A device for delivering an implant to a surgical location of a patient is provided. In some embodiments, an example device includes a polymer body having first and second tapered sections and a sealed cavity defined by the polymer body. The polymer body is separable between the first and second tapered sections.

A breast biopsy marker includes a catheter shaft and a bioabsorbable balloon. The catheter shaft has a lumen, a proximal tube portion, and a distal tube portion. The proximal tube portion is joined to the distal tube portion by a frangible link. The distal tube portion has a one-way valve located in the lumen. The bioabsorbable balloon is fixedly connected to the distal tube portion to define a balloon assembly. The bioabsorbable balloon is configured for fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter shaft at a location distal to the one-way valve of the distal tube portion of the catheter shaft. The balloon assembly is configured to be separated from the proximal tube portion of the catheter shaft by breaking the frangible link.

A corneal implant and methods of forming and implanting the implant are described. The corneal implant comprises a portion of corneal endothelial tissue and a portion of scleral tissue. The corneal implant is keyhole shaped, with a disc portion and a tail portion. The tail portion may further comprise a perforated section.

A packaging system is provided. The packaging system may include a packaging body defining a cavity. The packaging system may also include a tissue cradle configured to be disposed within the cavity. The packaging system may also include a seal configured to be joined to the packaging body to fluidly seal the cavity. Such packaging systems may be used in the storage of wet-preserved or dry-preserved human or animal tissue. Also provided are a packaged tissue specimen and a method for packaging tissue.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provide high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold is typically formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

A method includes advancing apparatus including a core toward a patient's heart valve. The core tapers in a distal direction toward the smallest perimeter of the core. The apparatus includes a first ventricular arm, which is articulatable with respect to a first atrial arm at a first articulation site, and a second ventricular arm, which is articulatable with respect to a second atrial arm at a second articulation site. The articulation sites are adjacent to the smallest perimeter. The tapering of the core defines a minimum nonzero angle of the atrial arms with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the core. The method also includes clamping the first and second leaflets between the respective atrial arms and the respective ventricular arms. Other embodiments are also described.

Implants, devices, systems, and methods for achieving ligament fixation are disclosed. An implant is disclosed that includes a head member, a breakaway portion, and an anchor member. The anchor member may be coupled to the head member by the breakaway portion. The implant may be designed to fail in fatigue at the breakaway portion. The breakaway portion may thereby extend between a first end of the anchor member and a second end of the head member. The breakaway portion may comprise a circumferential groove. The groove may be configured to concentrate stress forces in situ such that a fatigue failure/fracture occurs at the groove. Insertion instruments for inserting an implant for ligament fixation are also disclosed. Methods of using an implant for achieving ligament fixation are also disclosed.

Devices and methods for tissue and graft procedures are provided that are designed to fail under a certain amount of force, providing sensory feedback that a particular activity may be providing too much stress on a surgical implant. For example, a surgical implant can include a sacrificial element in the form of a filament designed to break when a certain threshold value of force is met or exceeded, while a second filament that has the ability to withstand higher values of force, is able to maintain the repair after the first filament fails. In other embodiments, the sacrificial element includes a filament engagement mechanism associated with a suture anchor configured to fail at a threshold value of force, and a second filament engagement mechanism of the anchor can maintain the repair after the first one fails. Many implants configurations are provided, as are various surgical methods incorporating sacrificial elements.

An implant is configured to be coupled to first and second native leaflets of a native heart valve of a patient. The implant includes a proximal collar, a distal collar, and first and second clasps. Each of the first and second clasps has first and second tissue-engaging portions that are (1) disposed distal to the proximal collar and proximal to the distal collar, and (2) movable, with respect to each other, to clamp one of the leaflets between the first and second tissue-engaging portions of the clasp. The implant is configured such that, when the leaflets are clamped by the first and second clasps, the first and second clasps form the first and second native leaflets into a double orifice, each orifice configured to function as a respective check-valve. Other embodiments are also described.

An endovascular delivery system includes a bifurcated and inflatable prosthesis including a main tubular body having an open end and opposed ipsilateral and contralateral legs defining a graft wall therein between. A tether is disposed securably disposed to the contralateral leg, and the contralateral leg is releasably restrained towards the ipsilateral leg tether to prevent undesirable movement of the contralateral leg. A release wire within the endovascular delivery system releasably retains the tether near the ipsilateral leg.