A device is provided including a distal nail portion and a proximal nail portion that can be connected to each other to attain a rigid configuration. The device is to be placed internally within the medullary cavities of bones. The device is placed intramedullarily in order to minimize incision size, excessive bone resection and post-operative tendon damage and tenderness. Additionally, one particular method for using the device is provided that includes placing and affixing the distal nail in bone, placing the proximal nail in bone, connecting the distal nail to the proximal nail, doing the desired geometrical adjustments, affixing the proximal nail to the distal nail by tightening the connection and affixing the proximal nail to attain a rigid configuration.

An expandable medical implant that includes a lower lifting plate, an upper lifting plat, a distal lifting block, a proximal lifting block, a rotational block, a lifting screw, and a locking nut, and related methods of use. Also, an expandable medical implant that includes a lower lifting plate having a proximal lower angled lifting portion, an upper lifting plate having a proximal upper angled lifting portion, a center fork block, a lifting lobe, a distal screw, and a proximal nut, and related methods of use.

Disclosed is an assembly and method for implant installation between adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient. The implant has a support body and a rotatable insert therein and the support body is curved for installation between adjacent vertebral bodies transforaminally. An installation instrument is also disclosed for removable attachment to implant and engagement with the rotatable insert to selectively permit rotation between the insert and the support body. The installation instrument extends along a longitudinal tool axis and when the installation instrument is in a first position the insert is rotationally fixed with respect to the support body and when the installation instrument is in a second position the support body may rotate with respect to the insert.

A collapsible-expandable tubular stent (29) constructed of shape-memory material which is implantable into a human heart, which comprises proximal and distal rings (71, 73) and at least two spaced apart posts (69) that extend axially between said rings (71, 73), said distal ring (73) comprising a plurality of distal arms (77) which are connected to the distal ring (73) at only one end and which have a free opposite end; said proximal ring (71) comprising a plurality of, which are connected at only one end to the proximal ring (71) and which have a free opposite end, which proximal arms (75) are constructed to swing radially outward at their free ends.

A tissue expansion device can be implanted temporarily beneath skin of a patient and removed upon expansion of overlying tissue. The device can include an expandable shell having a smooth or glossy outer surface and an injection port. The expandable shell can form an expandable chamber and have an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The injection port can be coupled to the anterior portion of the shell and be in fluid communication with the chamber and configured to permit injection of fluid into the chamber from a hypodermic needle. The device can have a plurality of tabs coupled to the posterior portion of the shell having one or more colors or attributes. The device can also include an orientation indicator visible along the anterior portion of the shell for assisting a clinician and orienting the device during the implantation procedure.

A method of modifying a refractive profile of an eye having an intraocular device implanted therein, wherein the method includes determining a corrected refractive profile for the eye based on an initial refractive profile, identifying one or more locations within the intraocular device based on the corrected refractive profile, and directing a pulsed laser beam at the locations to produce the corrected refractive profile. A system of modifying an intraocular device located within an eye, wherein the system includes a laser assembly and a controller coupled thereto. The laser assembly outputs a pulsed laser beam having a pulse width between 300 picoseconds and 10 femtoseconds. The controller directs the laser assembly to output the pulsed laser beam into the intraocular device. One or more slip zones are formed within the intraocular device in response thereto, and the slip zones are configured to modify a refractive profile of the intraocular device.

Multiple, small, staple-like supports are inserted through a small tube into the disc space then rotated into position on the edge of the vertebral bodies. The tooth-like geometry of the proximal and distal faces of these staples mates with the outer edge of the vertebral body, extending past the front of the endplate anteriorly. The staples have teeth that dig into the endplate on the inside of the rim as well.

Improved catheter devices for delivery, repositioning and/or percutaneous retrieval of percutaneously implanted heart valves are described, including a medical device handle that provides an array of features helpful in conducting a percutaneous heart valve implantation procedure while variously enabling radial expansion or contraction and/or lateral positioning control over the heart valve during the medical procedure.

A prosthetic implant delivery assembly can include a prosthetic implant and an elongate catheter. The prosthetic implant can include an expandable stent portion having a longitudinal axis extending from a first end portion of the stent to a second end portion of the stent. The catheter can include a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end portion of the catheter to a distal end portion of the catheter and a plurality of arms extending axially from the distal end of the catheter. The first end portion of the stent can be releasably and pivotably coupled to at least one the arms of the catheter such that the stent can pivot about the at least one of the arms so that the longitudinal axis of the stent is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

A total artificial expansile disc and a method for posterior insertion between a pair of vertebral endplates are disclosed. The total artificial expansile disc includes at least one pair of substantially parallel plates that move apart along a first axis, in order to occupy a space defined by the vertebral endplates. In another embodiment, each of substantially parallel plates includes a first plate and a second sliding plate. An expansion device or tool is used to move the substantially parallel pair of plates apart along the first axis. A core is disposed between the pair of plates, and the core permits the vertebral endplates to move relative to one another. A ball limiter or ball extender prevents the core from being extruded from between the substantially parallel plates.