A sleeve for soft tissue repair includes a cylindrical tube formed of at least one biocompatible material, and a suture tethered to one end of the cylindrical tube. The cylindrical tube is configured to be fitted over a soft tissue. The cylindrical tube is configured to reversibly and repeatedly deform from a relaxed state to a stretched state in which the cylindrical tube contracts in a radial direction and expands in a longitudinal direction to secure the soft tissue within the cylindrical tube.

A method of forming an implant includes providing a preformed shell formed from at least one cured elastomeric layer. The shell includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an opening for accessing an interior volume of the shell. The method further includes expanding the shell to an expanded state, in which the interior volume is greater than the interior volume of the shell at a time of forming the shell and forming an inner zone having at least one inner elastomeric layer on at least a portion of the inner surface of the shell, while the shell is in the expanded state, thereby forming a multi-zone shell. The method further includes reducing the interior volume of the multi-zone shell, thereby contracting the at least one inner elastomeric layer of the inner zone and causing texturing of the at least one inner elastomeric layer.

A special tube is disclosed for the insertion of materials inside the maxillary sinus in order to displace the Schneiderian membrane. The tube is connected to a source of a flowable material. The tube is inserted through the alveolar ridge beneath the maxillary sinus and when the flowable material is advanced through the tube the Schneiderian membrane is lifted. The tube can be part of a dental implant which is screwed inside the alveolar ridge.

A valve prosthesis and methods for implanting the prosthesis are provided. The prosthesis generally includes a self-expanding frame and two or more engagement arms. A valve prosthesis is sutured to the self-expanding frame. Each engagement arm corresponds to a native mitral valve leaflet. At least one engagement arm immobilizes the native leaflets, and holds the native leaflets close to the main frame. The prosthetic mitral valve frame also includes two or more anchor attachment points. Each anchor attachment point is attached to one or more anchors that help attach the valve prosthesis to the heart.

Disclosed are self-expanding medical implants for placement within a lumen of a patient. The implants comprise a woven or non-woven structure having a substantially tubular configuration, and are designed to be low-profile such that they are deliverable with a small diameter catheter. The implants have a high recoverability and desired mechanical properties.

An implant device may include a body of a first material and defining a lumen and at least two arcuate rings of a second material embedded within the body. In one embodiment, the second material does not connect a first ring of the at least two arcuate rings to an adjacent second ring of the at least two arcuate rings.

A reconstruction support includes an upper half, a lower half joined to the upper half, a plurality of alignment perforations disposed on at least one of the upper half and the lower half, and a plurality of fenestrations disposed on at least one of the upper half and the lower half, the plurality of fenestrations configured to facilitate selective expansion of at least one of the upper half or the lower half, where the reconstruction support is inserted above muscle to facilitate breast reconstruction.

A method is provided, comprising: (1) making a transapical puncture into a left ventricle of the heart; (2) making a transseptal fenestration in the heart; (3) delivering a prosthetic valve via the transapical puncture and implanting the prosthetic valve at a mitral valve of the heart; and (4) subsequently to delivering the prosthetic valve and making the transseptal fenestration, closing the transapical puncture. Other embodiments are also described.

A catheter for delivering an implant, the catheter comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a bore; a first joint in the shaft, the first joint being configured to permit adjacent portions of the shaft to rotate in relation to each other; a second joint in the shaft located distal of the first joint, the second joint being configured to permit adjacent portions of the shaft to rotate in relation to each other; wherein, the first joint and the second joint are separated by a first digit that is rotationally rigid at all points between the first joint and the second joint; further wherein, the second joint and the distal end are separated by a second digit that is rotationally rigid at all points between the second joint and the distal end, the second digit being sized to receive an implant.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.