A synthetic ligament made of a plurality of polymer filaments comprising two intra-osseous portions (1), within which polymer filaments are oriented only longitudinally and are woven together longitudinally and knotlessly to form a dense weave, and one intra-articular portion (2), located between the two intra-osseous portions (1), which comprises loose filaments and is untwisted around its axis. A method of producing a synthetic ligament in which the step of weaving of the polymer filaments within the intra-osseous portions (1) is carried out by means of longitudinal and knotless weaving to obtain a dense weave, with polymer filaments within the intra-articular portion (2) of a ligament remaining loose. A use of a synthetic ligament as a medical implant for the reconstruction of ligaments and tendons, notably knee ligaments.

In a biomimetic artificial muscle module, a biomimetic artificial muscle assembly having the biomimetic artificial muscle module, and a method of controlling the biomimetic artificial muscle module, the biomimetic artificial muscle module includes an operating part, an elastic part, a driving part, a locking part and first and second sensors. The operating part contracts or relaxes along a longitudinal direction. The elastic part is connected to a first end of the operating part, and behaves elastically behave according to an external force. The driving part is connected to a second end of the operating part, and drives the operating part to be contracted or relaxed. The locking part selectively blocks a length of the operating part from being changed. The first and second sensors respectively sense the elastic part and the operating part.

The present application relates to novel intraocular devices and their use in surgical techniques, as well as the novel surgical methodology achieved from their use.

Configurations are described for assisting in the execution of a percutaneous procedure while protecting the vascular pathway to the operational theater, which may comprise diseased tissue. A railed sheath may be controllably expandable and collapsible, and may comprise two or more elongate rail structures configured to assist in the distribution of loads to associated diseased tissue structures, while also contributing to the deployment of percutaneous tools by maintaining alignment of such tools with the railed catheter and associated anatomy.

An endovascularly deployed prosthetic includes a portion for being positioned within an ascending aorta. The prosthesis includes a replacement aortic valve on a proximal end thereof. The prosthesis includes an increased diameter portion that seals against the aorta at a more distal portion, and a pair of conduits extend from the increased diameter portion to the coronaries for fluidly coupling the coronaries to the prosthesis.

A method for deploying a medical device such as a heart valve to a desired location in a blood vessel comprising first deploying a tubular filter adjacent to at least one tributary vessel location with a filter deployment member, disengaging said deployment member and removing it, inserting an expandable sheath into the blood vessel, passing a medical device through said sheath to deploy its removing said sheath and removing said filter.

An IOL system includes a capsular ring having a concave exterior surface extending around its circumference that is configured, upon insertion into a capsular bag of a patient's eye, to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag. The concave exterior surface extends between an anterior surface and a posterior surface of the capsular ring. A first one or more flaps are arranged on the anterior surface such that at least a portion of each of the first one or more flaps, upon insertion into the capsular bag of a patient's eye, engages an anterior portion of the capsular bag. Similarly, a second one or more flaps are arranged on the posterior surface such that at least a portion of each of the second one or more flaps, upon insertion into a capsular bag of a patient's eye, engages a posterior portion of the capsular bag.

An artificial ligament is provided having an elongate body and two ends, with a loop being provided at least one of the ends and a loop liner being provided within the loop. A kit of artificial ligaments is also provided with each ligament in the kit having a different fixed length. Also provided are methods for determining a length of artificial ligament to be used within a prosthetic knee joint, selecting a ligament from a range or kit of ligaments, and implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising an artificial ligament.

A prosthetic implant with improved properties, suitable for implantation to the human body, comprising a composite comprising a base material and a plurality of additives, wherein the additives are selected from radiolucent additives and/or hyperechoic additives; or wherein the additives are selected to reduce the solvent concentration by between 5%-95%; or wherein the additives are selected to increase the elastic modulus by more than 20%; or wherein the additives are selected for combining these effects.

An annuloplasty implant comprises an elongate member, a plurality of anchors, and a gripper. The elongate member has a proximal end, and a distal portion that includes a distal end. The plurality of anchors are distributed along the elongate member. The elongate member extends proximally from a proximal-most anchor and through the gripper. The gripper comprises a locking element that, in a locked state, inhibits sliding of the elongate member through the gripper. An unlocker, disposed within the gripper, obstructs the locking element from assuming the locked state, and is pullable proximally out of the gripper. The gripper automatically assumes the locked state upon the unlocker being pulled proximally out of the gripper. A tool tensions the distal portion of the elongate member by pulling the elongate member proximally through the gripper while the unlocker obstructs the locking element from assuming the locked state. Other embodiments are also described.