A method of placing a valve in a tubular organ including the steps of delivering an expandable tubular adapter to a site within the tubular organ, wherein the adapter includes an enclosed volume surrounded by an outer wall that is spaced from an inner wall, and first and second end walls. The method further includes expanding the outer wall relative to the inner wall so that the outer wall contacts the tubular organ, and placing a valve within the inner wall of the adapter. The method may further include inserting material into the enclosed volume of the adapter to expand the outer wall relative to the inner wall, which material may include liquid or gel. Alternatively, the valve may be positioned within the inner wall prior to the adapter being delivered to the desired site.

Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

A selectively expanding spine cage has a minimized cross section in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the diameter of the neuroforamen through which it passes in the distracted spine. The cage conformably engages between the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Expanding selectively (anteriorly, along the vertical axis of the spine) rather than uniformly, the cage height increases and holds the vertebrae with fixation forces greater than adjacent bone and soft tissue failure forces in natural lordosis. Stability is thus achieved immediately, enabling patient function by eliminating painful motion. The cage shape intends to rest proximate to the anterior column cortices securing the desired spread and fixation, allowing for bone graft in, around, and through the implant for arthrodesis whereas for arthroplasty it fixes to endpoints but cushions the spine naturally.

A biomimetic tissue scaffold for repairing an elongated tissue in need of repair can comprise a plurality of coiled flexible polymeric ribbons having a surface on which is formed an array of nanofibers, the ribbons forming a tubular body defining a first open end in which a first end of the elongated tissue is receivable, a second open end in which a second end of the elongated tissue is receivable, and a lumen extending between the first and second open ends.

An orthopedic drill bit includes a cutting head formed to include diametrically opposed cutting lips leading to a central point and away to a radiused periphery to center said bit. The drill includes flutes extending from a cutting end, said flutes having a dulled periphery to prevent out of round holes. The flute design increases in width progressively from the tip up the shank, to maintain an adequate and unrestricted space for chips to easily move upward, preventing the chips from being compressed into a smaller opening while maintaining the tapered depth of the flutes for strength.

An orthopedic drill bit includes a cutting head formed to include diametrically opposed cutting lips leading to a central point and away to a radiused periphery to center said bit. The drill includes flutes extending from a cutting end, said flutes having a dulled periphery to prevent out of round holes. The flute design increases in width progressively from the tip up the shank, to maintain an adequate and unrestricted space for chips to easily move upward, preventing the chips from being compressed into a smaller opening while maintaining the tapered depth of the flutes for strength.

An intravaginal device that has a hollow open-ended cylindrical body and a removal strip, wherein the body has features that keep the removal strip in a track. During removal when the removal strip is pulled, the cross-sectional area of the device is decreased. A kit includes the device, removal strip and an assistive wand to aid with insertion and removal.

An embolic protection device comprises a tubular filter body attached to a sheath. The tubular filter body has an open upstream end and a generally closed downstream end for capturing emboli. A self-opening passage through the emboli capture end of the tubular filter body allows multiple catheters to be advanced from the sheath or otherwise into the filter body simultaneously or sequentially. The sheath is attached to a peripheral support structure near the emboli capture end of the filter body to facilitate deployment and retrieval of the filter body through a restraining delivery catheter.

An implantable, autonomously growing medical device is disclosed. The device may have an outer, braided outer element that holds an inner core. Degradation and/or softening of the inner core permits the outer element to elongate, allowing the device to grow with surrounding tissue. The growth profile of the medical device can be controlled by altering the shape/material/cure conditions of the inner core, as well as the geometry of the out element.