two surfaces to prevent rotation or...

20060173555 - Elastic energy-stored artificial foot: Disclosed is an elastic energy-stored artificial foot that effectively cushions vibration generated when walking and saves efforts through an energy-stored elasticity by the cushion when walking. The artificial foot includes a supporter supporting an artificial lower leg; a sole of an elastic material; a holder, an elastic plank downward bent...