Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 10/06

20060241739 - Device comprising biodegradable bistable or multistable cells and methods of use: Expandable biodegradable devices formed of bistable and multistable unit cells for use in devices, such as stents and graft systems, are provided, in which the device has two or more stable configurations, including a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, the contracted stable configuration having a smaller diameter than the...

20060241740 - Extendible stent apparatus: The present invention concerns novel stent apparatuses for use in treating lesions at or near the bifurcation point in bifurcated cardiac, coronary, renal, peripheral vascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, urinary and neurovascular vessels and brain vessels. More particularly, the invention concerns a stent apparatus with at least one side opening which may...

20060241741 - Connecting system for connecting a stent to a radiopaque marker and a process for the production of a connection between a stent and two or more radiopaque markers: The invention concerns a connecting system for connecting a stent to a radiopaque marker. The intention is to provide a connecting system which allows the stent to be connected to a radiopaque marker without a worsening of the mechanical properties of the stent and which at the lowest possible level...

20060241742 - Stent comprising a coating system: A stent comprises a tubular base body which is open on the front sides thereof and has a peripheral wall that is at least partially covered with a coating system consisting of at least one polymer carrier and at least one pharmacologically active substance, which is released into the surrounding...

20060241743 - Valve holder: The present invention is an improved apparatus for holding and maneuvering a valve during preparation and attachment to patient. The present invention is particularly useful for increased visibility of the prosthetic valve and the sewing ring to prevent suture entanglement. The present invention is used most effectively with mitral valves...

20060241744 - Valve: There is provided an artificial cardiac or heart valve, more particularly a flexible leaflet heart valve used to replace natural aortic or pulmonary valves of the heart in which the leaflet geometry is defined by a parabolic function and a method of manufacturing said artificial cardiac valves. In addition, there...

20060241745 - Blood flow controlling apparatus: A blood flow controlling apparatus, which is configured to be implanted into a blood circulatory system of a patient, comprises an anchoring means, which is arranged to fix the position of the apparatus in the blood circulatory system, and a valve means being connected to the anchoring means. The valve...

20060241747 - Dynamically adjustable implants and methods for reshaping tissue: Tissue shaping methods and devices are provided. The devices can be adjusted within the body of a patient in a less invasive or non-invasive manner, such as by applying energy percutaneously or external to the patient's body. In one example, the device is positioned within the coronary sinus of the...

20060241746 - Magnetic implants and methods for reshaping tissue: Methods and devices for reshaping or reforming tissue, such as a mitral valve of a heart, are described. An implant includes a generally flexible body and a plurality of magnetic portions such that the magnetic portions interact to cause a change in the shape of the implant, which, in turn,...

20060241748 - Methods and apparatus for controlling the internal circumference of an anatomic orifice or lumen: An implantable device is provided for controlling at least one of shape and size of an anatomical structure or lumen. An implantable device has an adjustable member configured to adjust the dimensions of the implantable device. An adjustment tool is configured to actuate the adjustable member and provide for adjustment...

20060241749 - Glaucoma stent system: Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involves bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a stent implant. The stent implant is inserted into an opening created in the trabecular meshwork by a piercing member that is slidably...

20060241750 - Scleral expansion device having duck bill: A prosthesis for scleral expansion includes a central body portion and at least one end portion having a width greater than the width of the central body portion. The end portion therefore inhibits rotation of the prosthesis about a long axis when the prosthesis is implanted within a scleral pocket...

20060241751 - Corneal onlays and methods of producing same: Corneal onlays and corneal onlay production methods are described. The present corneal onlays include a lens body. An example of a corneal onlay includes a lens body that includes a corneal epithelium-contactable anterior surface and a Bowman's membrane-contactable posterior surface. The lens body has an optical power from about −10...

20060241752 - Accommodating multiple lens assembly: An intraocular lens assembly including a first lens and a second lens, a haptic, and a first leverage arm connecting the first lens to the haptic and a second leverage arm connecting the second lens to the haptic, the first and second lenses being arranged one in front of the...

20060241753 - Electrode multiplexing method for retinal prosthesis: A method is disclosed for efficient multiplexing of a plurality of electrodes in a nerve stimulator using improved, predetermined, regular, repeatable geometric patterns arranged in a predetermined mosaic to form a desired array. Multiple electrodes within said array are addressed by the nerve stimulator as being a stimulating electrode by...

20060241754 - Implant filling material and method: Compositions of heat treated, cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are disclosed that are generally in the form of an elastic, hydrophilic, water insoluble viscous cohesive mass of material that has many important medical uses including uses as a filler for implants. The present invention also involves a process for producing such compositions....

20060241755 - Stapedial prosthesis and method of implanting the same: A stapedial prosthesis includes a body defining a bucket and a shaft, and a bail handle coupled to the bucket. The bucket is preferably adjustable in diameter to fit the incus lenticular process. The shaft preferably has a varying diameter, with a central portion of a smaller diameter than a...

20060241756 - Cartilage replacement implant and method for producing a cartilage replacement implant: To improve a cartilage replacement implant for the biological regeneration of a damaged cartilage area of articular cartilage in the human body, comprising a cell carrier which has a defect-contacting surface for placement on the damaged cartilage area and is formed and designed for colonization with human cells, so that...

20060241758 - Facet spacers: A method of decompressing a facet joint comprises forming an opening in a facet capsule of the facet joint and inserting a spacer device through the opening into the facet capsule....

20060241762 - Height-adjustable spinal implant and operating instrument for the implant: A height-adjustable implant for insertion between vertebrae, includes first and second sleeve parts which are rotationally fixed in coaxial alignment and interconnected in an axially displaceable manner. The first sleeve part has an internal thread. A nut is positioned coaxially in an inner space surrounded by the sleeve parts and...

20060241757 - Intervertebral prosthetic device for spinal stabilization and method of manufacturing same: An intervertebral prosthetic device and method for spinal stabilization, according to which an outer member of a relatively flexible and soft material is formed over an inner member of a relatively stiff and hard material. When the device is inserted between two vertebrae, the outer member engages the vertebrae....

20060241763 - Multipiece bone implant: An implant comprising two or more bone fragments that are combined to form a single unit. Cancellous bone or cortical bone is removed from a source and fashioned into bone components with desirable shapes and sizes. The bone components may be integrated to form implants for implantation in the body....

20060241759 - Oriented polymeric spinal implants: A polymeric spinal implant is disclosed wherein the polymer material is substantially uniformly oriented. The spinal implant is advantageous because the substantially uniformly oriented polymer material creates anisotropic properties, especially increased strength perpendicular to the orientation of the polymer material....

20060241760 - Spinal implant: The present invention is directed to a spinal implant, preferably a bioresorbable spinal implant, for insertion between vertebrae bodies. The implant preferably includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, first and second lateral surfaces extending therebetween, a superior surface for engaging one of the vertebrae bodies, an inferior surface for...

20060241764 - Spinal implant: A spinal implant is disclosed which when placed within the spinal disc space stabilizes the spinal segment....

20060241761 - Spine implant insertion device and method: A spinal implant include a top, wherein at least a portion of the top is configured to contact a first vertebra, a bottom, wherein at least a portion of the bottom is configured to contact a second vertebra, a side having a releasable attachment to receive an insertion device and...

20060241765 - Load bearing intervertebral disk: An implant useful as a prosthetic replacement of an intervertebral disk which consists of a housing providing at least a part simulation of a disk yet containing a force transferring media. The housing is in the form of a bellows or equivalent structure preferably restricted as to maximum separation between...

20060241766 - Method and apparatus for preventing articulation in an artificial joint: An artificial joint is configured for surgical insertion between two bones. The joint includes first and second parts supported for relative movement, and structure that can be selectively used to facilitate relative fixation of the first and second parts in a manner preventing the relative movement thereof. A method involves...

20060241768 - Selectively expandable composite structures for spinal arthroplasty: Embodiments include selectively expandable composite structures useful as spinal arthroplasty devices such as intervertebral disc prostheses. The structures may comprise an outer shell comprised of a non-hydrogel polymer material. The structures also may comprise at least one core positioned within the outer shell. The core may be comprised of a...

20060241767 - Spinal disc prosthesis and methods of use: The subject invention provides a modular six-degrees-of-freedom spatial mechanism for spinal disc prosthesis, with three rotational and three translational degrees-of-freedom within the entire workspace of a Functional Spinal Unit (FSU). The prosthetic disc mechanism attaches to upper and lower plates anchored between vertebrae of an FSU. Scaling, conjoined with motion...

20060241769 - Artificial functional spinal implant unit system and method for use: A stabilization system for a human spine is provided comprising at least one dynamic interbody device and at least two dynamic posterior stabilization systems. The dynamic posterior stabilization system may be coupled on contralateral sides of vertebrae. In some embodiments, a bridge may couple a dynamic interbody device to a...

20060241771 - Artificial functional spinal unit system and method for use: A stabilization system for a human spine is provided comprising at least one dynamic interbody device and at least one dynamic posterior stabilization system. In some embodiments the stabilization system comprises a pair of dynamic interbody devices and a pair of dynamic posterior stabilization systems. In some embodiments, a bridge...

20060241770 - Expandable vertebral prosthesis: The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, and gear member positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member...

20060241772 - Physiologically movable intervertebral disc prosthesis for the lumbar and cervical spine: The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of a natural intervertebral disc within the lumbar and cervical spine, comprising of articulating sliding partners, where the upper sliding partner has means for a firm assembly to an upper vertebral body and the lower sliding partner has...

20060241774 - Apparatus for providing proper vertebral spacing: An expandable osteosynthesis implant has branches (5) each connected at one end to a seat (7) which is pierced by an orifice (8), suitable for being slid from a posterior direction between the facing faces of two consecutive vertebrae in order to hold them a given distance apart and restore...

20060241773 - Spinal disc annulus reconstruction method and spinal disc annulus stent: A surgical method of repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, incorporating suture closure, or stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. The design of the spinal disc annulus stent allows...

20060241775 - Humeral joint prosthesis: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, devices, and systems for shoulder joint replacement. One embodiment of a humeral head prosthesis includes a first face for positioning against a surface of a glenoid, a second face for attachment to the stem, and an oval shaped circumference wherein a major...

20060241776 - Method and apparatus for use of porous implants: A prosthesis includes an implant defining an attachment surface thereon. A porous insert is selectively coupled to the implant. The porous insert is adapted to be received at the attachment surface of the implant in a retained position. The porous insert is adapted to facilitate tissue ingrowth. In one embodiment...

20060241777 - Resorbable medical implants and methods: Resorbable medical implants and related methods are disclosed for placement against bone and/or for filling a void such as a void between bones. The resorbable medical implants can be structured and configured as desired, for example, to conform to surfaces of adjacent bones and/or to conform to a desired bone...

20060241778 - Interpositional biarticular disk implant: An interpositional biarticular disk implant (11) having a circular peripheral rim, a generally toroidal axial center opening (13) and convex upper and lower surfaces (15, 17) is implanted between resected concave surfaces of the metacarpal base and the trapezium or other carpal bone in a CMC joint replacement. The disk...

20060241779 - Modular resurfacing prosthetic: Femoral head modular resurfacing systems are described. The systems primarily include a head component and a stem component. The configuration of the head component and stem components allow for minimum invasiveness into the femur head region, thus conserving greater amounts of bone tissue than would be possible with conventional hip...

20060241780 - Variable geometry rim surface acetabular shell liner: An acetabular shell liner having a variable rim surface geometry, which improves range of motion of the femoral component within the liner and decreases the incidence of dislocation and subluxation, and methods of making and using the acetabular shell liner. Prosthetic devices, more particularly hip joint prostheses, containing the acetabular...

20060241781 - Method and apparatus for use of porous implants: An orthopedic prosthesis for implantation into a bone of a patient includes a porous metal shell adapted to be affixed within the bone. The porous metal shell includes an outer surface adapted to receive bone ingrowth and an inner surface adapted to engage a liner. The porous metal shell is...

20060241782 - Vertical shock absorbing prosthetic foot: The present invention relates to a vertical shock absorbing prosthetic foot that has a forefoot having a toe spring and a toe plate and a heel having a heel spring and a heel strike. The heel spring and toe spring comprise a foot spring. The toe spring can be forward...

20060241783 - Variable resistance cell: A variable resistance cell provides a variable resistance response to a load factor and includes a piston movably disposed in a chamber. At least one aperture is formed through the piston. A variable viscosity fluid is disposed in the enclosure and displacable through the at least one aperture in the...

20060235502 - Intravascular deployment device with improved deployment capability: An intravascular delivery catheter includes a middle member or manipulator to ameliorate the effect of buckling of the graft cover during the tracking or positioning of the delivery device within a body flow lumen to deploy an exclusion device, such a stent graft. The delivery device/catheter includes a region or...

20060235501 - Stent supplying device: Disclosed is an apparatus for delivery of a stent for a vessel used for implanting the stent for a vessel in the blood vessel. The delivery system includes a protective sheath (1), inserted into the vessel of a living body, a catheter (2) inserted for back-and-forth movement in the protective...

20060235503 - Local drug delivery devices and methods for maintaining the drug coatings thereon: Local drug delivery medical devices are utilized to deliver therapeutic dosages of drugs, agents or compounds directly to the site where needed. The local drug delivery medical devices utilize various materials and coating methodologies to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned....

20060235504 - Methods and apparatus for treatment of luminal hyperplasia: A luminal implant comprises a conversion electron emitting source present on an expandable scaffold. Implant may be positioned within a blood vessel or other luminal site at risk of hyperplasia or neoplasia. The conversion electrons emitted by the source will inhibit hyperplasia or neoplasia....

20060235505 - Visible endoprosthesis: A crack-resistant endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen can be comprised of a multilayered material. The multilayered material can include at least two layers having a boundary layer therebetween. The boundary layer is configured to inhibit cracks from propagating from a first layer-to a second layer. The different layers...

20060235506 - Intravascular stent: An expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, is disclosed. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting links placed so that the stent is flexible in...

20060235507 - Overlapping coated stents: The present invention avoids a patient receiving a double dose of a therapeutic agent when a coated stent is overlapped with another coated stent within a vessel. A stent having a therapeutic coating on a portion of the stent is delivered within a vessel such that the portion of the...

20060235510 - Prosthetic heart valve system: A prosthetic heart valve system including a prosthetic heart valve and a deflection device. The deflection device includes a line and a connector assembly including a tensioning component. The line interconnects and passes through free ends of stent posts associated with the heart valve, and is further connected to the...

20060235509 - Valve apparatus, system and method: A cardiac valve with a first anchor frame and a cover on the first anchor frame for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve....

20060235511 - Woven implantable device: A prosthetic valve device, a method for making a valve device, and a method for implanting a valve device into a recipient are provided. The valve device includes at least one flexible member formed at least partially from a woven layer. The woven layer includes a first material and a...

20060235512 - Valve device with inflatable chamber: Prosthetic valve devices for implantation in body vessels are provided. The prosthetic valve device includes at least one flexible member that permits fluid flow in a first direction and substantially prevents fluid flow in a second. The valve device also includes an inflatable chamber at least partially attached to the...

20060235508 - Two-piece prosthetic valves with snap-in connection and methods for use: A prosthetic heart valve assembly includes a gasket member and a valve member including a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of engagement members corresponding to the fasteners. The fasteners and/or engagement members may be configured to guide the engagement members into engagement with the fasteners. For example, the fasteners...

20060235513 - Corneal implants and methods of use: An implant (20) for reshaping the cornea includes a peripheral ring structure (22) surrounding an inlay member (24) where the inlay member is anchored to the ring structure via a plurality of filaments (26). The implant is surgically positioned with the inlay member generally directly over an ectatic region of...

20060235514 - Corneal optic formed of degradation resistant polymer: Disclosed are mask optics configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient. In one embodiment, the body of the optic has a light transmitting portion, a light blocking portion disposed about the light transmitting portion, and an outer periphery surrounding the light blocking portion. The optic is adapted...

20060235515 - Capsular tension ring, method for making a capsular tension ring and capsular ring and intraocular lens assembly: A capsular tension ring implantable in the equatorial region of a capsular bag after cataract ablation includes an open or closed annular body, with sharp edges and an axial width ranging between about 0.3 and 0.6 mm, or preferably about 0.5 mm. The annular body of the capsular tension ring,...

20060235516 - Surgical methods for anchoring and implanting tissues: A surgical method of anchoring tissues in a target location, comprising tracking a cannulated dilator on a suture protruding from the target location and forming an enlarged opening in the target location using the cannulated dilator to enlarge the opening. A distal end of a guide wire is tracked through...

20060235517 - Cartilage implant: A cartilage implant for replacing a portion of the cartilage adjacent to a skeletal joint is presented....

20060235519 - Bone hemi-lumbar arcuate interbody spinal fusion implant having an asymmetrical leading end: An interbody spinal implant is formed of cortical bone adapted for placement across an intervertebral space formed across the height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies. An asymmetrical leading end on the implant is adapted to sit upon the peripheral areas, such as the apophyseal rim and...

20060235518 - Flanged interbody fusion device with fastener insert and retaining ring: Methods and devices are disclosed for treating the vertebral column. An integrated fixation plate and spacer having a retaining structure within the screw holes of the fixation plate to resist backout of screws attaching the fixation plate to the bone is provided. A movable joint may be provided between the...

20060235520 - Spinal implant apparatus, method and system: An apparatus, method and system for the treatment and management of spinal defects and inserting a spinal implant into an implantation space is described. The system may include a slotted implant, a distractor and an inserter and be employed in posterior lumbar or thoracic surgery....

20060235521 - Spinous process implant with tethers: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. In an embodiment of the invention, the implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion. In an embodiment of the invention, the...

20060235522 - System and techniques for restoring and maintaining intervertebral anatomy: Techniques and systems for distracting a spinal disc space and supporting adjacent vertebrae are provided. Trial instruments are insertable into the disc space to determine a desired disc space height and to select a corresponding implant. Implants can be also be self-distracting and the implant providing the desired disc space...

20060235523 - Implant having a sheath with a motion-limiting attribute: A surgical implant containing two opposing shells, a central body disposed between the shells, and a flexible sheath extending between edges of the opposing shells. The sheath provides for resisting at least one predetermined type of relative directional motion....

20060235525 - Composite structure for biomedical implants: A surgical implant containing two opposing shells, a central body disposed between the shells, and a flexible sheath extending between edges of the opposing shells. The sheath is formed from a composite structure comprising a flexible material and a resistant material that provides for resisting at least one predetermined type...

20060235524 - Intervertebral prosthesis: An intervertebral prosthesis includes at least one core which is positioned between an upper plate and a lower plate, the prosthesis also includes an outer casing. The aforementioned plates comprise respective inner faces which enable the core to move inside the prosthesis....

20060235528 - Angled sliding core, also as part of an intervertebral disc prosthesis, for the lumbar and cervical spine: The invention relates to a sliding core and an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the compensation of angles between vertebral endplates, for the preservation or improvement of function of a motion segment of the lumbar or cervical spine. A sliding core, according to the invention, for functional two- or three part...

20060235527 - Intervertebral disc prosthesis with a motion- adapted edge for the lumbar and cervical spine: The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of the intervertebral disc within the lumbar and cervical spine. For a two part as well as for a three part intervertebral disc prosthesis, according to the invention, in accordance to the design of the edges of the...

20060235526 - Intervertebral disk prosthesis: The intervertebral disk prosthesis includes first and second parts that are intended to be attached respectively to two adjacent vertebrae, an intermediate part that is inserted between the first and second parts and that includes first articular surfaces that work with respective second articular surfaces of the first and second...

20060235529 - Intervertebral implant having features for controlling angulation thereof: An intervertebral implant includes a first plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a ball shaped protuberance projecting from the inner surface and an annular groove surrounding the ball shaped protuberance. The implant includes a second plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a curvate socket formed in...

20060235530 - Artificial prosthesis: The present invention is directed to an artificial prosthesis (50) that includes a first disc (56) with a first disc periphery (60), a first disc superior surface (58) and a first disc inferior surface (68) having a first mating portion (90), a second disc (54) having a second mating portion...

20060235531 - Intervertebral disc prosthesis with transversally arched, curved cylindrical articulation surfaces for the lumbar and cervical spine: The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for the total replacement of a natural intervertebral disc within the lumbar and cervical spine, comprising articulating sliding partners, where the upper sliding partner has means for a firm assembly to an upper vertebral body and the lower sliding partner has means...

20060235535 - Artificial disc and joint replacements with modular cushioning components: An artificial joint or disc replacement (ADR) broadly includes a pair of opposing endplate components, each attached to one of the upper and lower vertebrae, a cushioning component disposed between the endplate components, and a mechanism for coupling the cushioning component to one or both of the endplates. In the...

20060235533 - Flanged interbody fusion device with hinge: Methods and devices are disclosed for treating the vertebral column. An integrated fixation plate and spacer having a retaining structure within the screw holes of the fixation plate to resist backout of screws attaching the fixation plate to the bone is provided. A movable joint may be provided between the...

20060235532 - Unit for treatment of the degeneration of an intervertebral disc: The invention relates to an assembly for treating degeneration of a damaged intervertebral disk disposed between two vertebrae. The treatment assembly includes cells that may be analogous to those of the intervertebral disk, and that are suitable for implanting in said disk; and an intervertebral implant. The intervertebral implant includes...

20060235534 - Vertebral disc repair: A sterile implant for treatment of a spinal disc defect comprising an allograft cortical bone demineralized to a Type I collagen having a specific shape which is treated to eliminate osteoinductivity. The implant is lyophilized and compressed into smaller first shape which 20 to 80% from its original shape in...

20060235536 - Joint prosthesis made from a titanium alloy: The invention relates to a joint prosthesis having a shaft made from a titanium alloy; according to the invention, it is provided that at least the shaft (10) is investment-cast and has a body-centered cubic crystal structure. A titanium alloy having this crystal structure (known as β-titanium alloy) has an...

20060235538 - Surgical apparatus for implantation of a partial of total knee prosthesis: This surgical apparatus comprises, on the one hand, means for spatial marking-out of the kneecap and femur of a patient to be operated on, and, on the other hand, means for simultaneous and relative representation of this kneecap provided virtually with a patellar implant of the prosthesis, and of this...

20060235537 - Unicondylar knee implant: A unicondylar knee implant system according to one embodiment includes a unicondylar femoral knee component having a single sagittal radius, a tibial bearing component, and a tibial tray component having a self-locking keel. The unicondylar knee implant system also provides for a locking mechanism for securing the tibial bearing component...

20060235539 - Surgical kit for hemiarthroplasty hip replacement: The present invention concerns apparatus and methods for hip refurbishment/replacement and in one aspect provides a kit comprising a femoral head and reamer. The present invention also provides apparatus and methods for minimally invasive surgery on a hip or similar (eg shoulder) joint. The kit is suited for performing a...

20060235540 - Massive modular system: The specification discloses a modular system for the formation of a prosthesis for the replacement of a long bone in a human or animal body. The system provides a prosthesis comprising a proximal or distal end component such as a trochanter (1) or condylar head, forming one component of a...

20060235541 - Bearing implant: An implant is provided having a bearing surface joined to a substrate....

20060235542 - Flexible segmented bearing implant: A flexible segmented bearing implant includes a body having opposed top and bottom surfaces. At least one of the top and bottom surfaces is configured to articulate with an abutting joint component....

20060235543 - Implant: An implant serving for surrounding e.g. an intestine on hypodermal implantation in an animal or a human body. The implant includes an outer ring, an inner ring arranged in the outer ring about a joint axis, and a number of anchoring links extending between the outer ring and the inner...

20060235544 - Device and system for prosthetic knees and ankles: A device and system is provided for a prosthetic device having an articulating joint for a leg amputee. The device includes a joint housing forming a chamber, and the chamber has a first opening. A rotary hub can be disposed within the joint housing and configured to act as the...

20060235545 - Prosthetic foot with fully adjustable hindfoot and forefoot keels and inversion/eversion, pronation/supination capability: A prosthetic foot possessing a forefoot keel cluster (1) which is comprised of three distinct keels. The keels are functionally connected to one another by way of an anterior pitched glider (6) which is positioned above the two lower keels and beneath the upper keel. The anterior pitched glider (6)...

20060229701 - Apparatus for use with expandable stents: An apparatus for use with an expandable stent having oppositely disposed first and second terminal edges. The apparatus has a catheter shaft with a lumen, and an inflatable balloon with oppositely disposed first and second end portions and an internal chamber. The internal chamber is in fluid communication with the...

20060229697 - Catheter: Catheters, as well as related systems and methods are disclosed....

20060229698 - Catheter: Catheters, as well as related systems and methods are disclosed....

20060229700 - Custom-length stent delivery system with independently operable expansion elements: A stent delivery system for delivering a plurality of stent segments to at least one treatment site includes a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of expandable members arranged axially along the catheter shaft near the distal end, a plurality of stent segments, and...

20060229702 - Exchangeable delivery system with distal protection: Medical device delivery systems that include a distal protection feature are provided. A distal tip member that includes a distal protection device and a mounting region for a self-expandable, intraluminal medical device is slidably disposed within a passageway defined by a tubular member....

20060229696 - Gastric ring: The gastric ring comprises an elongate element that can be deformed into a loop between a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, together with closure means suitable for folding the elongate element into a loop and for fastening the distal and proximal end portions together once they have...

20060229699 - Stent-stabilizing device: A stent-stabilizing device for controllably reducing the relative motion of a guide wire inside a passageway or lumen of a blood vessel catheter thereby restricting the relative motion of a stent or other object fitted thereto. The stent-stabilizing device comprises an elongated sheath, an expandable plug, and an elongated member....

20060229703 - Staged deployment endograft: An apparatus is provided for deploying an endograft that maintains a fluid channel throughout deployment. A method for deploying an endograft maintaining a fluid channel through the deployment is also provided....

20060229704 - Eversible locking mechanism for modular stents: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for locking self-expanding modular stent components together using an eversible extension on the male component. The male component is deployed partially within the female component, and with the eversible extension eversed over the male component....

20060229705 - Ureteral stent: A ureteral stent assembly includes an elongate member having a distal end portion for placement within a kidney of a patient and a proximal end portion for placement in at least one of a ureter of the patient and a bladder of the patient. The distal end portion has a...

20060229706 - Drug-delivery endovascular stent and method for treating restenosis: An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a...

20060229707 - 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 two distal...

20060229708 - Methods, systems and devices for cardiac valve repair: Disclosed are methods, systems, and devices for the endovascular repair of cardiac valves, particularly the atrioventricular valves which inhibit back flow of blood from a heart ventricle during contraction. The procedures described herein can be performed with interventional tools, guides and supporting catheters and other equipment introduced to the heart...

20060229695 - Stents with profiles for gripping a balloon catheter and molds for fabricating stents: Embodiments of stents having profiles that improve gripping of the stent on a stent delivery system are provided. Additionally, embodiments of molds for fabricating the stents are provided....

20060229709 - Vascular graft: A vascular graft comprising a proximal section, iliac distal legs and a bifurcation blending section (7) between the proximal section and the distal legs. The cross-sectional area of the proximal section at the bifurcation point is less than or equal to the sum of the two cross sectional areas of...

20060229710 - Vascular graft: A vascular graft (30) comprises a proximal inlet section (31), a first distal section (32) and a second distal section (33). The first distal section (32) and the second distal section (33) are attached to the proximal inlet section (31) at a Y-shaped bifurcation region. In use the proximal inlet...

20060229711 - Degradable implantable medical devices: Devices and methods are provided for an implantable medical device which is degradable over a clinically relevant period of time. The medical devices may have the form of implants, graft implants, vascular implants, non vascular implants, wound closure implants, sutures, drug delivery implants, biologic delivery implants, urinary tract implants, inter-uterine...

20060229713 - Implantable medical device with openings for delivery of beneficial agents with combination release kinetics: A method and system for delivering drug includes a first set of holes filled with a first formulation of the drug and a second set of holes filled with a second formulation of the same drug. This dual formulation or dual release kinetic system allows the creation of specifically tailored...

20060229712 - Method of stent mounting to form a balloon catheter having improved retention of a drug delivery stent: A method of mounting a drug delivery stent on a balloon of a balloon catheter. The method securely mounts the drug delivery stent on the balloon without damaging the drug delivery layer of the stent. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises positioning a drug delivery stent on a balloon...

20060229714 - Covered stent with encapsulated ends: A covered stent including a stent covered on a first surface by a continuous covering and on a second surface by a discontinuous covering, the discontinuous covering bonded to the continuous covering, the discontinuous covering including first and second rings of material spaced apart such that a region of the...

20060229715 - Implants incorporating nanotubes and methods for producing the same: A surface-modified implant comprising a plurality of nanotubes and a process for preparing the surface-modified implant. The metal-containing surface of the implant is modified using an electrochemical anodization process to create a plurality of nanotubes formed of an oxide of the metal on at least a surface of the implant....

20060229717 - Method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation: A method for reducing mitral regurgitation includes deploying deforming matter into a selected one of (i) a mitral valve annulus adjacent a posterior leaflet, and (ii) tissue adjacent the mitral valve annulus and proximate the posterior leaflet, to cause conformational change in the mitral valve annulus to increase mitral valve...

20060229716 - Replacement aortic valve leaflets and related technology: Replacement aortic heart leaflets and method of making the same. The replacement aortic heart leaflets of the present invention include first and second segments. The second segment is integral with, and extends from, the first segment. A virtual line L having a predetermined length corresponding to the distance between two...

20060229718 - Stress absorbing flexible heart valve frame: A flexible support frame for a prosthetic heart valve having commissure tips that are shaped to even out stresses imposed during use. The support frame is an elongated wire-like element formed by a plurality, typically three, of arcuate cusp regions on an inflow end alternating with the same number of...

20060229719 - Highly flexible heart valve connecting band: A connecting band for a highly flexible tissue-type heart valve having a stent with cusps and commissures that are permitted to move radially. The connecting band follows the cusps and commissures and extends outwardly. The valve is connected to the natural tissue along the undulating connecting band using conventional techniques,...

20060229720 - Implantable prismatic device, and related methods and systems: An intraocular device including a prism and shift amplifier is provided. Also provided is a system containing the intraocular device, and a method for improving vision of a person with central vision loss. The method involves implanting the intraocular device in the person so that the prism and shift amplifier...

20060229721 - Solid implant: An implantable prosthesis comprised of a solid elastomer made from a synthetic organic polymer that is biocompatible, compliant, and has water content greater than 5%. The solid construction prevents leaks and ruptures that are prevalent in other implants. The implant has the look, fit and feel of human tissue from...

20060229722 - Adjustable and fixed assembled bone-tendon-bone graft: The present invention has multiple aspects relating to a bone-tendon-bone graft and components thereof. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an intermediate bone block that is used to adjustably secure soft tissue (e.g., tendon) in a patient. Preferred intermediate bone blocks comprise at least one machined segment of cortical bone,...

20060229726 - Articular surface implant: An implant for replacing a portion of an articular surface including a load bearing surface and a bone contacting region. The load bearing surface had a contour defined by a first curve string which is based on a contour of the articular surface being replaced in a first plane. The...

20060229723 - Intervertebral fusion device and method: A intervertebral fusion device and method according to which an artificial disc is removed from an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae and an intervertebral fusion device is inserted in the intervertebral space to fuse the adjacent vertebrae....

20060229725 - Intervertebral implant comprising dome-shaped joint surfaces: An intervertebral implant with a central axis, a top part, a bottom part, a joint comprising a joint part and a joint shell, and a joining means. The top part has a top apposed surface that is suitable for placing it on a vertebra situated above it; The bottom part...

20060229724 - Intervertebral implant comprising temporary blocking means: An intervertebral implant for restoring natural function to a spine following the removal or an intervertebral disk or part thereof. The implant comprises a central axis, a top part, a bottom part and a joint arranged axially between the top part and the bototm part. The top part comprises a...

20060229727 - Systems and techniques for restoring and maintaining intervertebral anatomy: Techniques and systems for distracting a spinal disc space and supporting adjacent vertebrae are provided. Trial instruments are insertable into the disc space to determine a desired disc space height and to select a corresponding implant. Implants can be also be self-distracting and the implant providing the desired disc space...

20060229729 - Expandable intervertebral implant for use with instrument: An artificial functional spinal unit including an expandable intervertebral implant that can be inserted via a posterior surgical approach and used with one or more facet replacement devices to provide an anatomically correct range of motion is described. Lordotic and non-lordotic expandable, articulating implants and cages are described, along with...

20060229728 - Methods and devices for preserving motion in an articulating prosthetic disc: The present invention overcomes the problem of undesirable bone growth and/or unwanted scar tissue formation on the articulating surfaces and in the articulating spaces of prosthetic intervertebral discs. The invention comprises a method for preserving motion in a prosthetic disc having at least one articulating surface comprising applying an anti-infiltration...

20060229730 - Ankle replacement system: A prosthesis suited for orthopedic implantation possesses a multi-piece stem component that supports an artificial joint surface that can articulate with another artificial joint surface in various ways. The prosthesis can be assembled in a snap fit and/or interlocking fashion that provides positive locking means without the use of screws...

20060229731 - Acetabular implant with a tapered bearing-locking flange: An apparatus includes an acetabular shell defining a bearing retention cavity and further defining a flange. The flange includes a first annular surface tapering inwardly into the cavity and a second annular surface extending generally radially inwardly into the cavity....

20060229732 - Femoral prosthesis component: A femoral prosthetic component of a replacement hip joint comprises a stem for fixing in a medullary cavity. A separate proximal element is provided with a neck for receiving a modular ball head or having an integral ball head. A dove tail-shaped system is provided for securing the proximal component...

20060229734 - Artificial joint system: An artificial joint apparatus used as an artificial joint inserted into a bone is provided. The artificial joint apparatus includes: a body having a stem having a shape substantially corresponding to a space within the bone, into which the stem is inserted, and a head formed integrally with the stem;...

20060229733 - Surface-modified implants: An osteogenic implant with improved osteointegration properties, this implant being made of titanium metal or a titanium-based alloy and being suitable for implantation in bones, said implant having a roughened surface, which in the hydroxylated state has been at least partially covered with a compound which comprises in the molecule...

20060229735 - Device for tissue engineering: An implant includes a plurality of parallel layers spaced apart by a plurality of members. Each layer has a substantially uniform thickness between opposite surfaces and a plurality of openings that permit fluid flow through an interior of the implant defined by the layers. The surfaces of each layer includes...

20060229736 - Prosthetic foot with energy transfer: A prosthetic foot device with variable stiffness response includes a variable energy transfer mechanism disposed between first and second foot members to transfer a variable amount of energy between the members during use. A chamber is associated with one of the first and second foot members, and a piston is...

20060224226 - In-vivo radial orientation of a polymeric implantable medical device: A method and system for treating a bodily lumen with an implantable medical device, such as a stent, are disclosed. The device may be disposed within a bodily lumen and radially expanded by circumferentially deforming a tube-like section of the device. The deforming section may expand the lumen and the...

20060224227 - Delivery system and method for expandable intracorporeal device: A catheter for delivery of an expandable intracorporeal device and method of using the catheter. The catheter may have an elongate shaft with a proximal section, distal section, proximal end and distal end. The distal section has a radially expandable shear barrier which is at least partially radially constrained by...

20060224228 - Methods and apparatus for intraluminal placement of a bifurcated intraluminal graft: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with...

20060224230 - Neurovascular stent and method: A stent designed for catheter delivery to a target neurovascular site via a tortuous path, in a contracted state, and deployment at the target site, in an expanded state, is disclosed. The stent includes a plurality of expandable tubular members, where member is composed of a continuous wire element forming...

20060224229 - Stent and stent delivery device: A stent has a plurality of wavy annular members arranged adjacently to each other in an axial direction of the stent with the adjacent wavy annular members connected with each other. Each of the wavy annular members has a plurality of one-end side bent portions each having an apex at...

20060224234 - Drug eluting structurally variable stent: The present invention provides a stent including a tubular body having a plurality of reservoirs disposed therein and a therapeutic agent located in the reservoirs or located in the reservoirs and on a surface portion of the tubular body, wherein the stent is free of polymeric material. The invention also...

20060224231 - Endoprostheses: Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, are disclosed. In some embodiments, an endoprosthesis includes a circumferentially-oriented band including two curved portions and a first portion connecting the two curved portions, the first portion having a first width and at least one curved portion having a second width; and a connector extending...

20060224232 - Hybrid modular endovascular graft: A hybrid modular endovascular graft wherein a main graft is sized to span at least a portion of a target vessel lesion in a large percentage of patients. Graft extensions may be secured to the main graft to extend the main graft and provide a sealing function for some applications....

20060224233 - Stent for ostial lesions and vascular bifurcations: A stent for ostial lesions and vascular bifurcations has a tubular body comprised by a succession of sections of skeletal members. In one or both end rows of the tubular body, there are expansive bending devices comprising sectional weakenings and open extremities. In the case of the end row, by...

20060224235 - Removable coiled stent: A stent is described that is capable of expanding and thereafter recoiling to its initial coiled state within a biliary duct. A delivery system is utilized to deploy the stent in its natural coiled state into a targeted site of an occluded biliary duct. A balloon from the delivery system...

20060224236 - Hybrid vascular graft reinforcement: An implantable vascular graft includes an outer tube structure formed of a textile material, and an inner tube structure formed of a non-textile material. The inner tube structure is within the outer tube structure in coaxial relation therewith. One or both of the outer and inner tube structures have deformable...

20060224237 - Fragile structure protective coating: A medical device that includes at least one surface structure and/or micro-structure that is at least partially coated with a protective coating....

20060224238 - Adaptively focusing extra-ocular vision prostheses: A vision prosthesis includes an actuator in communication with an extra-ocular lens. The actuator providing a focusing stimulus to vary a focal length of the lens. A rangefinder estimates a range to an object and provides the range estimate to a controller. The controller causes the actuator to generate the...

20060224239 - Breast implant: A breast prosthesis has a flexible shell surrounding an interior compartment. An inner surface of the shell has a plurality of flexible protuberances or struts integral therewith that extend inwardly into the interior compartment. The opposing outer surface of the shell of the breast prosthesis is preferably textured to promote...

20060224240 - Non-circular stabilization sphere and method: A spacer for inserting between vertebral members. The spacer has a non-spherical shape with an anterior section having a first shape and a posterior section having a different shape. An attachment means is positioned within the posterior section, and may include a receiver for attachment with an insertion device, and...

20060224241 - Expandable spinal interbody and intravertebral body devices: An expandable vertebral interbody/intravertebral (spinal) body device for insertion into a spinal (intervertebral or intravertebral) space is provided. The interbody/intravertebral body device is expandable from a first circumference to a second circumference through axial compression of segments of the vertebral interbody/intravertebral body device, particularly once the interbody/intravertebral body device has...

20060224242 - Craniofacial implant: A composite surgical implant that is made of a planar sheet of a thermoplastic resin that includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a surgical grade metal mesh or metal plates contained therein. The implant may be bent by hand, wherein upon the displacement of the implant, the implant...

20060224243 - Elbow prosthesis: An elbow prosthesis for replacing a portion of an elbow joint between the humerus and ulna bones....

20060224244 - Hydrogel implant: A hydrogel implant for replacing a portion of a skeletal joint....

20060224245 - Hip prosthesis: The invention relates to a hip prosthesis comprising a joint part (6) and an anchoring part (5) to be implanted in the neck (2) of the femur (1). According to the invention, the anchoring part (5) can be deformed in a manner that corresponds with load-associated deformations of the femur...

20060224247 - Systems and methods for actuating a prosthetic ankle based on a relaxed position: Systems and methods for sensing actuating a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects that the user has moved to a relaxed position, such as sitting, reclining, crawling, or leaning. In response, the actuated prosthetic ankle joint actively adjusts the...

20060224246 - Systems and methods for adjusting the angle of a prosthetic ankle based on a measured surface angle: System and method for adjusting the angle of a prosthetic ankle are disclosed. In one example, the system, such as an actuated prosthetic ankle joint, detects the surface angle and actively adjusts the members of the ankle to a preferred angle according to the respective slope of the incline/decline....

20060224248 - Prosthetic knee joint mechanism: A prosthetic knee joint mechanism has an hydraulic load-activated knee-stabilizing device for resisting joint flexion. A rotary piston (34) connected to one part of the mechanism is rotatable within a fluid-filled fluid displacement chamber (18) assocciated with another part of the mechanism to drive fluid through a fluid passage which...

20060224249 - Prosthetic hand having a conformal, compliant grip and opposable, functional thumb: An anthropomorphic artificial hand having a mechanical system that allows for the digits to be compliant to pressure that tends to flex the digits, and provides for the digits to be self biasing to conform to the shape of the object being grasped. The hand comprises one to four fingers,...