An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means.

Implantable devices including conduits that have markings along the length of the conduit are described herein.

A method of promoting lung disinsufflation including inserting a catheter into a bronchial passage of a patient's lung. The catheter contains an implantable artificial bronchus compressed within the catheter. The method further includes using the catheter to position the implantable artificial bronchus in the bronchial passage such that the implantable artificial bronchus extends across openings of a plurality of other bronchial passages and withdrawing the catheter from the bronchial passage to cause the implantable artificial bronchus to naturally expand and remain in the bronchial passage. The implantable artificial bronchus is configured to promote enlargement of the bronchial passage and allow air to exit from the plurality of other bronchial passages and into the implantable artificial bronchus through one or more of the plurality of side openings.

The invention relates to a method for producing a stent graft. The method comprises providing a graft made of a first polymer-based material and applying a stent structure comprising a plurality of struts made of a second polymer-based material onto the graft by means of an additive manufacturing method. The invention further relates to a stent graft produced by means of the method.

Embodiments include prosthetic valves and related methods. In an embodiment, an implantable valve is included having a frame that includes a plurality of frame struts. The frame can define a central lumen. An outer skirt can be disposed on an abluminal surface of the frame. The outer skirt can include a flap having a first end and a second end. The first end of the flap can be fixed to the abluminal surface of the frame and the second end can be free to move away from the abluminal surface of the frame. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Compositions-of-matter comprising a matrix made of at least one elastic layer and at least one viscoelastic layer and an adhesive promoter and/or adhesive layer, are disclosed. The compositions-of-matter are characterized by high water-impermeability and optionally by self-recovery. Processes of preparing the compositions-of-matter and uses thereof as tissue substitutes or for repairing damaged tissues are also disclosed.

A voice prosthesis comprising a outer cannula and an inner cannula wherein the outer cannula is generally in the shape of a spool and comprises two flanges connected by a hollow annular stem therebetween, and the inner cannula comprises a proximal flange and a stem configured to fit within a passageway of the stem of the outer cannula. The outer cannula comprises a retaining slot on its outer proximal edge which can be used to rotationally secure an obround inner cannula proximal flange. The inner cannula may also comprise windows for use with retaining nubs disposed on the interior of the outer cannula passageway and an insertion tool having a moveable protrusions.

A catheter for prevention of stroke by diverting and filtering the blood flow to carotid and vertebral arteries is provided. The catheter includes at least one balloon with an outer mesh cover that expands upon the balloon inflation and collapses upon balloon deflation. Partial inflation of balloons provides for full mesh expansion in the target vessel with resulting capturing and retrieval of embolic particles. The inflation of the balloon in the aortic arch or head vessels expands the balloon associated filtering mesh leading to both filtering and deflection of embolic particles from the cerebral circulation, while balloon deflation triggers the mesh collapse and promotes its recapturing and retrieval while minimizing the risk of spillage of captured emboli.

A composite material for use, for example, as an orthopedic implant, that includes a porous reinforced composite scaffold that includes a polymer, reinforcement particles distributed throughout the polymer, and a substantially continuously interconnected plurality of pores that are distributed throughout the polymer, each of the pores in the plurality of pores defined by voids interconnected by struts, each pore void having a size within a range from about 10 to 500 μm. The porous reinforced composite scaffold has a scaffold volume that includes a material volume defined by the polymer and the reinforcement particles, and a pore volume defined by the plurality of pores. The reinforcement particles are both embedded within the polymer and exposed on the struts within the pore voids. The polymer may be a polyaryletherketone polymer and the reinforcement particles may be anisometric calcium phosphate particles.

Methods and devices for correcting wear pattern defects in joints. The methods and devices described herein allow for the restoration of correcting abnormal biomechanical loading conditions in a joint brought on by wear pattern defects, and also can, in embodiments, permit correction of proper kinematic movement.