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.

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 prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.

A cup and a temporary insert are respectively configured to be tightly press fitted into each other along their periphery. The temporary insert includes a through hole communicating outside with a free space between the outer surface of the temporary insert and the inner surface of the cup. In the through hole can be engaged the threaded end of an impactor, for manipulating the cup when it is being set. A syringe can be engaged, enabling a liquid under pressure to be injected into the free space, thus separating the temporary insert from the cup without any risk of damaging the inner surface of the cup. Thus, the cup can be securely manipulated when it is being set without any risk of damaging the inner surface of the cup.

A stent incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent metallic stent element(s) across an intervening space and have optimized geometries. In one configuration the metallic elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having intervening spaces between adjacent helical windings of the wire. 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 when the stent is subjected to compaction or bending. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used.

Prosthetic heart devices may be implanted into the heart with a sensor coupled to the device, the sensor being configured to measure physiological data, such as blood pressure, in the heart. Devices that may employ such sensors include prosthetic heart valves and occlusion devices, although sensor systems may be deployed in the heart separate from other implantable devices. The sensors may include a body with different configurations for attaching to the implantable device, such as apertures for sutures or fingers for connecting to structures of the implantable device. The sensors may provide data that allow a determination of aortic regurgitation or other information indicative of function of the implantable device and patient health during and after implantation of the device.

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.

The present invention is directed to a low profile intervertebral implant for implantation in an intervertebral disc space in-between adjacent vertebral bodies. The intervertebral implant includes a plate preferably coupled to a spacer. The plate is preferably formed from a first material and the spacer is preferably formed from a second material, the first material being different from the second material. The plate is preferably sized and configured so that the plate does not extend beyond the perimeter of the spacer. In this manner, the plate preferably does not increase the height profile of the spacer and the plate may be implanted within the intervertebral disc space in conjunction with the spacer.

This application relates to a method of covering a pessary device for relief of female incontinence with an overwrap. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of conforming the overwrap to the pessary device using a sealing mechanism.