Intraocular lenses with pressure sensors embedded therein, and methods of manufacture.

A method for manufacturing a breast implant includes producing a silicone shell of the breast implant by rotating a mold containing a silicone material to evenly spread the silicone material over an inner surface of the mold. Subsequently, an elastic filler material including silicone foam is formed in the shell by (i) injecting into the mold a mixture comprising silicone gel and gas bubbles and (ii) rotating the mold to homogenize the mixture.

At a high level, disclosed herein is a bioprinter configured to fabricate a single but highly complex and multi-material regenerative scaffold compared to a more traditional approach of mass production of simple shapes. In an embodiment, printer may include a multi-head, multi-axial bio-printer for extrusion printing and laser manipulation of scaffold and/or organic materials specific to a particular tissue such as without limitation customized vascularized bone graft or joint replacement tissue. Printer may facilitate controlled deposition of cells, biologics, and/or scaffold and organic materials in controlled, mixed gradients.

The present disclosure provides soft block copolymer segments of Formula 1 for thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurethaneurea elastomer materials and their reaction products with divalent compounds, such as diisocyanates, chain extenders and optional additional polyols or polyamines. Also disclosed herein are methods for the production of the soft block copolymer segments, and possible applications of these materials in the formation of biomaterials for articles including medical devices such as implants, heart valves and drug delivery devices.

An device for treating a native valve includes a sealing element and an anchoring element. The sealing element is made from a braided mesh material. The sealing element is dimensioned to be deployed in an annulus of a native valve of a heart at a position between native valve leaflets to contact the native valve leaflets during ventricular systole to create a seal to prevent regurgitation of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium. The sealing element is configured to both be radially expanded and radially reduced while at the position between the native valve leaflets. The anchoring element is adapted for deployment in the heart, the anchoring element coupled to the sealing element and configured to support the sealing element at the desired position between native valve leaflets.

A catheter device is described. The device is for implanting a leaflet anchor (10) into the heart as part of a procedure for implanting an artificial chordae line (14). The catheter device comprises: a leaflet anchor (10) for attachment to the leaflet (12) of the heart; and a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6), (30), (38) for deploying the leaflet anchor (10). The leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6), (30), (38) allows for retraction and repositioning of the leaflet anchor (10) after deployment of the anchor (10) into the leaflet (12) via an ejector unit (36) having a grasping device (50) with a first configuration arranged to permit deployment of the leaflet anchor (10) into the leaflet (12) without disengagement of the leaflet anchor (10) from the ejector unit (34), and a second configuration in which the leaflet anchor (10) is reversibly released from the ejector unit (36). In the first configuration the grasping device (50) of the ejector unit (36) grasps a proximal end of the leaflet anchor (10), whilst a distal end of the leaflet anchor (10) is unimpeded by the grasping device (50) to enable it to be implanted in the leaflet (12). In the second configuration the grasping device (50) is disengaged from the leaflet anchor (10).

The invention provides an inflatable insertion device capable of being percutaneously introduced into a patient's body. The insertion device comprises an inflatable element having a distal end and a proximal end and which is operable between a collapsed condition and an inflated condition by introducing an inflating fluid therein. An elongate member extends internally of the inflatable element from its distal end. The internal member is capable of being withdrawn towards the proximal end of the inflatable element to result in the distal end of the element being withdrawn towards the proximal end internally of the element. The invention further provides a locating device comprising a catheter having a catheter tube fitted with one or more inflatable insertion devices at a distal end thereof.

A surgical implant (20) comprises a flexible, areal basic structure (22) having a first face and a second face and being provided with pores (26) extending from the first face to the second face. A barrier layer (24) having a first face and a second face is placed, with its second face, at the first face of the basic structure (2) and attached to the basic structure (22). The barrier layer (24) is deformed into at least part of the pores (26) where it forms, in a respective pore (10), a barrier region (28).

A catheter device is described. The device is for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) in the heart. The catheter device comprises: a leaflet anchor (10) for placement in a leaflet (12) of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor (10) is arranged to be coupled to the artificial chordae line (14); and a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) for deploying the leaflet anchor (10), wherein the leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) comprises a mechanical gripper device (30, 32, 32′), for grasping the leaflet (12), wherein the gripper device (30, 32, 32′) comprises a leaflet anchor tube 38 for housing the leaflet anchor (10) in a folded configuration. The gripper device (6, 30, 38) and the leaflet anchor (10) are arranged such that when, in use, the gripper device (6, 30, 38) grasps the leaflet (12), the leaflet anchor (10) can be pushed out of the leaflet anchor tube (38) to pierce the leaflet (12) and form the leaflet anchor (10) into an unfolded configuration so that hooked formations of the leaflet anchor (10) can, in use, secure the leaflet anchor (10) in the leaflet (12). The mechanical gripper device (6, 30, 38) includes a first gripper arm (30) rotatably coupled to a main body (4) of the catheter device so that the gripper arm (30) can rotate relative to the catheter device to move an outer end (42) of the first gripper arm (30) away from the main body (4) of the catheter device and a second gripper arm (32, 32′) rotatably and/or slideably coupled to the main body (4) of the catheter device so that the second gripper arm (32, 32′) can rotate and/or slide relative to the main body (4) of the catheter device to move an outer end 46 of the second gripper arm (32, 32′) away from the main body (4). The first and second gripper arms (30, 32, 32′) are arranged so that they can move to come into contact with one another at a point spaced apart from the main body (4) of the catheter device.

An exemplary implantable prosthetic device has a coaption element and at least one anchor. The coaption element is configured to be positioned within the native heart valve orifice to help fill a space where the native valve is regurgitant and form a more effective seal. The coaption element can have a structure that is impervious to blood and that allows the native leaflets to close around the coaption element during ventricular systole to block blood from flowing from the left or right ventricle back into the left or right atrium, respectively. The coaption element can be connected to leaflets of the native valve by the anchor.