Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 01/07

20070021819 - Apparatus and methods for locating an ostium of a vessel: Apparatus and methods are provided for locating an ostium of a body lumen. In one embodiment, a delivery catheter or other tubular member includes a distal end sized for introduction into a body lumen, and one or more locator loops on the distal end. In one embodiment, the locator loop... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070021821 - Catheter with disruptable guidewire channel: The present invention is a catheter device that includes a disruptable guidewire channel. The guidewire channel is configured to provide necessary trackability of the catheter along the guidewire during introduction of the catheter to a treatment site. Once treatment is completed, the guidewire channel can then be disrupted so as... Agent: Kevin J. Boland W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

20070021817 - Laser ablated elastomer sheath profiles to enables stent securement: The stent placement dilation balloon assembly comprises a catheter having a distal end, a distal end portion, and a proximal end, a balloon mounted to, about, and around the distal end portion of the catheter. The assembly further includes an elastic sheath positioned about and around the balloon. The outer... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070021818 - Stent delivery device with anti-occluding positioning member: A stent delivery device includes a distal balloon for supporting a stent in a deflated state and expanding the stent when inflated. A proximal balloon is located adjacent to the distal balloon. In a deflated configuration, the proximal balloon can pass through a diseased vessel. In an inflated configuration, the... Agent: Mccarter & English, LLP

20070021820 - Stent delivery system with a retention wire: A delivery system is provided with a balloon catheter having a stent mounted thereon. A retention wire is provided to restrain the stent on the balloon of the balloon catheter. The retention wire is coupled to the catheter adjacent the distal end of the stent and adjacent the proximal end... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070021822 - Fenestrated endoluminal stent system: An intraluminal prosthesis is provided for strengthening a main lumen and a branch lumen in direct fluid communication with the main lumen. The prosthesis may comprise a tubular graft and a flexible stent. The tubular graft may include a flexible body having a wall with a fenestration. The flexible stent... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/indy/cook

20070021826 - Intralumenally implantable frames: Implantable frames for use in body passages are provided herein. The implantable frames comprise one or more of certain preferred structural features that are generally applicable to frames comprising a plurality of curved and straight member portions that together define an interior lumen extending along a longitudinal axis between a... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/indy/cook

20070021824 - Intraluminal device with improved tapered beams: A strut, or beam, is provided for intraluminal devices. Strain which is introduced into a stent or other intraluminal device is distributed more evenly along the length of the improved strut by maintaining a substantially constant strain level along the length of an end portion. This may increase fatigue life... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070021825 - 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

20070021823 - Stent: A stent (1) is a vascular prosthesis for a constricted body vessel. The stent (1) includes a tubular support frame (2) of ring segments (3) arranged in axial succession and formed by struts (5, 6) which in initial state are joined continuously in a wave-like manner. Adjacent ring segments (3)... Agent: Henry M Feiereisen, LLC

20070021827 - Endoprosthesis having foot extensions: Endoprosthesis, such as a stent, includes at least one annular element defined by a first set of strut members interconnected to define apices proximate opposite sides of the annular element. The annular element further includes a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. The foot... Agent: Baker Botts, L.L.P.

20070021828 - Mechanically actuated stents and apparatus and methods for delivering them: A stent is provided for deployment into an ostium communicating from a main vessel to a branch vessel. The stent includes a first tubular portion advanceable into the ostium that is expandable from a contracted condition to an expanded condition for dilating a lesion within the ostium. The stent includes... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070021829 - Endovascular aneurysm repair method: A method for repairing a diseased or damaged section of an aorta (i) introduces an intraluminal directing device from a remote access site to a location within a prosthesis at a target site in an aorta where the diseased or damaged section exists, the intraluminal directing device including a deflectable... Agent: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.c.

20070021816 - Stent vascular intervention device and methods for treating aneurysms: The present invention relates to a stent including a variable porosity, tubular structure having pores defined by structural surfaces. The tubular structure has a low porosity region in proximity to or at either end of the tubular structure, where the low porosity region is less porous than other regions located... Agent: Nixon Peabody LLP - Patent Group

20070021830 - Percutaneous gas-line: A percutaneous gas-line (10) for a medical device (14). The gas-line including a first gas-line part (10a) and a second gas-line part (10b). The first gas-line part (10a) is adapted to be wholly implanted in a patient and has a first end (10a′) adapted for sealing connection to the medical... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070021831 - Accommodating intraocular lens and methods of use: An accommodating intraocular lens, for use in an eye, is made from flexible, optionally elastic, bio-compatible lens body material surrounding a closed and sealed lens cavity which is filled with bio-compatible optical liquid, optionally a gel. The optical liquid has a refractive index sufficiently high to, in cooperation with the... Agent: Wilhelm Law Service, S.c.

20070021832 - Foldable intraocular lens with adaptable haptics: A foldable low-compression intraocular lens configured for installation into the anterior chamber of a phakic, pseudophakic or aphakic eye, or a combination thereof. The lens is preferably rolled for insertion through a small corneal incision. Preferably, the implant comprises a resiliently flexible haptic body, an optical lens, and haptics that... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070021833 - Ossicle prosthesis: An ossicle prosthesis (10), which replaces or spans at least one member of the human ossicle chain, in which the ossicle prosthesis (10), on at least one end, has a securing element, embodied as a first elastic clip (11), for mechanical connection with a member of the ossicle chain, which... Agent: Striker, Striker & Stenby

20070021834 - Endoprosthesis having foot extensions: Endoprosthesis, such as a stent, includes at least one annular element defined by a first set of strut members interconnected to define apices proximate opposite sides of the annular element. The annular element further includes a foot extension extending between at least one pair of circumferentially-adjacent strut members. The foot... Agent: Baker Botts, L.L.P.

20070021835 - Systems and methods for providing prostheses: Systems and methods for providing prostheses are described. One method comprises identifying a tissue in a treatment area. The method further comprises modifying a structural stiffness of a portion of an expansible body prosthesis disposed adjacent the tissue. The expansible body prosthesis is inserted into the treatment area.... Agent: Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

20070021836 - Spinal disc prosthesis and methods of use: Spinal disc prosthetic devices are provided having up to six-degrees-of-freedom with three rotational and three translational degrees-of-freedom within the entire workspace of a Functional Spinal Unit (FSU). Certain embodiments of the prosthetic disc mechanisms attach to upper and lower plates anchored between vertebrae of an FSU allowing modularity of the... Agent: Saliwanchik Lloyd & Saliwanchik A Professional Association

20070021837 - Stabilizing augment for prosthetic disc: An adjunct device for use with a disc replacement prosthesis engages the prosthesis to restrict or prevent relative movement or articulation between the end plates of the disc prosthesis. The device is configured to be implanted within an existing disc prosthesis in lieu of removal and replacement of the prosthesis... Agent: Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP Chase Tower

20070021838 - Site specific minimally invasive joint implants: A prosthetic articular surface for implantation in a joint such as the knee is provided. The prosthetic articular surface comprises a contoured plate having two sides, one side of which is a bone-contacting side and the other side of which is an articular side, and at least one post extending... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070021839 - Trapezium prosthesis and method: A trapezium prosthesis is provided for replacement of a diseased trapezium of a hand. Also shown is a surgical technique for placement of the prosthesis. Rather than utilizing hemiarthoplasty or total joint replacement, the trapezium is replaced with the prosthesis made of a material other than silicon. The prosthesis has... Agent: Whitaker, Chalk, Swindle & Sawyer, LLP

20070021840 - Temporal stricture expander: An apparatus and method for treating strictures in an organ (e.g., a biliary duct or ureter) of a mammal by temporally expanding a collapsed or occluded fluid passageway in the anatomy to allow fluid (e.g., bile or urine) to flow through the passageway. The apparatus comprises a guider, a network... Agent: Patent Department Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, L.l.p

20070021841 - Joint for prosthesis: A prosthesis is provided having a joint that allows for substantially quick-connection and quick-disconnection of a shell to a liner. The joint also allows for rotational movement and effects electrical connection and mechanical connection between the shell and the liner during connection of the shell to the liner and maintains... Agent: Torys LLP

20070021842 - Energy returning prosthetic joint: An energy returning prosthetic joint arranged for use as a knee joint in prosthetic limbs includes a biasing or spring member connected to upper and lower attachment members. The spring member includes a composite material having an energy returning property. A cushion may be provided within the range of curvature... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20070016280 - Delivery system and method of use for deployment of self-expandable vascular device: A delivery system for a self-expandable prosthesis includes a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, a balloon positioned on the distal end of the catheter, a self-expandable prosthesis positioned on the balloon, and a sheath at least partially surrounding the self-expandable prosthesis. Upon inflation of the balloon,... Agent: Rissman Jobse Hendricks & Oliverio, LLP

20070016279 - Delivery system for bifurcation stents: Systems for aligning and deploying side branch stents comprise a catheter having a side branch sensor at or near a distal end thereof. Methods comprises rotating and axially transitioning the catheter until the sensor is brought into alignment with an opening to the side branch vessel.... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20070016281 - Introducer for self-expandable medical device: An introducer apparatus for deploying a self-expandable medical device, such as a stent, to a target area of a body vessel of a patient comprises a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a distal end portion disposed at the shaft distal end. The distal end portion... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/indy/cook

20070016278 - Medical devices: Medical devices, for example, those that have balloons, and methods of making the devices are described. For example, in some embodiments, a medical device includes an elongated shaft, and an inflatable balloon carried by the shaft. The balloon includes a first recessed channel, a second recessed channel, a third recessed... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20070016282 - Rapid exchange stent delivery system and associated components: A rapid exchange stent delivery catheter includes an inner tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a stent holding portion located adjacent the distal portion of the inner member, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20070016283 - Micro-thin film structures for cardiovascular indications: A thin lining for use within a body lumen having a variety of uses and particularly suited for protecting the intimal lining of a vessel, thereby preventing the release of embolic materials through the intima and into the bloodstream, either naturally or during the implantation of a prosthetic device. The... Agent: Inskeep Intellectual Property Group, Inc

20070016284 - Polymeric coating for reducing the rate of release of a therapeutic substance from a stent: A stent for delivery of a therapeutic agent is disclosed. The stent includes a polymer coating for reducing the rate of release of the therapeutic agent. The polymer has a crystalline structure wherein the polymer is capable of significantly maintaining the crystalline lattice structure while the therapeutic agent is released... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070016287 - Methods and apparatus for controlling the internal circumference of an anatomic orifice or lumen: An implantable device is provided for controlling shape and/or size of an anatomical structure or lumen. The implantable device has an adjustable member configured to adjust the dimensions of the implantable device. The implantable device is housed in a catheter and insertable from a minimally invasive surgical entry. An adjustment... Agent: Heller Ehrman LLP

20070016286 - Percutaneous heart valve: A percutaneously inserted bistable heart valve prosthesis is folded inside a catheter for transseptal delivery to the patient's heart for implantation. The heart valve has an annular ring, a body member having a plurality of legs, each leg connecting at one end to the annular ring, claws that are adjustable... Agent: Mccarter & English LLP Cityplace I

20070016288 - Two-piece percutaneous prosthetic heart valves and methods for making and using them: A percutaneous heart valve assembly includes a gasket member or other first prosthesis and a valve member or other second prosthesis. The first and second prostheses are contractible from an enlarged or relaxed condition into a contracted or delivery condition. The prostheses may be loaded into the same or separate... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070016289 - Prosthetic mitral heart valve having a contoured sewing ring: A prosthetic mitral heart valve including a contoured sewing ring that better matches the mitral valve annulus. The sewing ring includes an inflow end and an outflow end, the outflow and having at least one raised portion. There may be two raised portions located approximately 120° apart from each other... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20070016290 - Sigmoid valve and method for its percutaneous implantation: A multi-leaflet valve adapted to serve as a prosthesis for diseased native valve of a mammal is incorporated in self-expandable or inflatable endovascular stents or stents to form a combination which is introduced on a catheter with a guide wire into the circulatory system of the mammal to replace the... Agent: Gabor L. Szekeres

20070016285 - Gasket with collar for prosthetic heart valves and methods for using them: A heart valve assembly includes a prosthesis for receiving a prosthetic valve to replace a preexisting natural or prosthetic heart valve within a biological annulus adjacent a sinus cavity. The prosthesis includes an annular member implantable within the biological annulus for contacting tissue surrounding the biological annulus to provide an... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070016291 - Methods of implanting a prosthetic mitral heart valve having a contoured sewing ring: A prosthetic mitral heart valve including a contoured sewing ring that better matches the mitral valve annulus. The sewing ring includes an inflow end and an outflow end, the outflow and having at least one raised portion. There may be two raised portions located approximately 120° apart from each other... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20070016292 - Epithelium treatment methods and devices for treating the epithelium: In general, the devices and methods described herein are useful in the field of ophthalmology. More particularly, the described methods and devices are useful in the field of refractive eye procedures, such as may be practiced when lifting or separating a portion of the epithelial layer or forming a pocket... Agent: E. Thomas Wheelock

20070016293 - Accommodative intraocular lens system: A two-optic accommodative lens system. The first lens has a negative power and is located posteriorly within the capsular bag and lying against the posterior capsule. The periphery of the first lens is attached to a ring-like structure having sloping sides. The second lens is located anteriorly to the first... Agent: Alcon

20070016294 - Logarithmic light intensifier for use with photoreceptor-based implanted retinal prosthetics and those prosthetics: This invention is for directly modulating a beam of photons onto the retinas of patients who have extreme vision impairment or blindness. Its purpose is to supply enough imaging energy to retinal prosthetics implanted in the eye which operate essentially by having light (external to the eye) activating photoreceptors, or... Agent: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.

20070016298 - Method for repair of a spine and intervertebral implant: Repair of a spine from a posterior approach especially for locating an implant between a lower and upper human vertebra includes making an incision in the skin lateral to the midline, making an incision through the Erector Spinae Aponeurosis (ESA) following the ELIF groove, separating the ESA from the Longissimus... Agent: Browdy And Neimark, P.l.l.c. 624 Ninth Street, Nw

20070016297 - Prostheses for spine facets: In accordance with the present invention is provided a prosthesis for the replacement of at least a portion of the bone of a facet located on a host mammalian vertebra. The prosthesis including a posterior arch structure having a plurality of bearing attachment surfaces, a plurality of facet bearing buttons... Agent: Smith Hopen, Pa

20070016295 - Reinforced molded implant formed of cortical bone: This invention relates to arthodesis for stabilizing the spine. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an intervertebral spacer formed of a bone material and to methods of treating patients having spinal deformities. The invention provides a spinal implant assembly comprising bone-derived components. The bone-derived components can be formed... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070016296 - Surgical measurement systems and methods: A measurement tool is designed to measure the relative displacements between two bony landmarks of a spine, such as pedicles and facet surfaces. The measurement tool may have a registration interface designed to be registered to a first bony landmark, and a contact feature shaped to contact a second bony... Agent: Medicinelodge Inc.

20070016299 - Vertebral defect device: A vertebral defect device includes a housing having a convexly tapered distal end, a convexly tapered proximal end, a top, a bottom, an anterior side, a posterior side and an outer surface having generally rounded edges thereby facilitating insertion into an intervertebral space between a pair of adjacent vertebrae. The... Agent: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.

20070016300 - Annulus-reinforcing band: A pliable band or hoop that is flexible to normal handling, but cannot stretch circumferentially once it has reached the limits of its circumferential length. The band may have a structural portal to be used for filling, or it may simply be constructed of a fabric-like material that allows a... Agent: Patterson, Thuente, Skaar & Christensen, P.A. 4800 Ids Center

20070016302 - Intervertebral disc replacement: An intervertebral disc prosthesis in a preferred embodiment has a matrix of bioincorporable fabric, and a nuclear core centrally mixed into the matrix. The core is formed by impregnating the fabric substrate centrally with a polymer, preferably of liquid form that cures into a viscoelastic solid, in which each component—polymer... Agent: Donald R. Greene

20070016301 - Multi-axial interbody spacer device: An interbody spacer for implantation into the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae of a patient's spinal column. The interbody spacer is a monolithic body having a predetermined slot design formed therein that provides flexibility to the spacer to allow movement of the adjacent vertebrae along multiple axies, that is, the... Agent: Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione

20070016303 - Implant for spinal stabilization and its method of use: A generally rectangular intra-spinous spacer preferably made of bone material advantageously has a low potential for bone fusion. The spacer has depressions sized and positioned on opposite sides to receive spinal processes. The depressions reduce the amount of bone-to-spinal process contact. A fixation strap of the spacer secured either to... Agent: Jones Day

20070016304 - Glenoid implant for minimally invasive shoulder replacement surgery: The present invention provides a method and devices for shoulder replacement surgery that spares the rotator cuff. The method utilizes two anterosuperior passages to gain access to the glenohumeral joint, neither of which requires transaction of the rotator cuff. In addition a transhumeral portal created through the second anterosuperior passage... Agent: Gregory B. Beggs Law Offices Of Gregory B. Beggs

20070016305 - Humeral implant for minimally invasive shoulder replacement surgery: The present invention provides a method and devices for shoulder replacement surgery that spares the rotator cuff. The method utilizes two anterosuperior passages to gain access to the glenohumeral joint, neither of which requires transaction of the rotator cuff. In addition a transhumeral portal created through the second anterosuperior passage... Agent: Gregory B. Beggs Law Offices Of Gregory B. Beggs

20070016306 - Prosthesis having a sleeve valve: Disclosed is a pressure sensitive prosthesis that includes a tubular member having a passageway extending therethrough and a sleeve attached about one end of the tubular member. The sleeve functions as a one-way valve to permit fluid flowing through the sleeve lumen in a first, distal direction and under a... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070016307 - Absorbable medical element suitable for insertion into the body, in particular an absorbable implant: An absorbable implant comprises a basic compound made of a material which can be absorbed by the body of the implant recipient. A coating which contains titanium partially covers the basic compound, so that the latter comprises coating-free zones for the body to engage and absorb.... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20070010863 - Rapid exchange pre-dilator: A predilation device may comprise a shaft portion and a distal tip having helical threadings. The predilation device may further include a rapid exchange element rotatably coupled to the shaft portion. A guidewire may slidably engage the rapid exchange element and may guide the predilation device to a lesion site.... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070010866 - Attachment cuff for gastrointestinal implant: 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

20070010865 - Everting gastrointestinal sleeve: 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

20070010864 - Gastrointestinal implant system: 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

20070010867 - Single peel stent introducer apparatus: A stent introducer apparatus includes a handle having a housing and a rotatable reel. An inner stent carrier having a proximal end and a distal end is provided, with the proximal end being connected to the housing of the handle. An outer sheath movably disposed about the inner stent carrier... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070010871 - Energetically-controlled delivery of biologically active material from an implanted medical device: A medical device and system capable of providing on-demand delivery of biologically active material to a body lumen patient, and a method of making such medical device. A first coating layer comprising a biologically active material and optionally a polymeric material is disposed on the surface of the medical device.... Agent: Jones Day

20070010869 - Flexible stent with excellent expandability and trackability: A flexible stent with excellent trackability and expandability comprises a plurality of radially expandable annular members 1 arranged in an axial direction thereof, and connecting elements 2 for connecting adjoining two annular members 1, adjoining annular members 1, 1 being connected by one or more of the connecting elements 2.... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20070010868 - Lumenally-active device: Embodiments of a lumenally-active system and method of use and control thereof are disclosed. According to various embodiments, a lumenally-active device is positioned in a body lumen of an organism, where the device may sense a parameter of a fluid in the body lumen and perform an action on the... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20070010870 - Tubular stent with oval struts: An expandable tubular endoluminal prosthesis for maintaining the patency of a bodily vessel has a plurality of axially spaced serpentine bands. Each serpentine band has a proximal and distal end and a plurality of interconnected struts. Serpentine bands which are adjacent one another are connected one to the other. The... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070010872 - Stent with tapered flexibility: A stent comprises a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands, and a plurality of connector columns. Each connector column is located between two adjacent circumferential bands and comprises one or more connector struts. Each connector strut is connected at one end to one serpentine circumferential band and at another end to... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070010873 - Aneurysm graft with markers: There is provided an improved graft for treatment of diseased, typically aneurysmal, tissue of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. The graft described is based on the “Elephant Trunk” graft which requires a two-stage procedure for completion of treatment. The modified graft includes a series of markers to allow visualisation... Agent: Drinker Biddle & Reath Attn: Intellectual Property Group

20070010874 - Branch vessel stent graft: A stent graft (10) has a tubular body of a biocompatible material and a side arm (20) fastened to the tubular body. A tubular extension piece (24) is sealingly joined to the end of the side arm and extends from it. It can be joined with adhesive or stitching. The... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20070010875 - Method and apparatus to attach an unsupported surgical component: An insertion apparatus comprises an introducer sheath, a surgical component, at least two attachment wires, and a longitudinal wire. The insertion apparatus is used for deploying a surgical component to a site in a vessel. The introducer sheath has a lumen, a proximal opening and a distal opening with an... Agent: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

20070010876 - Externally expandable heart valve anchor and method: The invention includes methods of and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method including the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in an unexpanded configuration; and applying... Agent: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

20070010877 - Methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve: The invention includes methods of and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method including the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in an unexpanded configuration; and applying... Agent: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

20070010878 - Coronary sinus approach for repair of mitral valve regurgitation: A device and method for treating cardiac valve regurgitation. The device includes a tubular member including a lumen there through and a locking mechanism and a compression device carried on the tubular member. The compression device is transformable to a compression configuration in response to axial displacement and is locked... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20070010879 - Injector system for a lens: An intraocular lens delivery system has leading and trailing haptic guides with upper and lower fingers sized and dimensioned to juxtapose at least 10% of at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the corresponding haptic. The fingers protect the haptics from undesirable folding during preparation of the... Agent: Robert D. Fish Rutan & Tucker LLP

20070010880 - Methods of adjusting the power of an intraocular lens: An accommodating intraocular lens is provided, in which optical parameters are altered in-situ using forces applied by the ciliary muscles, and in which a lens body carries an actuator separating two fluid-filled chambers having either the same index of diffraction or different indices of refraction. The actuator causes the relative... Agent: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

20070010881 - Intraocular lens system: A two or three component lens system. The first component is a ring-like supporting component that is implanted in the capsular bag following cataract surgery. The first component is a non-optical component and does not correct for any refractive errors. The first component may contain features to help reduce or... Agent: Alcon

20070010882 - Intraocular lens: Intraocular lens implant (10) for providing accommodation for near vision includes an optic (20) centrally disposed in a flexible membrane (30) and at least one haptic (40) outwardly extending from the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is adapted in use to facilitate translatable movement of the optic in response to... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20070010883 - Water plasticized high refractive index polymer for ophthalmic applications: The current invention provides a method of forming a foldable intraocular having a high refractive index from a copolymer comprising a first monomer comprising an aryl acrylate or an aryl methacrylate; a second monomer comprising an aromatic ring comprising a substituent having one ethylenic unsaturation, provided that the second monomer... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070010884 - Prostheses: A replacement ligament prosthesis including an elongate replacement ligament having a femoral end and a tibial end. The prosthesis includes a bar, which in use will extend between the medial and lateral condyles of a femur and across the intercondylar notch, and to which the femoral end of the elongate... Agent: Senniger Powers

20070010886 - Skeletal stabilization implant: A spinal implant is described in this disclosure. The implant includes first and second pieces separated by a controlled break location. Spinal implant kits having multiple spinal implant pieces derived from a common source also are disclosed.... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP

20070010885 - Spinal implant and cutting tool preparation accessory for mounting the implant: This invention relates to a spinal implant for promoting fusion of adjacent vertebrae and restoration of normal disc height. The spinal implant includes an upper and lower surface adapted to engage cancellous bone tissue in the vertebral bodies. The spinal implant also includes at least two opposing bearing surfaces adapted... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070010887 - Intervertebral device and method of use: An intervertebral disc replacement device is disclosed and includes a first implantable member having a first anchor plate and a concave body detachably coupled to the first anchor plate, and a second implantable member having a second anchor plate and a convex body detachably coupled to the second anchor plate,... Agent: Medicinelodge Inc.

20070010888 - Intervertebral prosthesis with self-tapping fixing projections: An intervertebral prosthesis, in particular for the cervical spine, has two attachment plates connected in an articulated manner. The attachment surfaces of the attachment plates, which are configured for attachment to adjacent vertebral bodies have a base surface configured to bear on the surface of the vertebral bodies, and self-tapping... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070010889 - Foldable nucleus replacement device: Embodiments include a foldable nucleus replacement device comprising a body capable of folding upon itself more than twice at pre-determined folds. Each fold in the device may define an inner surface and an outer surface. The body of the device also may be capable of unfolding to an approximately linear... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070010890 - Modular tibial baseplate: A modular keel or stem for use as a tibial implant has a central stem portion including a tongue-like coupling portion for insertion into a grooved portion in a bone contacting portion of a tibial baseplate. The modular keel or stem may also include a pair of anti-rotation fins or... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070010891 - Hip prosthesis provided with a shaft inserted into the femur: A hip prosthesis includes a shaft which can be inserted into a hole in the femur without using cement. The proximal section of the shaft includes a base body having a form that is complementary to the shape of the hole in the femur into which the shaft is to... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20070010893 - Novel materials for dental and biomedical application: The invention provides novel dental enamel inspired materials for biomedical and dental applications. The materials are apatite-like calcium phosphate complexes and may comprise apatite, octacalcium phosphate crystals, or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the materials (calcium phosphate coatings) are mixtures of crystals of apatite and its precursor, octacalcium phosphate, nucleated... Agent: Bingham, Mccutchen LLP

20070010892 - Structural body constituted of biocompatible material impregnated with fine bone dust and process for producing the same: A porous structure or surface-roughened structure impregnated with fine bone powder is usable as an artificial bone or artificial dental root. The porous structure has communicating macro-pores having an average diameter of 100-1000 μm open on its entire outer surface at a density of 1 or more per an area... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20070010894 - Electromagnetic resonant circuit sleeve for implantable medical device: A medical device enables effective magnetic resonance imaging inside a lumen of a medical device. The medical device includes a plurality of conductive traces formed on a substrate. The conductive traces form an inductive-capacitance circuit or a resistive-inductive-capacitance circuit. The inductive-capacitance circuit or resistive-inductive-capacitance circuit is tuned to a frequency... Agent: Basch & Nickerson LLP

20070010895 - Electromagnetic resonant circuit sleeve for implantable medical device: A medical device enables effective magnetic resonance imaging inside a lumen of a medical device. The medical device includes a plurality of conductive traces formed on a substrate. The conductive traces form an inductive-capacitance circuit or a resistive-inductive-capacitance circuit. The inductive-capacitance circuit or resistive-inductive-capacitance circuit is tuned to a frequency... Agent: Basch & Nickerson LLP

20070010896 - Electromagnetic resonant circuit sleeve for implantable medical device: A medical device enables effective magnetic resonance imaging inside a lumen of a medical device. The medical device includes a plurality of conductive traces formed on a substrate. The conductive traces form an inductive-capacitance circuit or a resistive-inductive-capacitance circuit. The inductive-capacitance circuit or resistive-inductive-capacitance circuit is tuned to a frequency... Agent: Basch & Nickerson LLP

20070010897 - Immunochemically modified and sterilized xenografts and allografts: The invention provides an article of manufacture comprising a substantially non-immunogenic xenograft for implantation into humans. The xenograft is a body part dissected from a transgenic 1,3-α-galactosyltransferase gene-deficient animal, wherein the cells of the body part are dead. The invention also provides methods for preparing a xenograft by removing a... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20070005122 - Treatment instrument installation member, stent delivery catheter and conduit system: A stent delivery catheter, which is a treatment instrument, has an elongated guide catheter which is to be inserted into an endoscope and the human body. The stent is provided around a distal end of a guide catheter. Furthermore, a stent installation member which can cover a flap provided on... Agent: Thomas Spinelli Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser

20070005124 - Endoluminal prosthesis comprising a therapeutic agent: Delivery of Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) locally, particularly from an intraluminal prosthesis such as a coronary stent, directly from the surface of the prosthesis or from pores, micropores, or perforations in the stent body, mixed or bound to a polymer coating applied on the endoluminal prosthesis, or mixed or bound to a... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20070005123 - Extendable soft stent with excellent follow-up capability to blood vessel: The stent of the present invention is a tubular member comprising annular members 1 arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof for keeping a body lumen open, and one or more connecting elements 2 for connecting longitudinally adjoining two annular members 1, 1 with one another. Each annular member 1 comprises... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20070005125 - Hybrid stent: A stent comprises a plurality of segments, including at least one segment which is in the form of a coil and at least one segment which is in a form other than a coil and which is balloon expandable or self-expandable.... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070005126 - Hybrid stent: A stent comprises at least one segment. The segment comprises a first tubular closed ring section, a second tubular closed ring section, a first generally helical section having a first end and a second end, and a second generally helical section having a first end and a second end. The... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20070005127 - Hinged tissue implant and related methods and devices for delivering such an implant: A device for treating a heart may comprise a myocardial section configured to be positioned in a heart wall between a coronary vessel and a chamber of the heart and a vessel section configured to be positioned in the coronary vessel. The vessel section may be connected to the myocardial... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20070005128 - Flanged graft with trim lines: A vascular graft with trim lines is described, the trim lines providing a guide for precision shaping of the cuff. The trim lines may be printed or otherwise disposed on a surface of the cuff or included on a template designed for disposition over the cuff. The trim lines may... Agent: Morrison & Foerster, LLP

20070005129 - Anchoring system for implantable heart valve prostheses: The invention relates to an anchoring system for heart valve prostheses which can be implanted by introduction via the aorta without any major surgical operation. With the heart valve prosthesis according to the invention it shall be achieved that this can be safely and quickly guided through the aorta toward... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20070005130 - Biodegradable polymer for coating: Copolymer that includes units derived from malolactonate or malolactonic acid and coatings or medical devices formed thereof are provided.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070005131 - Heart valve delivery system: A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly and handle. A pull wire travels from the... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20070005132 - Tissue material and process for bioprosthesis: A biomaterial useful for bioprostheses such as bioprosthetic heart valves is provided in which the fixed tissue has improved elastic properties. The high elastin-containing biomaterial is further characterized by having anisotropic properties wherein the biological material has a greater stiffness in one direction and a greater elasticity in a cross... Agent: Dority & Manning, P.A.

20070005134 - Apparatus for placement in the annulus of a tricuspid valve: An apparatus for implantation in the annulus of a tricuspid valve has an anterior annulus aspect, a posterior annulus aspect, and an atrioventricular (AV) node located adjacent the anterior annulus aspect. The apparatus includes an ovoid main body portion. The main body portion has an anterior body segment adapted for... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070005133 - Stentless aortic valve replacement with high radial strength: Disclosed is a stentless transluminally implantable heart valve, having a formed in place support. The formed in place support exhibits superior crush resistance when compared to conventional balloon expandable or self expandable stent based valves.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070005135 - Intraocular lens insertion plunger with low stimulus soft tip: An intraocular lens (IOL) insertion apparatus for implanting IOLs through smaller incisions. The insertion apparatus includes an insertion cartridge that receives the IOL and cooperates with a handpiece. The cartridge includes a longitudinal lumen from a loading chamber to an open distal mouth that gradually narrows in dimension. A push... Agent: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. Legal Department

20070005136 - Multi-component accommodative intraocular lens with compressible haptic: A multi-component accommodating intraocular lens (A-IOL) for implantation in a capsular bag of an eye having an optical axis, includes an anterior optical element and a posterior component that are connected by at least one compressible haptic. The compressible haptic, by definition, has a deformation feature that is resiliently deformable.... Agent: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated

20070005137 - Non-linear artificial ligament system: Various methods and devices for ligament replacement in the human body, and in particular, the spine are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a ligament replacement system is provided that has an artificial ligament configured in the form of a closed loop. The artificial ligament is adapted to be coupled between... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070005138 - Connective tissue substitutes, method of preparation and uses thereof: The present invention relates to connective tissue substitute implant and method of preparation thereof. The implant is essentially composed of two bone anchors joined at the proximal ends by matrix layers and/or filaments coated by supplementary biocompatible matrix coating layer which can contain living stem cells isolated from injured connective... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20070005139 - Tissue engineered tendons and ligaments: Connective tissue, including neo-tendons and ligaments, has been constructed using biodegradable synthetic scaffolds seeded with tenocytes. The scaffolds are preferably formed from biodegradable fibers formed of a polymer such as polyglycolic acid-polylactic acid copolymers, and seeded with cells isolated from autologous tendon or ligament by means of enzymatic digestion or... Agent: Clark & Elbing LLP

20070005140 - Fabrication and use of biocompatible materials for treating and repairing herniated spinal discs: The present invention involves the fabrication and use of biocompatible polymers that are injected percutaneously into the inner portion of a defective region of a spinal disc and swell or expand or subsequently cure in situ to form a disc nucleus prosthesis. The polymers may be synthetic or natural (e.g.,... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP

20070005141 - Apparatus, system, and method for transcutaneously transferring energy: An apparatus for transcutaneously transferring an amount of energy to an implantable orthopaedic device includes a primary coil. The primary coil has a resonant frequency matched to a resonant frequency of a secondary coil, which may form part of the implantable orthopaedic device. The primary coil may have an aperture... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20070005143 - Articular surface implant and delivery system: A method is provided for delivering an implant for replacing a portion of an articular surface. The method may include forming a socket in an articulating feature that is capable of moving relative to the articular surface. An implant may be placed in the socket and the articulating feature may... Agent: Grossman, Tucker, Perreault & Pfleger, PLLC

20070005142 - Tibial insert and associated surgical method: A tibial insert includes a platform defining an upper bearing surface and a bottom surface. A keel of the tibial insert is coupled to the bottom surface of the platform. A surgical method for knee anthroplasty is also disclosed.... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20070005144 - Expandable acetabular liner extraction device, cup assembly and associated method: An extraction device for removing a liner from an acetabular cup is provided. The extraction device includes a body and an actuator. The actuator is operably connected to the body. The extraction device also includes a jaw for cooperation with the liner. The jaw includes a portion of the jaw... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070005145 - Intraoperative joint force measuring device, system and method: A surgical device for joint replacement surgery includes an intraoperative joint head having a stem attachment structure where the stem attachment structure may be removably attachable to a stem and a force sensor housed by the joint head for measuring in vivo forces during surgery. The in vivo forces may... Agent: Akerman Senterfitt

20070005146 - Hip stem for receiving intramedullary nail: A method of operating on a joint having a medullary canal, including the steps of removing a first rod that is disposed within a bore of a joint prosthesis. The first rod having a distal tip that extends past the joint prosthesis when the joint prosthesis is implanted in the... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070005147 - Gastrointestinal anchor compliance: A collapsible gastrointestinal anchor can be characterized in various embodiments by a radial force of about 0.1 Newtons (N) or greater at a compressed diameter of 25 millimeters (mm); by an average spring rate of about 13 Newtons/meter (N/m) or greater in a range of motion between a relaxed diameter... Agent: Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C.

20070005148 - Method for using tropoelastin and for producing tropoelastin biomaterials: It is a general object of the invention to provide a method of effecting repair or replacement or supporting a section of a body tissue using tropoelastin, preferably crosslinked tropoelastin and specifically to provide a tropoelastin biomaterial suitable for use as a stent, for example, a vascular stent, or as... Agent: Marger Johnson & Mccollom, P.C.

20070005149 - Suspension liner system with seal: A suspension liner system adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the liner sleeve including an elongate generally conical liner sleeve including proximal and distal end areas, and a sealing member arranged to removably fit onto the distal end area of the liner sleeve.... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC