A heart valve assembly has a heart valve assembly that has an anchor section, a generally cylindrical valve support section, and a neck section that transitions between the anchor section and the valve support section. A plurality of supports extend radially outwardly in an annular manner about an upper end of the valve support section, and the anchor section has an annular flange that extends radially therefrom, so that an annular space is defined between the annular flange and the annular supports for receiving or capturing the native annulus when the heart valve is deployed. The heart valve assembly also includes a leaflet assembly having a plurality of leaflets that are stitched to the valve support section and which are positioned on an inflow side of the neck section.

A device for improving the function of a heart valve comprises: a support member formed from a shape memory material, and a restraining member providing a restraining action on a course of the support member. The support member may abut one side of the valve conforming to the shape of the valve annulus upon said shape memory material assuming an activated shape while the restraining member restrains the course of the support member. The restraining action is removable for allowing the support member to assume a desired, altered course. The restraining member may be biodegradable to be degraded within a patient or may be detachable from the support member to be withdrawn. The support member according to another embodiment presents a shape change in that an increased cross-section is associated with a shortened length of the support member. The support member according to yet another embodiment has a first and a second activated shape.

Methods of using a medical device having catheter with one or more expandable constricting/occluding members for preventing distal embolization during extracranial or intracranial carotid procedures or vertebral artery procedures by augmenting collateral cerebral circulation by coarctation of the aorta to enhance reversal of blood flow in an internal carotid artery, an external carotid artery, and/or a common carotid artery are disclosed. An interventional catheter can also be advanced into a right cerebral artery and a procedure performed on a lesion in the right cerebral artery.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an expandable anchor configured for endovascular delivery to a vicinity of the patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the replacement valve is adapted to wrap about the anchor, for example, by everting during endovascular deployment. In some embodiments, the replacement valve is not connected to expandable portions of the anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured for active foreshortening during endovascular deployment. In some embodiments, the anchor includes expandable lip and skirt regions for engaging the patient's heart valve during deployment. In some embodiments, the anchor comprises a braid fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a lock configured to maintain anchor expansion. The invention also includes methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve, wrapping at least a portion of the replacement valve about the anchor, and expanding the anchor to a deployed, configuration.

The present invention is directed to a low profile intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral disc space in-between adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral implant includes a plate preferably coupled to a spacer. The plate is preferably formed from a first material and the spacer is preferably formed from a second material, the first material being different from the second material. The plate is preferably sized and configured so that the plate does not extend beyond the perimeter of the spacer. In this manner, the plate preferably does not increase the height profile of the spacer and the plate may be implanted within the intervertebral disc space in conjunction with the spacer.

An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

A capsular ring includes substantially circular anterior and posterior surfaces each defining a central void of the capsular ring, at least a portion of the anterior and posterior surfaces being substantially flat. The capsular ring further includes an exterior surface extending around the circumference of the capsular ring between the anterior surface and the posterior surface, wherein there is a sharp transition between the exterior surface and both the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The capsular ring further includes a plurality of orifices spaced circumferentially around the exterior surface and a plurality of haptics spaced circumferentially around the exterior surface and extending outwardly from the capsular ring; each of the plurality of haptics being configured, upon insertion of the capsular ring into a capsular bag of a patient's eye, to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag of the patient's eye.

An implantable device system includes an implantable device, such as an annuloplasty ring, for controlling at least a shape and/or size of a heart valve annulus. The implantable device includes an arcuate body and an adjustment system configured to adjust the shape and/or size of the arcuate body. An adjustment tool is configured to be coupled to the adjustment system so that the adjustment tool can be used to activate and control adjustment of the arcuate body. A sensor system is configured to be coupled to the implantable device. The sensor system includes a first sensor configured to measure physiological data at an inflow portion of the valve annulus when the implantable device is implanted into the valve annulus, and a second sensor configured to measure physiological data at an outflow portion of the valve annulus when the implantable device is implanted into the valve annulus.

A scaffolded stent-graft includes a graft material comprising an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a lumen within the graft material. The scaffolded stent-graft further includes a scaffold comprising a mesh coupled to the graft material at the outer surface. The scaffold is configured to promote tissue ingrowth therein. In this manner, the scaffold enhances tissue integration into the scaffolded stent-graft. The tissue integration enhances biological fixation of the scaffolded stent-graft in vessels minimizing the possibility of endoleaks and migration.

An intraocular lens (IOL) with a shape-changing optic is provided. The shape-changing optic includes an elastic anterior face located anterior to the equator. The anterior face has an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a periphery. The shape-changing optic also includes a posterior face having an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a periphery. An elastic side wall can extend across the equator and extend from the anterior face to the posterior face. A chamber can be located between the anterior face and the posterior face. The IOL can further include at least one haptic extending from the periphery of the anterior face, the periphery of the posterior face, or both.