A method for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) utilizes an RF ablation electrode needle system that has an RF ablation generator, and an electrode needle. The distal end of the electrode needle is introduced to puncture within myocardium after piercing through epicardium and then advanced along an intramyocardial pathway between endocardia at two lateral sides of the interventricular septum to reach a hypertrophic area of an interventricular septum. The RF ablation generator is then turned on to implement single-point or multi-point ablation on the hypertrophic area of the interventricular septum, and then the RF electrode needle is withdrawn from the patient.

An assembly and associated method for a commissure of a prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. As one example, a method includes: forming a plurality of commissures with the plurality of leaflets, wherein each commissure is formed by: pairing a first commissure tab of a first leaflet with an adjacent, second commissure tab of a second leaflet, coupling a main body of a support strip to the first and second commissure tabs via primary sutures, folding a tab portion of the support strip over the main body, and coupling the tab portion of the support strip to the main body via secondary sutures, and for each commissure, securing the commissure to a respective support portion of a frame of the prosthetic heart valve.

A surgical instrument and method are provided for removal of a spinal implant from the intervertebral disc space. The instrument includes a carriage body for interfacing with the implant, a housing for interfacing with the vertebrae, and a handle portion having a first portion rotatably coupled with a proximal end of the housing and a second portion rotatably engageable with a proximal attachment portion of the carriage body. A central passage of the housing extends between the proximal end and a distal engagement surface of the housing. The central passage is dimensioned to mate with the carriage body. Rotation of the handle portion about an axis causes translational movement of the carriage body along the axis. A modular inserter/distractor apparatus and method and an anchor remover and method are also provided.

A method for treating a native valve of a human heart having a native annulus and native leaflets includes positioning a capsule of a delivery device proximate a native heart valve. The method further includes partially deploying a prosthetic heart valve device from the capsule such that an inflow region of a valve support and an inflow region of a fixation structure are radially expanded. A portion of the prosthetic heart valve device remains coupled to the delivery device while a gap exists between a downstream end of a prosthetic valve disposed within the valve support and a distal terminus of the capsule such that fluid can flow through the prosthetic valve with the prosthetic heart valve device partially deployed. The method may further include recapturing the prosthetic heart valve device within the capsule.

A system for coupling a tendon to a bone may include a tendon coupling device engageable with a tendon, a fastener to secure the tendon coupling device to the tendon, a bone coupling device, and a flexible element. The flexible element may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the flexible element may be couplable with the fastener to securably attach the flexible element to the tendon. The bone coupling device may include a bone-facing surface engageable with a surface of the bone proximate a bone tunnel formed through the bone, and a hole formed through the bone coupling device. The second portion of the flexible element may be receivable through the bone tunnel and the hole formed through the bone coupling device to engage an opposing surface of the bone coupling device and securably couple the tendon to the bone.

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 prosthetic valve including a leaflet frame configured to be transitioned from a collapsed state having a first diameter to an expanded state having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The leaflet frame has an inlet and outlet end and defining a longitudinal axis. The leaflet frame includes a plurality of frame members that form a framework defining plurality of cells each having an interior cell space, the plurality of cells including an attachment cell. The plurality of frame members includes a plurality of sub-cell attachment members extending into the interior cell space of the attachment cell, the sub-cell attachment members each being configured to define a plurality of attachment locations along a sub-cell attachment line defined within a plane that intersects with the longitudinal axis such that the sub-cell attachment line extends through the interior cell space of the at least one attachment cell.

An intraocular lens includes a substantially circular lens element formed of a transparent material and one or more haptics extending outwardly from an outer edge of the lens element. The one or more haptics are formed of a polymer foam material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and are configured to couple the intraocular lens to an eye of a patient. The lens includes an inner region having a first index of refraction and an outer region disposed circumferentially surrounding the inner region, the outer region having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction.

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 method for transcatheter delivery to a native heart valve needing replacement. A first component is attached to the native annulus upstream of the native leaflets maintaining native leaflet function, and is held to the native annulus by barbs that are activated by a torus balloon after the first component is fully expanded. The torus balloon can be implanted along with the support frame. A limiting cable restricts further expansion of the first component and holds a second component that contains the replacement leaflets.