An absorbable metal stent includes an absorbable metal substrate; the absorbable metal substrate includes a plurality of wave-shaped annular structures and a plurality of axial connecting portions, two ends of each axial connecting portion being connected to two adjacent wave-shaped annular structures, respectively, so as to axially connect the plurality of wave-shaped annular structures; a corrosion-promoting coating is formed on each axial connecting portion, the corrosion-promoting coating containing a corrosion-promoting substance, and the corrosion-promoting substance being selected from at least one of a degradable polymer and a degradable polymer antioxidant; the corrosion-promoting coatings cause the corrosion of the axial connecting portions to occur earlier than the corrosion of the plurality of wave-shaped annular structures. The absorbable metal stent has good bending performance and may prevent the problems of secondary hyperplasia after implantation and stenosis caused thereby.

Described here are delivery devices for delivering one or more implants to the body, and methods of using. The delivery devices may deliver implants to a variety of locations within the body, for a number of different uses. In some variations, the delivery devices have a cannula with one or more curved sections. In some variations, a pusher may be used to release one or more implants from the cannula. In some variations, one or more of the released implants may be a self-expanding device. Methods of delivering implants to one or more sinus cavities are also described here.

An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.

Compliance control stitch patterns sewn or embroidered into biotextile or medical textile substrates impart reinforcing strength, and stretch resistance and control into such substrates. Compliance control stitch patterns may be customizable to particular patients, substrate implantation sites, particular degenerative or diseased conditions, or desired time frames. Substrates having compliance control stitch patterns sewn or embroidered into them may be used in tissue repair or tissue reconstruction applications.

The invention relates to a mesh support device (10) for supporting a breast implant (20), wherein the mesh support device (10) has a tubular shape. The invention relates further to a breast implant device for implantation in a human body, comprising a breast implant (20) and a mesh support device (10), in which the breast implant (20) is positioned, wherein the mesh support device (10) has a tubular shape. In accordance with the invention, a method for preparing a breast implant (20) for implantation in a human body is also disclosed.

Implants, and surgical methods are disclosed herein. The implant includes a first fiber population that includes at least one non-resorbable fiber and an arrangement of non-resorbable fibers that includes a plurality of gaps between portions of the at least one non-resorbable fiber. Further, the implant includes a second fiber population that includes at least one resorbable fiber and an arrangement of resorbable fibers that includes a positioning of the at least one resorbable fiber that traverses the plurality of gaps.

A stented valve including a generally tubular stent structure that has a longitudinal axis, first and second opposite ends, a plurality of commissure support structures spaced from the first and second ends and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, at least one structural wire positioned between each two adjacent commissure support structures, and at least one wing portion extending from two adjacent commissure support structures and toward one of the first and second ends of the stent structure. The stewed valve further includes a valve structure attached within the generally tubular stent structure to the commissure support structures.

Implantable medical devices have zones of high in vivo stability that are adjacent to zones of relatively low in vivo stability, so that when these medical devices are implanted into a host, the zones of low in vivo stability degrade first and allow the formation of independent segments of relatively intact high in vivo stability bands that are sufficiently small that they may pass from the host in a non-harmful manner.

A stented valve including a stent structure including a generally tubular body portion having a first end, a second end, an interior area, a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of vertical wires extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis around a periphery of the body portion, wherein the plurality of vertical wires includes multiple commissure wires and at least one structural wire positioned between adjacent commissure wires, and a plurality of V-shaped wire structures having a first end, a second end, and a peak between the first and second ends, wherein a first end of each V-shaped structure extends from a first vertical wire and a second end of each V-shaped structure extends from a second vertical wire that is adjacent to the first vertical wire, wherein each V-shaped structure is oriented so that its peak is facing in the same direction relative to the first and second ends of the body portion, and a valve structure including a plurality of leaflets attached to the stent structure within the tubular body portion.

A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. Individual stent elements shorten upon expansion creating a space between stent elements. The distance between stent elements when deployed may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement. Thus, the multi-element, vascular stent described herein may be particularly advantageous for treating long lesions in tortuous peripheral blood vessels