A tissue expander having an integrated drain includes a shell having an opening and one or more drainage holes, and an injection port disposed in the opening of the shell and forming a fluid-tight seal with the shell. The injection port includes a needle guard having a needle guard base with a top surface. The injection port includes a moveable barrier membrane overlying the top surface of the needle guard base. The moveable barrier membrane is moveable between a first position for inflating and deflating the shell with a first fluid and a second position for draining a second fluid from outside the shell. A magnet is coupled with the moveable barrier membrane, and a compressible spring is connected with the magnet. The compressible spring is compressed for storing energy as the moveable barrier membrane moves from the first position to the second position.

Glaucoma treatment devices are disclosed. In various example, the glaucoma treatment devices include multiple microporous layers arranged together to form a microporous body configured to help facilitate evacuation of fluid from a fluid-filled body cavity, and reabsorption of the evacuated aqueous humor by the body through tissue surrounding the glaucoma treatment device. In some examples, the glaucoma treatment device includes one or more portions configured to resist cellular ingrowth, and one or more portions configured to permit cellular ingrowth.

Prosthetic heart valves are described. Prosthetic heart valves can include radially expandable and compressible inner and outer metal frames. The inner frame can be disposed within a lumen of the outer frame and can be coupled to the outer frame. An outflow end of the inner frame can be coupled to and/or located at an outflow end of the outer frame. An end portion of the inner frame can be spaced radially inwardly from an inner surface of the outer frame, such that a radial gap exists between the inner surface of the outer frame and an outer surface of the inner frame. Prosthetic heart valves can further include a plurality of leaflets disposed within and supported by the inner frame, such as by commissure posts of the inner frame.

An illustrative endoluminal implant having an elongated tubular member. The elongate tubular member having a proximal stent, a distal stent and an interconnecting sleeve. The proximal stent tapers from a first outer diameter adjacent the proximal end region to a second smaller outer diameter adjacent the distal end region. The distal stent has an outer diameter less than the first outer diameter of the proximal stent. The interconnecting sleeve is collapsible in response to an applied radial force such that the sleeve is positionable across a natural valve or sphincter.

Described herein are devices for placement in surgically created soft tissue spaces, potential spaces, or cavities. The implantable devices generally include a bioabsorbable body having an open framework that facilitates attachment of tissue thereto in a manner that helps avoid post-surgical deformities. Methods for using the implantable devices in oncoplastic surgery are further described.

A method of repairing a defective heart valve involves positioning first and second support rings of an annuloplasty device in a first configuration on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets and activating a contracted state of the annuloplasty device so that a first pitch distance between the first and second support rings in the first configuration is reduced to a second pitch distance that is shorter than the first pitch distance to move the first and second support rings toward each other to pinch the native heart valve leaflets.

Various devices, systems, and methods that can be used in the treatment of obesity and related illnesses are disclosed. In some instances, the cecum of an obese patient is distended to a pathophysiological size for a therapeutically effective period. The distention may be achieved by introduction of an object that is of foreign origin relative to the body of the patient into the cecum of the patient. In some instances, the distention is achieved by a medical device that transitions from an undeployed state, in which the medical device is introduced into the cecum of the patient, to an expanded state in which the medical device distends the cecum by an amount sufficient to trigger a colo-gastric brake in the patient.

Delivery systems for expandable elements, such as stents or scaffolds having spikes, flails, or other protruding features for penetrating target tissue and/or delivering drugs within a human patient are described along with associated methods for using such systems. The delivery systems can be provided with a stent that is positioned over an inflatable balloon for expansion and delivery of the stent to a target delivery location. By positioning the stent over and about the inflatable balloon, the stent is ready to be expanded by the balloon immediately upon unsheathing with respect to the outer shaft. Additionally or alternatively, a stent can be positioned in an axially offset arrangement with respect to a balloon to reduce the need for space required by overlapping components.

An implant for creating incisions in the tissues surrounding the bladder neck and the urethra of a patient, for relaxing the opening of the bladder, the implant includes a central connector and at least one wire, the wires extend radially outwardly from the center of the central connector, the wires apply continuous pressure on the surrounding tissues, the wires are foldable within an implant sheath for enabling delivery and extraction thereof, the implant is implanted within a restricted location of the urethra for a period of time for creating incisions at the locations where the wires apply pressure on the surrounding tissues.

The invention relates to an endoprosthesis (1), in particular a vascular or cardiac endoprosthesis (1), having a body (2) and also one or more thrombogenic elements (3) that are fixed to the endoprosthesis (1) and that are able to extend a distance away from the body outside the latter. The endoprosthesis comprises means (33) for selectively retaining the thrombogenic elements near the body (2). The release of the one or more thrombogenic elements, after the endoprosthesis has been fitted in place by a conventional method via a sheath, promotes thrombosis.