An expandable includes a base member having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an adjustable member adjustably coupled to the base member and movable between a first, collapsed position, and a second, expanded position. The adjustable member has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The top surface of the adjustable member and the bottom surface of the base member form a first angle while the adjustable member is in the first, collapsed position, and the top surface of the adjustable member and the bottom surface of the base member form a second angle while the adjustable member is in the second, expanded position. The first angle is different from the second angle.

Fixation device for fixation of leaflets of a heart valve includes an elongate central member defining a longitudinal axis of the fixation device and first and second arms rotatable about at least one arm hinge point between an open position and a closed position. The fixation device further includes a first gripping element rotatable about a first gripping element axis of rotation to capture a first leaflet of a heart valve between the first gripping element and the first arm. The fixation device further includes a second gripping element rotatable about a second gripping element axis of rotation to capture a second leaflet of a heart valve between the second gripping element and the second arm. At least one of the first gripping element axis of rotation and the second gripping element axis of rotation is variably offset from the arm hinge point by an axis offset distance defined along the longitudinal axis.

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.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

Expandable spinal fusion devices, systems, and methods of using them are provided, and they can be inserted in a subject in a collapsed state through a small surgical corridor, and the expand cephalocaudal only, transverse only, or in both directions, in which direction of expansion can also be obtained independently, if desired, after the insertion. These inventions are valuable in reducing risk and surgical complexity, allowing for an on-the-fly selection of a desirable width footprint, a desired control of height expansion through a gradual cephalocaudal expansion, and a desired control of the alignment of the adjacent vertebral bodies. Devices, systems, and methods are also offered to provide a desired control of the contact area desired between the device and the upper and lower vertebral endplates achieved, for example, using an interdigitated endplate system.

An expandable interbody spacer (10) is provided that includes a pair of oppositely facing endplate components (20, 40) and an interior component that includes one or more vertically extending stacks of arranged C-clip members (70) radially surrounding one or more bosses (30) protruding interiorly from one of the endplates, wherein the size and configuration of the bosses and the C-clip members are designed to allow the incremental expansion of expandable interbody spacer.

An expandable implant is disclosed. The expandable implant includes a base member having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an adjustable member adjustably coupled to the base member and movable between a first, collapsed position, and a second, expanded position. The adjustable member has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The top surface of the adjustable member and the bottom surface of the base member form a first angle while the adjustable member is in the first, collapsed position, and the top surface of the adjustable member and the bottom surface of the base member form a second angle while the adjustable member is in the second, expanded position. The first angle is different from the second angle.

A variable flow stent is described for use with AV fistulas, TIPS procedures or dialysis grafts. The flow may be varied by adjusting the diameter of the stent. Embodiments include: a covered stent having a secondary chamber that functions as an air or fluid bladder; an expandable chamber within an interior stent covering; a retractable jack device with hooks that engage (snag) opposing walls of the stent; and, a stent with a hollow chamber or pocket in the interior stent covering into which an expandable balloon can be inserted. A self-healing valve is described for inflating or deflating expandable elements within the stent and may be implemented using a self-healing membrane. A radiopaque collar may be used to provide a marker surrounding the self-healing valve. If under-shunting or over-shunting occurs over time, the variable diameter stent may be adjusted using a second procedure.

A spinal implant apparatus that is an expandable spacer including features to minimize or eliminate spacer cant or offset during and after completing the expansion process. The spacer includes a top component, a base component in engagement with the top component, and an expansion mechanism arranged to change the top component's position with respect to the base component. The mechanism for causing expansion may be a screw, a cam, a wedge or other form of distracting device. In one embodiment, the expandable spacer includes a base component with a set of towers and a top component with a set of corresponding silos, where the towers and silos are configured to minimize or eliminate tilt of the top component as it extends upwardly from the base component.