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.

Some embodiments are directed to methods for serially expanding an artificial heart valve within a pediatric patient. For example, the artificial heart valve can be implanted into the pediatric patient during a first procedure, and then expanded during a second procedure to accommodate for the pediatric patient’s growth. Some embodiments include introducing an expander into the implanted valve when the frame is expanded to a first working diameter, and then actuating the expander to expand the frame to a second working diameter greater than the first working diameter, to accommodate for the pediatric patient’s growth.

An elbow prosthesis according to the present teachings can include a stem structure and an articulating component. The stem structure can be operable to be positioned in a bone of a joint. The stem structure can include a stem portion that is operable to be positioned in the bone and a C-shaped body portion having a first retaining mechanism formed thereon. The articulating component can have a second retaining mechanism formed thereon. One of the first and second retaining mechanisms can comprise an extension portion and a first anti-rotation portion. The other retaining mechanism can comprise a receiving portion and a second anti-rotation portion. The articulating component can be advanced from an insertion position to an assembled position, such that the first and second mechanisms cooperatively interlock to inhibit translation and rotation of the articulating component relative to the C-shaped body portion of the stem structure.

An elbow prosthesis includes a stem structure and an articulating component. The stem structure is operable to be positioned in a bone of a joint and includes a stem portion and a C-shaped body portion. The stem portion is operable to be positioned in the bone. The C-shaped body portion includes a first articulating surface bound by a medial wall and a lateral wall. The medial and lateral walls are separated by a first distance. The articulating component includes a second articulating surface positioned between a medial side surface and a lateral side surface. The medial and lateral side surfaces are separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance. The second articulating surface is configured to slidably communicate in a medial/lateral direction along the first articulating surface of the C-shaped body portion.

A suture assembly, including a button having two apertures and a suture defining a lumen and forming a double loop, formed by a double trap having a first end and a second end, opposed to the button. A first portion of the suture is threaded through the trap from the first end to the second end, and a second portion of the suture is threaded through the trap from the second end to the first end. The assembly further defines a first single trap, in which the first portion of the suture is threaded through the lumen between the second end and the button. Also defined by the assembly is a third trap, in which the second portion of the suture is threaded through the lumen between the first end and the button. Finally, the double loop is threaded through the two apertures of the button.

Prosthesis (1) comprising one porous mesh (2) comprising a first face and a second face opposite the first face, the prosthesis (1) comprising: —one porous strengthening means (6) which strengthens the mesh (2) and is intended to cover at least part of one of said first and second faces of the mesh (2), —fastening means for fastening the strengthening means (3) to the mesh (2), in a position fastened to the mesh (2), the strengthening means (6) covers a peripheral part (7) of one of said first and second faces of the mesh.

Intervertebral disc prostheses and methods of use. An intervertebral disc prosthesis for installation in a spinal column may include a first intervertebral plate, a second intervertebral plate, and a removable insert core. The first intervertebral plate may engage one or both of the inferior vertebral endplate and the inferior ring apophysis of a superior vertebral body. The second intervertebral plate may engage one or both of the superior vertebral endplate and the superior ring apophysis of an inferior vertebral body. The removable insert core is located between and engages the intervertebral plates. A projection projects from one of the intervertebral plates toward the other intervertebral plate. The removable insert core at least partially surrounds the projection when installed. The removable insert core is removable from between the intervertebral plates and from around the projection while the intervertebral plates and projection remain installed.

An intraocular lens (IOL) prosthesis is implanted through one or more corneal incisions made within a predetermined surgical axis defining a plane that intersects the optical axis as well as the visual axis of the human eye. At least two looped sutures are fed through suture apertures and sutured to the sclera of the eye by which a center aperture of the prosthesis is suspended in the plane within the posterior chamber of the eye and centered on either the optical or visual axis. The prosthesis is made of a thin sheet of flexibly resilient material (e.g. silicone, polyimide, acrylic, polypropylene), and can be rectangular, triangular or of any suitable geometric shape. The center aperture has dimensions that facilitates optic capture or reverse optic capture of commercially available IOLs and includes vertex features for resisting movement of the haptics of the captured IOLs once captured therein.

The present invention relates to a prosthesis (1) for hernia repair comprising a reinforcement layer (2), a first barrier layer (3) of anti-adhesion material covering at least a part of a surface of the reinforcement layer, and a second barrier layer of anti-adhesion material covering a remaining part of the surface of the reinforcement layer, the second barrier layer being formed of one or more flap member(s) (4).

The present disclosure pertains to membranous tissue grafts comprising one or more pre-made attachment points. The one or more pre-made attachment points may include pre-made markings and/or pre-made suture holes. The membranous tissue grafts can be in the form of a tube. The membranous tissue grafts can also be rectangular in shape and can be used in a nerve repair by wrapping the severed or damaged nerve. In some embodiments, the membranous tissue grafts are suitable for repairing severed nerves that have a short gap or no gap with a gap of less than 5 mm between the severed stumps. Accordingly, methods are provided for repairing a damaged or severed nerve by implanting the membranous tissue grafts on to the damaged or severed nerve.