An expansible ear canal insert for treating TMJ disorders and headaches which acts directly on the TMJ and associated ligament and muscle structures to reduce stress and loads placed on the articulator disc located between the temporal bone and the mandible, as well as supportive muscles and ligaments near the TMJ. The insert is adapted to expand by application of body heat. In the expanded condition, the insert provides support to the TMJ and associated ligament and muscle structures.

The disclosure provides biodegradable implantable devices such as a stent comprising a biodegradable polymeric wherein the polymeric material is treated to control crystallinity and/or Tg. The stent is capable to expand at body temperature in a body lumen from a crimped configuration to a deployed diameter and have sufficient strength to support a body lumen.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a fixation device including a median zone having a substantially triangular shape; a first fixation zone including first and second tabs that, in a separated configuration, extend away from each other from an end of the median zone, the first fixation zone having a first region adjacent the median zone and a second region adjacent the first region. Also, within the first region of the first fixation zone, an inner surface of each of the first and second tabs of the first fixation zone extends outwardly and proximally from the median zone to a first point to form an arch, and from the first point, the inner surface of each of the first and second tabs extends toward a second point. Further, within the second region of the first fixation zone, the inner surface of each of the first and second tabs of the first fixation zone extends outwardly from each second point to a respective third point so that the inner surface of each of the first and second tabs from the second point to the third point is arcuate and convex.

A system and method for a stent delivery system, the delivery system having a catheter and a balloon coupled to a distal portion of the catheter. The catheter with the radially expandable member is inserted into a cavity in a mold. Heat and pressure are applied for a period of time which inflates the balloon and imparts a shape memory to a portion of the balloon. The balloon is removed from the cavity of the mold with a shape memory.

An apparatus includes a component having a shape memory material. The shape memory material has a first shape including a substantially elongate segment. The shape memory material has a second shape including a helix having a first ring and a second ring configured to exert a compressive force on a membrane interleaved between the first ring and the second ring and lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the helix, the shape selectable based on an external stimulus.

The present invention comprises an implant for placing inside the eye such that the implant comes into contact with the interior tissue of the eye such that it conforms to the inner globe geometry of the eye. Implants of the present invention may also be used to alter the focal length of the eye thereby providing a treatment method for the correction of myopia and hyperopia. The device may consist of several possible configurations, an open mesh structure, a solid metal ring, a solid polymer shape, a mesh polymer shape or combination of these. The shape may be a curve, a sphere, a ring or a combination thereof that are specifically shaped to approximate a desired portion of the interior globe of the eye in order to treat myopia or hyperopia.

Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of belts or bands that can be used in treatments for tricuspid valve regurgitation. In some embodiments, such belts may be heat-set in a particular configuration to effectively decrease tricuspid annulus when deployed around the atrioventricular groove. Embodiments include one or more tensioning sutures for applying cinching or tightening to belts when deployed, and structure for effectively distributing force during such tightening. Embodiments of tensioning members, protective members, and devices and methods for open-surgical placement (e.g. around a heart for annuloplasty) are also disclosed.

An annuloplasty repair segment for heart valve annulus repair and a method for forming. A multi-stranded cable replaces solid core wire for both the tricuspid and mitral valves which allows for greater deployment flexibility for minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) implant, while still maintaining the required strength and similar tensile properties of solid-core wire. The particular shape of the annuloplasty ring is fixed using a heat setting process including heating the flexible core member to a temperature higher than 500 C. and holding it in a desired heat-set saddle shape for a period of time. The core is then rapidly cooled to impart physical properties such that the flexible core member can be straightened, during implantation, to fit through a tubular access device and regain the heat-set saddle shape after exiting the access device and, when attached to the native heart valve, the flexible core member is strong enough to remodel the native heart valve.

Described herein are devices and methods for treating eye conditions. Described is an ocular implant including an elongate member having an internal lumen forming a flow pathway, at least one inflow port communicating with the flow pathway, and at least one outflow port communicating with the flow pathway. The elongate member is adapted to be positioned in the eye such that at least one inflow port communicates with the anterior chamber, at least one outflow port communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid pathway between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space when the elongate member is implanted in the eye. The elongate member has a wall material imparting a stiffness to the elongate member. The stiffness is selected such that after implantation the elongate member deforms eye tissue surrounding the suprachoroidal space forming a tented volume.

The present invention relates to a radially collapsible frame (1) for a prosthetic valve, the frame (1) comprising an outflow end region (3) at a proximal end of the frame (1) and an inflow end region (2) at a distal end of the frame (1), opposite to the outflow end region (3). The frame (1) further includes at least two radially spaced commissure attachment regions 910, 10, 10) and a cell structure (30), composed of a plurality of lattice cells being arranged radially around a flow axis of the frame (1) and connecting the at least two commissure attachment regions (10, 10, 10). Finally, at least one anchoring/positioning arch (20, 20, 20) is provided, wherein said at least one anchoring/positioning arch (20, 20, 20) radially overlaps the cell structure (30) at least partially. In order to form the inventive frame from as a single piece, the invention further relates to a method comprising bending the at least one anchoring/positioning arch (20, 20, 20) towards the cell structure (30) of the frame (1).