Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor inventions 12/08

20080319522 - Aneurysm filler detacher: An aneurysm filler detacher mechanism comprising a proximal push support comprising a copper or silver core wire, an insulation layer positioned around the core wire, and an annular flexible layer positioned around the insulation layer.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080319523 - Aneurysm filler device: Embodiments of the invention include an aneurysm filler devide comprising: a main body comprising a pusher portion, a filler portion and a bridge portion, wherein the bridge portion contacts both the pusher portion and the filler portion.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080319525 - Self-expanding prosthesis: In one preferred embodiment, a prosthesis is provided that can be selectively expanded by increasing the temperature of the prosthesis within the patient. The prosthesis is composed of a shape memory material that expands when heated to a temperature greater than an average body temperature, allowing the user to selectively... Agent: Inskeep Intellectual Property Group, Inc

20080319524 - System and method for delivering a medical device to a body location: A system for delivering a medical device to a body location. The system includes a sheath (6) having a distal end (10) configured to receive the medical device (18). An actuating mechanism (16) causes the sheath to slide proximally upon which it becomes slit at its proximal (8) end longitudinally... Agent: Brooks Kushman P.C.

20080319526 - Percutaneous valve, system and method: An apparatus, system, and method for percutaneous valve replacement and/or augmentation. The apparatus includes a valve having a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame, and a thread passing over the valve frame to hold the valve frame in a partially deployed state, where removal of the... Agent: Brooks, Cameron & Huebsch, PLLC Suite 500

20080319528 - Modular endoprosthesis with flexible interconnectors between modules: A modular endoprosthesis is configured to have improved flexibility during and after deployment by having separate endoprosthetic modules that are interconnected by flexible interconnectors. The modular endoprosthesis includes a plurality of separate endoprosthetic modules positioned adjacently so that a first end of a first endoprosthetic module is adjacent to an... Agent: Workman Nydegger

20080319527 - Shaped multi-durometer filler: Embodiments of the invention include an aneurysm filler, comprising a main body having a transport shape and three-dimensional shape which is manifest when the main body is deployed in an aneurysm.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080319530 - Endovascular prosthesis and a method of connecting a structural component and a woven graft material: An endovascular prosthesis that includes a stent and a woven graft material. The stent is connected to the graft material by direct attachment of the stent to the graft material at thermoplastically fused regions of the graft material.... Agent: Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/chicago/cook

20080319531 - Flexible and expandable stent: In one embodiment of the invention, a stent may be provided comprising a first undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs, a second undulating band having alternating peaks and troughs, a first substantially longitudinal connector extending between the first and second undulating bands and a second very short connector extending... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20080319529 - Stent with improved mechanical properties: A stent includes a central portion having a first waveform. The first waveform is wrapped around a longitudinal axis of the stent at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent also includes an end segment connected to one end of the central portion. The end segment... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080319533 - Aneurysm occlusion assist device: Embodiments of the invention described herein include an aneurysm occlusion assist device comprising a main body effective for providing support to a blood vessel, defining an open volume sized to permit substantially unimpeded blood flow when the main body is implanted in a bifurcated aneurysm.... Agent: Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.

20080319532 - Medical implant: The invention relates to a medical implant (1′) in the form of an elongated helix wherein at least one part of the helix is preformed in such a manner that it has a secondary structure of identically sized loops which it assumes during implantation at the placement site, with said... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20080319536 - Method for introducing an internal helical formation into a flexible tubular material: There is disclosed a method for introducing a helical formation (11) into a flexible tubular material (12). The material (12) is supported together with a surrounding helical former (13) so as to deform the material (12) to have a helical indentation (11) corresponding to the shape of the former (13).... Agent: Reese Taylor, Esq. Renner, Kenner, Greive, Bobak, Taylor & Weber

20080319537 - Stent having helical elements: An expandable stent comprised of a plurality of helical segments is disclosed. In one embodiment, the stent is generally cylindrical in shape having a cylindrical axis, and comprises a first and second set of helical segments. The helical segments in the first set are substantially parallel and have a first... Agent: Christopher & Weisberg, P.A.

20080319534 - Stent with improved mechanical properties: A stent includes a central portion having a first waveform. The first waveform is wrapped around a longitudinal axis of the stent at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent also includes an end segment connected to one end of the central portion. The end segment... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080319535 - Vascular stent and method of making vascular stent: A stent and method of forming a stent include a wire bent into a waveform spirally wrapped into a hollow cylindrical shape. The waveform includes a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion. The middle portion of the waveform includes a first amplitude and a first... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080319538 - Kit to be implanted in a blood circulation conduit: The endoprosthesis (19) comprises a stop (63, 65) for locking the supporting framework (25) in order to block the axial displacement of the outer surface (31) along the inner surface (57) in at least a first direction. The stop (63, 65) comprises at least one flexible connection (69) extending transversely... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20080319539 - Resorption-controllable medical implants: Bioresorbable medical implants are designed to have different resorption rates over time or over the topography of the implants. The resorption of the medical implants are controlled by including layers having differing resorption rates. The layers resorb sequentially over time through sequential exposure to body fluids. A resorption-controllable medical implant... Agent: Mayer & Williams PC

20080319540 - Anti-migration features and geometry for a shape memory polymer stent: The present invention relates to a radially-expandable stent for implantation in a bodily passageway, being expandable from an initial unexpanded state to an expanded state, having an outer surface with a geometric pattern covering said outer surface to minimize migration after implantation.... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080319521 - Compressible resilient fabric, devices, and methods: A compressible resilient fabric can include a ground layer of knitted yarn, and a loop layer comprising a plurality of loops of yarn, each loop having a point knit into the ground layer. The fabric can be compressible from an non-compressed configuration, in which each loop has an apex extending... Agent: Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

20080319541 - Devices and methods for repairing cardiac valves: Devices and methods for the repair of a defective cardiac valve are provided. The implantable devices provide a leaflet coaptation surface and correct for one or more prolapsing segments of a valve leaflet. The methods involve implanting one or more devices within the defective cardiac valve. In certain embodiments, the... Agent: Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP

20080319542 - Tissue shaping device: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a tissue shaping device adapted to be disposed in a vessel near a patient's heart to reshape the patient's heart. Such tissue shaping device can include an expandable proximal anchor; a proximal anchor lock adapted to lock the proximal anchor in an... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080319543 - Bioprosthetic heart valve: A trileaflet biological prosthetic heart valve (11, 41) comprising a thin, rigid annular outer frame (25, 43) which supports three elastic, laminated spring inner frames (18, 57) which in turn provide consistent geometric form and structure for attachment of tissue leaflets (15, 71).... Agent: VistaIPLaw Group LLP

20080319544 - Blood pump system for artificial heart and apparatus supervisory system: A blood pump system for an artificial heart including: a control unit for controlling a blood pump, the control unit including a first alarm generating part for generating a first alarm signal according to the state of the blood pump, and a speaker for outputting an audible sound upon receiving... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20080319545 - \"w\" 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 hinged portions longitudinally 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

20080319546 - Sheaths for implantable fixation devices: Sheaths for implantable fixation devices and methods of using the sheaths are disclosed. Sheaths have a flexible body with a perforated wall, and an interior of the body is sized and shaped to receive the fixation device. Sheaths include a plurality of flexible or inflexible tubes arranged to form a... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C. Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080319547 - Porous material for use as implant, bone replacement and in general as material: Implants and methods for producing same are described, the implants featuring an adjustable porous shell, the inside being continuously interconnectingly adjustably porous and which can be sintered net shaped; these implants exhibit a high compression stability and show, when being combined with filler materials with or without active agents, different... Agent: Sheridan Ross PC

20080319548 - Artificial disc: An artificial disc includes an intermediate section which is disposed between upper and lower retainers. The intermediate section includes a first portion which resists rotation of one of the retainers, for example, the upper retainer, from a first position to a second position. A second portion of the intermediate section... Agent: Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.

20080319549 - Expandable support device and method of use: A device for separating a first bone from a second bone is disclosed. The device can be an expandable orthopedic jack. The device can be used to treat spinal stenosis. The device can be deployed between adjacent spinous processes and then increased in height to reduce pressure on nearby nerves.... Agent: Levine Bagade Han LLP

20080319550 - Interspinous spacer: An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes is provided. The spacer includes a body and a wing rotatable connected to the body. The wing includes two U-shaped configurations that together define a substantially H-shaped configuration for retaining the spacer between adjacent spinous processes. An actuator assembly is connected... Agent: Rimas Lukas Vertiflex, Inc.

20080319551 - Thioester-ester-amide copolymers: A poly(thioester ester amide) copolymer and method of making and using the same are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080319552 - Tubular prosthesis and associated kit: The tubular prosthesis (100) is radially deformable and comprises a lattice (112) that is deformable between a retracted state of small diameter and an expanded state of larger diameter. The prosthesis (100) comprises at least two outer hooks (118, 119) delimiting between them a clamp (116) for engaging in an... Agent: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.

20080319553 - Hand prosthesis and force transmission device: The invention relates to a hand prosthesis (1) comprising a chassis (2) to which at least one finger prothesis (3, 4, 5) is articulated, said finger prothesis being swivelable about at least one swiveling axis (15) by means of a drive (6) that is connected to the finger prothesis (3,... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080312730 - Balloon catheter device: Balloon catheters having the strength and maximum inflated diameter characteristics of an angioplasty balloon and having the recovery characteristics during deflation of an elastic embolectomy balloon. The balloon catheter can be made in very small sizes and has a lubricious and chemically inert outer surface. The balloon catheter is easy... Agent: Wayne D. House W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc

20080312728 - Method and device for aligning a stent with a stent support: A method for aligning a stent with a stent support includes the steps of (1) placing a stent support and a stent mounted on the stent support in a vertically position with the stent support's first support element at a lower position and the stent support's second support element at... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080312729 - Methods of tissue reconfiguration: An endoluminal treatment device and method includes introducing an endoluminal device into a lumen of a patient and engaging a wall of the lumen with an implant device. The implant device can be a drug delivery device or medical device.... Agent: Ethicon Endo-surgery/nutter, Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080312732 - Fenestrated stent grafts: A stent graft (1) including a tubular wall (3) with at least one fenestration (40) including a peripheral (37) reinforcement around at least part of the fenestration. There can also be a tubular extension (15). The side arm includes a stent (19) and a cover (17) and extends from and... Agent: Cook Group Patent Office

20080312731 - Medical devices: Medical devices including one or more ceramic fibers are disclosed. In some embodiments, each dimension of the ceramic fiber(s) is equal to or greater than one micron.... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080312733 - Shape memory polymeric stent: An implantable, radially distensible stent includes a plurality of helically wound elongate members. The members include an overlapping portion having a longitudinal extent, opposed and convexly rounded sides defining a width of the members and opposed luminal and exterior surfaces. The members include shape memory polymer. The side of one... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080312727 - Medical implant such a stent: A medical implant such as a self-expanding shape memory alloy stent with a strut matrix formed by cut patterns in a wall of a tubular workpiece (12) can be enhanced by arranging for the line of the laser beam when cutting the struts (62) to be one that does not... Agent: Proskauer Rose LLP

20080312734 - Stent: A stent shaped as a three-dimensional body which is formed by interlaced threads (1) arranged in multistart turns of a helical line. The threads (1) are arranged in at least two groups (2 and 3) of the helical turns featuring opposite senses of helix. The stent ends are established by... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080312735 - Combination valve and stent for treating vascular reflux: A stent and valve device assembly for manufacture using suitable biocompatible materials and for placement, preferably percutaneously, into a vascular lumen.... Agent: Baker & Daniels LLP

20080312736 - Implant having a surface-proximal magnesium-containing diffusion layer and associated production method: An implant comprising an implant material forming a base made of one or more metallic elements; a diffusion layer covering the base made of at least one of the metallic elements of the implant material and at least magnesium; and, optionally, a metal layer covering the diffusion layer made of... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20080312737 - Mono cusped patch and valved conduit for repairing cardiac outflow tract: A mono cusped patch for repairing cardiac outflow tract is disclosed in the present invention, which comprises an inner patch, an external supporting patch and a leaflet. An approximate semicircular slit is provided on the inner patch. The inferior border of the leaflet is set between the inner patch and... Agent: Christensen, O'connor, Johnson, Kindness, PLLC

20080312738 - Multifocal iol: Intraocular lens consisting of a centrally located lens part with supporting parts (haptics) on either side. According to the invention one supporting part is non-deformable and another supporting part, located approximately opposite said supporting part, is deformable. In this way it is achieved that when the ciliary cell contracts the... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080312739 - Biocompatible implant system and method: The invention relates to an implantable combination comprising a barrier (12), and a macromolecular bio-compatible material (14). The barrier (12) is porous to allow moieties of the macromolecular bio-compatible material (14), when implanted, to be exposed through the barrier, whereby the surface of the barrier is experienced by the body... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080312740 - Metal alloy for medical devices and implants: The present invention relates to a medical device or implant made at least in part of a high strength, low modulus metal alloy comprising Niobium, Tantalum, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zirconium, Tungsten and Molybdenum. The medical devices according to the present invention provide... Agent: Klaus P. Stoffel

20080312741 - Adjustable spine distraction implant: An adjustable spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume and/or cross sectional area in the spinal canal and/or neural foramen. The adjustable implant provides a spinal extension inhibitor. The implant includes elliptical or oval shaped adjustable member or spacer for positioning... Agent: David Lee, M.d. Suite 300

20080312742 - Anterior spinal fusion and fixation cage with integrated plate and method of use: The present invention provides a fixation and fusion cage with interlocking plate comprising a central cage portion and interlocking plate that rigidly attaches to the front of the cage. The cage can be varied in shape to account for various clinical necessities such as lordosis. The invention may be installed... Agent: Kimsey Patent Services, LLC

20080312743 - Nucleus prostheses: An nucleus prosthesis is disclosed having a plurality of linked segments configured to form, in a closed position, a disc shape. A method includes inserting a plurality of linked segments into an annulus fibrosus and closing the prosthesis so that a first segment inserted into the annulus fibrosus and a... Agent: Fish & Richardson P.C.

20080312744 - Supplementation or replacement of a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc: A degenerated nucleus pulposus located in a central core region of an intervertebral disc within the annulus fibrosus is supplemented or replaced by a method wherein an amount of a biocompatible material is introduced into the central core region by a process including the steps of 1) forming a channel... Agent: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP

20080312745 - Endoprosthesis with convex configuration: The invention relates to an endoprosthesis for replacement of a joint, in which slide surfaces that have different contours and correspondingly define movement planes for bearing are formed by an intermediate part. According to the invention, the intermediate part has a projection, preferably a convex projection, on at least one... Agent: Morrison & Foerster LLP

20080312746 - Femoral head calcar loading prosthesis: Provided is a novel hip replacement implant system that includes a ball assembly having a ball trunion, the ball assembly being configured as a replacement for the head of the femur and capable of being secured by the ball assembly trunion to a calcar implant element that can be securely... Agent: Perry E. Van Over & Associates, PLLC

20080312748 - Process for forming a ceramic layer: A process for forming a ceramic layer comprising a compound of a metal on a deposition surface of a workpiece comprises providing a reactive gas, selecting the amounts of a vapor of the metal and ions of the metal relative to each other, generating the metal vapor, and projecting an... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP (zimmer)

20080312749 - Single entry portal implant: A modular prosthesis that may be implanted in a highly minimally invasive manner. Specifically, the modular prosthesis may include a neck and an anchor. Both the neck and the anchor are configured to be inserted and connected together through a lateral aspect of a long bone adjacent to the proximal... Agent: Zimmer Technology - Baker & Daniels

20080312750 - Methods and devices for reconfiguring a body organ: An endoluminal treatment device and method includes introducing an endoluminal device into a lumen of a patient and engaging a wall of the lumen with an implant device. The implant device can be a drug delivery device or medical device.... Agent: Ethicon Endo-surgery/nutter, Mcclennen & Fish LLP

20080312747 - Systems and methods for the inspection of cylinders: A system for inspecting cylinders according to various aspects of the present invention generally includes a roller assembly comprising a plurality of rollers configured to hold the cylinder. A light source illuminates the cylinder and a camera produces an image of at least a portion of the cylinder as the... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080312751 - Tissue patches and related delivery systems and methods: Endoluminally delivered tissue patches and related systems and methods for delivering the tissue patches for treating lesions of the alimentary tract are disclosed. A tissue patch includes a substrate, a tissue implant attached to the substrate, and a protective liner covering at least a portion of the tissue implant. A... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080312752 - Modular prosthetic foot: A modular prosthetic foot characterized by an ankle component; a forefoot component having a circular part with a rounded top surface and at least one flat side surface, said circular part being connected to a rear part of the forefoot component; a forefoot cushion bumper positioned around the circular part;... Agent: Office Of The Staff Judge Advocate U.s. Army Medical Research And Materiel Command

20080312753 - Clutch module for prosthesis: The invention relates to a clutch module for prostheses, in particular for prosthetic grippers, arm prostheses or hand prostheses that comprise a chassis to which at least one finger prosthesis is articulated, the clutch module including a drive element, a driven element and a clutch device, which shifts between two... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080306580 - Blood acess apparatus and method: A blood access for dialysis includes a radially distensible support structure having an open lattice structure defining a support wall having interstitial open areas and defining exterior and luminal wall surfaces; a first porous polymeric portion having a plurality of pores, the first porous polymeric portion being securably disposed over... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080306579 - Drug loaded implantable medical device: A drug eluting implantable device includes an exterior surface on the device and at least one recess formed in the exterior surface. The device further include at least one sidewall protruding from the exterior surface adjacent the at least one recess defining a channel with the recess into which the... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080306582 - Implantable medical devices with elastomeric copolymer coatings: Implantable medical devices with elastomeric copolymer coatings are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080306581 - Streamlined stents: A stent for implantation within the body of a patient is disclosed. The stent can be formed from one or more stent modules comprising a plurality of stent struts, one or more of which have an inner contour designed for streamlined fluid flow when the stent is implanted within an... Agent: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.IPLegal Department

20080306583 - Hybrid ballon expandable/self-expanding stent: A stent comprises a tubular member having openings therein and having a plurality of interconnected members and one or more frangible restraining members. The frangible restraining members break upon partial expansion of the stent. Thereafter, the stent self-expands.... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20080306584 - Implantable medical devices for local and regional treatment: Implantable medical devices adapted to erodibly release delivery media for local and regional treatment are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080306585 - Thread for vascular stent and vascular stent using the thread: A thread for forming a vascular stent implanted in vessels is provided. This thread is formed by melt-spinning a biodegradable polymer. On the surface of the thread, there is formed a layer of a drug-containing biodegradable polymer of the same sort as the biodegradable polymer constituting the thread.... Agent: Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, LLP

20080306586 - Minimally invasive system for delivering and securing an annular implant: A delivery device for an annular implant is provided, comprising an annular implant having an adjustable dimension; a plurality of movable elongated deployment members, each having a proximal end and a distal end and an annular implant deployment region therebetween; and a distal joining member for joining the distal ends... Agent: Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP

20080306587 - Lens material and methods of curing with uv light: A polymeric material including a UV initiator, a UV absorber, and one or monomers, wherein the polymeric material is cured using UV light.... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080306588 - Accommodating intraocular lenses and methods of use: Accommodating intraocular lenses containing a flowable media and their methods of accommodation.... Agent: Shay Glenn LLP

20080306589 - Intraocular lens: An intraocular lens (10) is configured so that it can be incorporated into the capsule of an eye and its refractive power can be modified by the application of electrical voltages.... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20080306590 - Prosthesis and method of manufacturing a prosthesis: A prosthesis is disclosed which includes a filler material comprising a biocompatible granular substance. The prosthesis includes in a particular embodiment a human mammary prosthesis. The granular substance comprises a mixture of synthetic biocompatible cells and a lubricant. Also disclosed is an osmotic barrier which reduces the flow of lubricant... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20080306592 - Elastomeric copolymer coatings for implantable medical devices: Implantable medical devices with elastomeric copolymer coatings are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080306591 - Implantable medical devices with elastomeric block copolymer coatings: Implantable medical devices with elastomeric block copolymer coatings are disclosed.... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080306594 - Artificial intervertebral disc having a bored semispherical bearing with a compression locking post and retaining caps: An artificial intervertebral disc having a pair of opposing baseplates, for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, uses a semispherical, bored bearing that is secured to the baseplates with compression locking posts and one or more retaining caps. The compression locking posts extend through the bearing bore and baseplate apertures... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080306593 - Prosthetic spinal disc: Disc prostheses, particularly for use in the lumbar region of the spine are provided. The disc prosthesis includes a core of elastomeric material provided within an inner component of fabric. The inner component is provided within an outer component of fabric. By providing a smooth inner contact surface between the... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nuvasive, Inc.

20080306596 - Interbody fusion device and associated methods: A method and apparatus is provided for use in spinal fusion procedures. An interbody fusion device has a first piece that is a load bearing device designed to bear the axial loading from the end plates of adjacent vertebrae. A second piece of the interbody fusion device is a retention... Agent: Johnson & Associates

20080306597 - Invertebral disc prosthesis for the cervical spine in the dog: A cervical disc prosthesis or invertebral disc prosthesis that includes a first disc comprising a protrusion connected to a disc body and a convex surface facing a first cervical vertebra when implanted, and a second disc comprising a socket recessed in a disc body, and a convex surface facing a... Agent: Warf/bhgl

20080306595 - Porous implant for spinal disc nucleus replacement: A spinal implant is provided in which the implant includes a porous component (7) and one or more filling elements (22) provided within the porous component. Tissue in-growth is promoted.... Agent: Jonathan Spangler Nuvasive, Inc.

20080306598 - Spinal implant with biologic sponge: 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.

20080306599 - Spinal interbody device: A multi-material spinal interbody device includes an inner dampener of compressible material in combination with a rigid outer material. The rigidity of the outer periphery of curved surfaces of the device, such as in an eluipsoid shape, provide support as a replacement to the nucleus propulsus, with the inner dampener... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080306600 - Shoulder prosthesis: A system and method for installing a shoulder prosthesis. The method includes removing the original humeral head and shaping the proximal end of the humerus with one or more implements to prepare the humerus to receive the shoulder prosthesis.... Agent: Kolisch Hartwell, P.C.

20080306601 - Partial humeral head prosthesis: A humeral prosthesis includes a stem component and a partial humeral head component. The partial humeral head component has a configuration that is similar to the curvature of the humeral head to allow the head to reconstruct the anatomy of the damaged humerus. The stem component is threaded and cannulated... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080306602 - Tibia cement impaction system: A tibial cement impaction system and method are characterized by disposable frame and plunger elements which are used to drive bone cement under pressure into apertures formed in the top surface of the tibia to prevent a subsequently applied tibia plate or component of a knee prosthesis from loosening from... Agent: Laubscher & Laubscher, P.C.

20080306603 - Modular implant part and knee joint prosthesis: In order to improve a modular implant part for replacing a part of a natural knee joint with an implant component comprising a shaft extending away from the implant component and a connecting device for connecting the shaft to the implant component such that the shaft is adapted to be... Agent: Lipsitz & Mcallister, LLC

20080306604 - Orthopaedic device and procedure to realize such a device: An orthopaedic device (1) for the mobile connection of a first and a second bony segment (4, 5) of an organic device for cooperating with or substituting a natural articulation comprising a first working surface (9) related to the first cooperating segment (4) with a second working surface (10) related... Agent: Pearne & Gordon LLP

20080306605 - Method of preparing an ankle joint for replacement, joint prosthesis, and cutting alignmnet apparatus for use in performing an arthroplasty procedure: A method prepares an ankle joint of a patient for replacement. The patient includes a tibia (20) having a medial portion (22), a talus (40), and an ankle (10) having a medial portion. The method employs a cutting alignment apparatus (50) including a first portion external to the patient and... Agent: Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott

20080306606 - Acetabular shell: An acetabular cup assembly for a prosthetic hip joint is disclosed. This assembly includes an outer shell having at least one shell extension, an adaptor having at least one adaptor extension, and an insert. The inclusion of an extension on the outer shell and an extension on the adaptor allows... Agent: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik

20080306607 - Material for repairing biological tissues and process for producing the same: A bone substitute (a material for repairing biological tissues) made from β-TCP as the raw material comprises a plate-type base member on the surface of which a plurality of grooves extending in a single direction are formed and separated from each other by partition wall members having an almost uniform... Agent: Scully Scott Murphy & Presser, PC

20080306608 - Osteochondral plug graft, kit and method: Each of an osteochondral plug graft and a kit comprises a trapezoid shaped construct configured for osteochondral implanting. An osteochondral regeneration method comprises forming a recipient socket in a chondral area of an articular joint in need of repair; harvesting a trapezoid shaped graft from another chondral area; and implanting... Agent: Medtronic Spinal And Biologics

20080306609 - Fixation of elastomer to rigid structures: A surgical implant, especially an artificial intervertebral disc, includes a rigid substrate (513) having a porous attachment structure (512) that covers a portion of the substrate and an elastomeric body (510) that is fastened to the substrate by impregnating the porous attachment structure. The porous attachment structure has a net... Agent: Miles & Stockbridge PC

20080306611 - Biocompatible implants and methods of making and attaching the same: The invention provides a biocompatible silicone implant that can be securely affixed to living tissue through interaction with integral membrane proteins (integrins). A silicone article containing a laser-activated surface is utilized to make the implant. One example is an implantable prosthesis to treat blindness caused by outer retinal degenerative diseases.... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20080306610 - Tissue processing for nonimmunogenic implants: Methods for processing tissues to render them suitable for implantation, e.g. in an orthopedic site. Tissues are rendered substantially acellular and substantially nonimmunogenic by exposure to processes that result in cell lysis, increasing permeability of the extracellular matrix, degrading the debris from lysis, and removing the debris. Methods of forming... Agent: Wood, Herron & Evans, LLP (zimmer)

20080306612 - Artificial foot: The invention relates to an artificial foot with a connecting part for a lower leg part, a forefoot part which is pivotably connected to the connecting part by means of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element in such a way that an angular position of the connecting... Agent: Faegre & Benson LLP Patent Docketing

20080300666 - Bifurcated delivery system and method: A catheter assembly includes an elongate main catheter branch and an elongate side catheter branch. The main catheter branch includes an arc shape and an inflatable balloon extending along a portion of the arc. The side catheter branch extends along the main catheter branch within a plane of the curvature... Agent: Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC

20080300667 - System for delivering a stent: A stent delivery system comprising a guide having a retention member configured to exert either an internal force or an external force on the stent to assist in retaining the stent on the guide.... Agent: Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason, P.c

20080300672 - Devices and methods for magnetic tissue support: Devices and methods are disclosed for providing tissue support within the body. A metallic component and a magnetic component are used and allowed to interact through the body of the tissue such that the attractive forces between these components provides the external support needed by that tissue to properly function... Agent: Ice Miller LLP

20080300670 - Fabricating a stent from a blow molded tube: Disclosed is a method for fabricating a stent, the method comprising: positioning a polymeric tube inside a mold, wherein a high thermally conductive element covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the mold, the high thermally conductive element having a thermal conductivity that is greater than that... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080300669 - In situ trapping and delivery of agent by a stent having trans-strut depots: A method of delivering an agent into a bodily lumen, the method comprising: implanting an implantable medical device into a treatment site of a lumen, the device having an abluminal face and a luminal face, wherein the device includes depots that extend from an open end at a luminal face... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP

20080300673 - Radiopaque compositions, stents and methods of preparation: The invention relates to an implantable radiopaque stent adapted to be disposed in a body lumen. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of elongate filaments including one or more radiopaque filaments are arranged to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall that defines an inner surface... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080300671 - Stent having high expansion ratio: An expandable frame movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration includes at least one first member. The at least one first member includes a plurality of substantially parallel first struts and a plurality of second struts. Each second strut is coupled between adjacent first struts and is substantially... Agent: Patrick W. Rasche Armstrong Teasdale LLP

20080300668 - Stent/fiber structural combinations: A plurality of endoluminal segments axially connected by fiber bridges is disclosed. The endoluminal segments may either be balloon-expandable or self-expanding, with the preferred embodiment being superelastic nitinol. The intraluminal segments may possess a textured surface or at least one geometric feature per segment, preferably located at the apex of... Agent: Philip S. Johnson Johnson & Johnson

20080300674 - Intravascular stent: A stent comprises a first expansion strut column of first expansion strut pairs and a second expansion strut column of second expansion strut pairs. Each first expansion strut pair is connected to a second expansion strut pair by a connecting strut. Each connecting strut comprises at least one wrap portion,... Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A.

20080300665 - Medical implant, in particular stent: A medical implantable stent comprising a main structure (1) composed of deformable struts (2), which are preferably machined from a tubular blank (3) by laser cutting. A fine structure (4) made of a wire-like or thread-like material attached to the struts (2) of the main structure (1).... Agent: Powell Goldstein LLP

20080300675 - Polymeric stents and other surgical articles: A biocompatible non-memory expandable polymeric article selected from stents, implantable prostheses, catheters, other surgical articles and sealants for implantable prostheses, and which is at least in part biodegradable and includes a combination where hollow cylindrical element (2) is depicted in cutaway form to reveal helical element (4), terminated schematically at... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080300676 - Heart valve prosthesis: A heart valve prosthesis disclosed in two- and three-leaflet versions includes a ring-shaped body, leaflets, and leaflet turn stops. For the two-leaflet version, the stops represent two pairs of prominences located on a body end surface facing the blood down-flow. The first pair has internal surfaces, at least partially made... Agent: Rader, Fishman & Grauer PLLC

20080300677 - Method of treatment and devices for the treatment of left ventricular failure: The effects of acute left ventricular heart failure are mitigated by temporary support of the cardiac function through use of either one or both of an expendable temporary one-way valve positioned in the aorta, having a collapsible frame that is expanded upon deployment, and/or a temporary dilation device positioned in... Agent: Kenneth Watov, Esq. Watov & Kipnes, P.C.

20080300678 - Percutaneous valve, system and method: Apparatus, systems, and methods for percutaneous valve replacement and/or augmentation are provided. The apparatus includes a valve having a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame, and a leaflet transition member coupled to the valve leaflet. The valve leaflet and leaflet transition member can transition from a... Agent: Brooks, Cameron & Huebsch, PLLC

20080300679 - Diffractive intraocular lens: An IOL, comprising a first diffractive region, and a second diffractive region having a power of a different magnitude than the first diffractive region, the first region adapted to diffract substantially all light at a first selected wavelength projected therethrough into a single order of diffraction, and the second region... Agent: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated

20080300680 - Accommodating intraocular lens (aiol) and discrete components therefor: Accommodating intraocular (AIOL) assemblies (31) for enabling post implantation in situ manual selective displacement of an AIOL (33) along a human eye's visual axis relative to stationary anchor points. Axial displacement may be over a continuous range or alternatively at discrete axial stopping positions typically from about 100 μm to... Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

20080300681 - Biological tissue growth through induced tensile stress: A tissue expansion device implanted in a non-activated state over a region of desired tissue growth. Once implanted and positioned the device is activated creating a supporting structure that creates a convex shaped dome over the underlying tissue. The convex shaped dome formed by the tissue expansion device places a... Agent: Allergan, Inc.

20080300682 - Sintered coatings for implantable prostheses: The present invention concerns articles having an outer surface that bears at least two layers of metal particles, wherein the at least two layers comprise an outermost layer and an intermediate layer; the outermost layer consisting essentially of aspherical metallic particles having a mean particle size of 50 to 500... Agent: Woodcock Washburn LLP

20080300683 - Prosthetic device and method of manufacturing the same: A knitted prosthetic device has at least two knitted sections, where each knitted section has at least one row of fiber. The knitted prosthetic device also has at least one intra-articular section disposed between the at least two knitted sections. In addition, the at least one intra-articular section has at... Agent: David S. Resnick

20080300684 - System and method for controlled delivery of bone morphogenic protein and other bone graft substitutes for bone formation, repair and healing: An implant system delivers bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and other substances to the human body. The implant system includes an intake module for receiving the BMP and other substances. The intake module includes a reservoir implanted at least partially in the body. The implant system includes a delivery module implanted... Agent: Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Intellectual Property Section

20080300686 - Percutaneous interspinous process device and method: A percutaneous interspinous process device for treating spinal conditions includes a first section, a second section, and a locking mechanism. The first section defines a first lateral surface, a first medial surface and a first lumen extending from the first lateral surface to the first medial surface. The second section... Agent: Carter, Deluca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP

20080300685 - Posterior total joint replacement: A prosthetic system for implantation between upper and lower vertebrae comprises an upper joint component. The upper joint component comprises an upper contact surface and an upper articulation surface. The system further includes a lower joint component. The lower joint component comprises a lower contact surface and a lower articulation... Agent: Haynes And Boone, LLP

20080300687 - Medical implantation device for spine: A medical implantation device for spine is disclosed which includes a flexible container with one end thereof being provided with an infusion end and having one or more layers of flexible peripheral wall; and a tubular component receiving the flexible container with the infusion end and another end of the... Agent: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC

20080300688 - Intervertebral implant component with three points of contact: A method of implanting an intervertebral implant or component thereof, in which each component is selected to have an inner surface and an outer surface which engages an adjacent vertebra and presents only three distinct points of contact with a cortical rim of the vertebra. The outer surface is selected... Agent: Stites & Harbison PLLC

20080300689 - Patellar components: Embodiments of the present invention provide patellar component designs that are optimally shaped to help reduce shear force and accommodate slight implantation error. Further, they help lessen anterior knee pain, particularly during deep-flexion activities and help ease the transition during the range of knee movement in a controlled way.... Agent: Chief Patent Counsel Smith & Nephew, Inc.

20080300690 - Mobile bearing knee prosthesis: In one embodiment of the present invention a mobile bearing knee prosthesis may include an interface (e.g., a spherical radius interface) comprised of a concave superior surface on a tray and a convex inferior surface on a tibial insert. In another embodiment of the present invention a mobile bearing knee... Agent: Greenberg Traurig, LLP

20080300691 - Biomimetic synthetic nerve implant casting device: A biomimetic biosynthetic nerve implant (BNI) casting device includes a matrix casting tube; a matrix casting tube protective shield comprising a male coupling portion joinable to a female coupling portion, wherein the joined portions encase the matrix casting tube; microchannel forming fibers; a fixing point for holding one end of... Agent: Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P.

20080300692 - Prosthetic ankle and foot combination: A prosthetic ankle and foot combination has an ankle joint mechanism constructed to allow damped rotational movement of a foot component relative to a shin component. The mechanism provides a continuous hydraulically damped range of ankle motion during walking with dynamically variable damping resistances, and with independent variation of damping... Agent: Alston & Bird LLP