Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 10/08

20080262590 - Delivery system for stent-graft: A delivery system for selectively holding and deploying each end of an endoprosthesis includes a spindle having a spindle body. The spindle further includes proximal spindle pins and distal spindle pins extending radially outward from the spindle body. The delivery system further comprises a sleeve and a middle member sleeve.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262592 - Intraluminary stent relocating apparatus: An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a first sheath, a coupling member and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object. The coupling member is movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position and... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080262591 - Stent inserting device: A stent inserting device is used in inserting a self-expandable stent with leading and trailing ends into a tubular organ of a living body. The stent inserting device includes a grip body, an external tube attached to a front end of the grip body, a push member movably inserted into... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20080262593 - Multi-layered stents and methods of implanting: A method of percutaneously delivering a multi-layered stent assembly to a desired implantation location of a patient including the steps of radially compressing a multi-layered stent assembly to a compressed size for implantation in a patient, the multi-layered stent assembly including a first stent, a second stent coaxially positioned within... Agent: Kagan Binder, PLLC

20080262595 - Methods and apparatus for treatment of aneurysms adjacent to branch arteries: A stent graft includes at least one aperture extending through the main body thereof, into which an extension portion may be deployed for positioning within an adjacent branch flow lumen. The extension portions include self biasing features, wherein the extension is biased into engagement with the main body to seal... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262594 - Stent graft sealing system and method: A stent graft sealing system and method including a stent graft having a seal stent, and a tubular graft material having a central axis and a pleated seal region. The pleated seal region is supported by the seal stent and urged outward from the central axis by the seal stent.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262596 - Stent graft fixation system and method: A stent graft fixation system and method including a stent graft for fastening to a fixation point in a body lumen, the stent graft including a stent; a graft material supported by the stent and having a fixation region; and a guide suture joined to the graft material in the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262598 - Intravascular device with netting system: An intravascular device for keeping open a previously constricted site within a vessel and for minimizing tissue debris at such a site from closing off the vessel is provided. The device includes an expandable substantially tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The device also includes a... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20080262597 - Prosthesis fixation apparatus and methods: Apparatus and methods for endoluminally advancing a tubular prosthesis and a plurality of fasteners to a site in a lumen in a human body and passing the fasteners from an inner surface of the prosthesis through the prosthesis and a wall of the lumen to secure the prosthesis to the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262600 - Multilayer stent: A composite stent having a substrate tube made of stainless steel, a nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, or chonichrome with at least one metal cladding tube is disclosed. Specifically, the substrate tube is placed within a metal cladding tube made of platinum, gold, tantalum, tungsten, platinum-iridium, palladium, or nickel-titanium, preferably with an interference... Agent: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc./ Finnegan Henderson L.L.P.

20080262599 - Stent: A stent for insertion in a fluid conduit of a human or animal body includes a hollow structure having generally circumferentially extending parts which have opposite end portions in the longitudinal direction. The circumferential parts are joined to a longitudinally adjacent circumferential parts along the length of the hollow structure... Agent: Fay Sharpe LLP

20080262601 - Stent device with multiple helix construction: An improved stent design is disclosed that employs a series of helically oriented expansion elements encircling the stent. Each of the expansion elements includes a stepped pattern employing two distinct pitch angles. The expansion elements are oriented to cooperate with each other to form a series of virtual radially expandable... Agent: David J. Johns W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

20080262589 - Intravascular implant: The invention has for its object the provision of an intravascular implant that has mechanical characteristics and physiological characteristics and is very low in cell cytotoxicity and provides an intravascular implant having an implant body made of a metal material that contains gadolinium and magnesium and is free of yttrium.... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080262602 - Methods and conduits for flowing blood from a heart chamber to a blood vessel: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080262603 - Prosthetic heart valve holder: A holder for prosthetic heart valves including an annular base and prosthetic valve leaflets extending between commissure regions oriented axially with respect to the base. The holder includes a grip element from which a plurality of arms extend for supporting the prosthetic heart valve in an intermediate position between the... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080262604 - Vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm: The invention relates to a vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm, i.e. a dilatation of the cross-sectional area of a blood vessel, comprising an elongate body which has an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a passage connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening for blood flowing... Agent: Lewis And Roca LLP

20080262605 - Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid hemodialysis access graft or a hybrid femoral artery bypass graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez Williams Mullen

20080262606 - Polymers containing siloxane monomers: A polymer of siloxanes as flexibility monomers and strength monomers is provided. It is also provided a polymer blend that contains a polymer formed of siloxane monomers and strength monomers and another biocompatible polymer. The biocompatible polymer or polymer blend described herein and optionally a bioactive agent can form a... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080262607 - Implant particularly stent, and method for the production of such an implant: An implant, particularly a stent, and a method for producing such an implant. The implant (10), particularly the stent (11), has a surface (15) that is coated with a thin layer (16) made of titanium (Ti) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), the thin layer (16) having an outer surface layer (17)... Agent: Law Office Of Delio & Peterson, LLC.

20080262608 - Replacement heart valve, valve holder and methods of making and using same: A replacement heart valve device usable in a medical procedure in relation in heart valve replacement of a patient. In one embodiment, the replacement heart valve device includes a heart valve holder or conduit holder formed in the form of a cylindrical tube having a longitudinal cut substantially extending from... Agent: Morris Manning Martin LLP

20080262609 - Segmented ring placement: Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a patient, the valve including an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes at least a first discrete segment and a second discrete segment of an annuloplasty structure, each segment being shaped to provide a respective lateral wall,... Agent: Cantor Colburn, LLP

20080262610 - Biomechanical design of intracorneal inlays: Provided herein are intracorneal inlays for correcting vision impairments by altering the shape of the anterior corneal surface. The physical design of the inlay to induce the desired change of the anterior corneal surface includes consideration of the biomechanical response of the corneal tissue to the physical shape of the... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080262611 - Foldable polymer-based coil structure and method for fabricating the same: A foldable polymer-based coil structure and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The coil structure has metal wirings and interconnections between the wirings. The wirings and connections are embedded by a polymer. The coil structure is foldable in two or more layers. In the folded condition, coils of... Agent: Steinfl & Bruno

20080262612 - Bio artificial eye and conformer: The present invention relates to a bio-artificial eye which is produced by a process comprising adding loess, zeolite, bentonite, bioceramic or nano-silver to acrylic resin powder. Thus, the artificial eye has antibacterial activity in itself, does not cause much eye discharge, and emits far-infrared rays and anions, and thus, has... Agent: Ipla P.A.

20080262613 - Biocompatible, biodegradable polyurethane materials with controlled hydrophobic to hydrophilic ratio: The biocompatible, biodegradable materials in the solid and/or liquid form are based on segmented linear polyurethanes and/or segmented crosslinked polyurethanes based on A) one or more biocompatible polyols susceptible to hydrolytic and/or enzymatic degradation having a molecular weight of 100 to 20,000 dalton and a number of active hydroxyl groups... Agent: Jones Day

20080262614 - Methods of making and using surfactant polymers: Comblike, surfactant polymers for changing the surface properties of biomaterials are provided. Such surfactant polymers comprise a polymeric backbone of repeating monomeric units having functional groups for coupling with side chains, a plurality of hydrophobic side chains linked to the backbone via the functional groups, and a plurality of hydrophilic... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080262618 - Device for cartilage repair: A prosthesis device comprising a body at least partly formed from a biocompatible segmented thermoplastic elastomer having crystallized blocks, and at least one functional component which is able to reversibly bond to the crystallized blocks, wherein the elastomer has cartilage regenerative properties. A method is provided for the preparation of... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20080262615 - Digital joint arthroplasty: The invention concerns a digital joint arthroplasty (10). The arthroplasty has a stemless, unitary body having opposite sides (12, 14) at least one of which is formed with a curved concavity shaped to receive, in articulated manner, a bone end in an MCP, PIP or DIP joint. In some embodiments,... Agent: Pauley Petersen & Erickson

20080262617 - Interspinous spacer: A spacer for maintaining separation between adjacent spinous processes having a first and second end support, a connecting member, and a central member positioned between the first and second end supports. The spacer is adjustable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration such that when the connection member is... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080262616 - Osteochondral graft and method of use for repairing an articular cartilage defect site: An osteochondral graft for use in repairing an articular cartilage defect site includes a cartilage cap and a wall extension. The cartilage cap has a top surface and a bottom surface with the wall extension projecting from the bottom surface. The wall extension includes an external surface and an internal... Agent: Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.

20080262619 - Interspinous process cushioned spacer: An implantable dorsal spinous process spacer device including an implant body having a central portion, opposed superior legs, and opposed inferior legs. The central portion defines a lateral passage extending between, and exteriorly open to, left and right sides thereof. Optional cushions are affixed to opposite faces of the central... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja

20080262623 - Composite interbody spinal implant having openings of predetermined size and shape: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined... Agent: Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP

20080262621 - I-beam spacer: An I-beam spacer for intervertebral fusion comprises a first flange and a second flange. The first and second flanges are spaced apart from one another and have planar structures. In addition, the first and second flanges include a first outer surface and a second outer surface transverse to the support... Agent: Carter, Deluca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP

20080262622 - Spinal disc prostheses: A spine disc prosthesis mimics a natural human spine disc through use of a structure that duplicates a natural Annulus Fibrosis of the disc to provide translation, extension, flexion, and axial support in like manner to a natural disc. The present spine disc prosthesis achieves this through the use of... Agent: Bowman & Associates

20080262620 - Spring member for artificial intervertebral disc and method of inserting disc: A spring member for an artificial intervertebral disc includes a substantially annular body including an axially extended bore therethrough defining a passageway. A seat extends radially inward towards the bore for seating therein a bearing member for adjusting and compensating vertebral disc motion. An engagement member extends radially outwardly from... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20080262624 - Patient-modified implant and associated method: An orthopedic implant. The implant has a first portion including at least one patient-adjustable feature, and a second portion including at least one standard feature.... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080262626 - Femoral sleeve for hip resurfacing: A hip resurfacing femoral prosthesis has a sleeve component with an internal bore adapted to receive a femoral head and a partially conical outer surface. The sleeve is for use with a mating partial ball component shaped to conform to an acetabular socket. The sleeve is slotted or segmented to... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080262625 - Medical prosthetic devices presenting enhanced biocompatibility and wear resistance, based on colbalt alloys and process for their preparation: Medical prosthetic devices and in particular femoral head and/or acetabular cup of articular prostheses, made out of a cobalt alloy are submitted to a surface modification in order to obtain the formation of a thin surface layer constituted by Co—Ta and or Co—Nb intermetallic compounds, with the aim of inducing... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080262627 - Unitary acetabular cup prosthesis with extension for deficient acetabulum: A prosthesis for a deficient acetabulum of a patient having a cup portion and a flange member. The flange member has a base portion that extends upward along a portion of the upper rim. A generally planar screw retaining portion extends from the base portion, and is inclined from the... Agent: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.

20080262629 - Proximally self-locking long bone prosthesis: A method for arthroplasty includes using a self-locking prosthesis that has a member structured to transfer a load produced by the weight of a patient to a bone. An expandable bone-locking portion that is integral to the member includes a shape-memory material and expands to produce a locking force. A... Agent: Bromberg & Sunstein LLP

20080262630 - Drug-impregnated encasement: A drug-impregnated sleeve for encasing a medical implant is provided. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include a body made of a biologically-compatible material that defines an internal cavity configured to receive the medical implant. In one embodiment, the biologically-compatible material is bioresorbable. The body may include a plurality of... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner / Synthes

20080262631 - Method for providing a polymeric implant with a crystalline calcium phosphate coating: This invention relates to a method for crystallizing an amorphous calcium phosphate (Cap) by high energy laser light irradiation. The method is particularly suited for crystallizing CaP coatings on polymeric substrates, particularly implant objects.... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080262633 - Cancellous bone treated with collagenase and essentially free of blood cells: A bone implant comprising cancellous bone that is essentially free of blood cells, and which has been treated with at least one loosening agent, such as collagenase or a digestive enzyme, for a time and at a concentration to loosen the osteogenic cells in the cancellous bone matrix. The osteogenic... Agent: Raymond J. Lillie, Esq. C/o Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilfillan,

20080262632 - Method for producing biomaterials from bone tissue and material used for osteoplasty and tissue engineering: A method for obtaining of biomaterials for osteoplasty and tissue engineering cleans a bone of natural origin, which is sawn to plates with a thickness of 0.2 to 2.0 cm, washed twice in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at 65° C., pH 5.8-6.0, calculated as two volumetric parts of the buffer... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080262628 - Mri compatible implant comprising electrically conductively closed loops: The present invention relates to an implant 100 which comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive closed loops (300A, 300B, 300C, 300D; 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D each constituted from a plurality of loop portions such as struts (400, 500). The loops together form apertured walls of a cage with an interior volume,... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP

20080262634 - Hand prosthesis comprising two drive devices: The invention relates to a hand prosthesis comprising a chassis, to which at least one finger prosthesis is articulated, said finger prosthesis being movable about at least one swiveling axis by means of a drive.... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080262635 - Prosthetic ankle joint mechanism: A self-aligning prosthetic foot and ankle assembly has an ankle unit pivotally mounting a foot component. The ankle unit contains a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having a piston which is linearly movable within a cylinder. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with a shin axis defined by a... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20080262636 - Hand prosthesis with fingers that can be aligned in an articulated manner: The invention relates to a hand prosthesis comprising a chassis, to which a number of finger prostheses are articulated, said finger prostheses being movable relative to the chassis and toward one another about at least one swiveling axis by means of a drive.... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080262590 - Delivery system for stent-graft: A delivery system for selectively holding and deploying each end of an endoprosthesis includes a spindle having a spindle body. The spindle further includes proximal spindle pins and distal spindle pins extending radially outward from the spindle body. The delivery system further comprises a sleeve and a middle member sleeve.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262592 - Intraluminary stent relocating apparatus: An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a first sheath, a coupling member and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object. The coupling member is movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position and... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080262591 - Stent inserting device: A stent inserting device is used in inserting a self-expandable stent with leading and trailing ends into a tubular organ of a living body. The stent inserting device includes a grip body, an external tube attached to a front end of the grip body, a push member movably inserted into... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20080262593 - Multi-layered stents and methods of implanting: A method of percutaneously delivering a multi-layered stent assembly to a desired implantation location of a patient including the steps of radially compressing a multi-layered stent assembly to a compressed size for implantation in a patient, the multi-layered stent assembly including a first stent, a second stent coaxially positioned within... Agent: Kagan Binder, PLLC

20080262595 - Methods and apparatus for treatment of aneurysms adjacent to branch arteries: A stent graft includes at least one aperture extending through the main body thereof, into which an extension portion may be deployed for positioning within an adjacent branch flow lumen. The extension portions include self biasing features, wherein the extension is biased into engagement with the main body to seal... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262594 - Stent graft sealing system and method: A stent graft sealing system and method including a stent graft having a seal stent, and a tubular graft material having a central axis and a pleated seal region. The pleated seal region is supported by the seal stent and urged outward from the central axis by the seal stent.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262596 - Stent graft fixation system and method: A stent graft fixation system and method including a stent graft for fastening to a fixation point in a body lumen, the stent graft including a stent; a graft material supported by the stent and having a fixation region; and a guide suture joined to the graft material in the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262598 - Intravascular device with netting system: An intravascular device for keeping open a previously constricted site within a vessel and for minimizing tissue debris at such a site from closing off the vessel is provided. The device includes an expandable substantially tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end. The device also includes a... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20080262597 - Prosthesis fixation apparatus and methods: Apparatus and methods for endoluminally advancing a tubular prosthesis and a plurality of fasteners to a site in a lumen in a human body and passing the fasteners from an inner surface of the prosthesis through the prosthesis and a wall of the lumen to secure the prosthesis to the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080262600 - Multilayer stent: A composite stent having a substrate tube made of stainless steel, a nickel-cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, or chonichrome with at least one metal cladding tube is disclosed. Specifically, the substrate tube is placed within a metal cladding tube made of platinum, gold, tantalum, tungsten, platinum-iridium, palladium, or nickel-titanium, preferably with an interference... Agent: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc./ Finnegan Henderson L.L.P.

20080262599 - Stent: A stent for insertion in a fluid conduit of a human or animal body includes a hollow structure having generally circumferentially extending parts which have opposite end portions in the longitudinal direction. The circumferential parts are joined to a longitudinally adjacent circumferential parts along the length of the hollow structure... Agent: Fay Sharpe LLP

20080262601 - Stent device with multiple helix construction: An improved stent design is disclosed that employs a series of helically oriented expansion elements encircling the stent. Each of the expansion elements includes a stepped pattern employing two distinct pitch angles. The expansion elements are oriented to cooperate with each other to form a series of virtual radially expandable... Agent: David J. Johns W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

20080262589 - Intravascular implant: The invention has for its object the provision of an intravascular implant that has mechanical characteristics and physiological characteristics and is very low in cell cytotoxicity and provides an intravascular implant having an implant body made of a metal material that contains gadolinium and magnesium and is free of yttrium.... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080262602 - Methods and conduits for flowing blood from a heart chamber to a blood vessel: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080262603 - Prosthetic heart valve holder: A holder for prosthetic heart valves including an annular base and prosthetic valve leaflets extending between commissure regions oriented axially with respect to the base. The holder includes a grip element from which a plurality of arms extend for supporting the prosthetic heart valve in an intermediate position between the... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080262604 - Vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm: The invention relates to a vessel implant for the treatment of an aneurysm, i.e. a dilatation of the cross-sectional area of a blood vessel, comprising an elongate body which has an inlet opening, an outlet opening and a passage connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening for blood flowing... Agent: Lewis And Roca LLP

20080262605 - Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid hemodialysis access graft or a hybrid femoral artery bypass graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez Williams Mullen

20080262606 - Polymers containing siloxane monomers: A polymer of siloxanes as flexibility monomers and strength monomers is provided. It is also provided a polymer blend that contains a polymer formed of siloxane monomers and strength monomers and another biocompatible polymer. The biocompatible polymer or polymer blend described herein and optionally a bioactive agent can form a... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080262607 - Implant particularly stent, and method for the production of such an implant: An implant, particularly a stent, and a method for producing such an implant. The implant (10), particularly the stent (11), has a surface (15) that is coated with a thin layer (16) made of titanium (Ti) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), the thin layer (16) having an outer surface layer (17)... Agent: Law Office Of Delio & Peterson, LLC.

20080262608 - Replacement heart valve, valve holder and methods of making and using same: A replacement heart valve device usable in a medical procedure in relation in heart valve replacement of a patient. In one embodiment, the replacement heart valve device includes a heart valve holder or conduit holder formed in the form of a cylindrical tube having a longitudinal cut substantially extending from... Agent: Morris Manning Martin LLP

20080262609 - Segmented ring placement: Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a patient, the valve including an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes at least a first discrete segment and a second discrete segment of an annuloplasty structure, each segment being shaped to provide a respective lateral wall,... Agent: Cantor Colburn, LLP

20080262610 - Biomechanical design of intracorneal inlays: Provided herein are intracorneal inlays for correcting vision impairments by altering the shape of the anterior corneal surface. The physical design of the inlay to induce the desired change of the anterior corneal surface includes consideration of the biomechanical response of the corneal tissue to the physical shape of the... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080262611 - Foldable polymer-based coil structure and method for fabricating the same: A foldable polymer-based coil structure and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The coil structure has metal wirings and interconnections between the wirings. The wirings and connections are embedded by a polymer. The coil structure is foldable in two or more layers. In the folded condition, coils of... Agent: Steinfl & Bruno

20080262612 - Bio artificial eye and conformer: The present invention relates to a bio-artificial eye which is produced by a process comprising adding loess, zeolite, bentonite, bioceramic or nano-silver to acrylic resin powder. Thus, the artificial eye has antibacterial activity in itself, does not cause much eye discharge, and emits far-infrared rays and anions, and thus, has... Agent: Ipla P.A.

20080262613 - Biocompatible, biodegradable polyurethane materials with controlled hydrophobic to hydrophilic ratio: The biocompatible, biodegradable materials in the solid and/or liquid form are based on segmented linear polyurethanes and/or segmented crosslinked polyurethanes based on A) one or more biocompatible polyols susceptible to hydrolytic and/or enzymatic degradation having a molecular weight of 100 to 20,000 dalton and a number of active hydroxyl groups... Agent: Jones Day

20080262614 - Methods of making and using surfactant polymers: Comblike, surfactant polymers for changing the surface properties of biomaterials are provided. Such surfactant polymers comprise a polymeric backbone of repeating monomeric units having functional groups for coupling with side chains, a plurality of hydrophobic side chains linked to the backbone via the functional groups, and a plurality of hydrophilic... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080262618 - Device for cartilage repair: A prosthesis device comprising a body at least partly formed from a biocompatible segmented thermoplastic elastomer having crystallized blocks, and at least one functional component which is able to reversibly bond to the crystallized blocks, wherein the elastomer has cartilage regenerative properties. A method is provided for the preparation of... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20080262615 - Digital joint arthroplasty: The invention concerns a digital joint arthroplasty (10). The arthroplasty has a stemless, unitary body having opposite sides (12, 14) at least one of which is formed with a curved concavity shaped to receive, in articulated manner, a bone end in an MCP, PIP or DIP joint. In some embodiments,... Agent: Pauley Petersen & Erickson

20080262617 - Interspinous spacer: A spacer for maintaining separation between adjacent spinous processes having a first and second end support, a connecting member, and a central member positioned between the first and second end supports. The spacer is adjustable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration such that when the connection member is... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080262616 - Osteochondral graft and method of use for repairing an articular cartilage defect site: An osteochondral graft for use in repairing an articular cartilage defect site includes a cartilage cap and a wall extension. The cartilage cap has a top surface and a bottom surface with the wall extension projecting from the bottom surface. The wall extension includes an external surface and an internal... Agent: Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C.

20080262619 - Interspinous process cushioned spacer: An implantable dorsal spinous process spacer device including an implant body having a central portion, opposed superior legs, and opposed inferior legs. The central portion defines a lateral passage extending between, and exteriorly open to, left and right sides thereof. Optional cushions are affixed to opposite faces of the central... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja

20080262623 - Composite interbody spinal implant having openings of predetermined size and shape: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined... Agent: Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP

20080262621 - I-beam spacer: An I-beam spacer for intervertebral fusion comprises a first flange and a second flange. The first and second flanges are spaced apart from one another and have planar structures. In addition, the first and second flanges include a first outer surface and a second outer surface transverse to the support... Agent: Carter, Deluca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP

20080262622 - Spinal disc prostheses: A spine disc prosthesis mimics a natural human spine disc through use of a structure that duplicates a natural Annulus Fibrosis of the disc to provide translation, extension, flexion, and axial support in like manner to a natural disc. The present spine disc prosthesis achieves this through the use of... Agent: Bowman & Associates

20080262620 - Spring member for artificial intervertebral disc and method of inserting disc: A spring member for an artificial intervertebral disc includes a substantially annular body including an axially extended bore therethrough defining a passageway. A seat extends radially inward towards the bore for seating therein a bearing member for adjusting and compensating vertebral disc motion. An engagement member extends radially outwardly from... Agent: Ratnerprestia

20080262624 - Patient-modified implant and associated method: An orthopedic implant. The implant has a first portion including at least one patient-adjustable feature, and a second portion including at least one standard feature.... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080262626 - Femoral sleeve for hip resurfacing: A hip resurfacing femoral prosthesis has a sleeve component with an internal bore adapted to receive a femoral head and a partially conical outer surface. The sleeve is for use with a mating partial ball component shaped to conform to an acetabular socket. The sleeve is slotted or segmented to... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080262625 - Medical prosthetic devices presenting enhanced biocompatibility and wear resistance, based on colbalt alloys and process for their preparation: Medical prosthetic devices and in particular femoral head and/or acetabular cup of articular prostheses, made out of a cobalt alloy are submitted to a surface modification in order to obtain the formation of a thin surface layer constituted by Co—Ta and or Co—Nb intermetallic compounds, with the aim of inducing... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080262627 - Unitary acetabular cup prosthesis with extension for deficient acetabulum: A prosthesis for a deficient acetabulum of a patient having a cup portion and a flange member. The flange member has a base portion that extends upward along a portion of the upper rim. A generally planar screw retaining portion extends from the base portion, and is inclined from the... Agent: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.

20080262629 - Proximally self-locking long bone prosthesis: A method for arthroplasty includes using a self-locking prosthesis that has a member structured to transfer a load produced by the weight of a patient to a bone. An expandable bone-locking portion that is integral to the member includes a shape-memory material and expands to produce a locking force. A... Agent: Bromberg & Sunstein LLP

20080262630 - Drug-impregnated encasement: A drug-impregnated sleeve for encasing a medical implant is provided. In one embodiment, the sleeve may include a body made of a biologically-compatible material that defines an internal cavity configured to receive the medical implant. In one embodiment, the biologically-compatible material is bioresorbable. The body may include a plurality of... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner / Synthes

20080262631 - Method for providing a polymeric implant with a crystalline calcium phosphate coating: This invention relates to a method for crystallizing an amorphous calcium phosphate (Cap) by high energy laser light irradiation. The method is particularly suited for crystallizing CaP coatings on polymeric substrates, particularly implant objects.... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080262633 - Cancellous bone treated with collagenase and essentially free of blood cells: A bone implant comprising cancellous bone that is essentially free of blood cells, and which has been treated with at least one loosening agent, such as collagenase or a digestive enzyme, for a time and at a concentration to loosen the osteogenic cells in the cancellous bone matrix. The osteogenic... Agent: Raymond J. Lillie, Esq. C/o Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilfillan,

20080262632 - Method for producing biomaterials from bone tissue and material used for osteoplasty and tissue engineering: A method for obtaining of biomaterials for osteoplasty and tissue engineering cleans a bone of natural origin, which is sawn to plates with a thickness of 0.2 to 2.0 cm, washed twice in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at 65° C., pH 5.8-6.0, calculated as two volumetric parts of the buffer... Agent: Abelman, Frayne & Schwab

20080262628 - Mri compatible implant comprising electrically conductively closed loops: The present invention relates to an implant 100 which comprises a plurality of electrically-conductive closed loops (300A, 300B, 300C, 300D; 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D each constituted from a plurality of loop portions such as struts (400, 500). The loops together form apertured walls of a cage with an interior volume,... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP

20080262634 - Hand prosthesis comprising two drive devices: The invention relates to a hand prosthesis comprising a chassis, to which at least one finger prosthesis is articulated, said finger prosthesis being movable about at least one swiveling axis by means of a drive.... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080262635 - Prosthetic ankle joint mechanism: A self-aligning prosthetic foot and ankle assembly has an ankle unit pivotally mounting a foot component. The ankle unit contains a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having a piston which is linearly movable within a cylinder. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with a shin axis defined by a... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP

20080262636 - Hand prosthesis with fingers that can be aligned in an articulated manner: The invention relates to a hand prosthesis comprising a chassis, to which a number of finger prostheses are articulated, said finger prostheses being movable relative to the chassis and toward one another about at least one swiveling axis by means of a drive.... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080255652 - Expandable tip delivery system and method: A method of deploying a stent-graft in a curved vessel includes deploying an expandable tip to center a proximal end of the catheter containing a stent-graft in the curved vessel. A sheath is retracted to expose the stent-graft and the stent-graft self-expands into the curved vessel. By centering the catheter... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080255653 - Multiple stent delivery system and method: A method of deploying multiple stents using a multiple stent delivery system includes moving a distal stent into contact with a stent-holding surface of a compressible expanded tip of an inner member. A sheath is retracted relative to the inner member to deploy the distal stent by holding the distal... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080255655 - Stretchable stent and delivery system: An implant delivery catheter enables permanent modification of the implant length in the vicinity of the treatment site prior to radial expansion thereof. The implant is releasable carried between inner and outer tubular members of the delivery catheter which, upon repositioning relative to one another using an actuator mechanism, impart... Agent: Rissman Jobse Hendricks & Oliverio, LLP

20080255654 - System for delivering a stent: A stent delivery system including an elongate member having a proximal segment and a distal segment, the distal segment having a first coil section, a second coil section, an intermediate coil section located between the first and second coil sections and a plastic material overlying one or more of the... Agent: Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason, P.c

20080255651 - Telescoping stability sheath and method of use: A telescoping stability sheath and method of use, including a telescoping stability sheath for use with a stent delivery system having a delivery catheter and an introducer, the delivery catheter having a retractable sheath and a stability sheath stop axially slidable on the retractable sheath, the introducer having an introducer... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080255656 - Apparatus and method for implantation of bifurcated endovascular prosthesis: A stent graft for animal or human implantation and method of delivery thereof. The device stent graft employs a first component having an axial passage communicating with the axial cavities of a cuff and longer first leg. A separate leg extension is engageable to an aperture in the distal end... Agent: Donn K. Harms Patent & Trademark Law Center

20080255657 - Stent with unconnected stent segments: This invention generally relates to stents, such as intravascular stents. More particularly, the invention is directed to stents comprising expandable stent segments, such as unconnected expandable stent segments. The invention is also directed to methods for making such stents.... Agent: Jones Day

20080255650 - Methods and apparatus for surgical anastomosis: Methods and apparatus for anastomosis of a lumen according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with an impermeable stent. The impermeable stent may comprise a scaffold and, if needed, a sealant, such as a membrane and/or adhesive. In one embodiment, the scaffold, membrane and/or adhesive comprise... Agent: The Noblitt Group, PLLC

20080255658 - Degradation associated drug delivery for drug eluting stent and medical device coatings: A system for treating a vascular condition includes a stent having a biodegradable coating on the stent framework. The coating releases a therapeutically effective amount of therapeutic agent as a function of degradation of the coating. Also provided is a method of treating a vascular condition by placing a stent... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080255659 - Fabrication method for drug-eluting stent with medicine-compatible loading mechanisms: A MEMS-based fabrication process is disclosed to fabricate a hollow seamless drug-eluting stent. This stent fabrication process is characterized by using a photolithography process, a composite electroplating process, and a polishing process to mass-produce drug-eluting seamless stents. Combining a multi-layers photolithography process with a multi-layers composite electroforming process could make... Agent: Jung-tang Huang 5f., No.7, Lane 10, Sec. 2, Bade Rd.

20080255660 - Medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has at plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080255661 - Medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency or stenosis: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta with a catheter. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080255662 - Minimally-invasive cardiac-valve prosthesis: A cardiac-valve prosthesis is adapted for percutaneous implantation. The prosthesis includes an armature adapted for deployment in a radially expanded implantation position, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion, which are substantially axially coextensive with respect to one another. A set of leaflets is coupled to the... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080255663 - Artificial cornea and method of making same: The present invention is an artificial cornea designed to restore vision in patients who are not candidates to receive a natural cornea transplant (allograft). The present device construction involves the use of a biocompatible, non-porous optic disk intimately bonded to one or more anchoring layers of porous polymeric material, and... Agent: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

20080255664 - Percutaneously deliverable orthopedic joint device: A percutaneously implantable orthopedic device is a shape-changing joint prosthesis with a generally arcuate or generally rectilinear configuration which is delivered through a delivery device in a substantially straightened or slightly curved configuration into a joint in a patient. The generally arcuate configuration may include an open ring or spiral... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20080255665 - Anchored prosthetic meniscus device: A human implantable meniscus device having a unique anchoring system for locking the device into a bone and reinforcing fibers in order to mimic the mechanical characteristics of natural meniscus.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20080255667 - Allograft spinal facet fusion system: A method for fusing a spinal facet joint and a surgical kit for use therein. The kit preferably comprises an allograft implant, a facet finder, a drill, a drill guide, and an implant inserter. The method preferably comprises the steps of locating the facet joint with a facet finer, sliding... Agent: Bush Intellectual Property Law Group, LLC

20080255666 - Facet fixation and fusion wedge and method of use: A spinal implant including an at least one screw disposed within a wedge body is herein provided. The implant can be configured for placement with a facet joint in an intra-facet delivery. Furthermore, the implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing a single device capable of spinal stabilization... Agent: Nutter Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080255668 - Interspinous process spacers: Interspinous implants including a spacer configured to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine, to maintain a minimum separation between the spinous processes. An implant also includes a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, in which the fixation portion engages at least one spinous process... Agent: Medicinelodge Inc.

20080255669 - Interspinous process spacers: Interspinous implants including a spacer configured to fit between first and second adjacent spinous processes of a human spine, to maintain a minimum separation between the spinous processes. An implant also includes a fixation portion coupled to the spacer, in which the fixation portion engages at least one spinous process... Agent: Medicinelodge Inc.

20080255670 - Prosthetic or orthotic joint: Prosthetic or orthotic joint with at least two joint segments that are mounted rotatably to each other around a joint axis, and a pivotal piston mounted in torque-proof fashion in one of the upper or lower joint segments. The pivotal piston is received in a displacement chamber containing a fluid,... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080255671 - Joint devices: A joint device is disclosed for use as a prosthesis in a human or animal body. The joint device comprises a T-shaped member having a transverse pin fixedly connected to a column member and a pair of transverse sleeves configured to receive the pin and allow the pin to rotate... Agent: Diederiks & Whitelaw, PLC

20080255672 - Orthopedic implant: An orthopedic implant is disclosed and can include a first component and a second component that can be installed in the first component. The orthopedic implant can further include a seal that can be installed between the first component and the second component. The seal can substantially prevent debris from... Agent: Larson Newman Abel Polansky & White, LLP

20080255673 - Bearing shell: A bearing shell made of plastic material is provided for a ball and socket joint for mounting a ball and socket joint pivot mounted rotatably and pivotably in the bearing shell with at least two shell parts 1a, 1b forming a bearing surface with an inner, hollow spherical shape is... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20080255674 - Femoral head and method of manufacture thereof: A femoral head made from a ceramic-metal composite having a multi-layered construction and related method of manufacture is disclosed. The femoral head includes an inner metal core bonded to a relatively thin ceramic outer layer that is used as the articulating surface with an acetabular cup during total hip arthoplasty.... Agent: Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus PC

20080255675 - Bone-compliant femoral stem: A femoral stem for canines or humans is made bone-compliant by use of a thick sintered titanium body in a proximal bone contacting region and a polymeric or ceramic body in a distal bone contacting region of the femoral stem. An elastic modulus is thereby engineered to match that of... Agent: Ernest D. Buff Ernest D. Buff And Associates, LLC.

20080255676 - Two piece cancellous construct for cartilage repair: The invention is directed toward a cartilage repair assembly comprising a shaped allograft two piece construct with a demineralized cancellous cap and a mineralized cylindrical base member defining a blind bore with a through going transverse bore intersecting the blind bore. The demineralized cancellous cap has a cylindrical top portion... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20080255677 - Surfaces differentially adhesive to bacteria and eukaryotic cells: A surface coating comprises a primer coat that permits adhesion of eukaryotic cells thereto, and a plurality of macromolecular structures attached to the primer coat. At least some of the macromolecular structures have a cell-resistant character, meaning that cells generally will not adhere to them. The macromolecular structures are distributed... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20080255678 - Medical apparatus and method of making the same: The invention relates to a medical apparatus including a device used in the treatment of weight loss, obesity and potentially other associated health problems, e.g., type II diabetes. The device is used to impede absorption of nutrients within the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., bypassing a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The... Agent: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

20080255679 - Ureteral stent with conforming retention structure: A ureteral stent includes an elongate member defining an axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A first extension member and a second extension member extend from the proximal end portion and each include a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and an... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080249601 - Stent/graft assembly: A stent/graft assembly includes a tubular graft connected in substantially end-to-end relationship with a generally tubular stent. Free ends of the stent and graft extend in opposite directions from the end-to-end connection during a pre-deployment orientation of the assembly. However, the graft is inverted during deployment so that free ends... Agent: Casella & Hespos

20080249603 - Apparatus and method for medical procedures within a spine: Devices and methods for performing a procedure within a spine are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes expanding an expandable member to move a tissue portion and form a cavity within an interior of a bone-related structure. At least a portion of the cavity is filled with a... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080249604 - Apparatus and method for medical procedures within a spine: Devices and methods for performing a procedure within a spine are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes inserting an expandable member into an interior of a bone-related structure. The expandable member defines a first and second lumen. A medium is delivered through the first lumen and into the... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080249602 - Artificial blood vessel stent: The present invention discloses an artificial blood vessel stent, which can minimize the diameter of a stent insertion device because the diameter (profile) thereof is uniform and small over the entire length upon being loaded, and accordingly can be easily placed in a branched portion of a blood vessel using... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080249605 - Bioabsorbable polymer, non-bioabsorbable metal composite stents: Biocompatible materials may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. The biocompatible material may comprise metallic and non-metallic materials in hybrid structures. In one such structure, a device may be fabricated with one or more elements having an inner metallic core that is not degradable... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080249607 - Biocompatable nanophase materials: A metallic substance having a nanophase surface.... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20080249606 - Methods for determining the effect of a treatment on the cross-beta structure content of a protein; selection of treatments and uses thereof: The invention relates to the field of biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, molecular biology, structural biology and medicine. More in particular, the invention relates to cross-β structure conformation. The invention provides a method for determining a difference in the cross-β structure content of a protein in a reference sample compared to said... Agent: Trask Britt

20080249608 - Bioabsorbable polymer, bioabsorbable composite stents: Biocompatible materials may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. The biocompatible material may comprise metallic and non-metallic materials in hybrid structures. In one such structure, a device may be fabricated with one or more elements having an inner metallic core that is biodegradable with... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080249609 - Expandable medical device with ductile hinges: An expandable tissue supporting device of the present invention employs ductile hinges at selected points in the expandable device. When expansion forces are applied to the device as a whole, the ductile hinges concentrate expansion stresses and strains in small well defined areas. The expandable medical device including ductile hinges... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080249610 - Shape memory alloy endoprosthesis delivery system: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a method for preparing a shape memory alloy endoprosthesis, displaying strain induced martensite phenomenon, for delivery includes inserting a shape memory alloy endoprosthesis into a delivery device, inducing a first strain within a first region of the shape memory alloy endoprosthesis, inducing... Agent: Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

20080249598 - Covered stents with degradable barbs: The present invention is directed at a removable stent for providing reinforcement to a selected region of a selected body lumen including a resilient cylindrical layer, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is... Agent: Fulbright & Jaworski Market Square

20080249597 - Thin film tissue repair matrix: A tissue repair matrix has an intricate pattern of loops, struts and bridges and is made of a super elastic alloy. The repair matrix includes hooks which improve the ingrowth when implanted and amorphic circles which provide rounded surfaces to the outer edges which made the repair matrix a-traumatic when... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080249611 - Mrt-compatible valve prosthesis for use in the human or animal body for replacement of an organ valve or a vessel valve: The invention relates to a biological or artificial valve prosthesis (4, 5) for use in the human or animal body for replacement of an organ valve or a vessel valve, in particular a cardiac valve prosthesis or venous valve prosthesis, with a stent (8) or without a stent, with a... Agent: Jason H. Vick Sheridan Ross, PC

20080249612 - Prosthetic valve that permits retrograde flow: A prosthetic valve for regulating fluid flow through a body vessel is provided. The valve includes an expandable support frame and a valve leaflet, and includes at least one opening that permits a controlled amount of retrograde flow through the valve when the valve is in a closed configuration. A... Agent: Buchanan Intellectual Property Office LLC

20080249613 - Bifurcated stent assembly: A bifurcated stent assembly using a flexible membrane, preferably a tubular membrane, as a stent connector to bendably hold and functionally associate two or more component stents is disclosed. The flexible stent connector allows the relative orientation of the two stents to be varied with no deformation of the component... Agent: Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti PC

20080249614 - Implantable medical devices fabricated from polymer blends with star-block copolymers: Implantable medical devices fabricated from polymer blends with star-block copolymers are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080249616 - Reinforced porous coating: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a porous coating with structures in the micro or nano-size domain characterized by the following steps: -providing a support having a surface, -depositing on said surface one mono-layer of temporary particles, -depositing a coating on said temporary particles in such a... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080249615 - Stents with ceramic drug reservoir layer and methods of making and using the same: A method of making a drug eluting stent comprises forming a porous stent body surface layer by ion implantation, applying a layer of ceramic particles on the porous layer and compressing the layer of ceramic particles. The layer of ceramic particles can be compressed to successively higher densities. Drugs can... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20080249599 - Stent with therapeutic agent delivery structures in low strain regions: A system for treating abnormalities of the cardiovascular system includes a stent having a plurality of therapeutic agent-carrying regions and non therapeutic agent-carrying regions. The therapeutic agent-carrying regions are located within low strain regions of the stent and the non therapeutic agent-carrying regions are located within high strain regions of... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080249600 - Stents with drug reservoir layer and methods of making and using the same: A method of making drug eluting stents comprises forming ceramic surface coatings of two or more levels of porosity on a stent body. The less porous coating is more conducive to endothelial cell growth, while the more porous coating is better suited for storing and releasing drugs. The surface coatings... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20080249617 - Triflusal-containing polymers for stent coating: New triflusal-containing polymeric compounds resulting from the polymerization of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-acetyloxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate with butyl acrylate are described. These new polymers exhibit good adhesion and crack-bridging properties and are particularly suitable for the coating of stents.... Agent: Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C.

20080249619 - Cardiac-valve prosthesis: A cardiac-valve prosthesis which can be used, for example, as a valve for percutaneous implantation. The prosthesis includes an armature for anchorage of the valve prosthesis in the implantation site. The armature defines a lumen for passage of the blood flow and supports a set of prosthetic valve leaflets, which,... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080249618 - Repair of incompetent heart valves by interstitial implantation of space occupying materials or devices: Incompetency or regurgitation of a cardiac valve is treated by injecting a space occupying material(s) or implanting a space occupying device(s) at an interstitial location adjacent to the valve such that the space occupying material or device exerts pressure on the valve causing one or more leaflets of the valve... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080249620 - Valve holder: A valve holder assembly having a main valve holder and a detachable secondary valve holder for positioning a heart valve prosthesis and a method of implanting a stentless heart valve prosthesis are disclosed.... Agent: Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

20080249621 - Vision prosthesis orientation: A vision prosthesis includes an optical element having a surface that is shaped to be positioned near a cornea of an eye, and a magnetic element embedded in the optical element.... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080249623 - Implant restraint device and methods: An implant retention device is provided to assist in restraining movement of a nuclear implant and to assist in preventing expulsion of the nuclear implant through an incision portal or defect in the annular wall. In general, the implant retention device blocks or obstructs at least a portion of an... Agent: Fitch Even Tabin And Flannery

20080249622 - Interbody implant: An interbody implant (20) includes first and second members (22, 24) that are configured to allow the members (22, 24) to be inserted into a disc space separately and then connected together in the disc space to form the interbody implant (20). This allows for a larger interbody implant (20)... Agent: Paul D. Yasger Abbott Laboratories

20080249626 - Arthrodesis of vertebral bodies: Spinal arthrodesis is accomplished by implanting an intervertebral spacer made of a biocompatible material that promotes tissue ingrowth and bony fusion. The spacer is implanted into a graft bed formed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The spacer includes a body portion having anterior and posterior end faces. Opposed flanges project outwardly... Agent: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP

20080249625 - Composite interbody spacer: A composite interbody spacer includes a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20080249624 - Method for the production of intervertebral disk cell transplants and their use as transplantation material: The invention relates to a method for the in vitro production of intervertebral disk cartilage cell transplants from affected intervertebral disk tissue from patients and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks. The invention also relates to a three-dimensional, vital, and mechanically stable... Agent: Norris, Mclaughlin & Marcus, P.A.

20080249628 - Multi-component interbody device: A dynamic device for implantation within a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies is disclosed. The device comprises two or more bodies interconnected via at least one connecting means such that at least one body is permitted relative motion with respect to the at least one other body. The... Agent: Rimas Lukas Vertiflex, Inc.

20080249627 - Prosthetic disc device and method for intervertebral disc replacement: An implant and method for insertion between two adjacent vertebrae includes an implant body having a leading end and a trailing end spaced apart by a longitudinal dimension of the implant, two diametrically opposed first and second shells, each of the shells having a body portion and a thread portion... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080249629 - Vertebral defect device: A vertebral defect device for insertion into an intervertebral space between a pair of adjacent vertebrae and for assisting in fusion between the adjacent vertebrae includes a rigid body having an distal end, a proximal end, a top, a bottom and a pair of lateral sides. The distal end is... Agent: Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP

20080249630 - Ball and socket joint: A ball and socket joint has high stability of the bearing shell and hence of the joint and reduces the transmitted structure-borne noise from the viewpoint of increased comfort with a bearing shell design with at least two layers. The inner layer is formed of a metal and the outer... Agent: Mcglew & Tuttle, PC

20080249631 - Implant, more particularly partial ulnar head implant: A method and apparatus for replacing an articular surface of a bone. The implant includes at least one head with a bore and a lateral articular surface generally perpendicular to an axis of the bore. A holding element includes a stem at a proximal end adapted to attach to the... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080249632 - Stable cartilage defect repair plug: A method of distributing a load to a cartilage defect repair plug is provided. A load is applied to a first articulation layer. The load is distributed to a second layer and the load is transferred in the normal direction to the first density of subchondral bone. The load is... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080249633 - Biodegradable materials and methods of use: The present invention provides novel and inventive biodegradable and biocompatible materials and methods of use in biomedical area. Inventive materials can be formed by blending PLGA with ACP or any one of their family members. Inventive materials can be used in making biodegradable products including but not limit to drug... Agent: Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

20080249634 - Method for producing a hollow profile based on a cross-linked, gelatinous material and implants in the form of hollow profiles: e

20080249635 - Gastric filler devices for obesity therapy: An obesity treatment device comprises a filament filler material movable between a substantially straight insertion/removal configuration and an operative configuration in which the filament extends along a predetermined curve to occupy a selected volume within the stomach and a retrieval device connected to a proximal end of the filler material... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20080249636 - Self-retaining stent: A stent is designed to be placed in a lumen of a patient and extend therethrough. The stent includes a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end includes a distal retention structure and the proximal end includes a plurality of radially extending flexible segments to prevent migration of... Agent: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP Attn: Patent Group

20080249637 - Partially biodegradable therapeutic implant for bone and cartilage repair: Exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an at least partially biodegradable implant suitable for implantation into a subject for repairing a bone or cartilage defect, comprising a three-dimensional open-celled framework structure made of a non-particulate first material, the framework structure being embedded in a second, non-particulate material... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080249638 - Biodegradable therapeutic implant for bone or cartilage repair: The exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an at least partially biodegradable implant suitable for implantation into a subject for repairing a bone or cartilage defect, comprising a matrix forming an open-celled structure having a plurality of interconnected spaces, whereas the channels of the matrix are substantially completely... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080249639 - Medical artificial nerve graft containing silk fibroin and its preparation method: A medical artificial nerve graft containing silk fibroin used in bridging of nerve damage and its preparation method. The medical artificial nerve graft comprised of vessel or comprised of vessel and fibre scaffold, wherein at least one of the vessel and the fibre scaffold contains component of silk fibroin, and... Agent: Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer & Risley, LLP

20080243221 - Balloon fold design for deployment of bifurcated stent petal architecture: A balloon fold design for efficient expansion of a side branch assembly in a bifurcated stent. The design involves forming a cup allangement by folding the radial end of the side branch balloon structure into the luminal end of the side branch balloon structure and then folding the cup down... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20080243223 - Device for affixing of tubular medical accessory to a body passage: A device for affixing a tubular medical accessory to a wall of a body passage is disclosed. The said device comprises a handle portion, a barrel portion and a working head portion, said barrel portion is fitted with a pushing rod displaceable along the barrel portion upon actuating the handle... Agent: Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo Attn: Patent Intake Customer No. 35437

20080243222 - High flex introducer assembly: An introducer assembly for accessing a target site in the anatomy of a patient includes a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a lumen extending therethrough. At least a portion of the sheath distal end has a curved configuration. A tapered dilator has a proximal... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/indy/cook

20080243224 - Intracranial stent and method of use: A stent and stent catheter for intra-cranial use, and a method of treating vascular disease in blood vessels in the brain.... Agent: Crockett & Crockett, P.C.

20080243225 - Stent removal and repositioning device and associated method: A stent removal device for removing or repositioning a stent from within a lumen is provided. The stent typically comprises at least one element arranged circumferentially about the stent. The stent removal device includes a tube positioned within the lumen proximate to the stent, wherein the tube is capable of... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP Bank Of America Plaza

20080243228 - Implantable medical devices fabricated from block copolymers: Implantable medical devices fabricated from block copolymers are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080243226 - Implantable stents with radiopaque markers and methods for manufacturing the same: Stents implantable within a body vessel include a strut with a receiving surface. The receiving surface has two openings passing through this surface. A radiopaque marker has a first prong received at least in part by one of the openings and a second prong received at least in part by... Agent: Cook Alex Ltd

20080243229 - Intracranial stent and method of use: A stent and stent catheter for intra-cranial use.... Agent: Crockett & Crockett, P.C.

20080243227 - Radiopaque markers for implantable stents and methods for manufacturing the same: Radiopaque markers for use with stents implantable within a body vessel are provided with one or more through-holes. Each through-hole extends through the thickness of the marker to expose a portion of the stent underlying the marker. The marker is welded to the stent through each through-hole. Also provided are... Agent: Cook Alex Ltd

20080243230 - Stent having radially expandable main body: A stent made of a material having a low strength and having a main body circumscribing a cylindrical shape and radially expandable from a contracted starting position into a dilated support position, comprising a) a plurality of support segments disposed around the circumference and arrayed on one another in the... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20080243231 - Medical device with a porous surface for delivery of a therapeutic agent: The present invention is generally directed to implantable medical devices for delivering therapeutic agents to the body tissue of a patient and methods for making such medical devices. In particular, the present invention is directed to implantable medical devices, such as intravascular stents, having a surface that includes a plurality... Agent: Jones Day

20080243232 - Bifurcation stent and balloon assemblies: A bifurcated stent that is positionable adjacent to a branched body vessel. The stent includes a tapered middle portion with a side branch assembly for positioning within the deviating branch of a body vessel. The portion of the stent positioned within the first body vessel and the portion positioned within... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20080243233 - Device and methods for treatment of vascular bifurcations: A method for treatment of a vascular bifurcation, where a second blood vessel (22) branches from a first blood vessel (24), the first and second blood vessels having characteristic first and second diameters such that the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The method includes introducing a balloon... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20080243234 - Magnesium alloy stent: A method for treating a vascular condition includes delivering a magnesium alloy stent framework to a target region of a vessel, leaching at least a portion of magnesium from the magnesium alloy stent framework, and forming a plurality of pores within the stent framework of the stent based on the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080243235 - Cellular transplant stent: A cellular stent carries living therapeutic cellular material for implantation into a human or animal body and allows either localized or systemic delivery of the therapeutic products, while promoting engraftment, either on a tissue surface or its interior. The cells are contained within wells in the stent that are enclosed... Agent: Cesari And Mckenna, LLP

20080243236 - Method of conditioning a hybrid synthetic tubular structure to yeild a functional human hybrid hemodialysis access graft: A method of yielding a functional human hybrid hemodialysis access graft is provided. The method includes conditioning a hybrid synthetic tubular structure having stem cells and/or endothelial cells on at least one surface to yield the functional human hybrid hemodialysis access graft. Specifically, the method includes placing the hybrid synthetic... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez Williams Mullen

20080243237 - Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid carotid bypass vascular graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez Williams Mullen

20080243239 - Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid hemodialysis access graft or a hybrid femoral artery bypass graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holders where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez Williams Mullen

20080243238 - Systems and methods of promoting endothelialization of a hybrid lower limb artery bypass vascular graft in a mammal: Hybrid synthetic grafts and embodiments of systems and methods for producing hybrid vascular grafts that can yield implantable grafts that combine synthetic grafts with living cells. Embodiments of systems can include a pressure/flow loop subsystem having an external flow loop system coupled to a specimen holder, where the pressure/flow loop... Agent: Rene A. Vazquez Williams Mullen

20080243240 - Biodegradable metal barrier layer for a drug-eluting stent: An implantable medical device includes a substrate, a drug-impregnated layer deposited over the substrate, and a barrier layer at least partially covering the drug-impregnated layer. The barrier layer may be a biodegradable metal, biodegradable metal oxide, or biodegradable metal alloy, such as, magnesium, a magnesium oxide or a magnesium alloy.... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080243241 - Short term sustained drug-delivery system for implantable medical devices and method of making the same: A short-term sustained drug eluting coating for implantable medical devices is disclosed. The coating comprises a biocompatible matrix and at least one pharmacologically or biologically active agent and releases substantially one of all of its payloads within four to six weeks post-implantation. When a combination of pharmacological agents are incorporated... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080243242 - Method for producing a corrosion-inhibiting coating on an implant made of a bio-corrodible magnesium alloy and implant produced according to the method: A method for producing a corrosion-inhibiting coating on an implant made of a biocorrodible magnesium alloy, the method comprising providing the implant; and treating the implant surface using an aqueous or alcoholic conversion solution containing one or more ions selected from the group consisting of K+, Na+, NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+,... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20080243243 - Implantable medical articles having pro-healing coatings: Coatings including adhesion factors for the surfaces of implantable medical articles are disclosed. The coatings are used to improve the function of the device by promoting a pro-healing response following implantation. The coatings can modulate endothelialization of the article surface to reduce the risk of adverse tissue responses that may... Agent: Kagan Binder, PLLC

20080243244 - Metallic endoprosthesis compatible with magnetic resonance: A metallic endoprosthesis is provided and causes no significant artefacts on images taken by magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), as a result of the combination of the production materials with a special design, which permits an evaluation of the externally adjacent region and the lumen of the endoprosthesis by means of... Agent: Casella & Hespos

20080243245 - Percutaneous heart valve prosthesis: A percutaneous heart valve prosthesis (1) has a valve body (2) with a passage (9) extending between the first and second ends (7, 8) of the valve body (2). The valve body (2) is collapsible about a longitudinal axis (10) of the passage (9) for delivery of the valve body... Agent: Bingham Mchale LLP

20080243246 - Replacement prosthetic heart valves and methods of implantation: A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The replacement heart valve includes a stent structure including a generally tubular body portion with an interior area and a series of wire portions arranged in a mesh-like configuration, and at least one... Agent: Kagan Binder, PLLC

20080243247 - Method and apparatus for prevention and treatment of adult glaucoma: An apparatus and method for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient's eye is provided. A deformable intraocular member having a relaxed state with a relaxed profile having a first width, a first energized state with a first profile having a second width, and a second energized state with a second... Agent: Westman Champlin & Kelly, P.A.

20080243248 - In situ graft preparation for knee ligament reconstruction: Methods of ligament repair are provided. A ligament graft is arranged in a tensioning device and placed adjacent to a heating surface. The heating surface is activated to heat the graft. The graft is tensioned while on the substantially dry heating surface to provide laxity to the graft. The size... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080243249 - Devices for multipoint emplacement in a body part and methods of use of such devices: Disclosed are methods and devices for accessing body parts using a plurality of access points to facilitate the repair of such body parts. The multipoint access devices and methods of the present invention may facilitate manipulating tools and materials that can be used in the repair of bone and other... Agent: Kilpatrick Stockton LLP - 55461

20080243256 - Devices used to treat disc herniation and attachment mechanisms therefore: A method for retaining an intra-discal material within an annulus fibrosis is described. The annulus fibrosis has a posterior annulus, an inside surface, and an opening with a lateral and a vertical dimension. A single wire and a band is provided. The single wire is made of shape-memory material and... Agent: O''melveny & Myers LLP Ip&t Calendar Department La-1118

20080243254 - Height adjustable spinal prostheses: Dimensionally adjustable spinal prostheses are adjustable in an axial or superior to inferior dimension such that spinal prostheses may assume variations in height. The height adjustable spinal prostheses are characterized by first and second portions that are configured for adjustable coupling with one another. Spatial adjustment between the first and... Agent: Bowman & Associates

20080243251 - Intervertebral device having expandable endplates: An intervertebral implant having an endplate that can be slidably expanded following its placement in the intervertebral space.... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080243253 - Intervertebral disc prosthesis: The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis consisting of: an upper plate, a lower plate having an essentially-flat support surface, and an intermediate element comprising a base which is equipped with a rim and which is topped with a spherical cap. The upper plate and the cap define a... Agent: Miller, Matthias & Hull

20080243250 - Lateral spinous process spacer: Interspinous process implants are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and kits including such implants, methods of inserting such implants, and methods of alleviating pain or discomfort associated with the spinal column.... Agent: Globus Medical, Inc. Attn: Brian Malm

20080243255 - Radially expandable spinal interbody device and implantation tool: A radially expandable spinal interbody device for implantation between adjacent vertebrae of a spine is deliverable to an implant area in a radially collapsed state having minimum radial dimensions and once positioned is then radially expandable through and up to maximum radial dimensions. The expanded radially expandable spinal interbody device... Agent: Bowman & Associates

20080243252 - Spinal implant system: The present invention provides an intervertebral prosthesis generally defining a first wall, a second wall, sidewalls extending from the first wall to the second wall, and an upper surface and a lower surface. One or more passages may be included providing for an affixation element, to be inserted therethrough. The... Agent: Christopher & Weisberg, P.A.

20080243257 - Method and apparatus for performing an open wedge, low femoral osteotomy: Apparatus for performing an open wedge, low femoral osteotomy, the apparatus comprising an osteotomy guide, a hinge pin and an osteotomy implant, the osteotomy guide comprising: anterior and posterior tissue shields having (i) openings for receiving the hinge pin and defining the hinge pin axis, and (ii) profiles configured to... Agent: Mark J. Pandiscio Pandiscio & Pandiscio, P.C.

20080243258 - Knee joint prosthesis: A knee joint prosthesis is disclosed. The prosthesis has a femoral component and a tibial component. The tibial component has a tibial plateau element fitted in a tibial tray element. A hemi capstan shaped bridge member is provided between replicated condyles on the femoral component. A specially shaped post is... Agent: Lucas & Mercanti, LLP

20080243259 - Mobile bearing insert having offset dwell point: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert configured to move relative to the tibial tray. The tibial insert includes a platform having an upper bearing surface defining a dwell point of the upper bearing surface. The dwell point is spaced-apart from a center of the... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20080243262 - Mobile bearing assembly: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert configured to move relative to the tibial tray. The tibial insert includes a platform having an upper bearing surface and a stem extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the insert. The tibial tray includes a corresponding recess,... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20080243261 - Mobile bearing assembly having a closed track: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert. The tibial tray includes a closed track. The tibial insert includes a stem configured to be inserted into the closed track and retained therein. The tibial insert is movable along the closed track once inserted.... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20080243260 - Mobile bearing assembly having a non-planar interface: A unicompartmental mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert. The tibial tray includes an upper surface and a bottom surface configured to contact a portion of a surgically-prepared surface of the proximal end of a tibia. The tibial insert includes an upper bearing surface configured to... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20080243263 - Mobile bearing assembly having multiple articulation interfaces: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray, a tibial insert, and a platform separate from the tibial tray and the tibial insert. The platform is configured to be coupled to the tibial insert and the tibial tray. The tibial insert is movable relative to the platform and the platform... Agent: Barnes & Thornburg LLP

20080243264 - Proximally self-locking long bone prosthesis: A method for arthroplasty includes using a self-locking prosthesis that has a member structured to transfer a load produced by the weight of a patient to a bone. An expandable bone-locking portion that is integral to the member includes a shape-memory material and expands to produce a locking force. A... Agent: Bromberg & Sunstein LLP

20080243265 - Method and apparatus for control of a prosthetic: A prosthetic device control apparatus is disclosed. The control apparatus includes at least one sensor worn by a user. The sensor(s) determines a user's movement. Also, a control module in communication with the sensor(s). The control module communicates movement information to a prosthetic. Also, a method for controlling a prosthetic... Agent: Mccormick, Paulding & Huber LLP

20080243266 - Prosthetic device utilizing electric vacuum pump: Prosthetic devices having vacuum components operative to evacuate the interior of a prosthetic socket thereof, and control systems for use therewith. The evacuation devices preferably include at least an electrically powered vacuum pump and associated power source, and a vacuum accumulator connected to the vacuum pump. Associated control systems may... Agent: Standley Law Group LLP