A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer and an elastomer present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.

A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.

Aspects of the present invention provide implants for augmentation, stabilization, or defect reconstruction of bone tissue, comprising a scaffold portion structured to provide shape to the implant, the scaffold portion comprising one or more of the following: one or more polylactic acid isomer; one or more polyglycolic acid isomer; and/or allogenic bone material, or similar compound.

A prosthetic heart valve may include a balloon-expandable frame extending between an inflow end and an outflow end, a plurality of prosthetic leaflets mounted within the frame, and an inner skirt positioned between the plurality of prosthetic leaflets and the frame. The frame may include a first row of diamond-shaped cells at the inflow end of the frame, a second row of diamond-shaped cells, and a row of outflow cells positioned at the outflow end of the frame. Each cell in the row of outflow cells may not be diamond-shaped, and, in an expanded condition of the frame, each cell in the row of outflow cells may have a larger area than that of each cell in the first and second rows of diamond-shaped cells. Each outflow cell may be at least partially defined by a commissure attachment feature, and each outflow cell may lack symmetry.

A method and device for reducing paravalvular leakage upon implantation of a replacement heart valve is provided. The valve assembly includes a tissue or bioprosthetic heart valve attached to an anchoring structure. The anchoring structure includes an inlet rim that is substantially C-shaped in cross section to form a concave landing zone. The anchoring structure self-seats when implanted in the sinus of a patient with the proximal and distal ends of the C-shaped inlet rim pushed against the aorta to effectively prevent paravalvular leakage.

Aspects of the present invention provide implants for augmentation, stabilization, or defect reconstruction of bone tissue, comprising a scaffold portion structured to provide shape to the implant, the scaffold portion comprising one or more of the following: one or more polylactic acid isomer; one or more polyglycolic acid isomer; and/or allogenic bone material, or similar compound.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.