Prosthetic heart valves and methods of use of prosthetic heart valves may be provided. In one implementation, a prosthetic heart valve may include an annular spacer configured for implantation with a native heart valve opening and a central valve section configured for disposal within the annular spacer. The central valve section may include at least one anchoring protrusion configured to anchor the central valve section against axial movement relative to the annular spacer. During deployment, the central valve section may be advanced downstream beyond the implanted annular spacer, and moved upstream until the anchoring protrusion engages the annular spacer.

A stent comprising: two or more stent sections; one or more rods extending between the two or more stent sections; wherein one the one or more rods is fixedly connected to a fixed anchor that is connected to a first of the two or more stent sections, and a second of the two or more of stent sections are movable connected to one of the one or more rods by a movable anchor; and wherein the stent supports an opening of an anatomical passageway.

Provided is a ureteral stent (=50) including a bladder portion (=52) positioned in a bladder of a patient, a kidney portion (=54) positioned in a kidney and ureteral passageway of the patient, and one or more tethers (=56) coupling the bladder portion to the kidney portion. The ureteral stent allows urine to pass around a blockage, and allows a ureter orifice connecting the ureteral passageway to the bladder to move between a compressed state and an uncompressed state to prevent or minimize urinary reflux, flank pain, blood in the urine, etc., while allowing the bladder portion to move freely in the bladder to prevent the bladder portion from irritating the trigone muscle.

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.

A transluminal sheath is advanced into a femoral vein of a subject, through an inferior vena cava of the subject, into a right atrium of a heart of the subject, and transseptally into a left atrium of the heart. A surrounding-sheath is advanced out of a distal end of the transluminal sheath, into the left atrium, and toward a commissure of a mitral valve of the heart. A commissural helix is implanted at the commissure by advancing the commissural helix out of the surrounding-sheath and through the commissure into a left ventricle of the heart, such that the commissural helix wraps around at least some chordae tendineae at the commissure and facilitates sealing of the commissure. Subsequently to the implantation of the commissural helix, the surrounding-sheath is extracted from the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

An alloplastic implant for bridging osteotomy border gaps and irregularities in a mandible body. The alloplastic implant has an implant body of biocompatible, alloplastic material with a substantially J-shaped profile contour. The implant body has a vertical component with a substantially flat surface for being disposed toward a face surface of the mandible body, a lateral component that is semi-circular in profile and that mimics a contour of the inferior border of the mandible body, and a transverse component. The implant body is dimensioned to bridge border gaps and irregularities in the mandible body in a method for bridging such gaps and irregularities with the vertical component positioned to span a portion of the face surface of the mandible body and the lateral component positioned to overlie the inferior border of the mandible body. Immobilization of the implant body relative to the mandible body can be achieved by mechanical fastening.

A knee prosthesis comprises a femoral component for securement to a femur, the femoral component defining medial and lateral J-shaped condyles and an intercondylar groove; and a fixed bearing tibial component for securement to a tibia, the tibial component having respective bearing surfaces which are fixed with respect to both a tibial engaging component and a stabilising peg for securing the tibial component to a tibia, the respective bearing surfaces being shaped to engage with said condyles both when the knee, in use, is extended and also over a range of flexion.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to prosthetic heart valves and methods of use thereof. In one implementation, a prosthetic heart valve may include an annular spacer having a spacer opening therein and a disc-shaped wall configured to obstruct blood flow. The annular spacer may be configured for engaging with a native heart valve opening, such as the orifice of a mitral valve. The spacer opening may be sized to be smaller than the native heart valve opening. The prosthetic heart valve may also include a central valve section configured for disposal within the spacer opening. The central valve section may be separate from the annular spacer and may include one or more prosthetic valve leaflets.

A transluminal sheath is advanced transfemorally into a left atrium of a heart of the subject. A surrounding-sheath is advanced out of a distal end of the transluminal sheath, into the atrium, and toward a commissure of the mitral valve. A helix is implanted at the mitral valve by advancing the helix out of the surrounding-sheath and through the commissure into a left ventricle of the subject, such that the helix wraps around at least some chordae tendineae of the mitral valve. A prosthetic valve is collapsed into a collapsed state, and subsequently to implanting the helix and collapsing the prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve is advanced, in its collapsed state, through the transluminal sheath to the mitral valve. The prosthetic valve is implanted in the mitral valve by expanding it such that the helix facilitates anchoring of the prosthetic valve and sealing of the commissure.

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.