Spinal tissue distraction devices that include a member which has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the member, by change of configuration, forms a support structure for separating and supporting layers of spinal tissue.

A knee replacement prosthesis comprising a femoral component and a tibial component that enable anterior-posterior translation of the femur relative to the tibia and enable the tibia to rotate about its longitudinal axis during flexion of the knee. The femoral component connects to the distal end of a resected femur and includes medial and lateral condyles having distal, articulating surfaces, and a patellar flange having a patellar articulating surface. The tibial component connects to the proximal end of a resected tibia and includes a proximal bearing surface with medial and lateral concavities that articulate with the medial and lateral condyles. The condylar articulating surfaces and the said concavities are substantially defined by non-uniform, rational B-spline surfaces (NURBS).

A system for spinal surgery includes a prosthesis comprising a plurality of bone anchors which engage an intervertebral construct for fusion or motion preservation. The fusion construct comprises a spacer optionally encircled by a jacket. The motion preservation construct may comprise an articulating disc assembly or an elastomeric disc assembly. Any of the constructs may occupy the intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae after removal of an intervertebral disc. The anchors slidingly engage the construct to securely fix the prosthesis to the vertebrae. The anchors and jacket of the fusion construct provide a continuous load path across opposite sides of the prosthesis so as to resist antagonistic motions of the spine.

A device is provided including a distal nail portion and a proximal nail portion that can be connected to each other to attain a rigid configuration. The device is to be placed internally within the medullary cavities of bones. The device is placed intramedullarily in order to minimize incision size, excessive bone resection and post-operative tendon damage and tenderness. Additionally, one particular method for using the device is provided that includes placing and affixing the distal nail in bone, placing the proximal nail in bone, connecting the distal nail to the proximal nail, doing the desired geometrical adjustments, affixing the proximal nail to the distal nail by tightening the connection and affixing the proximal nail to attain a rigid configuration.

Described is a collapsible atrial cage for percutaneous delivery and implantation of an atrioventricular valve within an atrium of the heart. The atrial cage includes an atrial portion and a ventricular portion. The ventricular portion is attached with and separated from the atrial portion by a valve juncture portion. Notably, the cage includes at least one interlock shaped to lock with and secure an atrioventricular valve proximate the valve juncture portion. Thus, when deployed and expanded, the atrioventricular valve is secured at the atrioventricular juncture.

An intervertebral disc prosthesis designed to be substituted for fibrocartilaginous discs ensures a connection between the vertebra of the vertebra column or the end of the latter. The prosthesis includes a pair of plates spaced from each other by a nucleus. The prosthesis has increased stability by providing the nucleus with a translation or rotation stop, or by inducing an angular correction between its plates contacting vertebra, or a combination of these characteristics. The stop includes parts external to the nucleus and contact surfaces perpendicular to their contact directions. Surgical methods and instrumentation for implanting the prosthesis are also described.

An adjustable spinal fusion intervertebral implant is provided that can comprise upper and lower body portions that can each have proximal and distal wedge surf aces disposed at proximal and distal ends thereof. An actuator shaft disposed intermediate the upper and lower body portions can be actuated to cause proximal and distal protrusions to converge towards each other and contact the respective ones of the proximal and distal wedge surfaces. Such contact can thereby transfer the longitudinal movement of the proximal and distal protrusions against the proximal and distal wedge surfaces to cause the separation of the upper and lower body portions, thereby expanding the intervertebral implant. The upper and lower body portions can have side portions that help facilitate linear translational movement of the upper body portion relative to the lower body portion.

A valve for endovascular heart valve repair that provides improved sealing of the valve against the native wall. The valve assembly has a sealing region at a distal end of the valve. The sealing region having a delivery position and a sealing position, wherein in the delivery position, the sealing region has a first length, and in the sealing position, the sealing region has a second length less than the first length and a thickness in the sealing position is greater in the sealing position than in the delivery position.

A method of inserting an expandable intervertebral implant is disclosed. The implant preferably includes first and second members capable of being expanded upon movement of first and second wedges. The first and second wedges, while being capable of moving with respect to each other and the first and second members are also preferably attached to the first and second members. In addition, the first and second wedges are preferably capable of moving only in a first direction, while movement in a second direction is inhibited. The first and second wedges are also preferably prevented from torsionally moving with respect to the first and second members.

Vertebral body replacement apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided. In various examples, an implantable device is configured to be inserted between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The implantable device includes a first endplate configured to contact a superior endplate of the first vertebral body. A central member is pivotably coupled to the first endplate. A second endplate is configured to contact an inferior endplate of the second vertebral body. The implantable device includes a first insertion configuration and a second load-bearing configuration. The first insertion configuration includes the central member at a first angular position with respect to the first endplate. The second load-bearing configuration includes the central member at a second angular position with respect to the first endplate and the second endplate in a load-bearing position.