A transluminal sheath is advanced transseptally into a left atrium of the subject. A distal end of a surrounding-sheath, having an anchor disposed therein, is advanced via a distal end of the transluminal sheath, into a left ventricle of the subject via a commissure of the mitral valve. While the distal end of the surrounding-sheath is in the left ventricle, the surrounding-sheath is pulled proximally with respect to the anchor to expose the anchor. While the distal end of the surrounding-sheath is in the left ventricle, mitral valve tissue that is within the left ventricle is encircled by helically wrapping the anchor around the mitral valve tissue. Subsequently, the surrounding-sheath is extracted from the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

A system of prosthetic implants for a total knee replacement procedure is provided. The system includes a tibial component of a knee joint implant, a tibial insert configured to be positioned against the superior side of the platform of the tibial component, a first femoral component of a knee joint implant, and a second femoral component of a knee joint implant.

The invention relates to a prosthetic heart valve (100) for an endoprosthesis (1) used in the treatment of a stenotic cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. The prosthetic heart valve (100) comprises of a plurality of leaflets (102), which consist of a natural and/or synthetic material and have a first opened position for opening the heart chamber and a second closed position for closing the heart chamber, the leaflets (102) being able to switch between their first and second position in response to the blood flow through the heart. In addition, the prosthetic heart valve (100) comprises a leaflet support portion (103), consisting of biological and/or synthetic material for mounting of the prosthetic heart valve (100) to a stent (10), and a bendable transition area (104) which forms a junction between the leaflets (102) and the leaflet support portion (103), the transition area (104) progressing essentially in a U-shaped manner similar to a cusp shape of a natural aortic or pulmonary heart valve for reducing tissue stresses during opening and closing motion of the leaflets (102). The invention further relates to an endoprosthesis (1) comprising a prosthetic heart valve (100) and a stent (10).

A heart valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve has a base stent that is deployed at a treatment site, and a valve component configured to quickly connect to the base stent. The base stent may take the form of a self- or balloon-expandable stent that expands outward against the native valve with or without leaflet excision. The valve component has a non-expandable prosthetic valve and a self- or balloon-expandable coupling stent for attachment to the base stent, thereby fixing the position of the valve component relative to the base stent. The prosthetic valve may be a commercially available to valve with a sewing ring and the coupling stent attaches to the sewing ring. The system is particularly suited for rapid deployment of heart valves in a conventional open-heart surgical environment. A catheter-based system and method for deployment is provided.

Systems and methods for mitral valve repair having a docking station and a valve implant. The docking station is an anchoring device having a helix structure. The valve implant is made of an expandable frame and a valve, and is radially expandable to a diameter that is at least the same as an expanded diameter of the anchoring device. The method of delivering the docking station and valve implant is performed by inserting the components through device delivery catheters.

A heart valve repair system includes a delivery sheath and an implant that includes a frame having a surface configured to contact an upstream surface of a native heart valve. First and second gripping members are coupled to the frame and each (1) includes first and second arms and (2) is configured to clamp a respective native leaflet. The implant is disposed in the sheath in a delivery state in which the frame defines a wall fully surrounding a central longitudinal axis of the implant. The distal end of the wall defines a distal opening of the frame. The distal end of the wall is disposed proximally to the entire first tissue-engaging surface of each of the gripping members and proximally to the entire second tissue-engaging surface of each of the gripping members. Other embodiments are also described.

The present invention relates to a stem for or of an implant having a longitudinal axis and at least one recess adapted for cemented implantation into the medullary cavity and/or a cavity created by surgery of a long bone, characterized in that the recess is interrupted by a barrier. Further the present invention relates to a method for preparing a stem of an implant according to any one of the preceding claims for implantation, comprising the step of placing cement into the recess (12) on both sides of the barrier.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for securing a drug delivery component to an intraocular lens (IOL) assembly. The systems generally include a support base and a plunger. The support base includes a first portion configured to accommodate a drug delivery component; and a second portion configured to act as a plunger guide. The plunger can be inserted into the plunger guide such that the plunger is positioned to interface with a drug delivery component and an IOL assembly during use. The plunger includes an elongated body and a tip, wherein the tip can include a ramp configured to interface with a fixation loop of a drug delivery component during use and a compartment configured to interface with a haptic of an IOL assembly during use.

A bone fusion device provides stability to bones during a bone fusion period. The bones include, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs attached to the bone fusion device by associated rotating means. The bone fusion device is preferably inserted by using an arthroscopic surgical procedure. During arthroscopic insertion of the device, the tabs are pre-configured for compactness. In this compact configuration, the tabs are preferably deposed along and/or within an exterior surface of the bone fusion device. After the bone fusion device has been positioned between the bones, one or more tab(s) are extended. In the preferred embodiment, the position of each tab is related to a positioning element and extending blocks. Typically, the tabs advantageously position and brace the bone fusion device in the confined space between the bones until the bones have fused.

A method is provided, including treating a heart valve of a patient by implanting at the heart valve an implant including an elongate element including at least in part a tension element, by placing the implant at the heart valve of the patient, and subsequently to the placing, increasing tension of the elongate element at least in part. The tension element is configured to undergo conformational changes, subsequently to the placing, responsively to a cardiac cycle of the patient. Implanting the implant includes implanting the implant such that the tension element undergoes the conformational changes responsively to the cardiac cycle of the patient in a manner in which the tension element cyclically increases and decreases pressure applied to at least one leaflet of the heart valve by the elongate element.