Heart valve implants and methods for implanting and delivering same are described. A heart valve implant can include a shaft, having a first end and a second end, an anchor, and a plurality of wafers. The anchor is coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to secure the heart implant to a patient's heart. The wafers are coupled to the second end of the shaft and configured to form a stacked array of wafers. The stacked array of wafers can partially reduce a flow of blood through a heart valve upon coming in contact with a portion of a leaflet of the heart valve.

An implantable and removable filter that may be implanted in and/or removed from a body lumen, such as the Vena Cava. The filter including tissue anchors on expandable anchoring legs, which can be selectively moved between a non-anchoring or pre-deployed configuration into an anchoring or deployed configuration by obturators that are movable inside the anchoring legs.

A method of inserting and positioning an intervertebral spacer is provided. The spacer includes a longitudinal axis, an on-axis interface coincident with or parallel to the longitudinal axis, and an off-axis interface angled to the longitudinal axis. The spacer's front end may be curved. The method may include inserting the spacer into the disc space utilizing a tool to engage an on-axis interface and then to engage one or more of the off-axis interfaces, which may be used for further modification of the spacer. The tool is moved substantially along a single insertion direction, which may be substantially parallel to a posterior-anterior axis of the disc space. The method may result in the longitudinal axis of the spacer being perpendicular to the insertion direction, or substantially parallel to a medial-lateral axis of the disc space. The spacer may also be positioned in an anterior aspect of the disc space.

This invention provides solid substrates for mitigating or preventing cell or tissue adherence and/or vascularization, which solid substrates comprise a marine organism skeletal derivative and are characterized by a specific fluid uptake capacity value of less than 40%, processes for selection of the same and applications of the same. This invention also provides solid substrates for mitigating or preventing cell or tissue adherence and/or vascularization, which solid substrates are characterized by having a contact angle value of more than 60 degrees, when in contact with a fluid. This invention also provides solid substrates for mitigating or preventing cell or tissue adherence and/or vascularization, which solid substrate is characterized by a minimal surface roughness (Ra) or substantial surface smoothness, as measured by scanning electron microscopy or atomic force microscopy. The invention also provides processes for selection of an optimized coral-based solid substrate.

Medical devices suitable for implantation in spaces between bones are described. An example medical device suitable for use as an intervertebral spacer includes a main body having an exterior proximal wall, an exterior distal wall, a first exterior lateral wall, a second exterior lateral wall, an upper surface, a lower surface, an interior proximal wall, an interior distal wall, a first interior lateral wall, a second interior lateral wall, and a longitudinal axis. The interior proximal wall, the interior distal wall, the first interior lateral wall, and the second interior lateral wall cooperatively define an interior cavity. The first and second exterior lateral walls are outwardly directed at an angle from the lower surface to the upper surface relative to the longitudinal axis.

This invention provides solid substrates for promoting cell or tissue growth or restored function, which solid substrate is characterized by a specific fluid uptake capacity value of at least 75%, which specific fluid uptake capacity value is determined by establishing a spontaneous fluid uptake value divided by a total fluid uptake value. This invention also provides solid substrates for promoting cell or tissue growth or restored function, which solid substrate is characterized by having a contact angle value of less than 60 degrees, when in contact with a fluid. This invention also provides solid substrates for promoting cell or tissue growth or restored function, which said substrate is characterized by a substantial surface roughness (Ra) as measured by scanning electron microscopy or atomic force microscopy. The invention also provides for processes for selection of an optimized coral-based solid substrate for promoting cell or tissue growth or restored function and applications of the same.

An anchor for securing medical devices within a patient and/or sealing an opening in a body structure can be deployed via a catheter. The anchor may include a distal plate, and proximal plate, and a bridge portion connecting the plates. The anchor may include a tensioning member which can pull the plates together in order to secure the anchor in place and/or seal the opening in the body structure. A single anchor can be used, or multiple anchors, to secure tethers and other medical devices within a patient.

An implantable vein frame is contemplated in which two ring members are rigidly joined in spaced axial alignment via one or more interconnecting members. One of the one or more interconnecting members defines a protruding region that acts upon the implant placed within the frame and/or the vein that the vein frame is placed within to define a sinus region. The implant is placed within and scaffolded by the vein frame, and the vein frame is subsequently inserted within a vein via a venotomy, or interposed between two vein segments via vein interposition graft. The vein frame acts to support the structural integrity of the implant, and to scaffold and anchor the implant in place with the vein.

Described is a prosthesis for implantation beneath the skin of a subject, the prosthesis comprising a support structure of super elastic material (e.g., nitinol), wherein the support structure is sized and shaped for augmenting, replacing, or reconstructing tissue of the subject, such as the breast. In certain embodiments, the prosthesis further includes an elastomeric outer shell having a cavity therein, the outer shell being sized and shaped for augmenting or replacing, for example, breast tissue of the subject; wherein the support structure is disposed within the cavity of the elastomeric shell.

An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.