A reinforcement device for reinforcing tissues having one or more structural deficiencies includes a longitudinally-extending reinforcing layer for treating the structural deficiency, a plurality of spiked naps distributed across the reinforcing layer and projecting therefrom for adhering to the tissue, and a dissolvable matrix layer covering at least a portion of the reinforcing layer and a portion of the plurality of spiked naps. The matrix layer increases the time before the spiked naps substantially adhere to the tissue, thereby allowing the practitioner additional time to position the reinforcement device.

An annuloplasty device is disclosed comprising first and second support rings being configured to be arranged as a coil in a first configuration around an axial direction, wherein the first and second support rings are configured to be arranged on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets of a heart valve, wherein the first and second support rings are separated with a first pitch distance in the axial direction, in the first configuration, wherein the first and second support rings are configured to assume a contracted state having a second pitch distance in the axial direction being shorter than the first pitch distance, and wherein the first and second support rings are configured to be transferable between the first configuration and the contracted state to pinch the heart valve leaflets. A method of repairing a defective heart valve is also disclosed.

A stabilized fabric composed of a mesh or a woven fabric is disclosed as are methods of their manufacture, the manufacture of medical devices made using a stabilized fibers and stabilized medical devices are all disclosed. Fabrics can be stabilized by several techniques including: using mechanical, chemical and/or energetic fasteners at warp and weft intersections in the weave; by using various weaving techniques and fibers. Meshes can be stabilized when properly dimensioned and arranged junctions and struts of the necessary properties are used. All of these stabilized fabrics can be made of synthetic polymer materials such as ultrahigh molecular weight PE or PP and expanded PTFE.

A delivery assembly includes a prosthetic device, a catheter shaft, a release wire, a first line, and a second line. The prosthetic device has a first arm and a second arm. The release wire extends through the catheter shaft. The first line includes a first loop. The first line extends from the catheter shaft, through the first arm of the prosthetic device, and to the release wire, where the release wire extends through the first loop. The second line includes a second loop. The second line extends from the catheter shaft, through the second arm of the prosthetic device, and to the release wire, where the release wire extends through the second loop.

A tubular graft for use in a stent graft. The tubular graft may include a first woven layer that forms a first side of the tubular graft, where the first woven layer has a set of first warp ends. A second woven layer may forma a second side of the tubular graft, where the second woven layer has a set of second warp ends, and where the second warp ends are distinct from the first warp ends. A woven pocket flap may extend from the first woven layer, where a pocket opening is defined between the woven pocket flap and the first woven layer, and where the woven pocket flap includes at least one common weft yarn with the first woven layer.

A prosthetic heart valve may include an expandable stent, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent, and a plurality of leaflets disposed within an interior region of the stent and attached to at least one of the cuff or the stent. The stent may have a plurality of cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent. The leaflets together may have a coapted position occluding the interior region of the stent and an open position in which the interior region is not occluded. Each leaflet may include a primary leaflet material, as well as features that reinforce specific regions of the leaflet.

Reversibly deformable corneal implants for replacing excised corneal tissue, the implants including an optical portion and an anchoring portion having different mechanical properties from each other.

An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for use in the treatment of aneurysm involving branches is described, where at least one self-expandable braided framework extending along an axis is able to expand from a radially compressed state in a delivery configuration to a radially expanded state. The self-expandable braided framework includes a plurality of layers of wires made of biocompatible material forming a lattice with a plurality of wires of said layers; the wires being integrated in the mesh of at least one of the adjacent layers; the self-expandable braided framework including a lumen in a cylindrical form; characterized in that, in radially expanded state, a ratio of a thickness of a wall of the implantable endoluminal prosthesis in the radially expanded state to the diameter of wire being greater than 3.0; and the surface coverage ratio (SCR) of the braided framework is at least 30% and at most 50%.

Prosthetic valves can have a reinforcement member designed to protect various components of the valve and the surrounding tissues from damage. The reinforcement member can include a suture with a plurality of apertures. Sutures with apertures can be utilized within or as reinforcement members, which can be attached to a prosthetic valve to reinforce the prosthetic valve.

A prosthetic heart valve and associated methods for assembling a prosthetic heart valve including a plurality of leaflets is disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve includes a frame; a plurality of commissure support elements, each connected the frame and including two axially-extending members spaced apart from one another to form a window; and a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet comprising a body and two opposing commissure tabs, each commissure tab arranged adjacent to another commissure tab to form a pair of commissure tabs that are disposed in a commissure support element to form a commissure. Each commissure tab includes a series of overlapping layers that include a first set of two overlapping layers that extends through the window and a second set of two overlapping layers that extends away from the first set of two overlapping layers and over an outer side of a corresponding axially-extending member.