An intravascular stent wherein at least a portion of the stent is formed of a refractory alloy. At least 95 wt. % of the refractory alloy is formed of two refractory metals. The refractory alloy is a non-shape memory alloy and a non-self-expanding alloy. The stent has a wall thickness, strut thickness and strut configuration to enable it to be expanded from an unexpanded configuration to a fully expanded configuration by expansion pressure of less than about 6 atm. by an inflatable device inflating against an inside surface of said metal tube body. The stent has sufficient radial strength in the fully expanded position to resist deformation when exposed to an external radial pressure of over 1 atm.

Disclosed is an artificial implant comprising: a silicone shell; and a filler filling the interior of the shell, wherein at least a portion of the shell is a rupture-prevention part comprising two or more silicone layers and one or more reinforcing material layers interposed therebetween.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a breast implant comprising: a filler material comprising two or more types of silicone gel, having different cohesive strengths; and a silicone shell housing the filler material.

A heart correction net according to the present invention is attached to an exterior of a heart. The heart correction net includes a first area that is a partial area included in a right ventricle side area of an entire area surrounding exteriors of ventricles; and a second area that is an area surrounding the first area in the right ventricle side area and a left ventricle side area. The first area in the heart correction net is configured to provide a lower contact pressure against a heart during a cardiac diastole than the second area.

A replacement heart valve implant may include an expandable anchor member actuatable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, a plurality of locking mechanisms configured to maintain the expandable anchor member in the deployed configuration, one or more valve leaflets attached to each of the plurality of locking mechanisms, and at least one polymeric laminate corresponding to each locking mechanism, each of the at least one polymeric laminate sized and configured for mounting between a first portion of the corresponding locking mechanism and the expandable anchor member.

A medical product comprises a biodegradable filament and a non-biodegradeable coating. The biodegradable filament forms a stent body having a first end portion, a middle portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The middle portion extends between the first and second end portions. The non-biodegradeable coating encapsulates the at least one biodegradable filament along the middle portion of the stent body. The non-biodegradeable coating forms a barrier such that the non-biodegradeable coating prevents degradation of the at least one biodegradable filament along the middle portion. The first and second end portions are uncoated. After implantation, the end portions of the stent may biodegrade. The middle portion will not biodegrade due to its encapsulation by the non-biodegradeable coating.

Implantable medical devices that contain at least one region that is selectively degradable by electrolytic corrosion are provided. The electrolytic corrosion of the medical device is initiated by the formation of an electrolytic cell that can be activated wirelessly at a designated point in time. The medical device incorporates at least one section or region that is designed to be predisposed to structural failure. The medical device contains a cathode region, a sacrificial anode region, which will undergo degradation, and an antenna region. Electrolytic degradation of a sacrificial anode region may cause a de-anchoring of the medical device or a reconfiguration of the medical device from a first configuration to a second configuration. Alternatively, electrolytic degradation may precipitate the absorption of the medical device. In another embodiment, electrolytic protection may be employed to preserve an implanted device until such a time that its corrosion and subsequent absorption is desired.

A flow diverting apparatus includes a stent frame body, and a stent frame extension.

The stent frame body includes an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a cavity extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The stent frame body is configured to pass a flow of fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening through the cavity. The stent frame body includes a first portion having the inlet opening, and a second portion having the outlet opening. The second portion is tapered from one end of the second portion to a first location of the second portion, thereby forming an indented portion having a plurality of pores. The stent frame extension is configured to be disposed between at least a portion of the indented portion and a vessel wall, thereby preventing a migration of vessel wall cells onto the indented portion.

An interarticular ligament prosthesis is formed from a plurality of high strength high modulus polymeric fibers. The fibers are independent and free from intrinsic inter-fiber shear coupling found in braided or bonded fibers. The ligament prosthesis is installed with tubular, bone screw anchors. The fibers of the ligament prosthesis pass through the central hole of the anchors and are knotted at one end. The exit holes of the anchors include ceramic eyelets with polished edges. The edges are rounded to a defined radius for desired fatigue life of the prosthesis.

A biocompatible membrane composite including a cell impermeable layer and a mitigation layer is provided. The cell impermeable layer is impervious to vascular ingrowth and prevents cellular contact from the host. Additionally, the mitigation layer includes solid features. In at least one embodiment, mitigation layer has therein bonded solid features. In some embodiments, the cell impermeable layer and the mitigation layer are intimately bonded or otherwise connected to each other to form a composite layer having a tight/open structure. A reinforcing component may optionally be positioned external to or within the biocompatible membrane composite to provide support to and prevent distortion. The biocompatible membrane composite may be used in or to form a device for encapsulating biological entities, including, but not limited to, pancreatic lineage type cells such as pancreatic progenitors.