A controllable operation-free take-out ureteral stent with a degradable coating includes a ureteral stent, a traction wire, a discharged body, and a degradable fixture, where the discharged body is fixed on one end of the traction wire, and the degradable fixture fixes the discharged body on the other end of the traction wire and is arranged close to one end of the ureteral stent within a limited period of time; the ureteral stent comprises a nondegradable base layer and a degradable coating which are sequentially arranged from inside to outside; the problem of bacterial adhesion on the surface of the ureteral stent caused by long indwelling time or patients' special allergies can be solved by automatic degradation and peeling off of the degradable coating on the surface of the ureteral stent within a certain period of time.

Prosthetic feet that provide improved rollover and performance are provided. A prosthetic foot can include a lower foot member extending from a heel end to a toe end, a second foot member disposed above the lower foot member, and an optional third foot member disposed above the second foot member. The second foot member is tapered such that its thickness decreases toward the proximal end. Optionally, the second foot member can taper toward its distal end as well as toward its proximal end from an intermediate location on the second foot member. The third foot member can be tapered such that its thickness decreases toward the distal end. There can be a gap between a distal end of the third foot member and the second foot member that closes during dorsiflexion of the prosthetic foot during use and provides dynamic stiffness control to the prosthetic foot.

One aspect of the invention provides a removable ureteral stent including: an elongated stent with opposing curls at either end; a coil of memory material attached to a curl at one end of the stent that can uncoil and elongate under tensile force, and does so elongate and uncoil at a lower tensile force than that needed to induce substantial uncoiling of either curl, and wherein the coil is at least long enough such that its distal end (from the end attached to the stent) can pass through an internal urethral sphincter, when the stent is in place in the ureter; and a magnet attached to the distal end of the coil.

Funnel-trap type delivery and/or retrieval devices for Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters or other medical implants are described in which the devices comprise two layers of braid with an axially support member. The support member may be interposed between braid layers or set inside the braid layers but interposed between heatset features. Delivery and/or retrieval devices, kits in which they are included, methods of use and methods of manufacture are all contemplated herein.

The present invention relates to a stent with a pigtail structure used for connection between organs of different kinds where a through hole is formed on each of the organs of different kinds and portions around the through holes are connected to each other, the stent comprising: a stent body where both end parts are arranged across the through holes formed on the organs of different kinds and a connecting passage which connects the two organs of different kinds is formed; and a one-side wound end part and an other-side wound end part which are formed in a pigtail shape at both end parts of the stent body to be caught and fixed to the through holes, such that portions of the organs of different kinds around the through holes are in close contact with each other, wherein the stent body, the one-side wound end part, and the other-side wound end part are provided as an integral body having a mesh structure made of woven wire and comprising a cover film which covers the woven wire for sealing of the connecting passage.

The present invention relates to treating or preventing stenosis at an anastomosis site. In one embodiment, the present invention is a stent is curved along the longitudinal axis for placement in and adjacent to the graft orifice. In a further embodiment, the stent is drug coated to allow delivery of antivasculoproliferative drugs directly to the vicinity of the graft orifice. In a further embodiment, the stent is expandable by use of an external wire. In another embodiment, the present invention is a kit comprising the specially configured stent together with a sleeve comprising a biocompatible matrix material and a pharmaceutical agent, wherein the sleeve is applied to the external surface of the vessel or graft, resulting in extravascular delivery of a pharmaceutical agent. Methods for treating or preventing stenosis at an anastomosis site by applying the extravascular sleeve and the intravascular stent are also provided.

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.

This disclosure presents various embodiments of a transforaminal intersomatic cage for an intervertebral fusion graft, and an instrument and method for implanting the cage, an embodiment of the cage having a body in the shape of a circular arc and comprising a lateral concave surface, a lateral convex surface, a straight upper surface, a straight lower surface and an end wall having at least one hole, called the end hole, designed to receive a rod of an instrument for implanting the cage between the vertebrae, wherein: the end hole has an orientation that is more or less tangential to the circular arc described by the body; the extremity opposite to the end wall of the body includes a return part extending the body toward the center of the circle on which the circular arc described by the body lies.

Prosthetic feet that provide improved rollover and performance are provided. A prosthetic foot can include a lower foot member extending from a heel end to a toe end, a second foot member disposed above the lower foot member, and an optional third foot member disposed above the second foot member. The second foot member is tapered such that its thickness decreases toward the proximal end. Optionally, the second foot member can taper toward its distal end as well as toward its proximal end from an intermediate location on the second foot member. The third foot member can be tapered such that its thickness decreases toward the distal end. There can be a gap between a distal end of the third foot member and the second foot member that closes during dorsiflexion of the prosthetic foot during use and provides dynamic stiffness control to the prosthetic foot.

A convertible nephroureteral catheter is used in the treatment of urinary system complications, particularly on the need for a single surgically delivered device to treat patients who must be seen by an interventional radiologist (IR). In many current procedures, patients need to return to the operating room to remove a previously delivered nephroureteral catheter to exchange this catheter with a fully implanted ureteral stent delivered though the same access site at the flank. The present convertible nephroureteral catheter reduces the need to return for a second surgical procedure. Two weeks after initial implantation, the proximal portion of the convertible nephroureteral catheter extending out from the body may simply be removed. A simple action at the catheter hub allows this proximal portion to be removed, leaving behind the implanted ureteral stent within the patient's urinary system. Other medical procedures, devices, and technologies may benefit from the described convertible catheter.