A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

A method and device for detecting leaks of a containment barrier. The method may comprise placing the barrier in contact with one or more volumes of fluid such that the one or more volumes of fluid is in contact with a first surface and a second surface of the containment barrier, then placing a first electrode in contact with a first volume of fluid within in a first area defined by the first surface of the containment barrier. The method may then comprise placing a second electrode in contact with a second volume of fluid in a second area defined by the second surface of the containment barrier, measuring electrical conductivity between the first and second electrodes; and determining a presence of a leak in the containment barrier based on a calculation using properties of the one or more volumes of fluid, the containment barrier, and the measured electrical conductivity.

A manipulator includes a pair of flexible operating bodies including a horizontal plate spring, a curved vertical plate spring, a shaft body, and an operation portion. The pair of flexible operating bodies overlaps such that a second flexible operating body on one side is opposite to a first flexible operating body on the other side, and is linked to each other to be rotatable by a pin penetrating respective shaft bodies. In a holder that supports both ends of the pin, a pair of outer horizontal plate springs that has the horizontal plate springs of each of the pair of flexible operating bodies to be interposed in parallel between the holder and extends in the same direction as the horizontal plate spring is integrally formed.

A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting member having a plurality of sharp edges is formed from a wear-resistant ceramic material is carried at the distal end of the elongated sleeve. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the sleeve at cutting member at high RPMs to cut bone and other hard tissue. An electrode is carried in a distal portion of ceramic cutting member for RF ablation of tissue when the sleeve and cutting member are is a stationary position. In methods of use, (i) the ceramic member can be engaged against bone and then rotated at high speed to cut bone tissue, and (ii) the ceramic member can be held in a stationary (non-rotating) position to engage tissue and RF energy can be delivered to the electrode to create a plasma that ablates tissue.

A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting member extends distally from the distal end of the elongated sleeve, and has sharp cutting edges. The cutting head is formed from a wear-resistant ceramic material, and a motor coupled to the proximal end of elongated sleeve rotate the cutting member. The cutter is engaged against bone and rotated to cut bone tissue without leaving any foreign particles in the site.

A marker element for an implant is made from a planar or hollow body-shaped semi-finished product. The semi-finished product is subjected to a plasma-electrolytic treatment on one side, so that a marker element with a surface that is porous on one side is produced.

Implants for prevention of cold welding, corrosion and tissue overgrowth on surfaces between medical implant components include a first medical implant component having a first implant contact surface, a second medical implant component having a second implant contact surface positionally interfacing with the first implant contact surface of the first medical implant and a separation coating material on at least one of the first implant contact surface and the second implant contact surface. Methods for prevention of cold welding and/or corrosion between and/or tissue/bone overgrowth on implant components and methods of scaling an interface between a first implant component and a second implant component in a prosthesis system are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a flexible catheter (1) with a drive shaft (2), with a sleeve (6) surrounding the drive shaft (2) and with a sheath (7) surrounding the drive shaft (2) and the sleeve (6), wherein the drive shaft, the sleeve (6) and the sheath (7) are pliable, wherein the drive shaft (2) at a proximal end of the drive shaft (2) comprises a coupling element (5) for connecting the drive shaft (2) to a drive motor (18), wherein the drive shaft (2) at least regionally consist of a alloy which contains at least 10% by weight of chromium, nickel and cobalt in each case. The invention moreover relates to a blood pump arrangement with such a catheter.

Methods for prevention of cold welding and/or corrosion between and/or tissue/bone overgrowth on implant components may include obtaining a first medical implant component having a first implant contact surface; obtaining a second medical implant component having a second implant contact surface, the second implant contact surface adapted for placement into contact with the first implant contact surface, the first implant contact surface and the second implant contact surface encompassing all points of contact between the first medical implant component and the second medical implant component; and applying a nonmetallic biocompatible separation coating material having a wax formulation on at least one of the first implant contact surface and the second implant contact surface, the nonmetallic biocompatible separation coating material separates the first implant contact surface from the second implant contact surface at all of the points of contact between the first medical implant component and the second medical implant component. Medical implant for prevention of cold welding, corrosion and tissue overgrowth on medical implant components are also disclosed.

The present disclosure provides for a bone screw that may include a first portion extending from a first end to a second end in a longitudinal direction, for example. The first portion may have a head that defines the first end and a shank that defines the second end. Additionally, the first portion may include a metallic material and/or be formed of a metallic material, for example Titanium. The second portion may be mechanically coupled to the first portion and surround the shank, for example the second portion is screwed to the first portion or the second portion may be directly formed to the first portion by an overmold process. The second portion may have an exposed thread pattern and an exposed leading tip. Additionally, the second portion may include a thermoplastic material and/or be formed of a thermoplastic material such as PEEK.