An expandable breast implant eliminates the need for multiple procedures and injections and is also capable of self-administered or automatic expansion that is safe in any environment. The expandable breast implant design includes an upper matrix, a lower matrix, and a middle layer. The upper matrix comprises a plurality of cells containing a first reagent. The lower matrix comprises a plurality of wells containing a second reagent. The middle layer acts as a barrier between the upper matrix and the lower matrix. The middle layer may be activated and controlled to form openings. The first reagent from the cells in the upper matrix mixes with the second reagent from the wells in the lower matrix through the selected openings in the middle layer. The reagents react to form a gas that permeates through a hydrophobic membrane into an expandable shell to enlarge the breast implant.

Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valve leaflets of particular configurations that control bending character. In embodiments provided herein, valve leaflets are operable to bend along a base of the valve leaflets.

A medical implant has a hierarchical surface roughness and includes an implant body, which includes a combination of meso-scale surface features, micro-scale surface features, and nano-scale surface features.

A gastroesophageal reflux preventer and related methods are provided. The gastroesophageal reflux preventer may include an absorbable material able to be placed in contact with a body organ and configured to induce a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the material. In this manner, a proximate sphincter may be tightened, such as to ameliorate reflux through a gastroesophageal sphincter.

An improved gastroesophageal reflux preventer and related methods are provided. The improved gastroesophageal reflux preventer may include an absorbable material able to be placed in contact with a body organ and configured to induce a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the material. In this manner, a proximate sphincter may be tightened, such as to ameliorate reflux through a gastroesophageal sphincter.

A scaffold includes a radiopaque marker connected to a strut. The marker is retained within the strut by a head at one or both ends. The marker is attached to the strut by a process that includes forming a rivet from a radiopaque bead and attaching the rivet to the marker including deforming the rivet to enhance resistance to dislodgement during crimping or balloon expansion. The strut has a thickness of about 100 microns.

A prosthetic capsular device configured to be inserted in an eye after removal of a lens, in some embodiments, can comprise a housing structure comprising capable of containing one or more intraocular devices. The housing structure can comprise an anterior portion comprising an anterior opening, a posterior portion comprising a posterior opening, and a continuous lateral portion between the anterior portion and the posterior portion.

The invention relates to a stent for transluminal implantation in hollow organs, in particular in blood vessels, ureters, esophagi, colons, duodena, or bile ducts, comprising a substantially tubular body, which can be transferred from a compressed state having a first cross-sectional diameter into an expanded state having an enlarged second cross-sectional diameter, wherein the stent comprises a plurality of cells, which are defined by bordering elements formed by the tubular body. The stent is distinguished in that some of the cells are extended in the longitudinal direction of the stent in comparison with the remaining cells in order to form a slanted end face of the stent.

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.

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.