A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid, or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.

A heart valve prosthesis is proposed, including a housing, at least one leaflet installed within the housing, at least one sensor and/or valve performance monitoring device. The sensor and/or monitoring device is built into the housing and/or leaflet. In an embodiment, the housing and/or leaflet has an oscillating circuit including an inductor coil connected to the sensor and/or monitoring device. One such coil can be built into the housing, and another coil can be built into the leaflet. In another embodiment, one coil can be built into a first leaflet, and another coil can be built into a second leaflet, wherein the sensor and/or monitoring device determines a degree of opening/closing the leaflets by measuring inductive interconnection between the coils, and operation timing characteristics of the valve. In an embodiment, the valve may include an emission sensor disposed within the leaflet and/or housing capable of detecting the valve's open/closed positions.

A clamping device that protects male patients, who suffer from incontinence, from urinal leakage, which is designed to make wearing it more comfortable, makes attaching it to the patients penis simplified, and has foam rubber cushioning devices attached by VELCRO, to make them exchangeable and therefore easily replaceable by new ones to avoid replacing the entire device, when such cushioning parts wear out or become too unsightly after long-time usage, and can no longer be kept clean by washing them with soap and water.

The present disclosure relates to a delivery catheter and the stepwise release of a stent from the catheter into the vasculature of a patient, as well as a loading device for a transcatheter heart valve (THV) prosthesis.

An open, seal-less intraocular lens is disclosed herein. An example intraocular lens may include an annular substrate including an oil electrode disposed in or on an inner sidewall of the annular substrate to electrostatically manipulate a volume of electrowetting oil, an optical window coupled to the substrate, where a side of the optical window adjacent to the inner sidewall and the inner sidewall of the annular substrate define a region for constraining the volume of electrowetting oil, and a saline electrode coupled to the annular substrate, the saline electrode positionable within an aqueous humor of an eye upon implantation

A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.

The invention relates to a method for modification of a biocompatible component. The method of the invention includes the steps of a) providing a biocompatible component at least partly covered by metallic oxide; and b) treating at least a part of the component, which part is covered by the metallic oxide, with an aqueous composition that includes oxalic acid; whereby a modified metallic oxide, is obtained. The invention also relates to a biocompatible component-including a substrate having a surface with a) a microstructure including pits separated by plateus and/or ridges; and b) a primary nanostructure being superimposed on the microstructure, the primary nanostructure having depressions arranged in a wave-like formation.

A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.

A packaging system for storing a prosthetic valve and an elongated delivery system in a non-fluid environment. The packaging system comprises a tray for securing both a prosthetic valve and an elongated delivery system. The tray includes a cavity sized and shaped to house a valve cover containing the prosthetic valve and at least part of the distal portion of the elongated delivery system. A mounting surface removably couples the valve cover to the cavity floor and to prevent the valve cover from moving. An engaging surface is disposed peripherally of the cavity and is elevated above the cavity floor. A ramp extends downwardly from the engaging surface and into the cavity through an opening defined in the peripheral side wall and adjacent the floor of the cavity. The engaging surface and ramp are configured to secure at least part of the elongated delivery system externally of the cavity.

A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.