To increase the resistance to liquid and substance flow through a lumen of a tubular organ, a cuff comprising a flexible, mesh base member is appended to an exterior wall of the tubular organ such that it only partially surrounds the tubular organ. Ultimately, tissue ingrowth through the mesh base member integrates the cuff into the wall of the tubular organ. When the cuff is applied to the urethra of an incontinent patient, the increased resistance to flow renders the patient continent while still allowing normal voiding. The base member may also support an optional expandable component, e.g., a balloon-like element that can be selectively inflated and/or deflated to restrict the lumen of the tubular organ by a desired degree.

A stent with a one-way sock valve comprises a stent portion and a one-way valve portion. The one-way valve portion comprises a heal portion. The heal portion prevents solids and liquids from entering an opening in the one-way valve portion. Solids and liquids enter the one-way sock valve in a first direction through the stent portion and exit an opening transversely to the longitudinal axis of the stent portion. The sock valve folds, closing the sock valve to any reverse flow in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

A prosthesis includes an outer capsule that is made of biosorbable material. An inner capsule is encapsulated by the outer capsule. A layer of fluid is interposed between the outer capsule and the inner capsule. In one implementation, the inner capsule surrounds autologous fluids or saline. Also, the layer of fluid interposed between the outer capsule and the inner capsule may comprise autologous fluids or saline.

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).

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.

An intermixed particulate bioresorbable material including cathodic particles and anodic particles bound to each other, wherein the anodic and cathodic particles are made respectively of an anodic and a cathodic material, the anodic and cathodic materials forming a galvanic couple. The anodic and cathodic particles are present in a predetermined ratio and the anodic particles, cathodic particles and predetermined ratio are such that bioresorption of said stent is promoted by galvanic corrosion between said anodic and cathodic materials. Also, a medical device, such as a stent, manufactured using the bioresorbable material and a method of manufacturing the bioresorbable material and the medical device.

The present invention relates to an endograft device (101) for treatment of ruptures (104.9) in one or more inner layers of a blood vessel (104), in particular, an aorta, comprising an anchoring unit (101.1) and a sleeve unit (101.2). The endograft device (101) defines an upstream endograft end (101.3) and a downstream endograft end (101.4), upstream and downstream being defined, in an implanted state of the endograft device (101), in relation to a general natural blood flow defining a blood flow direction within the blood vessel (104). The anchoring unit (101.1) is a collapsible unit located at the upstream endograft end (101.3), wherein the anchoring unit (101.1) is configured to anchor, in the implanted state, the endograft device (101) within the blood vessel (104) by engaging an inner surface of the blood vessel (104) with an expanded anchoring section (101.5). The sleeve unit (101.2) is located downstream of the anchoring unit (101.1), wherein the sleeve unit (101.2) is a thin-walled foldable element defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an upstream sleeve unit end (101.7) and a upstream sleeve unit end (101.8). The sleeve unit (101.2) comprises an unsupported section (101.9) located at the upstream sleeve unit end (101.7), wherein the unsupported section (101.9) extends along the longitudinal direction and, at least in the implanted state, is unsupported over its entire circumference. The sleeve unit (101.2) is configured to be expanded, in the implanted state, to rest against an inner wall of the blood vessel (104) to sealingly cover the rupture (104.9) with the unsupported section (101.9).

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 tissue scaffold implant for expanding a stenotic lumen is provided that includes a bridge structure defining at least two angled sides and a lateral anchor integrally formed with the bridge structure. The lateral anchor is configured to be disposed against at least a portion of an external circumference of the stenotic lumen in a region near an opening formed in the stenotic lumen. At least two seat regions are defined between the at least two angled sides of the bridge structure and the lateral anchor. The at least two seat regions are configured to be received within and support the opening within the stenotic lumen, and the bridge structure and lateral anchor comprise a bioacceptable material.

A method of treating a mitral valve without open-heart surgery is disclosed. An expandable prosthesis comprises an anchoring portion and an occluding member coupled to the anchoring portion. The prosthesis is loaded into a distal end of a delivery catheter and advanced through a femoral vein and through a pre-made puncture in an atrial septum. The occluding member is then positioned in the mitral valve and the anchoring portion is positioned in the left atrium for maintaining the occluding member between the leaflets of the mitral valve. After deployment, the occluding member prevents blood from flowing from the left ventricle to the left atrium during systole.