A joining arrangement between a main tube and a side arm (5) in a side arm stent graft (1). The side arm (5) is stitched into an aperture (11) in the main tube and is in fluid communication with it. The aperture is triangular, elliptical or rectangular and the side arm is cut off at an angle to leave an end portion having a circumferential length equal to the circumference of the aperture. The side arm can also include a connection socket (76) comprising a first resilient ring (79) around the arm at its end, a second resilient ring (80) spaced apart along the arm from the first ring and a zig zag resilient stent (82) between the first and second rings. The zig-zag resilient stent can be a compression stent. Both the main tube and the side arm are formed from seamless tubular biocompatible graft material.

Disclosed herein are gender-specific implantable mesh for inguinal hernia repair in a patient, comprising: a fabric layer comprising a side defining a surface area wherein the fabric layer is configured to enable tissue adhesion to said mesh; an anti-adhesive barrier comprising a shape configured to prevent direct contact between the fabric layer and both a spermatic cord and a genital nerve upon implantation, wherein the shape covers a part of the surface area on the side of the fabric layer, the part being less than 25%, and wherein the shape is oblique to a horizontally-oriented centerline and a vertically-oriented centerline; and a keyhole configured to fit the genital nerve and the spermatic cord of the patient therethrough without constriction, wherein the keyhole is oblique and inferior to a horizontally-oriented centerline and medial to a vertically-oriented centerline.

A prosthetic mitral valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent extending from an inflow end to an outflow end. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly is disposed within the stent. The valve assembly includes a plurality of anterior leaflets and one posterior leaflet. The posterior leaflet has a larger surface area than any of the anterior leaflets. When implanted in the native mitral valve annulus, the smaller size of the anterior leaflets and the corresponding smaller size of an anterior portion of the stent reduce the likelihood of interference with blood flowing through the native aortic valve, while also reducing the likelihood of ventricular fibrillation.

A stent-graft prosthesis for implantation within a body vessel includes a graft material, a frame, and a channel. The graft material includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a graft lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The frame is coupled to the graft material. The channel is configured to relieve pressure associated with pulsatile blood flow during implantation of the stent-graft prosthesis within a body vessel. The channel permits blood to flow from an upstream side of the stent-graft prosthesis to a downstream side of the stent-graft prosthesis when the stent-graft prosthesis is in a partially expanded configuration in the body vessel. The channel may be a plurality of channels.

The disclosure provides for a device and method for treating aortoiliac occlusion disease with the placement of a fenestrated stent system at the aortic bifurcation. The fenestrated stent system includes a tapered fenestrated stent with a fenestration and a common iliac stent that is placed within the fenestration of the fenestrated stent.

A self-adjusting device configured to be placed in contact with tissue/organ and apply mechanical force to the tissue/organ to achieve an improvement of functioning of the tissue/organ. The self-adjusting capabilities can be carried out by three functional subsystems that can be packaged either in a single, integrated system or in separate modules. A sensing subsystem senses the tissue/organ and sends at least one type of sensing signal characteristic of functioning of the tissue/organ to a controlling subsystem. The controlling subsystem processes the signal with an algorithm to determine if a configuration of the device needs to be changed or a force applied to the tissue/organ needs to be changed. An actuating subsystem can be controlled by the controlling subsystem to affect the configuration/force change when needed. A feedback loop is provided to keep the controlling subsystem up to date as to the state of the actuating subsystem.

An implant is provided and has an outer surface and multiple cavities. Multiple openings are formed on the outer surface and the cavities communicate with the openings. The maximum latitudinal section area of each cavity is larger than the area of the opening. The latitudinal section of the cavity is parallel with the outer surface of the implant. Therefore, the openings formed on the implant communicate with the cavities, such that the medicine applied on the implant can flow into the cavities. Further, because the maximum latitudinal section of each cavity is larger than the corresponding opening, after flowing into the cavities, the medicine would not easily flow out via the openings.

A method of placing an implant including a stent at a native heart valve site includes orienting an expandable body of the stent such that a first open end of the stent is upstream a second open end of the stent relative to a direction of blood flow through a native heart valve. The native heart valve includes native leaflets and an annulus. The method also includes radially expanding a plurality of positioning arches positioned around an outer perimeter of the expandable body. The method additionally includes inserting the plurality of positioning arches respectively within a plurality of pockets defined by leaflets of the native heart valve and a heart structure from which the native leaflets extend. The method further includes radially expanding the first open end of the stent into a position upstream of the annulus and out of contact with nerve bundles.

An ophthalmic surgical instrument for nucleus splitting includes an instrument handle having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end includes a pair of cooperating blade mounts which can be selectively moved relative to each other by manipulation of the handle. A pair of blade elements are respectively joined to the blade mounts at the distal end of the handle. Each of the blade elements have a lower cutting surface positioned generally beneath an axis defined by the respective blade mount. Each of the blade elements has a non-cutting, blunt surface positioned generally above the axis of the respective blade mount. The lower cutting surfaces define a cutting edge for penetration of the nucleus of the eye when brought.

An introducer used to insert a urinary incontinence device into a vagina. The introducer includes a housing including a vaginal insertion tube at a proximal end of the housing and a storage section at a distal end of the housing. The storage section is shaped and dimensioned for storage of the urinary incontinence device prior to insertion and the vaginal insertion tube is shaped and dimensioned for the passage of the urinary incontinence device therethrough. The dimensions of the storage section are such that the urinary incontinence device contained therein is in its deployed non-compressed state allowing the urinary incontinence device to be stored in its non-compressed state prior to use. The introducer also includes a plunger which travels within the housing.