A method is provided, including treating a heart valve of a patient by implanting at the heart valve an implant including an elongate element including at least in part a tension element, by placing the implant at the heart valve of the patient, and subsequently to the placing, increasing tension of the elongate element at least in part. The tension element is configured to undergo conformational changes, subsequently to the placing, responsively to a cardiac cycle of the patient. Implanting the implant includes implanting the implant such that the tension element undergoes the conformational changes responsively to the cardiac cycle of the patient in a manner in which the tension element cyclically increases and decreases pressure applied to at least one leaflet of the heart valve by the elongate element.

The present invention relates to an endoluminal stent and an endoluminal stent system, with the endoluminal stent being delivered to a site at which it is to be implanted by means of a delivery device comprising a sheath for receiving the endoluminal stent. The endoluminal stent comprises a hollow tube body portion, a connection portion and a flange portion, wherein the tube body portion is connected to one end of the connection portion, the flange portion has a connection end and a suspended end opposite one another, with the connection end being connected to the other end of the connection portion in a turning connection, and the suspended end being suspended, the flange portion comprising a flange section bare wave ring made of an elastic material; the suspended end is located at a distal side of the connection end when the endoluminal stent is in a natural state; the suspended end is located at a proximal side of the connection end when the endoluminal stent is received in the sheath; and after the flange portion is released from the sheath, the flange portion automatically turns over, and the suspended end moves from the proximal side of the connection end to the distal side of the connection end. The endoluminal stent of the present invention can enhance the anchoring force thereof.

Glaucoma drainage implant system with intracular pressure sensor and microvalve, and external reading unit, including: (1) an ocular implant device including a main body attached to a cannula communicating through a microchannel passing therethrough with a sensor microchamber; the microchamber is in fluid communication with a microvalve regulating outlet passage of ocular liquid, the microvalve being covered by a plate in the main body, the implant device has also a flat coil energizing the sensor, microvalve and regulation microchip; and (2) an external reading unit receiving signals from the PIO sensor and displaying IOP pressure; the UEL includes an antenna and a main unit; where the antenna feeds by bursts of RF radio frequency energy to the implant sensor and when the sensor is energized, it returns a signal with information from the IOP, this signal being received by the antenna and sent to the main unit for processing.

A stent configured for implantation in a body lumen, includes: a tubular structure having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, and a tubular body extending between the first end and the second end, the tubular body comprising a plurality of elongate portions defining a porosity for the stent, at least one of the elongate portions having a zig-zag configuration, the first end of the tubular structure having a plurality of crown elements disposed circumferentially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, the crown elements forming a crown configuration for the first end of the tubular body; and a plurality of tabs coupled to the first end of the tubular structure; wherein a number of the crown elements is higher than a number of the tabs; wherein the tabs are coupled to only a subset, and not all, of the crown elements.

One or more sensors are incorporated onto one or more of an implantable device and a surgical tool used for placement and/or adjustment of the implantable device. The implantable device includes an adjustable membrane element for controllable coaptation of a body lumen, such as coaptation of a urethra as treatment for urinary incontinence. In various embodiments, the one or more sensors can be configured to detect information indicative of at least one of a shape of the adjustable membrane element, a position of the adjustable membrane element relative to the body lumen, or a shape of the body lumen.

A branch vessel stent including a stent body and a first developing member, where the first developing member includes a first developing portion and a second developing portion. A length of the first developing portion and a length of the second developing portion in an axial direction of the stent body are both not less than 0.5 mm. A distance between the intersections of the first developing portion and the second developing portion on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the stent body gradually increases from a position where the distance is the minimum distance to an end that is away from a first end of the first developing portion or the second developing portion. The minimum distance between the intersections of the first developing portion and the second developing portion on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the stent body is less than 2 mm.

A system is disclosed herein for providing a kinetic assessment and preparation of a prosthetic joint comprising one or more prosthetic components. The system comprises a prosthetic component including sensors and circuitry configured to measure load, position of load on a curved surface, joint stability, range of motion, and impingement. In one embodiment, the system is for a ball and socket joint of a musculoskeletal system. The system further includes a computer having a display configured to graphical display quantitative measurement data to support rapid assimilation of the information. The kinetic assessment measures joint alignment under loading that will be similar to that of a final joint installation. The kinetic assessment can use trial or permanent prosthetic components. Furthermore, adjustments can be made to the applied load magnitude, position of load, and joint alignment by various means to fine-tune an installation.

A self-sealing tubular graft is provided for implantation within a patient's body that includes an elongate tubular body including first and second self-sealing cannulation regions and a loop region extending between the first and second cannulation regions. The loop region includes one or more reinforcement members attached to a first length of the loop region and extending at least partially around a circumference of the tubular body. For example, the reinforcement members may include one or more sinusoidal or zigzag members extending along the first length with alternating peaks and valleys extending at least partially around a circumference of the tubular body. Self-sealing patches are also provided that include one or more reinforcement members embedded within base material.

Disclosed are a tissue expander for breast reconstruction comprising an MMP sensor and thus being capable of real-time capsular contracture monitoring and treatment, and a patient information system linked thereto. According to these, a patient or medical staff can easily check and evaluate capsular contracture, which may occur when wearing a tissue expander for breast reconstruction, and whether inflammation, a side effect, or the like is caused thereby, even outside the human body in real time. Accordingly, before or when capsular contracture occurs, effective treatment and response are possible.

Coaptation assist device for repairing cardiac valves and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A coaptation assist device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a fixation member configured to press against cardiac tissue proximate to a native valve annulus, and a stationary coaptation structure extending away from the fixation member. The coaptation structure can include an anterior surface configured to coapt with a first native leaflet during systole and a posterior surface configured to displace at least a portion of a second native leaflet. The device also includes at least one sensor configured to detect parameters associated with at least one of cardiac function and device functionality. The sensors can be pressure sensors configured to detect left atrial pressure and/or left ventricular pressure.