Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the delivery of a prosthetic mitral valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an epicardial pad configured to engage an outside surface of a heart to secure a prosthetic heart valve in position within the heart. The epicardial pad defines a lumen configured to receive therethrough a tether extending from the prosthetic valve. The epicardial pad is movable between a first configuration in which the epicardial pad has a first outer perimeter and is configured to be disposed within a lumen of a delivery sheath and a second configuration in which the epicardial pad has a second outer perimeter greater than the first outer perimeter. The epicardial pad can be disposed against the outside surface of the heart when in the second configuration to secure the prosthetic valve and tether in a desired position within the heart.

A method for placing an implant on a patient in a robotic surgical procedure using a robotic system. During the robotic surgical procedure, a navigation system tracks the patient. The navigation system also provides information to the robotic system to guide movement of a cutting tool to remove material from the patient such that a cut surface is created to receive the implant. The implant is then robotically placed on the cut surface.

Devices, systems and methods are described herein to provide improved steerability for delivering a prosthesis to a body location, for example, for delivering a replacement mitral valve to a native mitral valve location. A delivery component can have a plurality of slots that provide for desired bending of the delivery component, particularly compound bending of the delivery component that can facilitate steering of the delivery component in three dimensions.

An interventional medical device delivery system comprises a loader provided with a loading tube, a delivery sheath, a dilator, a pushing component, and a hemostasis valve. The loading tube or the delivery sheath is provided with a position-limiting locking connector. An appropriate-rotation control mechanism for controlling a tightening degree between a distal end of the loading tube and a proximal end of the delivery sheath is disposed outside the loading tube or the delivery sheath. The proximal end of the delivery sheath and the distal end of the loading tube engage with each other in a sealed manner, and are threadingly fixed to each other by means of the position-limiting locking connector. The appropriate-rotation control mechanism rotates in one direction to appropriately tighten a thread-connection, and rotates in the opposite direction to release the thread-connection. The interventional medical device conveying system of the invention automatically determines a tightening degree.

Constrained prosthesis for the knee joint including a femoral component, a tibial component and an intermediate component, wherein the femoral component is suitable for being constrained to an end of the femoral bone in proximity to the knee joint, wherein the tibial component is suitable for being constrained to an end of the tibial bone in proximity to the knee joint, the femoral component being suitable for coming into contact and being articulated with the tibial component, wherein the intermediate component is placed in use between the femoral component and the tibial component and wherein the constrained prosthesis comprises a first hinge and a second hinge adapted to rotatably constrain the femoral component to the tibial component.

Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the transvascular delivery and deployment of a prosthetic mitral valve. In some embodiments, a method includes inverting an outer frame of a prosthetic mitral valve when the valve is in a biased expanded configuration. After inverting the outer frame, the prosthetic mitral valve is inserted into a lumen of a delivery sheath such that the mitral valve is moved to a collapsed configuration. The distal end portion of the delivery sheath is inserted into a left atrium of a heart. The prosthetic mitral valve is moved distally out of the delivery sheath such that the inverted outer frame reverts and the prosthetic mitral valve assumes its biased expanded configuration. In some embodiments, actuation wires are used to assist in the reversion of the outer frame. The prosthetic mitral valve is then positioned within a mitral annulus of the heart.

A prosthetic attachment for a prosthetic limb. A base is attached to the prosthetic limb. The base has a magnet that is surrounded by base valleys and base peaks. An attachment piece is attached to the prosthetic attachment. The attachment piece also has a magnet that is surrounded by attachment piece valleys and attachment piece peaks. The magnetic force between the base magnet and the attachment piece magnet attracts the prosthetic attachment to the prosthetic limb so that the base peaks and valleys mates with the attachment piece peaks and valleys for a secure removable attachment. In a preferred embodiment a locking device is used to further secure the prosthetic attachment to the prosthetic limb. In a preferred embodiment the prosthetic attachment is a prosthetic hand and the prosthetic limb is a prosthetic arm.

The present invention provides valve prostheses adapted to be initially crimped in a narrow configuration suitable for catheterization through body ducts to a target location and adapted to be deployed by exerting substantially radial forces from within by means of a deployment device to a deployed state in the target location.

The present disclosure relates to a fastening system for fastening a first component on a second component, wherein the first component has a first bearing surface and a first direction of extent, and the second component has a second bearing surface and a second direction of extent, and an included angle between the first direction of extent and the second direction of extent is adjustable steplessly within an angle range. The fastening system has a clamp element with which the first component can be fastened on the second component when the first bearing surface lies on the second bearing surface, and, in the fastened state of the two components, at least one force-transmitting element is clamped between the two bearing surfaces.

A valve prosthesis and methods for implanting the prosthesis are provided. The prosthesis generally includes a self-expanding frame and two or more engagement arms. A valve prosthesis is sutured to the self-expanding frame. Each engagement arm corresponds to a native mitral valve leaflet. At least one engagement arm immobilizes the native leaflets, and holds the native leaflets close to the main frame. The prosthetic mitral valve frame also includes two or more anchor attachment points. Each anchor attachment point is attached to one or more anchors that help attach the valve prosthesis to the heart.