An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve comprises at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion including a leaflet-contacting upper supporter surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing lower supporter surface. A supporter perimeter wall extends longitudinally between the upper and lower supporter surfaces, with at least a portion contacting a subvalvular cardiac wall adjacent to the heart valve. An anchor portion is adjacent to, and longitudinally spaced from, the upper supporter surface. The anchor portion includes a leaflet-contacting lower anchor surface longitudinally spaced from an oppositely facing upper anchor surface. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is directly attached to both of, the upper supporter surface and the lower anchor surface. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis, collared or uncollared, which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a first collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and a second expanded mode when it, is implanted.

A heart valve stent having a section with a heart valve implant and several proximally disposed tissue anchors, also comprising a plurality of anchoring threats, each with a proximate end fastened to the stent or valve and a distal end attached to tissue within a heart chamber to provide tension between the heart chamber tissue and the stent.

An apparatus for partially supporting a leaflet of a regurgitant heart valve includes at least one subvalvular device including a subvalvular supporting portion and an anchor portion. The subvalvular supporting portion and anchor portion are each at least partially formed from at least one of braided mesh strands of a first configuration, braided mesh strands of a second configuration, a balloon, a plurality of longitudinally extending struts, and a plurality of laterally extending struts. A connector neck is interposed longitudinally between, and is attached to both of, the subvalvular supporting portion and the anchor portion. The connector neck penetrates longitudinally through at least one of a base of the leaflet and an annulus of the heart valve at a manufactured puncture site.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to stents, valved-stents, (e.g., single-stent-valves and double stent/valved-stent systems) and associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery. The stent component comprises a first stent section (102) a second stent section (104) a third stent section (106) and a fourth stent section (108).

A hair implant suitable for subcutaneous implantation is provided having an anchor comprising an anchor body, and at least one collagen receiving structure selected from the group consisting of at least one tunnel disposed through the anchor body and an external surface feature of the anchor body. The anchor further comprises at least one hair strand projecting from a distal end of the anchor body, wherein the at least one collagen receiving structure is configured to support collagen ligature growth after subcutaneous implantation of the hair implant so as to anchor the anchor to a hair implant recipient, and the collagen receiving structure is free of hair.

An implant (500) comprises an elastic deformation portion (51) and a connection portion (52) connected with the proximal end (511) of the elastic deformation portion (51), wherein the elastic deformation portion (51) is covered by an elastic outer layer (55); the proximal end of the connection portion (52) is surrounded by a tightening ring (58); and the proximal end of the elastic outer layer (55) is covered by the tightening ring (58). Since the proximal end of the elastic outer layer (55) of the implant (500) is surrounded by a tightening ring (58), the elastic outer layer (55) is closely attached on the connecting portion (52) of the implant (500), such that the elastic outer layer (55) can be prevented from being rolled over from the surface of the implant (500) when the implant (500) is implanted, thereby improving safety of lung volume reduction surgery.

Polymeric composite stents reinforced with fibers for implantation into a bodily lumen are disclosed.

An intervertebral implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies or between two bone portions. The implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion operatively coupled to the spacer portion and one or more blades for securing the implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies. The blades preferably include superior and inferior cylindrical pins for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant may be configured to be inserted via a direct lateral trans-psoas approach. Alternatively, the implant may be configured for insertion via an anterior approach.