A prosthetic heart valve includes a frame having a plurality of strut members, an inflow end, and an outflow end. The prosthetic heart valve further includes a leaflet structure situated at least partially within the frame, and a covering disposed around the frame. The covering has a first layer and a second layer, wherein the second layer has a plush surface. The first layer is folded over a circumferential edge portion of the second layer to form a protective portion that extends beyond the strut members in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic heart valve.

Stents are disclosed herein. The stents described herein can comprise a hollow cylindrical body in which a middle region extends to a first end and also extends to an opposing second end. The first end and the second end can each comprise a plurality of flanges, within which the flanges can have either similar or different characteristics, particularly physical profiles.

Tissue prostheses having a base structure and a physiological sensor system. The tissue prostheses are adapted and configured to induce remodeling of damaged tissue and regeneration of new tissue and concurrently detect and monitor physiological characteristics when implanted in the subject.

Embodiments of nanostructures comprising metal oxide and methods for forming the nanostructure on surfaces are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the nanostructures can be formed on a substrate made of a nickel titanium alloy, resulting in a nanostructure containing both titanium oxide and nickel oxide. The nanostructure can include a lattice layer disposed on top of a nanotube layer. The distal surface of the lattice layer can have a titanium oxide to nickel oxide ratio of greater than 10:1, or about 17:1, resulting in a nanostructure that promotes human endothelial cell migration and proliferation at the interface between the lattice layer and human cells or tissue. The nanostructure may be formed on the outer surface of an implantable medical device, such a stent or an orthopedic implant (e.g. knee implant, bone screw, or bone staple).

An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes in a spinal motion segment is provided. The spacer includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and passageway. A first arm and a second arm are connected to the body. Each arm has a pair of extensions and a saddle defining a U-shaped configuration for seating a spinous process therein. Each arm has a proximal caming surface and is capable of rotation with respect to the body. An actuator assembly is disposed inside the passageway and connected to the body. When advanced, a threaded shaft of the actuator assembly contacts the caming surfaces of arms to rotate them from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the distracted adjacent spinous processes are seated in the U-shaped portion of the arms.

The invention relates to medical devices that has a surface configured to promote the migration of cells onto the surface of the medical device. In particular, the surface of the medical device has a noncontiguous pattern of topographical features formed therein or thereon.

Methods of implanting a device in the lumen of a blood vessel are described. The method includes providing a microcatheter and a device. The device includes a first hub, a second hub, a support structure including a plurality of struts disposed between the first hub and the second hub, and a layer of material disposed over the plurality of struts. The support structure has a low profile, radially constrained state with an elongated tubular configuration suitable for delivery from a microcatheter. The support structure also has an expanded state, a smooth outer surface, and has an axially shortened configuration relative to the radially constrained state. The microcatheter is advanced to a region of interest within the blood vessel. The support structure is advanced through the lumen of and out the distal end of the microcatheter where it expands to the expanded state.

A transcutaneous connection between an exterior and an interior of a human or animal body includes a cylindrical skin penetration piece which provides a passage through the skin and has a longitudinal axis that determines the direction of passage through the skin. Wound-healing action and reliable disinfection are effected using an annular flat electrode arrangement, which has a contact surface at an angle to the longitudinal axis, can be fastened to the skin penetration piece. The electrode arrangement includes a flat electrode and a flat dielectric shielding the electrode relative to the surface of the skin, and is designed as a counter-electrode to generate a dielectric barrier plasma between the dielectric and the surface of the skin.

An implantable prosthetic device such as might be used to treat poor function of a diseased heart valve in a medical patient includes a body portion and an anchor portion including a plurality of paddles. Clasps attached to the paddles include fixed arms and moveable arms operable to secure the device to the patient's native valve leaflets.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments directed to a device for minimally invasive medical treatment. The device being a hollow tube with a first end, a second end, and one or more anchors configured to extend outward from the exterior of the hollow tube. The hollow tube having a plurality of cutouts on the exterior, wherein the cutouts allow the hollow tube to be flexible. Additionally, the hollow tube may have at least one snap mechanism configured to connect the first end and the second end together.