Absorbable implants for breast surgery that conform to the breast parenchyma and surrounding chest wall have been developed. These implants support newly lifted breast parenchyma, and/or a breast implant. The implants have mechanical properties sufficient to support a reconstructed breast, and allow the in-growth of tissue into the implant as it degrades. The implants have a strength retention profile allowing the support of the breast to be transitioned from the implant to regenerated host tissue, without significant loss of support. Three-dimensional implants for use in minimally invasive mastopexy/breast reconstruction procedures are also described, that confer shape to a patient's breast. These implants are self-reinforced, can be temporarily deformed, implanted in a suitably dissected tissue plane, and resume their preformed three-dimensional shape. The implants are preferably made from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) and copolymers thereof. The implants have suture pullout strengths that can resist the mechanical loads exerted on the reconstructed breast.

The present technology is directed to an adjustable power intraocular lens comprising a container, an optical fluid in the container, and a transport substance in solution with the optical fluid. The container has an optical component and a peripheral component extending around at least a portion of the optical component. The optical component has an anterior optical element, a posterior optical element, and a fluid chamber having a chamber volume between the anterior optical element and the posterior optical element. The transport substance is configured to pass through the container. The adjustable power intraocular lens further comprises volume control elements in the container. The volume control elements are configured to be activated by a non-invasive energy and upon activation release the transport substance into the optical fluid to decrease the chamber volume and/or absorb the transport substance from the optical fluid to increase the chamber volume.

A fiber-based surgical implant stabilized against fraying, includes a thermally crimped flat-knitted fabric of a biocompatible, optionally biodegradable, polymer material having a glass transition temperature or other thermally induced secondary conformational mobility threshold in the temperature range of from 20° C. to +170° C. Also disclosed is a corresponding fabric and methods of producing the implant and the fabric.

A stent and method of making incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect element(s) across an intervening space. The polymeric connecting elements are designed to fold within the space between the outer diameter of the stent and the inner diameter of the stent.

A system (100) for a controlled stressing of a reconstructed or re-natured ligament of a human or animal body comprises an anchoring element (10) for implantation in a first bone (50), at least one connecting element (120) and a holding element (30), which fixes the at least one connecting element (20) in a second bone. According to the invention, an elastomer element (125) is arranged in the anchoring element and/or in the connecting element (120) and provides a defined elastic action through the cooperation of elastomer element (125) with the connecting element (120).

A stent has a tubular shaped framework that includes a plurality of vertices that are each defined by a pair of struts. A plurality of induction responsive muscles are associated, respectively, with one of the plurality of vertices by being attached to each strut of a pair of struts. The induction responsive muscles have a relaxed state at body temperatures, and have a contracted state at an elevated temperature greater than body temperature. If the stent has an initial unsatisfactory implant orientation or position or other expansion irregularity, the application of an electromagnetic induction field may be applied to temporary 11 reduce the diameter of the stent to adjust its positioning and/or orientation.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves via a trans-apical approach to accessing the heart. A guiding sheath may be introduced into a ventricle of the heart through an access site at an apex of the heart. A distal end of the guiding sheath can be positioned retrograde through the target valve. An annuloplasty ring arranged in a compressed delivery geometry is advanced through the guiding sheath and into a distal portion of the guiding sheath positioned within the atrium of the heart. The distal end of the guiding sheath is retracted, thereby exposing the annuloplasty ring. The annuloplasty ring may be expanded from the delivery geometry to an operable geometry. Anchors on the annuloplasty ring may be deployed to press into and engage tissue of the annulus of the target valve.

A hydraulic muscle comprises a hollow carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn tube comprising: a plurality of CNT sheets twisted and wrapped in form of a hollow tube; and a binding agent infiltrated in the plurality of CNT sheets that binds the plurality of the CNT sheets together. A method of manufacturing a hydraulic muscle comprises: twisting and wrapping a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets around a core fiber; infiltrating a binding agent in between the plurality of CNT sheets, wherein the binding agent binds the plurality of the CNT sheets together; and removing the core fiber from the plurality of CNT sheets.

A stent and method of making incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect element(s) across an intervening space. The polymeric connecting elements are designed to fold within the space between the outer diameter of the stent and the inner diameter of the stent.

A method of treating a native mitral valve without open-heart surgery is disclosed. An expandable prosthesis includes an anchoring portion and an occluding member coupled to the anchoring portion. The prosthesis is loaded into a distal end portion of a delivery catheter and is advanced through a femoral vein and through a pre-made puncture in an atrial septum. The anchoring portion self-expands within the left atrium for anchoring the occluding member in a fixed position. The anchoring portion is preferably a laser cut structure that conforms to the left atrium and uniformly distributes anchoring forces within the left atrium. After deployment, the occluding member prevents blood from flowing from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole. The occluding member is preferably made from a flexible material, such as pericardial tissue.