Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 08/07

20070203574 - Ultraviolet activated antimicrobial surfaces: The invention is directed to an ion plasma deposition (IPD) method adapted to coat polymer surfaces with highly adherent antimicrobial films. A controlled ion plasma deposition (IPD) process is used to coat a metal or polymer with a selected metal/metal oxide. Exposing the coated surface to ultraviolet light significantly improves... Agent: Saliwanchik Lloyd & Saliwanchik A Professional Association

20070203577 - Small diameter inlays: Provided herein are small diameter inlays for correcting vision impairments by altering the shape of the anterior corneal surface. In an embodiment, inlays having diameters smaller than the pupil are provided for correcting presbyopia. To provide near vision, an inlay is implanted centrally in the cornea to induce an “effective”... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070203562 - Marker arrangement for bifurcation catheter: A catheter assembly and related methods include first and second catheter branches that are configured to travel over separate guidewires to a vessel bifurcation treatment site within a patient. The catheter branches can each include a plurality of markers. The position of markers on one catheter branch relative to the... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20070203560 - Methods and devices for delivery of prosthetic heart valves and other prosthetics: Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The preferred delivery device... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070203561 - Methods and devices for delivery of prosthetic heart valves and other prosthetics: Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The preferred delivery device... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070203563 - System for delivering a stent: A stent delivery system comprising a hypotube having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a first diameter, and a guidewire having a second diameter and a reduced diameter portion having a diameter smaller than the first diameter of the hypotube for receiving a stent. The guidewire is... Agent: Neil D. Gershon

20070203564 - Biodegradable implants having accelerated biodegradation properties in vivo: The present invention is directed to a biodegradable implant including a biodegradable polymer previously exposed to conditions of biodegradation such as chemical, thermal or radiation degradation. The present invention further includes the possibility of attaching axial runners to the implant. The present invention is further directed to a method of... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20070203565 - Method for endovascular bypass stent graft delivery: The invention provides a method of providing an endovascular bypass. The method includes the steps of inserting an elastic needle carrying a guidewire adjacent an ostium via a catheter and extending the needle through a branch vessel wall. The method continues by extending the needle through the extravascular space and... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20070203566 - Non-circular stent: A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body having a central longitudinal axis and a structural framework having at least one stent connected to the graft body in a partially compressed state, the stent having substantially linear struts and apices between adjacent pairs of the struts, each of the... Agent: Mayback & Hoffman, P.A.

20070203567 - Bifurcation aneurysm treatment stent with distal web: A stent device for introduction into a bifurcation aneurysm, comprising a radially expandable elongated wire mesh tube having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is expandable into a cone shaped portion of a larger diameter than the proximal end. A web of material is arranged across... Agent: Donald N. Halgren

20070203568 - Compositions containing fast-leaching plasticizers for improved performance of medical devices: Medical implants containing a temporary plasticizer, methods of producing such implants, and methods of using the implants in treating a disease, or ameliorating one or more symptoms thereof, in a subject are provided.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070203570 - Expandable intraluminal endoprosthesis: An expandable intraluminal endoprosthesis including a tubular member (1) a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the member into a lumen of a body passageway, particularly a blood vessel. The tubular member (1) is capable of acquiring a second, expanded and deformed diameter upon the application from the interior... Agent: White & Case LLP Patent Department

20070203569 - Implantable device formed from polymer blends having modified molecular structures: A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. Polymeric materials may be utilized to fabricate any of these devices, including stents. The stents may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. The polymeric materials may include additives such as drugs or other bioactive agents... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070203571 - Prosthesis for treating vascular bifurcations: A stepped balloon catheter prosthesis deployment system is disclosed for placement of a prosthesis across an Os opening from a main body lumen to a branch body lumen. The prosthesis comprises a radially expansible support at one end, a circumferentially extending link at the other end and at least one... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070203559 - Device for rechanneling a cavity, organ path or vessel: In a device (1) for recanalizing a cavity, organ path or vessel (4) which is at least partially occluded by at least one compressible occlusive object, in particular a thrombus or embolus (3), in the body of a human or animal, using at least one compressible and self-expanding stent (10)... Agent: Donn K. Harms Patent & Trademark Law Center

20070203572 - Catheter system with stent apparatus for connecting adjacent blood vessels: The bifurcated stent apparatus for use by a physician includes a main stent for inserting into a bifurcated blood vessel and a side stent. The main stent has an opening on the side which is the same diameter as the side stent. The main stent may be is configured to... Agent: Kolisch Hartwell, P.C.

20070203573 - Endovascular device with membrane having permanently attached agents: An endovascular device (10) for treatment of a bodily vessel (5) of a patient at a surgical site, the endovascular device (10) comprising: a mechanically expandable device (11) expandable from a first position to a second position, said mechanically expandable device (11) is expanded radially outwardly to the second position... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070203575 - Methods and devices for delivery of prosthetic heart valves and other prosthetics: Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The preferred delivery device... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070203576 - 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... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070203578 - Accommodating intraocular lens system having circumferential haptic support and method: An accommodating intraocular lens includes an optic portion a haptic portion and a backstop. The optic portion of the lens includes an actuator that deflects a lens element to alter the optical power of the lens responsive to forces applied to the haptic portion of the lens by contraction of... Agent: Shay Law Group LLP

20070203579 - Prosthetic device for spinal arthroplasty: A prosthetic device for insertion into an intervertebral space defined by adjacent vertebrae includes a first articulation member and a second articulation member configured to cooperate to permit articulating motion. An expandable member may be connected to the first articulation member and may be configured to support and position the... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070203580 - Intervertebral filling: An intervertebral filling includes a supporting body, a buffer layer covering the supporting body and at least two positioning pins, each positioning pin has a sharp end exposed out of the buffering layer, and the intervertebral filling uses this sharp ends of the positioning pins to stay in two adjacent... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20070203581 - Lumbar disc prosthesis: The invention refers to a new type of disc prosthesis for application to the lumbar area especially designed to permit movement within the normal physiological limits of the invertebral disc, permitting lateralisation, flexion and extension under conditions which are as close as possible to the physiological ones.... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20070203582 - Modular tibial implant: A modular tibial implant includes a tibial baseplate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second openings extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a bone engaging element having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal and proximal ends,... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070203583 - Method and apparatus for aligning a taper lock connection: A prosthesis for replacing a portion of the anatomy. The prosthesis can include a first body extending between a first region and a second region. The first body can define a first alignment portion near the first region and a first taper near the second region. The prosthesis can also... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070203584 - Bone replacement materials: Particular aspects provide novel devices for bone tissue engineering, comprising a metal or metal-based composite member/material comprising an interior macroporous structure in which porosity may vary from 0-90% (v), the member comprising a surface region having a surface pore size, porosity, and composition designed to encourage cell growth and adhesion... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP

20070203585 - Prosthetic foot with composite heel: Apparatus and methods for a keel for use in a prosthetic foot. In an embodiment, the keel comprises a forefoot portion having a toe end, wherein the forefoot portion comprises a first material. In addition, the keel comprises a mid-foot portion contiguous with the forefoot portion, wherein the mid-foot portion... Agent: Conley Rose, P.C. David A. Rose

20070198087 - Methods and devices for rotator cuff repair: Interposition and augmentation devices for tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using arthroscopic methods. The devices are preferably derived from biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates, and preferably from copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. The devices may be delivered arthroscipiclly, and offer... Agent: Patrea L. Pabst Pabst Patent Group LLP

20070198098 - Fluid-powered prosthetic apparatus: An improved prosthetic device having a plurality of independently movable members that operate at peak efficiency for a majority of the time that it is in the on state, thereby extending battery life, includes at least two members that are independently movable, a fluid actuator associated with each of the... Agent: Price Heneveld Cooper Dewitt & Litton, LLP

20070198075 - Bifurcated aneurysm treatment arrangement: A vascular aneurysm-treating stent arrangement having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being formed of a differentially expandable material, wherein the distal end is deformably expandable to a cone shape. A deformable enclosed chamber is arranged on the distal end of the stent and nests within the... Agent: Donald N. Halgren

20070198074 - Devices and methods for endolumenal 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 removably attached in the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070198076 - System for delivering a stent: A stent delivery system comprising a hypotube, a guidewire extending beyond a distal end of the hypotube and having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a second diameter less than the diameter of the hypotube. The second portion of the guidewire has a third diameter... Agent: Neil D. Gershon

20070198078 - Delivery system and method for self-centering a proximal end of a stent graft: A method for implanting a prosthesis centrally within a curved lumen includes loading a prosthesis into a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient towards the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end of the prosthesis within the curved lumen, and centering the proximal end of the... Agent: Mayback & Hoffman, P.A.

20070198077 - Device for rapid repair of body conduits: A self-expanding stent-graft provided in a diametrically compacted state for implantation and retained preferably by a constraining sheath, useful for the temporary or permanent repair of injured, partially or entirely transected body conduits including blood vessels. It may be used under direct visualization to quickly stop or substantially reduce loss... Agent: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

20070198079 - Sectional crimped graft: The present invention provides a sectional crimped graft that allows graft flexibility where required and limits the overall longitudinal extension. The present invention overcomes the disadvantage of fully crimped grafts by controlling the number of crimps per unit length, crimp height, crimp geometry and their location along the graft wall,... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20070198080 - Coatings including an antioxidant: A coating including an antioxidant or a combination of antioxidant and another bioactive agent on a medical device is described.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

20070198081 - Poly(butylmethacrylate) and rapamycin coated stent: A drug eluting stent is disclosed. The stent includes a stent base; a basecoat formulation comprising Sirolimus in a polymer coating, wherein the polymer coating contains ethylene-co-vinyl acetate and poly-n-butyl methacrylate; and a topcoat disposed on the basecoat formulation.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070198082 - Apparatus and method for treating a regurgitant valve: An apparatus for treating regurgitation of blood through a diseased heart valve having at least two leaflets includes an occluding member configured to be positioned within the diseased heart valve so that at least a portion of the occluding member is positioned adjacent to one of the at least two... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070198083 - Intraocular lens device for the improvement of vision in case of retinal diseases: The invention concerns an intraocular lens device which is used in particular for treatment of diseases of the central retina (macula) with retinal areas which are still healthy. The main principle of the invention at hand is that a lens device is provided for the redirection of the focal point... Agent: Clark & Brody

20070198084 - Floating optic accommodating intraocular lens: An accommodating intraocular lens comprising a flexible body, a flexible optic which is moveable anteriorly and posteriorly relative to the lens body, and a weakened portion connecting the optic to the body. The body may have extending centration and fixation loops on its distal ends.... Agent: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLPIPProsecution Department

20070198085 - Breast implant, use of an associated pouch, and method for determination of a breast implant: The breast implant is tailor-made for a patient and comprises an envelope, which is made in particular of silicone elastomer and inside which a filler product 15 is arranged, and also a securing element 3 disposed on the envelope 2 and intended to be connected to a support element 5,... Agent: Meyertons, Hood, Kivlin, Kowert & Goetzel, P.C.

20070198086 - Bioprosthesis preparation and implantation kit and bioprosthesis implantation device: An object is to implant a bioprosthesis constituted by infiltrating a scaffold material held inside a container with body fluid, such as bone marrow, into an affected side without separating the body fluid, to reduce the burden placed on a patient, and to improve the ease-of-use. A bioprosthesis preparation and... Agent: Thomas Spinelli Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser

20070198089 - Artificial total lumbar disc for unilateral safe and simple posterior placement in the lumbar spine, and removable bifunctional screw which drives vertical sliding expansile plate expansion, and interplate widening,and angled traction spikes: A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral... Agent: Mcgrath, Geissler, Olds & Richardson, PLLC

20070198088 - Flexible implant: Implant for temporary or permanent introduction into a human or animal body of at least one biocompatible material with a shape that is oriented to fulfill one or more first functions. The shape has one or more areas in which, as second function, elasticity or mobility is provided, with the... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20070198090 - Use of carbon nanotubes in the manufacture of orthopedic implants: A carbon nanotube is used to at least partially manufacture an orthopedic implant of improved strength and durability. The nanotubes are generally free of structural imperfections, possess high stiffness, high strength, low density, small size, excellent electrical properties as well as variable magnetic characteristics.... Agent: Fish & Richardson, PC

20070198091 - Facet joint prosthesis: A facet joint prosthesis comprising an inferior prosthetic portion and a superior prosthetic portion is disclosed. Inferior prosthetic portion includes a first anchor member and a first articulating member and superior prosthetic portion includes a second anchor member and a second articulating member. The first articulating member comprises a support... Agent: Castellano PLLC

20070198092 - System for inserting artificial intervertebral discs: A system for stabilizing an intervertebral segment includes an intervertebral implant having a first plate, a second plate, and an articulating joint coupling the first and second plates, whereby at least one of the plates has an inner surface having at least one hole. The system includes an instrument for... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070198093 - Spinal implant with offset keels: An improved spinal implant includes vertically offset keels for mechanically interlocking respectively with overlying and underlying vertebral bone structures when implanted therebetween. At least one upper keel projects upwardly for close-fit reception into a prepared slot formed in the overlying vertebral structure, and at least one lower keel projects downwardly... Agent: Kelly Lowry & Kelley, LLP

20070198094 - Adaptor prosthesis kit: The present disclosure is directed to a kit of prosthetic components having at least two monolithic adaptors. The first adaptor incorporates a first and a second coupling mechanism, where the height of the first coupling mechanism defines the distance between an articulating surface and a fixture. The second monolithic adaptor... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070198095 - Distal radioulnar joint prosthesis: A prosthetic implant for partial resurfacing of the ulna at the distal radioulnar (DRU) joint which comprises a stem and an ulnar head. The combination of the anchoring stem and the head that is shaped and proportioned to replace only a portion of the distal ulnar head and the radial... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20070198096 - Prosthetic joint: A prosthetic joint ball is receivable in a prosthetic joint socket to form a prosthetic joint. The ball is generally spherical and is mounted on a stem. The outer rounded surface of the ball is provided with a layer of CVD diamond, prepared by mechanical polishing to present a surface... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070198097 - Kit for implanting in a duct: The kit comprises a tubular endoprosthesis and a prosthetic valve which comprises a carrier frame that is radially deformable in elastic manner relative to a main axis between a deployed, implanted position and a folded, implanting position. The carrier frame is urged elastically towards its deployed position. A flexible shutter... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20070191934 - Medical devices to prevent or inhibit restenosis: Implantable medical devices having anti-restenotic coatings are disclosed. Specifically, implantable medical devices having coatings of certain anti-inflammatory agents, are disclosed. The anti-inflammatory agents are selected from the group consisting of Sanglifehrin A, Sanglifehrin B, Sanglifehrin C, Sanglifehrin D, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof. The anti-restenotic medical devices include stents, catheters,... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20070191956 - Radially extended support member for spinal nucleus implants and methods of use: A spinal nucleus implant is provided which includes an implant body and an interiorly embedded support member which extends out from the implant body. In one embodiment, the support member is fabric selected from the group consisting of mesh, woven fabric and nonwoven fabric. In one embodiment, the support member... Agent: Carter, Deluca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP

20070191924 - method for treating aneurysms: A method for treating a bifurcation aneurysm, the aneurysm having an aneurysm neck, by positioning a first mechanically expandable device in a first bifurcation branch proximate to the aneurysm neck; positioning a second mechanically expandable device in a second bifurcation branch proximate to the aneurysm neck; and expanding the mechanically... Agent: Mcdermott Will & Emery LLP

20070191923 - Medical balloons and methods of making the same: Medical balloons are provided that have enhanced properties, such as enhanced puncture and scratch resistance.... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20070191925 - Catheter device: A catheter device having a shaft that extends from a proximal end to a distal end to carry on its distal end a self expanding implant for intraluminal advance on a guidewire and delivery of the implant to a stenting site by proximal withdrawal of a sheath that lies radially... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP

20070191928 - Angioplasty stents: An angioplasty stent comprises a body comprising a plurality of successive segments connected in pairs by bridge means so that the successive segments can be oriented relative to one another for the purposes of bending of the body in any direction defined by a linear combination of respective orientation axes... Agent: Popovich, Wiles & O'connell, PA 650 Third Avenue South

20070191926 - Stent pattern for high stent retention: An expandable stent has larger cells located at the distal end of the stent than in the body portion so that a catheter balloon can more easily protrude into the cells to increase stent retention relative to the balloon. The intravascular stent has a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070191927 - Stent with orientation-dependent properties: A method and device for implantation into a curved vessel is described. The device may be a stent with a generally curved configuration in its radially expanded state. The stent may have a first series of linkages located along a first side of the stent and a second series of... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20070191929 - Medical devices using magnetic pulse welding: Medical devices for use in or on a mammalian body have improved properties through the use of magnetic pulse welding to join components. The improved properties include increased strength, corrosion resistance, and preservation of material characteristics. A method of forming a medical device using magnetic pulse welding is also provided.... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20070191922 - Self expanding stent: A self expanding stent (10) formed from a resilient wire. The resilient wire comprises a zig zag form including an odd number of struts (12) such as seven struts and a bend (14) between each strut. There is first loop (18) of the resilient wire at the terminal end of... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20070191930 - Endovascular graft adapter: An endovascular graft adapter for use in abdominal aortic aneurysms comprising a graft adapter body defining an upper graft adapter section member and a lower graft adapter section member. The upper and lower graft adapter section members respectively have a pair of cut-out sections formed through sidewalls thereof and both... Agent: Rosenberg, Klein & Lee

20070191931 - Bioerodible endoprostheses and methods of making the same: Endoprostheses include a wall having a base, e.g., a bioerodible base, and a polymer that may include a region of carbonized polymer formed by implantation.... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20070191932 - Medical device with coating for capturing genetically-altered cells and methods for using same: Therapeutic and drug delivery systems are provided in the form of medical devices with coatings for capturing and immobilizing target cells such as circulating progenitor or genetically-altered mammalian cells in vivo. The genetically-altered cells are transfected with genetic material for expressing a marker gene and at least one therapeutic gene... Agent: Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

20070191935 - Drug delivery stent with extended in vivo drug release: A method for reducing the level of restenosis following a stent placement medical intervention involves the continuous administration of a dose of an anti-restenotic agent, such as paclitaxel, from the stent to vascular tissue in need of treatment in a controlled and extended drug release profile for a period of... Agent: Cindy A. Lynch Conor Medsystems, Inc.

20070191936 - Endovascular graft coatings: An endovascular graft, e.g., having both an expandable stent portion and a stent cover portion positioned within and/or surrounding the expandable portion, the graft itself and/or a stent cover portion being coated with a bioactive agent adapted to promote initial thrombus formation, preferably followed by long term fibrous tissue ingrowth.... Agent: Surmodics, Inc.

20070191933 - Reduction of restenosis: A method of reducing restenosis comprises administering to a patient a stent and reducing, shutting down or modifying functioning of the immune system in a controlled manner. In a preferred embodiment T-cell depletion or T-cell modification is used for controlling the immune system. The T-cell depletor or T-cell modifier is... Agent: Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.

20070191937 - Remote activation of an implantable device: The invention is directed to an implantable device, such as a stent, for delivering a therapeutic substance. The device includes a reservoir containing a therapeutic substance and an energy converter to cause the release of the substance.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070191938 - Remote activation of an implantable device: The invention is directed to an implantable device, such as a stent, for delivering a therapeutic substance. The device includes a reservoir containing a therapeutic substance and an energy converter to cause the release of the substance.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20070191939 - Flexible annuloplasty prosthesis: A flexible annuloplasty prosthesis for repairing a heart valve having a valve annulus. The annuloplasty prosthesis comprises a flexible body defining an exterior of the prosthesis formed of a biocompatible material and configured to rest against and support the heart valve annulus upon implantation. The flexible annuloplasty prosthesis has a... Agent: Jeffrey J. Hohenshell Medtronic, Inc.

20070191940 - Prosthesis for annuloplasty comprising a perforated element: A prosthesis for annuloplasty comprising a laminar or tubular element having a plurality of apertures along at least one portion. Preferably, the shape, dimensions, and arrangements of the apertures in this prosthesis are chosen in such a way as to give the prosthesis a differentiated flexibility in dependence on the... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20070191941 - Capsular equatorial ring: The invention relates to a capsular equatorial ring (5) which, after the removal of a natural lens, can be implanted in the opened capsular bag (3) of an eye and, when implanted, rests with its outer periphery against the inside of the capsular bag (3), essentially on the equator thereof,... Agent: William Collard Collard & Roe, P.C.

20070191942 - Orbital implant coating having bulbously raised suture zone: A coating for an orbital implant where the coating has an anterior portion having a different, longer term bioabsorbability than a posterior portion. This allows the implant to have a smooth surface for insertion and to provide reduced irritation to neighboring tissues, to help prevent exposure of the porous core... Agent: Charmasson, Buchaca & Leach, LLP

20070191944 - Biocompatible titanium alloys: Methods and compositions are disclosed for coating a biocompatible medical implant with a surface layer having antioxidant activity. In various embodiments, a surface layer described herein destroys the oxidative activity of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon contact. An ROS can be, for example, an ROS generated by neutrophils in... Agent: Biotactica, LLC

20070191943 - Integration of therapeutic agent into a bioerodible medical device: A medical device which is at least partially bio-erodible and which exhibits controlled elution of therapeutic agent.... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P.

20070191951 - Expandable spinal implant: An expandable spinal implant including a body having a plurality of movable portions cooperating to define an outer cross section having first and second transverse dimensions and first and second substantially planar surfaces disposed generally opposite one another and adapted to engage adjacent vertebral bodies. An expansion member co-acts with... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070191946 - Intervertebral spinal implant devices and methods of use: A spinal implant device used for the surgical treatment of a spinal disorder. The implant device may be a static device or a dynamic device. In one embodiment, the implant device is constructed of a radiolucent material with attached radiopaque markers. The markers may be constructed of the same radiolucent... Agent: Coats & Bennett, PLLC

20070191945 - Posterior joint replacement device: A prosthetic device for placement in an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra to provide articulating motion to the upper and lower vertebrae may includes an upper articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the intervertebral space and a lower articular portion... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070191947 - Spinal prostheses: An article including a spinal prosthesis having a unitary body with at least three attachment points attachable to spinal structure, the unitary body including a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of the flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the... Agent: David Klein Dekel Patent Ltd.

20070191948 - Spinal prostheses: An article including a spinal prosthesis having a unitary body with at least three attachment points attachable to spinal structure, the unitary body including a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of the flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the... Agent: David Klein Dekel Patent Ltd.

20070191949 - Spinal prostheses: An article including a spinal prosthesis having a unitary body with at least three attachment points attachable to spinal structure, the unitary body including a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of the flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the... Agent: David Klein Dekel Patent Ltd.

20070191950 - Spinal prostheses: An article including a spinal prosthesis having a unitary body with at least three attachment points attachable to spinal structure, the unitary body including a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of the flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the... Agent: David Klein Dekel Patent Ltd.

20070191954 - Expandable vertebral prosthesis: The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, and gear member positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member... Agent: Castellano PLLC

20070191953 - Intervertebral implants and methods of use: Implants and methods for spacing and stabilizing vertebral members. The implant in one embodiment may include first and second endplates and an intermediate section that form an interior section. An elastic member may be positioned within the interior section to space apart the endplates. The elastic member may have a... Agent: Coats & Bennett, PLLC

20070191952 - Spinal implant with elliptical articulatory interface: A spinal implant prosthesis includes a pair of end plates for affixation to adjacent vertebral bone structures and respectively defining inter-engaged convex and concave articulatory surfaces of elliptical profile. These elliptical articulatory surfaces are elongated in an anterior-posterior direction, and are comparatively shorter in a medial-lateral direction. With this configuration,... Agent: Kelly Lowry & Kelley, LLP

20070191955 - System and method for replacing degenerated spinal disks: A system and method for replacing degenerated spinal disks in accordance with the present invention can substitute for interbody fusion techniques by replacing degenerated spinal disks with artificial spinal disks. In one embodiment, the system can comprise one or more artificial spinal disks, each comprising an upper and lower housing,... Agent: Fliesler Meyer LLP

20070191958 - Devices and methods for inter-vertebral orthopedic device placement: A bone prosthesis device is comprised of an upper and lower abutment surfaces and an intervening malleable member. The device is sufficiently small so that implantation into an inter-vertebral disc space can be performed from a substantially posterior approach without significant impingement upon the neural elements.... Agent: Fish & Richardson, PC

20070191959 - Intervertebral implant: An intervertebral implant has two U-shaped inserts set over each other with a center piece in between. The two inserts each have an opposing base surface, two lateral side surfaces, and a contact surface. The contact surface has a channel configured to receive a spinal process of a vertebral body.... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP

20070191957 - Spinal implants with cooperating suture anchors: Spinal implants have cooperating suture anchors. The devices include: (a) a spinal implant; and (b) at least one suture anchor comprising a threaded bone anchor holding at least one suture extending outwardly therefrom. In position, the at least one suture extends outward from the threaded bone anchor and attaches to... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20070191960 - Femoral head resurfacing apparatus and methods: A femoral head resurfacing apparatus includes a cap of hemispherical shape and stabilization structure (e.g., one or more non-shear fixation bars) that inserts into slots cut into the femoral head, so that the cap remains substantially immovable other than due northerly. A method of resurfacing the femoral head of a... Agent: Lathrop & Gage Lc

20070191961 - Acetabular cup for a hip prosthesis: A total hip prosthesis has a cup element having a part-spherical inner bearing surface and a spherical center through which the plane of a diametrical equator extends, and a ball shaped head which has a diameter to cooperate with the inner bearing surface to allow free movement therein. The cup... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070191962 - Prosthetic acetabular cup and method of manufacture: A prosthetic bearing element and a method for forming the same includes an injection molded bearing made of PEEK resin with short carbon fiber reinforcement. The inner surface of the PEEK bearing is adapted to receive a ceramic or metal articulation component. The outer surface of the bearing layer includes... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20070191963 - Injectable and moldable bone substitute materials: An osteoimplant composite comprising a plurality of particles of an inorganic material, a bone substitute material, a bone-derived material, or any combination thereof; and a polymer material with which the particles are combined. The composite is either naturally moldable or flowable, or it can be made moldable or settable. After... Agent: Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

20070191964 - Enhanced visibility materials for implantation in hard tissue: An enhanced visibility composition for implantation from a remote source, so that the composition can be readily observed under fluoroscopy or other imaging techniques is disclosed. The compositions include a biocompatible matrix, such as a hard tissue implant material for example, and radiopaque tracer particles mixed in the matrix. The... Agent: Arthrocare Corporation

20070191965 - Prosthetic device utilizing electric vacuum pump: A prosthetic device and prosthetic assembly operative to evacuate an interior of a prosthetic socket, and control systems for use therewith. The prosthetic device and prosthetic assembly employ evacuation devices for evacuating the socket. The evacuation devices preferably include at least an electrically powered vacuum pump and a power source,... Agent: Standley Law Group LLP

20070185562 - Medical device for unstable and vulnerable plaque: A medical device used to treat unstable and/or vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel so as to minimize or prevent rupture of the unstable and/or vulnerable plaque at least until the unstable and/or vulnerable plaque is at least partially encapsulated by the medical device.... Agent: Fay Sharpe LLP

20070185572 - Coiled implant for mitral valve repair: An apparatus for treating a mitral valve, comprising an elongate member having a spiral shape, the elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, an expandable proximal anchor joined to the proximal end portion of the elongate body, and an expandable distal anchor joined to the... Agent: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

20070185573 - Load modulation communication circuit and visual restoration aiding device provided with the same: A load modulation communication circuit connected to a secondary coil arranged facing a primary coil, comprises: a center tap connected to the secondary coil; a switch unit connected at its one end to the center tap via a resistor and at the other end to approximately ground; and a control... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20070185580 - Surgical implant: An implant to be inserted in the disk space between a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra. The implant comprises a body having a lower surface and an upper surface, and an aperture extending through the body in the direction of the height of the body from a lower side... Agent: Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.

20070185558 - Endoluminal delivery device: A highly flexible delivery device (2) for a stent graft (6) particularly for deployment into the thoracic arch of a patient. The delivery device has a distal handle (7), a pusher catheter (4) extending proximally from the handle to a proximal nose cone dilator (11), a guide wire catheter (3)... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20070185559 - Expansion-assisting delivery system for self-expanding stent: A delivery system for a self-expanding stent includes a catheter having a distal end and being configured to retain a self-expanding stent proximate the distal end. The delivery system also includes an inflatable device provided on the catheter and positioned proximate the distal end. The inflatable device, typically a balloon,... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20070185563 - Endoluminal stent having a matched stiffness region and/or a stiffness gradient: A modular elongated stent having an overlap region where two modular components fit together, the overlap region being relatively stiff as compared to another more flexible region of the stent when the stent is in an assembled configuration, the stent further comprising a mimic region that has a stiffness essentially... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20070185560 - Expandable stent: An expandable stent for medical implantation is described which has a generally cylindrical structure with a central longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the generally cylindrical structure is formed from an arrangement of circumferentially curved structural members. The portion expands from a compressed state to an expanded state by... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070185561 - Polymeric, degradable drug-eluting stents and coatings: Absorbable stents and absorbable stent coatings have been developed with improved properties. These devices preferably comprise biocompatible copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate, and optionally poly-L-lactic acid and other absorbable polymers and additives. Compositions of these materials can be used to make absorbable stents that provide advantageous radial strengths, resistance to... Agent: Patrea L. Pabst Pabst Patent Group LLP

20070185564 - Radiopaque intraluminal stent: The present invention includes a radiopaque stent comprising a cylindrical main body. The tubular main body comprises a cobalt chromium alloy that comprises cobalt, chromium and one or more radiopaque materials.... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070185565 - Fluid flow prosthetic device: A prosthetic device including a valve-orifice attachment member attachable to a valve in a blood vessel and including a fluid inlet, and a diverging member that extends from the fluid inlet, the diverging member including a proximal end near the fluid inlet and a distal end distanced from the proximal... Agent: Ladas & Parry

20070185567 - Catheter system with stent device for connecting adjacent blood vessels: A stent assembly is provided for preserving and/or dilating a fistula between a first blood vessel and a second blood vessel. The system comprises an expandable stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a stabilizing device adjacent its distal end. The stabilizing portion may have nominal and active... Agent: Kolisch Hartwell, P.C.

20070185566 - Intravascular medical device: An intravascular device comprises an inflatable member, a non-porous membrane and a lumen. The inflatable member defines a conduit therein and the inflatable member is moveable about and between a first deflated position, an extended position, and a second deflated position. The non-porous membrane is connected the inflatable member. The... Agent: Needle & Rosenberg, P.C.

20070185568 - Non-destructive tissue repair and regeneration: A surgical stent made of biocompatible material for implantation in human tissue to enable blood and nutrients to flow from an area of vascular tissue to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.... Agent: Baker & Daniels LLP 111 E. Wayne Street

20070185569 - Drug eluting stent coating with extended duration of drug release: 9.0 g of parylene, 0.6 g of tacrolimus, 0.4 g of NCO-PEG and 0.01 g of triethylene amine were dissolved in 90 g of tetrahydrofuran. The resulting mixture was heated at 40° C. for 30 minutes and cooled to room temperature. To the solution was added 0.1 g of pH... Agent: Michael E. Klicpera

20070185570 - Material for aneurysm curing: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer material, the histocompatibility of which has been improved by irradiation of ion beam, which prevents an aneurysm having a risk of rupture from actually rupturing. The present invention provides a material for treating aneurysms, which is composed of... Agent: Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C

20070185571 - Apparatus and method for treating a regurgitant valve: An apparatus for treating regurgitation of blood through a diseased valve having at least one leaflet includes a valve member having a support structure with a diameter and at least one valvular leaflet attached to the support structure. The valve member is dimensioned so that at least one leaflet of... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20070185574 - Accommodating lens assembly: An accommodating lens assembly having an optical axis and being adapted to be implanted in a posterior chamber of an eye having a capsular unit located therein. The assembly includes a rigid haptics element adapted to secure the assembly within the posterior chamber outside said capsular unit. The element is... Agent: Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP

20070185575 - Breast implant and method of manufacture: An implantable soft tissue prosthesis comprising a hollow shell formed of a flexible elastomeric envelope, the shell having an inner volume and an exterior surface, when the inner volume is filled with an elastomeric silicone tubing that is preshaped conforming to the inner volume of the shell, the prosthesis being... Agent: Bobby Purkait

20070185576 - Facet joint replacement: A prosthesis for the replacement of a diseased or traumatized facet of a mammalian vertebra includes a surface that articulates with another prosthetic facet or a natural facet, a portion that replaces at least a bony portion of the diseased or traumatized spine facet which is to be replaced, and... Agent: Medicinelodge Inc.

20070185577 - Intervertebral disc prosthesis: Intervertebral disc prostheses are provided. More particularly, the invention provides disc prostheses that have adjustable disc heights, that are readily converted into fusion prostheses and that provide a range of motions that effectively mimic the natural range of motions of a spinal disc.... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20070185578 - Modular intervertebral disc replacements: A modular disc prosthesis system is provided that allows a disc prosthesis to be constructed, either pre- or intra-operatively, to have a desired degree of freedom or constraint when positioned between endplates of adjacent vertebrae. In particular, the components can be assembled to form a disc prosthesis having a center... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20070185579 - Artificial intervertebral disk: An artificial intervertebral disk, insertable between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient and joining the two adjacent vertebral bodies an articulated manner, includes an intermediate element embodied as an elastic ring and is inserted into one respective molded portion of two outer elements configured as metal plates. The outer... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070185581 - Tibial prosthesis with asymmetric articular surfaces: A tibial prosthesis has tibial articular surfaces including a medial articular surface in a medial compartment and a lateral articular surface in a lateral compartment, the medial articular surface following a first arcuate track having a first radius of curvature and a first posterior segment extending along a posterior aspect... Agent: Arthur Jacob

20070185582 - Methods and devices for resurfacing the wrist joint: A wrist arthroplasty system comprising a carpal implant for resurfacing carpal bones that is at least substantially arcuate in shape from a first end to a second end. The carpal implant includes a first carpal engaging surface, a second carpal engaging surface, a first carpal articulating surface, and a second... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070185583 - Joint prosthesis, use of such and a method for the application of a joint prosthesis: The invention relates to a joint prosthesis comprising a first anchoring element (1a), a second anchoring element (1b) and a joint body (9) of an elastic material. The joint body (9) is attached to the two anchoring elements (1a1b). These are arranged to be secured into a respective bone having... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20070185584 - Small joint hemiarthroplasty: Methods and apparatuses for digit joint arthroplasty. The present invention preferably allows for the treatment of disorders of digit joints generally and interphalageal joints more specifically. The present invention provides implants for the replacement of digit joint cartilage. The implants of the present invention preferably include a head and a... Agent: Reed Smith LLP

20070185585 - Implant scaffold combined with autologous tissue, allogenic tissue, cultured tissue, or combinations thereof: The present disclosure relates to an implant for insertion into a tissue defect, such as a cartilage defect or a cartilage and bone defect. The implant includes a plug including a porous polymeric material having at least one channel therein, wherein the plug is sized to fit the tissue defect;... Agent: Norman F. Hainer, Jr. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20070179586 - Deployment catheter for medical implant devices: In a delivery catheter, first and second pods cover one or more prosthetic implants located around a central core, and are connected with one another to move as a unit and to present a continuous outer surface. Two independent release links, each extending from a proximal region of the delivery... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070179598 - Method and system of attaching vessels to grafts: A suture-less graft coupling system for anastamosis and bypass procedures comprising a first stent for insertion into a radially transected vessel being treated, a graft member overlapping the stented area of the transected vessel, and a second stent overlapping the graft and vessel in an area of the first stent... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20070179599 - Vascular protective device: A medical device to protect and/or heal a diseased and/or injured area in the body passageway.... Agent: Fay Sharpe LLP 7th Floor

20070179602 - Method and devices for cardiac valve annulus expansion: A method and apparatus is disclosed that allows a cardiac surgeon to temporarily and controllably dilate the aortic root using a thin walled spiral cylinder that is irreversibly dilated by an expansion apparatus. Following removal of the reversible expansive apparatus the irreversible dilation member temporarily remains in the expanded aortic... Agent: Swanson & Bratschun L.L.C.

20070179603 - Heatset annuloplasty suture guide: An implantable annuloplasty suture guide is intended to lie against at least a portion of an annulus surrounding a human heart. The implantable annuloplasty suture guide is made of an elongated ribbon of braided, heat setable material. The braided, heat-setable material is heat-set in a curved lengthwise configuration corresponding to... Agent: Swanson & Bratschun L.L.C.

20070179609 - Therapeutic agent eluding implant with percutaneous supply: The present invention provides integration between an implant system and therapeutic agent delivery system. The implant may include a prosthesis that restores biomechanical function while decreasing long-term disability and pain by replacing damaged or degenerate tissues, or a reconstructive implant such as a bone plate. The therapeutic agent delivery system... Agent: Medicinelodge Inc.

20070179628 - Offset stem tibial implant: A low-profile offset stem tibial implant includes a tray with a plate that extends transversely around a first tibial axis. The plate includes a distal surface adapted to engage against the prepared surface of the tibia. An engagement portion extends away from the distal surface of the plate substantially along... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20070179585 - Method and apparatus for treating a wound: A method of treating a diabetic foot or leg ulcer comprising the steps of placing a pair of electrodes placed spaced apart in the region of a diabetic foot or leg ulcer and applying a predetermined sequence of current waveforms across the electrodes. The sequence of current waveforms comprises a... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20070179587 - Apparatus and methods for deployment of custom-length prostheses: A catheter for delivery of prosthetic stent segments comprises a separator tube having a one-way grip structure near a distal end thereof. The stent segments are delivered to a treatment region on a balloon. To select a number of distal stent segments for deployment, the separator tube is advanced distally... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP (client No 021629-000000)

20070179588 - Delivery of therapeutic devices: Therapeutic devices, especially vaso-occlusive devices or embolic coils, are delivered by an apparatus that includes a pullwire having a tine or tines that have an offset orientation that engages a therapeutic device. The pullwire passes through an opening of a headpiece. When the pullwire moves in a relative proximal direction,... Agent: Cook, Alex, Mcfarron, Manzo, Cummings & Mehler Ltd

20070179589 - Endovascular graft coatings: An endovascular graft, e.g., having both an expandable stent portion and a stent cover portion positioned within and/or surrounding the expandable portion, the graft itself and/or a stent cover portion being coated with a bioactive agent adapted to promote initial thrombus formation, preferably followed by long term fibrous tissue ingrowth.... Agent: Surmodics, Inc.

20070179590 - Hybrid intraluminal device with varying expansion force: A hybrid intraluminal device and a method for fabricating the device is described. The device has structural elements which have different properties. One portion of the device may contain a stent having a zigzag configuration. A second portion of the device may contain a stent having a braided configuration. The... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione

20070179591 - Intraluminal grafting system: An intraluminal grafting system having a delivery catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and a capsule mounted on the distal extremity of the tubular member and including a graft disposed within the capsule. The graft is comprised of a tubular body configured to be... Agent: Fulwider Patton LLP

20070179592 - Branch vessel prosthesis with positional indicator system and method: A stent graft system for intraluminal deployment in an aorta and a branch vessel includes an aorta stent graft with a fenestration aligned with a branch vessel and a branch vessel prosthesis with a flaring portion at a proximal end and a tubular portion. When deployed, the flaring portion of... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20070179593 - Methods and apparatus for stenting comprising enhanced embolic protection coupled with improved protecions against restenosis and thrombus formation: Apparatus and methods for stenting are provided comprising a stent attached to a porous biocompatible material that is permeable to endothelial cell ingrowth, but impermeable to release of emboli of predetermined size. Preferred stent designs are provided, as well as preferred manufacturing techniques. Apparatus and methods are also provided for... Agent: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

20070179594 - Medical devices, drug coatings and methods for maintaining the drug coatings thereon: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070179595 - Medical devices, drug coatings and methods for maintaining the drug coatings thereon: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070179596 - Medical devices, drug coatings and methods for maintaining the drug coatings thereon: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070179597 - Medical devices, drug coatings and methods for maintaining the drug coatings thereon: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20070179601 - Methods and apparatus for stenting comprising enhanced embolic protections coupled with improved protections against restenosis and trombus formation: Apparatus and methods for stenting are provided comprising a stent attached to a porous biocompatible material that is permeable to endothelial cell ingrowth, but impermeable to release of emboli of predetermined size. Preferred stent designs are provided, as well as preferred manufacturing techniques. Apparatus and methods are also provided for... Agent: Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP

20070179600 - Stent graft including expandable cuff: A graft for facilitating treatment of a deformity in a blood vessel wall includes a tubular body defining a first end and an opposing second end. At least a portion of the tubular body includes a hydrogel material configured to expand upon exposure to moisture.... Agent: Patrick W. Rasche Armstrong Teasdale LLP

20070179604 - Gasket with spring collar for prosthetic heart valves and methods for making and using them: A heart valve prostheses includes an annular member implantable within a biological annulus, a collar extending upwardly from the annular member, and a sewing ring extending from the annular member. A spring structure couples the collar to the annular member and biases the collar to align with the annular member... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20070179605 - Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel corneal prosthesis: The present invention provides materials that have high glucose and oxygen permeability, strength, water content, and resistance to protein adsorption. The materials include an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel that is coated with biomolecules. The IPN hydrogels include two interpenetrating polymer networks. The first polymer network is based on a... Agent: Lumen Intellectual Property Services, Inc.

20070179607 - Cartilage resurfacing implant: A cartilage resurfacing implant is provided for replacing cartilage of an articulating portion of a bone at a skeletal joint having opposed joint surfaces. The cartilage resurfacing implant includes a body having a bearing surface and a bone interface. The bearing surface is able to support articulation with an opposing... Agent: John F. Hoffman, Esq. Baker & Daniels LLP

20070179606 - Prosthesis made of a fibre-reinforced hydrogel, method of manufacturing the prosthesis and use thereof.: The present application relates to a prosthesis comprising a flexible portion (1) and at least one less flexible portion (2), which flexible portion comprises a fibre-reinforced hydrogel. In addition to that, the application relates to a prosthesis consisting of a fibre-reinforced hydrogel, which prosthesis is intended to replace cartilaginous materials.... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20070179608 - System and method for articular surface repair: A system, method for replacing at least a portion of first articular surface cooperating with a second articular surface including a prosthetic implant. The method including creating a socket in the first articular surface generally opposite the prosthetic implant. A graft of biological material is installed in the socket, providing... Agent: Grossman, Tucker, Perreault & Pfleger, PLLC

20070179610 - Multi-walled placeholder: A placeholder for vertebrae or vertebral discs includes a tubular body, which along its jacket surface has a plurality of breakthroughs or openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue. The placeholder includes at least a second tubular body provided with a plurality of breakthroughs and openings at least partially inside the... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20070179611 - Methods and devices for replacement of intervertebral discs: An artificial vertebral disc for replacing an intervertebral disc of a patient is provided. The artificial disc can comprise a first plate, a second plate, and an elongate member extending between the first plate and the second plate. The elongate member is preferably flexible to allow angulation between the plates.... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20070179612 - Tissue distraction device: An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. An expandable implant includes a plurality of elements are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of elements. The column of elements is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to... Agent: Maginot, Moore & Beck, LLP Chase Tower

20070179615 - Intervertebral prosthetic disc: An intervertebral prosthetic disc is disclosed and can be installed within an intervertebral space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra. The intervertebral prosthetic disc can include a first component that can have a first compliant structure that can be configure to engage the first vertebra. Further, the first... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20070179614 - Intervertebral prosthetic disc and method of installing same: An intervertebral prosthetic disc is disclosed. The intervertebral prosthetic disc can be installed within an intervertebral space between adjacent first and second vertebrae. The intervertebral prosthetic disc can include a first component that is configured to engage the first vertebra, a second component that is configured to engage the second... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20070179613 - Passive lubricating prosthetic joint: Prosthetic joints, intervertebral prosthetic implants and methods of replacing intervertebral discs are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a intervertebral prosthetic implant can include a pair of substantially rigid members and an articulation member having an articulation surface and configured to facilitate motion between the first and second members. The first... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20070179616 - Posterior joint replacement device: A prosthetic device for posterior placement in an intervertebral space defined between an upper vertebrae and a lower vertebrae may include an upper articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the intervertebral space and a lower articular portion configured to be at least partially disposed in the... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20070179617 - Prosthetic wide range motion facets and methods of fabricating same: Facet joint prosthetics have a thin substantially elastomeric body configured to allow movement between adjacent facet joint bones. The facet joint includes bone, cartilage, synovial tissue, and menisci. Related methods of treating a spinal facet joint include inserting a first thin planar elastic body into a spinal facet joint where... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20070179618 - Intervertebral prosthetic disc: An intervertebral prosthetic disc is disclosed and can be installed within an intervertebral space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra. The intervertebral prosthetic disc can include a first component that can have a first compliant layer that can be configured to engage the first vertebra and at least... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20070179619 - Method for resurfacing a cervical articular facet: Methods for treating spinal pathologies, and more specifically methods for treating articulating surfaces of facet joints of cervical vertebrae. The methods involve providing artificial articulating surfaces for facet joint articular facets. In addition, various types of rasps may be used to prepare the articulating surfaces prior to placement of the... Agent: Renner Otto Boisselle & Sklar, LLP

20070179623 - Annulus repair systems and techniques: Systems and methods for repairing annulus defects include at least one blocking member positionable in or adjacent to the annulus defect, at least one attachment portion for securing the blocking member to adjacent tissue, and instruments for placing and engaging the blocking member in and/or adjacent to the annulus defect.... Agent: Krieg Devault LLP

20070179620 - Method and composition for repair and reconstruction of intervertebral discs and other reconstructive surgery: By providing an elastic form stable material which is capable of being delivered directly to a specific desired location within a living creature and providing increased strength and rigidity to the injected location, disorders of the intervertebral disc of a living creature are able to be effectively treated. Treatment of... Agent: Melvin I. Stoltz

20070179622 - Methods of producing pva hydrogel implants and related devices: Methods of fabricating elastomeric implants employ a mold with PVA crystals and irrigant added to the mold independent of each other. Related molds are also described.... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20070179621 - Spinal disc implants with flexible keels and methods of fabricating implants: Spinal disc and other implants include at least one flexible keel that extends substantially outwardly, typically upwardly or downwardly, beyond the primary body of the implant. Methods of fabricating elastomeric implants using a mold are also described.... Agent: Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec

20070179624 - Method and apparatus for performing a shoulder implant procedure: Disclosed is a set of prosthetic components for use in shoulder replacements. A glenoid component having a base and a plurality of coupling members are disclosed. The coupling members are used to couple the base to at least one of the acromion or coracoid process. A polymer insert which is... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070179625 - Shoulder prosthesis and a system for implanting a shoulder prosthesis: Shoulder prosthesis, including a stem provided to be inserted into a canal of the humerus shaft, a neck and a head supported by the neck. The neck is provided with two holes (1, 2) for anchoring screws (1a, 2a), namely a first hole (1) for a lateral anchoring screw (1a)... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth, P.A.

20070179626 - Functional joint arthroplasty method: A method for performing arthroplasty on a joint using a surgical navigation system, the method includes the steps of locating articular anatomical structures using the surgical navigation system; determining biomechanical properties of the joint; and evaluating the soft tissue envelope properties for the joint. The method also includes the steps... Agent: Mccracken & Frank LLP

20070179627 - Tibial component with a conversion module for a knee implant: A tibial prosthesis including a tibial component including a tray having first and second opposing surfaces and a stem extending from the second surface of the tibial component, a tibial conversion module including a receiver portion defining a stem-receiving cavity for slideable engagement with the stem of the tibial component,... Agent: Kagan Binder, PLLC

20070179629 - Acetabular cup assembly and cup revising method: An acetabular cup assembly includes a cup-like liner with a rim defining a first plane, an inner surface defining a hemispherical socket with a center of curvature close to the first plane and an outer frustoconical seating surface having a first taper and extending to the rim. The assembly also... Agent: Cesari And Mckenna, LLP

20070179630 - Hip stem centralizer cap and method: A hip stem centralizer is provided for positioning a proximal portion of a femoral hip stem component within an intramedullary canal of a femur. The centralizer includes a cavity and a side wall defining a lateral skirt. The cavity is removably engageable with the proximal portion of the hip stem... Agent: John F. Hoffman, Esq. Baker & Daniels LLP