Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 12/06

20060293741 - Anchor for electrode delivery system: The present invention is device for delivering an electrode into a lateral vein of the coronary sinus. The device includes a support structure, a stent, a tether coupled to the stent and a removable sheath disposed about the stent. The stent is carried on the support structure and is deployable... Agent: Guidant Patent Docketing Faegre & Benson, LLP

20060293742 - Cuff and sleeve system for gastrointestinal bypass: The present invention provides devices and methods for attachment of an endolumenal gastrointestinal device, such as an artificial stoma device, a gastrointestinal bypass sleeve or other therapeutic or diagnostic device, within a patient's digestive tract. In one application of the invention, an endolumenal bypass sleeve is removeably attached in the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20060293744 - Eptfe lamination - resizing eptfe tubing: A vascular graft includes a vessel structure having outer and inner wall surfaces. The vessel structure has outer and inner transverse dimensions. The vascular graft includes a fold structure which is integral with the vessel structure. The fold structure extends from the outer or inner wall surface of the vessel... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20060293743 - Stent assembly: A stent assembly comprises an expandable tubular stent (21), an external surface of which is provided with a fabric (5) which may constitute a reservoir to hold drugs to be released in the intravascular system of a living. The fabric (5) may be made from a filamentary material, such as... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20060293745 - Anatomically approximate prosthetic mitral heart valve: An anatomically approximate prosthetic heart valve includes dissimilar flexible leaflets, dissimilar commissures and/or a non-circular flow orifice. The heart valve may be implanted in the mitral position and have one larger leaflet oriented along the anterior aspect so as to mimic the natural anterior leaflet. Two other smaller leaflets extend... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20060293746 - Iol for reducing secondary opacification: An IOL implantable in an eye comprising an optic having an optical portion for directing light toward the retina of the eye and a cell barrier portion for inhibiting cell growth from the eye in front of or in back of the optical portion. The cell barrier portion circumscribes the... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20060293747 - Intraocular multifocal lens: In accordance with the present invention, a multifocal intraocular lens provides greater or lesser refraction in relation to the position of the head and eyes of a user. A multifocal intraocular lens body for insertion into a fluid-filled enucleated natural lens capsule of an eye is provided wherein the lens... Agent: W. Edward Ramage

20060293749 - Interbody fusion ring and method of using the same: The present invention provides an injectable annular ring useful in treating a deteriorating spinal disc. When used, the annular ring may be collapsed or folded in order for it to be placed through a small opening in a prepared intervertebral space within the annulus using minimally invasive techniques. Deployment or... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans (zimmer Spine)

20060293748 - Prosthetic implant, and a method and tool for the insertion of same: Disclosed herein is a prosthetic implant, a tool assembly for positioning the prosthetic implant, and a method of placing a prosthetic implant. The prosthetic implant includes an anterior end and an opposite, smaller, posterior end. Left and right side portions attach the anterior end to the posterior end. Each of... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20060293751 - Biodegradable/bioactive nucleus pulposus implant and method for treating degenerated intervertebral discs: A bioactive/biodegradable nucleus implant for repairing degenerated intervertebral discs that is inflated inside the nucleus space after the degenerated nucleus has been removed to re-pressurize the nuclear space within the intervertebral disc. The implant is inflated with a high molecular weight fluid, gel or combination of fluid and elastomer, preferably... Agent: John P. O'banion O'banion & Ritchey LLP

20060293750 - Formed in place corpectomy device: An inflatable corpectomy device comprises a balloon, which defines a cavity for receiving a hardenable media. The device can be inserted in an un-inflated form into a space formerly occupied by a diseased or damaged vertebrae bone. When inflated with a hardenable material, the device expands and fills the space.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20060293753 - Corrective artificial disc: An artificial disc is provided having a rigid pre-formed phase. The disc is implanted in an elastic phase and activated to the pre-formed phase. The pre-formed shape provides corrective forces to stabilize or correct spinal abnormalities.... Agent: Holland & Hart, LLP

20060293752 - Intervertebral disc prosthesis and associated methods: An intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises a first plate designed for attachment to an upper vertebra and a second plate designed for attachment to a lower vertebra. A prosthesis core is positioned between the first plate and the second plate. At least one spring is connected between the first plate and... Agent: Maginot, Moore & Beck LLP

20060293754 - Intervertebral prosthesis: An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a first prosthesis plate and a second prosthesis plate. The first and second prosthesis plates each comprise a midline, an engagement surface to engage a first vertebra and a bearing surface disposed opposite the engagement surface. The bearing surfaces of the... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20060293755 - Vertebral body replacement implant: In order, in a vertebral body replacement implant having an upper and a lower support plate for positioning against end faces of vertebral bodies and having two load-bearing elements, the mutual spacing of which is adjustable and of which at least one is connected in an articulated manner to a... Agent: Lipsitz & Mcallister, LLC

20060293756 - Interlocked modular nucleus prosthesis: A method and apparatus for repairing a damaged intervertebral disc nucleus in a minimally invasive manner utilizes a modular disc prosthesis. The modular disc prosthesis preferably comprises at least three modular segments. In one embodiment, each modular segment includes an inner core and an outer shell. The modular segments are... Agent: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A.

20060293758 - Implants with textured surface and methods for producing the same: Compositions and methods are provided for preparing a metal substrate having a uniform textured surface with a plurality of indentations with a diameter in the nanometer and micrometer range. The textured surface is produced by exposing the substrate to an etching fluid comprising a hydrogen halide acid and/or an oxyacid,... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20060293757 - Osteograft treatment to promote osteoinduction and osteograft incorporation: The invention provides a bone implant, or osteograft, with improved retention of bioactive agents within the surface of the osteograft. Pits or pits formed within the surface of the osteograft have porous plugs placed within them to retain fluid comprising bioactive agents. Pits can also be formed so that the... Agent: Fox Rothschild LLP Princeton Pike Corporate Center

20060293759 - Methods and apparatus for regulating the flow of matter through body tubing: A self-retracting body, which may have a bore, may be inserted into a biological passage. A dilating balloon may be used to expand the body toward an inner wall of the passage. The body may include an anchor that may engage the wall. The anchor may include a tip that... Agent: Fish & NeaveIPGroup Ropes & Gray LLP

20060293760 - Soft tissue implants with improved interfaces: Specialization of the end(s) or host tissue contact points of biocompatible scaffolds brings a functionality to the scaffold that facilitates the dual function of inducing new tissue formation and facilitating attachment and site-specific tissue formation at the scaffolds' functionalized points of fixation.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20060293761 - Hydraulic knee prosthesis: A hydraulic knee prosthesis for a leg prosthesis includes a joint unit, a foot connection unit, and a rod connecting these components. The joint unit includes a rotatory pin with a damper chamber and a damper wing screw movable therein under the control of a central hydraulic control unit.... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20060293762 - Strapless prosthetic arm: Permanent magnets or electromagnets or a combination of such magnets are provided to retain a prosthetic device on an extremity, such as an arm. The prosthesis utilizes the opposing forces, which are developed by virtue of like magnetic poles being in proximity to each other, to urge the prosthesis to... Agent: Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research

20060287703 - Bifurcation stent delivery catheter assembly and method: A stent delivery system is disclosed for delivering and deploying a radially expandable stent at a strategic orientation and location in a body vessel. The delivery system includes an elongated flexible tubular shaft sized suitably for insertion into the body vessel. A stent deployment assembly includes a distal transition portion... Agent: Beyer Weaver & Thomas, LLP

20060287701 - Retrievable device having a reticulation portion with staggered struts: A retrievable device for treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a reticulation portion including a plurality of struts connected together in a singly staggered configuration distally along a longitudinal axis. The plurality of struts of the reticulation portion is configured to fold... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20060287702 - Stent delivery system and device: The invention provides a stent delivery system and a stent device. The stent delivery system includes a catheter, a balloon operably attached to the catheter, and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes at least one coating applied by dipping a portion of the stent into a coating... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20060287704 - Iliac artery stent graft: A side branch stent graft (1) suitable for the iliac arteries has a main tubular body (3) of a biocompatible graft material and a tubular side branch (5). The tubular side branch is affixed into the main tubular body so that a side branch lumen is in fluid communication with... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20060287709 - Drug-eluting stent and methods of making the same: An intravascular stent having a prefabricated, patterned polymeric sleeve for controlled release of therapeutic drugs and for delivery of the therapeutic drugs in localized drug therapy in a blood vessel is disclosed. The polymeric sleeve is attached to at least a portion of an outside surface area of the stent... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20060287707 - Intraluminal device with unsymmetric tapered beams: A beam is provided for intraluminal devices. The beam is defined by a first side surface and a second side surface. The first side surface is tapered at a different rate than the second side surface. One advantage of the beam is that strain which is normally concentrated in adjacent,... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20060287705 - Resonator for medical device: A device resonator for medical device is provided. The resonator device includes a helical structure and a capacitor structure. The resonator device can be used in conjunction with a medical device, including a stent.... Agent: Brooks & Cameron, PLLC

20060287708 - Small vessel expandable stent and method for production of same: A partially expanded stent comprising a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of interconnecting struts. The partially expanded... Agent: Patent Administrator Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

20060287706 - Stent with mechanically interlocking struts and methods for making the same: A stent having mechanically interlocked strut sections and methods of making the same. Sets of longitudinally adjacent strut sections have closed ends that are mechanically interlocked by laser cut pairs of corresponding male and female components. The contours of the male and female components generally preclude the respective male components... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20060287710 - Biodegradable stents: The present invention refers to a biodegradable stent, comprising an SMP material for use in the non-vascular and vascular field.... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP

20060287711 - Stent for positioning in a body conduit or method for producing this stent: By a contrast means contained in an inventive stent which has a greater permeability for x-radiation features than the body tissue surrounding the stent in a relevant body conduit, this stent can be clearly detected in its position on an x-ray image of the relevant body conduit while at the... Agent: Siemens Corporation Intellectual Property Department

20060287712 - Bifurcation stent assembly: A stent assembly comprises a stent and a side branch flap. The stent has a substantially tubular body which defines a primary lumen and is comprised of a plurality of interconnected stent members. Adjacent stent members define a plurality of stent openings that extend through the body and which are... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20060287713 - Self expanding bifurcated endovascular prosthesis: Disclosed is a bifurcated tubular endoluminal vascular prosthesis, useful in treating, for example, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The prosthesis comprises a self expandable wire support structure surrounded at least in part by a flexible tubular membrane. A delivery catheter and methods are also disclosed.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20060287714 - Endovascular prosthesis: A endovascular prosthesis for implantation in a body passageway. The prosthesis comprises a tubular wall which is: (i) movable between a first longitudinal length and a second longitudinally length, and (ii) radially expandable for implantation of the prosthesis in the body passageway. In one embodiment, the tubular wall has a... Agent: Patent Administrator Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

20060287715 - Method of manufacturing an implantable polymeric medical device: A polymeric tube is positioned on a polymeric mandrel and then laser cut to form an implantable medical device, such as a stent. The method reduces contamination of the inner surface of the stent, which would be caused if conventional glass or metal mandrels are used, while simultaneously reducing damage... Agent: Cameron Kerrigan Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20060287716 - Artificial chordae: An apparatus for replacing the native chordae of a heart valve having at least two leaflets includes a prosthetic chordae assembly configured to extend from a papillary muscle to one of the at least two valve leaflets of the heart valve. The prosthetic chordae assembly has first and second end... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20060287718 - Method and systems for sizing, folding, holding, & delivering a heart valve prosthesis: A folding device used to fold a cardiac valve is disclosed. Also shown are methods and system for holding and delivering a cardiac valve during implantation. The folding device facilitates folding either a stented or unstented prosthetic valve prior to insertion into a valve annulus. A delivery system is provided... Agent: Jones Day

20060287717 - Methods for rapid deployment of prosthetic heart valves: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure.... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20060287719 - Rapid deployment prosthetic heart valve: A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure.... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20060287720 - Extraocular muscle prosthesis: A prosthetic device and method to restore extraocular muscle function. The device includes a housing; a biasing component disposed in the housing; a proximal connector operatively connected to a proximal end of the biasing component; and a distal connector operatively connected to a distal end of the biasing component, wherein... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20060287721 - Artificial cornea: The present invention provides an artificial corneal implant having an optically clear central core and a porous, hydrophilic, biocompatible skirt peripheral to the central core. In one embodiment, the central core is made of an interpenetrating double network hydrogel and the skirt is made of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA). In another... Agent: Lumen Intellectual Property Services, Inc.

20060287722 - Voice prosthesis device: A voice prosthesis device provides a passageway between a tracheal end of the device and an esophageal end of the device. A valve in the passageway includes a seat having a first hardness and a movable valve member having a second hardness harder than the first hardness. The movable valve... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20060287723 - Method of repairing a bone joint: A method of repairing a bone joint by using a simple and flexible artificial ligament which easily conforms to a patient's anatomy and can be used independently or in combination with an intervertebral graft, implant or prosthesis to return stability to the spine subsequent to a surgical spine procedure, is... Agent: Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Intellectual Property Section

20060287724 - Artificial bone: An artificial bone comprising a substrate material and at least one of a suppression component and an x-ray component. The substrate material comprises a plurality of closed cells. The suppression component is impregnated into at least one of the plurality of closed cells. The x-ray component is dispersed within the... Agent: The Watson Intellectual Property Group, PLC

20060287725 - Lateral expandable interbody fusion cage: A lateral expandable interbody fusion cage expands laterally between two vertebrae to promote fusion between the two vertebrae. The cage includes an outer cage and at least one inner cage, with optional flanges and spikes.... Agent: Browdy And Neimark, P.l.l.c. 624 Ninth Street, Nw

20060287726 - Mechanical apparatus and method for artificial disc replacement: The present invention relates to a device and method which may be used to reinforce the native annulus during spinal surgery. The device is a catheter based device which is placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy performed by either traditional surgical or endoscopic approaches. The distal end of the... Agent: Michael E. Klicpera

20060287727 - Mechanical apparatus and method for artificial disc replacement: The present invention relates to a device and method which may be used to reinforce the native annulus during spinal surgery. The device is a catheter based device which is placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy performed by either traditional surgical or endoscopic approaches. The distal end of the... Agent: Michael E. Klicpera

20060287728 - System and method for implanting intervertebral disk prostheses: A system for implanting a disk prosthesis within a cervical spine includes a disk prosthesis holder having tines for frictionally engaging the disk prosthesis through an anterior to posterior movement, and a cervical disk distractor having jaws with guide rails for freely receiving the disk prosthesis. Inserting the cervical distractor... Agent: Carl M. Napolitano, Ph.d. Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.

20060287729 - Mechanical apparatus and method for artificial disc replacement: The present invention relates to a device and method which may be used to reinforce the native annulus during spinal surgery. The device is a catheter based device which is placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy performed by either traditional surgical or endoscopic approaches. The distal end of the... Agent: Michael E. Klicpera

20060287730 - Mechanical apparatus and method for artificial disc replacement: The present invention relates to a device and method which may be used to reinforce the native annulus during spinal surgery. The device is a catheter based device which is placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy performed by either traditional surgical or endoscopic approaches. The distal end of the... Agent: Michael E. Klicpera

20060287731 - 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... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20060287732 - Maxillary sinus bone augmentation with resorbable bone pack: The bone inferior to the maxilla sinus cavity of a patient is augmented, irrespective of the physical integrity of the Schneiderian membrane, by a resorbable package or vessel that contains granularized bone. The package is matched to be resorbed at about the time the desired bone augmentation is achieved. If... Agent: Ronald M. Goldman Roth & Goldman

20060287733 - Gender specific implant and packaging: The present invention provides a system and method for gender specific medical treatment. The medical treatment system can include gender specific medical devices which are designed to account for the anatomical and physiological differences in the male and female genders. The medical treatment system can also include a medical device... Agent: Paul D. Bianco: Fleit, Kain, Gibbons, Gutman, Bongini, & Bianco P.l.

20060287734 - Positioning tools and methods for implanting medical devices: Described herein is a positioning tool having an elongate portion for carrying a medical implant. Also described is a method of positioning a medical implant using an elongate positioning tool. One form of the method includes positioning a medical implant on a distal portion of an elongate positioning tool, inserting... Agent: Stallman & Pollock LLP

20060282147 - Apparatus and methods for deployment of multiple custom-length prostheses (1): Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20060282149 - Apparatus and methods for deployment of multiple custom-length prostheses (ii): Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20060282148 - Apparatus and methods for deployment of multiple custom-length prostheses (iii): Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20060282154 - Bifurcation stent delivery catheter assembly and method: A stent delivery system is disclosed for delivering and deploying a radially expandable stent at a strategic orientation and location in a body vessel. The delivery system includes an elongated flexible tubular shaft sized suitably for insertion into the body vessel. A stent deployment assembly includes a distal transition portion... Agent: Beyer Weaver & Thomas LLP

20060282153 - Catheter system having imaging, balloon angioplasty, and stent deployment capabilities, and method of use for guided stent deployment: A catheter system has a balloon angioplasty device disposed about a common lumen near its distal end. The balloon catheter is pre-fitted with a stent which is deployed when the balloon is inflated. The common lumen is in communication with multiple lumens within a proximal region of the catheter body... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20060282152 - Delivery system for a device such as a stent: A delivery system for a medical device. The delivery system comprises an inner member, a retractable sheath disposed over the inner member and being slideable over the inner member, and a retraction member coupled to the retractable sheath and disposed at least in portion within the retractable sheath, the retraction... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman

20060282150 - Devices and methods for operating and controlling interventional apparatus: Devices and methods are provided for operating and controlling an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. A handle member includes an elongated body and... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20060282151 - Medical device system: Methods and articles used to position a stent within a body are disclosed.... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20060282155 - Laparoscopic vascular access: A laparoscopic vascular conduit arrangement has an elongate graft tube (1, 10) which is placed through a body cavity into a body vessel using a laparoscopic port sheath (70) with a distal valve (73) and a second sheath (80) with distal valve (86, 87). The graft tube (1, 10) extends... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20060282156 - Medical devices and related methods: A medical system including an elongate member and an elongate element associated with the elongate member so that a shape of the elongate member can be altered upon applying energy to the element.... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20060282157 - Venous valve, system, and method: A venous valve with a frame and a cover on the frame for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.... Agent: Brooks & Cameron, PLLC Suite 500

20060282158 - 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... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20060282159 - 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... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20060282160 - Local delivery of rapamycin for treatment of proliferative sequelae associated with ptca procedures, including delivery using a modified stent: Methods of preparing intravascular stents with a polymeric coating containing macrocyclic lactone (such as rapamycin or its analogs), stents and stent graphs with such coatings, and methods of treating a coronary artery with such devices. The macrocyclic lactone-based polymeric coating facilitates the performance of such devices in inhibiting restenosis.... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20060282162 - Expandable annuloplasty ring and associated ring holder: Devices and methods are provided for surgical repair of dilated aortic root to restore aortic valve competence while preserving native leaflets. In one aspect of the invention an expandable annuloplasty ring is provided for external placement at the base of a dilated aortic root. The expandable ring is capable of... Agent: Anthony Paolitto Coroneo Inc.

20060282161 - Valve annulus reduction system: System (10) for treating a dilated heart valve includes a dilivery device. Tension device (12) is slidably received within the lumen of delivery device (14) for delivery to and deployment at the treatment area. Delivery device (14) includes a plurality of arranged catheters including an inner catheter (26) within the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20060282163 - Ophthalmic and otorhinolaryngological device materials: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index device materials having improved strength. The materials contain a monofunctional or difunctional, acrylate or methacrylate terminated aromatic functional methacrylic or acrylic macromer.... Agent: Alcon Research, Ltd. Patrick M. Ryan

20060282164 - Implant shell and filler apparatus: An implant shell and filler apparatus. The implant shell includes a pre-determined surface material with a microbead filler. The implant she apparatus create a viable matrix for tissue growth that can also enhance the look, feel and touch of implants used in humans and animals. The implant shell and filler... Agent: Lesavich High-tech Law Group, P.C. Suite 325

20060282165 - Intervertebral disc implant: An intervertebral disc implant having a body with a greater height than width comprised of a resilient material and an elongate cavity for receiving a key to maintain the spacing between the vertebrae adjacent an intervertebral disc when implanted into the space from which a portion of the disc is... Agent: Mark R. Wisner Wisner & Associates

20060282166 - Compliant porous coating: Intervertebral implant components having compliant coatings, and methods of making and implanting the implant components are provided. The embodiments relate to compositions, methods and devices having a compliant surface coating that permits application of the device in areas without significant bone reformation to accept the device.... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20060282167 - Methods of reinforcing an intervertebral disc annulus: Methods of reinforcing annulus fibrosis tissue within an intervertebral disc include the implantation of a support member also functioning as a barrier to resist damage to the tissue or herniation of tissue outside the disc. The device may be anchored to the surrounding tissue. The device is compressible and may... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20060282168 - Orthopaedic prosthesis having a superparamagnetic material and associated method: An implantable orthopaedic prosthesis includes a superparamagnetic material. Features and/or location of the prosthesis may be determined in vivo by use of the superparamagnetic material. Methods of using such a prosthesis are also disclosed.... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20060282169 - System and method for upper extremity joint arthroplasty: The invention can provide an implant for an upper extremity joint arthroplasty having a first polymeric portion adapted to be retained within a bone of the upper extremity and a second polymeric portion having an articulating surface adapted to articulate against an opposing bone. The invention can also provide methods... Agent: Intellectual Property Group Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.

20060282170 - Haptic communications: A haptic output device in combination with a network has its effective inertia increased by a controlling computer algorithm whereby potential latency effects of the network are damped out.... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20060282171 - Femoral stem for hip prosthesis: A femoral stem (1; 100) for hip (A) prosthesis (R) is disclosed comprising: a main body (2) with a mainly longitudinal development and a generally wedge shaped, which is inserted into the femoral can (N) present in the body (C) of the femur (F); a central body (3; 101) of... Agent: Ip Strategies

20060282172 - Nano-crystalline, homo-metallic, protective coatings: The present invention provides orthopedic prosthesis having at least one metallic component that includes a metallic substrate on which an integrally formed nano-crystalline coating is formed. The coating and the substrate have at least one metallic constituent in common having an average atomic concentration in the coating that differs from... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20060282173 - Substantially decellularized grafts from umbilical cord vessels and process for preparing and using same: An implantable device for use as a tissue graft is disclosed that includes a substantially decellularized umbilical vessel having a luminal surface and an ablumenal surface, wherein the substantially decellularized umbilical vessel is prepared by an automated dissection process. The substantially decellularized umbilical vessel has not been substantially cross-linked. In... Agent: Dunlap, Codding & Rogers P.C.

20060282174 - Prosthetic device utilizing electric vacuum pump: An artificial limb using a vacuum attachment principle is provided with an electrically activated pump that may be readily incorporated into the artificial limb or into a separate portable device. Because the electrically activated pump does not require manual manipulation to create vacuum, it is substantially easier to use than... Agent: Standley Law Group LLP

20060282175 - Prosthetic device utilizing electric vacuum pump: Evacuation devices for evacuating the socket of a prosthetic limb, and prosthetic limb systems employing such vacuum devices. The evacuation devices each preferably include at least an electrically powered vacuum pump and a power source. Such evacuation devices can be attached at various locations on or in a prosthetic limb.... Agent: Standley Law Group LLP

20060276871 - Devices, systems and methods for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia and other conditions: Devices, systems and methods for compressing, cutting, incising, reconfiguring, remodeling, attaching, repositioning, supporting, dislocating or altering the composition of tissues or anatomical structures to alter their positional or force relationship to other tissues or anatomical structures. In some applications, the invention may be used to used to improve patency or...

20060276872 - Method for implanting a prosthesis with a two-part expanding delivery system: A method of implanting a prosthesis in a patient at a treatment site includes providing a prosthesis delivery system with an inner sheath and an outer sheath. The prosthesis is loaded inside the inner sheath. The inner sheath containing the prosthesis is loaded within the outer sheath. The outer sheath...

20060276873 - Stent placement device: A stent placement device capable of forward/backward operation for adjusting a placement position of a stent in a living tissue and forward/backward operation of an ultrasonic endoscope in a treatment instrument insertion channel is realized by providing a guide tube holding a stent to be placed in an opening formed...

20060276874 - Intravascular cuff: An intravascular cuff acts as a lining between a native vessel and an intravascular prosthetic device. During deployment, the ends of the cuff curl back upon themselves and are capable of trapping native tissue, such as valve leaflet tissue, between the ends. The cuff creates a seal between the vessel...

20060276877 - Dealloyed nanoporous stents: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is...

20060276878 - Dealloyed nanoporous stents: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is...

20060276881 - Endovascular apparatus: Percutaneous treatment of aortic aneurysms and like vascular anomalies by an apparatus and method wherein the apparatus is delivered via catheter and comprises a sleeve with at least one peripheral conduit which is caused to assume an expanded, rigid configuration by the introduction of a chemical or mechanical hardening means,...

20060276875 - Medical devices: Endoprostheses including composites, and methods of making the endoprosthesis, are disclosed. The composites include at least a first material and a second material having different chemical compositions from each other....

20060276879 - Medical devices having porous layers and methods for making the same: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is...

20060276880 - Radially expandable vessel support: The invention relates to a radially expandable vessel support which comprises a multitude of zigzag shaped annular elements (2, 3), interconnected in a flexible way by bending elements. Said annular elements define a vessel support (1) with a proximal and a distal end and a longitudinal axis, where the zigzag...

20060276876 - Stent, method for processing stent, and method of stenting a patient: The subject invention pertains instruments for use in nuclear spin tomography comprising a metal alloy comprising aluminum, vanadium, and titanium. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to cardiovascular stents which can exhibit a low incidence of artifacts and are viewable in a nuclear spin tomography unit. The subject...

20060276882 - Medical device including remodelable material attached to frame: Medical devices for implantation in a body vessel, and methods of using and making the same, are provided. Medical devices preferably comprise a remodelable material attached to a frame with a tension that can change upon implantation of the medical device within the lumen of a body vessel. Controlled fracture...

20060276883 - Tapered and distally stented elephant trunk stent graft: An aortic stent graft and a method of deploying the aortic stent graft. The method comprises providing a tapered tubular graft having a distal end and a proximal end, providing at least one stent attached to the graft at a site adjacent the distal end of the graft, loading the...

20060276885 - Nanoporous stents with improved radiolucency: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is...

20060276884 - Nanoporous stents with magnesium leaching: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is...

20060276886 - Ten-thousandths scale metal reinforced stent delivery guide sheath or restraint: A high-strength thin-walled tubular material having a lubricious polymer inner layer is disclosed. The tubing may be used in constructing delivery systems for radially expanding prostheses for use in the treatment of atherosclerosis in stenting procedures or a variety of other procedures....

20060276887 - Integrated stent repositioning and retrieval loop: A braided stent having an integral retrieval and/or repositioning loop includes a plurality of wires having first and second ends interbraided in a braided pattern to form a tubular stent having opposed atraumatic first and second open ends with each open end having a circumference; wherein said first and second...

20060276888 - Apparatus and methods for making leaflets and valve prostheses including such leaflets: A method for making a bioprosthetic heart valve includes providing a non-contact cutting apparatus and a layer of tissue. The non-contact cutting apparatus may include a laser cutting system or high pressure water jet system. A leaflet is cut from the layer of tissue using a predefined template, and a...

20060276889 - Systems and methods for assembling components of a fabric-covered prosthetic heart valve: A system and method for assembling a prosthetic heart valve, including a procedure for tightly wrapping fabric around a heart valve support stent. The support stent typically includes alternating cusps and commissures that create a highly contoured undulating outflow edge. The system includes a mandrel for retaining tension without manual...

20060276890 - Devices and methods for percutaneous repair of the mitral valve via the coronary sinus: Devices and methods for treating mitral regurgitation by reshaping the mitral annulus in a heart. One preferred device for reshaping the mitral annulus is provided as an elongate body having dimensions as to be insertable into a coronary sinus. The elongate body includes a proximal frame having a proximal anchor...

20060276891 - Mitral valve annuloplasty device with twisted anchor: The present invention relates to a tissue shaping device adapted to be disposed in a vessel near a patient's heart to reshape the patient's heart. The device comprises a first anchor and a second anchor adapted to be deployed by a catheter to engage a vessel wall while the first...

20060276892 - Intraocular lens with one or more compressible haptics: An intraocular lens comprises an optic and one or more haptics, wherein the or each haptic can be compressed in the plane of the lens, and which additionally comprises, around the optic, an annular rim that, in use, is in contact with the posterior capsular sac....

20060276893 - Voice prosthesis device: A voice prosthesis device for insertion into a tracheoesophageal opening of a wearer and a method of making it. The device comprises a barrel providing a first passageway therethrough, a tracheal flange adjacent a tracheal end of the barrel and an esophageal flange adjacent an esophageal end of the barrel....

20060276894 - Hydrophilic polymeric coatings for medical articles: The invention provides a durable, lubricious coating for a medical article that can be prepared from a first polymer that is synthetic, soluble in a polar liquid, and having first reactive groups, and a second polymer that is synthetic, hydrophilic, and that includes second reactive groups. The first reactive groups...

20060276895 - Intervertebral ligament having a helical bone fastener: An intervertebral connection system wherein the bone anchor has a helical configuration....

20060276896 - Bone implants with integrated line locks: A bone plate has a plurality of line locks arranged along its length. Each of the line locks has a plurality of passageways designed to receive the ends of a flexible line such that one or both of the ends can be drawn through the line lock along only one...

20060276898 - Convex spinal fusion interbody spacer: A convex spinal fusion interbody space device includes spaced apart superior and inferior abutment surfaces which are effectively medially convex. The peak of such convexity is displaced anteriorly of a central plane through the device. The spacer device has a height which is greater than the width of the device....

20060276897 - Implant for stabilizing a bone graft during spinal fusion: Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning at a vertebra for resisting the expulsion of a bone graft from within an intervertebral space. The implant includes a buttress plate having an intervertebral plate and an anchoring plate connected such...

20060276899 - Minimally invasive apparatus to manipulate and revitalize spinal column disc: A method and apparatus are provided to manipulate and revitalize a spinal column disc while minimizing or preventing the removal of material comprising the disc. The method allows a device to be inserted in the disc either through a pre-existing rupture or through an opening formed in the front, back,...

20060276900 - Anatomic total disc replacement: The invention provides an artificial spinal disc prosthesis that can be implanted to replace a damaged natural spinal disc. The implant includes a synthetic polymer ring. The polymers of the ring are oriented along a common pitch angle relative to a common central axis. Orientation of the polymers provides the...

20060276901 - Minimally invasive apparatus to manipulate and revitalize spinal column disc: A method and apparatus are provided to manipulate and revitalize a spinal column disc, including an annulus, while minimizing or preventing the removal of material comprising the disc. The method allows a device to be inserted in the disc either through a pre-existing rupture or through an opening formed in...

20060276902 - Minimally invasive apparatus to manipulate and revitalize spinal column disc: A method and apparatus are provided to manipulate and revitalize a spinal column disc while minimizing or preventing the removal of material comprising the disc. The method allows a device to be inserted in the disc either through a pre-existing rupture or through an opening formed in the front, back,...

20060276903 - Procedure for the treatment of cuff tear arthropathy: A medical procedure for use in connection with a patient suffering from cuff tear arthropathy is disclosed. The medial procedure includes providing a humeral prosthesis having a prosthetic head component, wherein (i) the prosthetic head component includes a glenoid-bearing portion and an acromion-bearing portion, and (ii) the glenoid-bearing portion and...

20060276904 - Leaflike shaft of a hip-joint prosthesis for anchoring in the femur: The present invention relates in certain embodiments to components of a hip-joint prosthesis. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a leaf-like femoral shaft for use as part of a hip-joint prosthesis, and instruments (e.g., a rasp) and methods for implanting the shaft. The shaft includes an anchoring section...

20060276905 - Insert for a cotyloid implant cup for a joint prosthesis, cotyloid implant and joint prosthesis: An acetabular implant cup insert for a joint prosthesis, the insert being of the type having a metal shell (1) and a polymer lining (14) lining the inside space (4) of the shell (1), a receptacle (18) for a prosthetic head being formed in the lining (14), the shell presenting...

20060276906 - Fully porous prosthetic hip stem: A prosthetic hip stem for use in a prosthetic hip joint. The hip stem generally includes a core having a stem portion and a neck portion, a polymer matrix layer substantially covering the stem portion of the core, and a porous metal layer substantially covering the polymer matrix layer. The...

20060276907 - Multipiece implants formed of bone material: The present invention relates to 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...

20060276908 - Method for prevention of a parastomal hernia in a patient: A method for prevention of a parastomal hernia in a patient. First and second incisions are made in the skin, with the second incision made in the external rectus fascia above the first incision. An implant of a substantially flat ring having a central opening and provided with a number...

20060276909 - Male urethral stent device: A stent for treatment of a body lumen through which a flow is effected on either side of a sphincter, said stent comprising one or more windings and having an inner core substantially covered by an outer core and including a first segment, a second segment, and a connecting member...

20060276910 - Endoprostheses: Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, are disclosed. In some embodiments, an endoprosthesis includes a tubular body including a first material having a first mass attenuation coefficient; and a coating on less than or equal to half of a (e.g., any) circumferential cross section occupied by the body. The coating includes...

20060276911 - Offset alignment device: The present invention relates to an offset alignment device that is adjustable in the lateral or medial direction, the anterior or posterior direction and rotatably adjustable at a single interface between the two pieces of the present invention. A first piece is provided having a body with a central axis....