Medical devices for positioning a valve in a subject's body, such as a prosthetic heart valve in a subject's heart, are disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve may include a valve assembly, a frame, and a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include a commissural post or multiple commissural posts. The prosthetic heart valve may include a positional marker on a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include multiple positional markers on one or more control arms. The positional markers can be shapes, characters, or other symbols. The positional markers may themselves be asymmetric. The positional markers may be placed in an asymmetric location on a control arm. The control arm may be asymmetrically shaped.

An intervertebral spacer implant (80) is provided with a retention mechanism (86) to help alleviate expulsion and movement of the implant when placed in the spine while providing an implant that is easier to insert in the spine. In one embodiment the retention mechanism comprises a keel on at least one of the inferior or superior faces of the spacer implant preferably extending in an anterior-posterior direction. In another embodiment the implant comprises a spacer (84) and a plate (82), the plate comprising a supplemental or alternative retention mechanism. In one embodiment the retention mechanism comprises one or more holes (88) in the anterior end of the plate. In yet another embodiment, the retention mechanism comprises one or more blades that are in a first position when inserted and are preferably rotated to a second position that engages the superior and inferior vertebrae.

The invention relates to an implant for arranging and expanding in the human gastrointestinal tract for the purpose of lining a section of the gastrointestinal tract in order to prevent the resorption of supplied nourishment in said section, having a first end section (1) which, as a securing section, allows the fixation of the implant in the human stomach/gastrointestinal tract and/or to an applicator (10); a tubular section which adjoins the first end section (1), comprising a longitudinal section (2) which extends in the provided expansion direction, a transition section (3) which adjoins the longitudinal section (2), and an inverted section (4) which runs within the longitudinal section opposite the provided expansion direction; and a second end section (8). According to the invention, a region of the inverted section (4) and a region of the longitudinal section delimit a flow channel (5), via which a fluid (15) blown into the tubular section can penetrate the transition section (3) in order to exert pressure thereon, wherein the inverted section (4) radially delimits a cavity (6) and has a closure section (7) which forms the second end section (8) and axially delimits the cavity (6).

An ear cleaner is provided that includes an elongated handle, a spoon, and a disc intermediate the spoon and the disc.

Described are various embodiments of surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods, useful for treating pelvic conditions in a male or female, the pelvic conditions including incontinence (various forms such as fecal incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, etc.), vaginal prolapse (including various forms such as enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, apical or vault prolapse, uterine descent, etc.), and other conditions caused by muscle and ligament weakness, the devices and tools including devices and tools for anchoring an implant to tissue.

Provided is a ureteral stent (=50) including a bladder portion (=52) positioned in a bladder of a patient, a kidney portion (=54) positioned in a kidney and ureteral passageway of the patient, and one or more tethers (=56) coupling the bladder portion to the kidney portion. The ureteral stent allows urine to pass around a blockage, and allows a ureter orifice connecting the ureteral passageway to the bladder to move between a compressed state and an uncompressed state to prevent or minimize urinary reflux, flank pain, blood in the urine, etc., while allowing the bladder portion to move freely in the bladder to prevent the bladder portion from irritating the trigone muscle.

The intervertebral implant is in the form of a three-dimensional structure (10) comprising (a) a top side (1) and an underside (2) which are designed to rest against the end plates of two adjacent vertebras, (b) a left side face (3) and a right side face (4), (c) a front face (5) and a rear face (6), (d) a horizontal center plane situated between the top side (1) and the underside (2), (e) a vertical center plane (8) situated between the left side face (3) and the right side face (8) and (f) a plurality of boreholes (9) passing through the implant structure (10) that are designed to receive longitudinal affixation elements (20), the axes (19) of said elements intersecting the horizontal center plane (7). At least one of the boreholes (9) is designed in a manner that the affixation element (10) received in it can be rigidly connected to the intervertebral implant. Said connection is implemented using a thread or by matching conical surfaces.

The present invention relates to an innovative biological prostheses, equipped with a drainage system, designed for all surgical applications where there is any risk of hematomas or seromas, which not only allows to minimize adverse events arising from its application, but allows also to improve the effectiveness of the functional reconstruction. The prosthesis of the present invention is a surgical prosthesis made of animal derived collagen having a peripheral outline and a drainage portion comprising a plurality of drainage holes which are located in one or more independent groups each of which has a regular body-centered polygon layout.

A method of treating prolapse of a vagina includes supporting the vagina by implanting a sacrocolpopexy support and locating an exterior surface of the vagina between leg portions of a vaginal cuff section of the support, and securing a head section of the support to a ligament or a sacrum while isolating the head section from contact with tissue of the vagina.

Disclosed is a valve replacement comprising a braided helical design that mimics the heart's natural movement. The braided wire frame of the disclosed valve replacement may be compressed to enable compact and secure delivery into the heart and convenient control during implantation as well as the expansion and retraction when implanted or removed/replaced, preferably entirely via a catheter. The valve replacement may comprise a one-piece system comprising an adapter body with engaging mechanisms that secure to the heart, and a valve assembly with leaflets positioned within the adapter body. The valve replacement may also comprise a two-piece system comprising an adapter body and valve assembly that are compatible with each other yet wherein the valve assembly may be removable from the adapter body such that both can be delivered together or separately and such that the adapter body may remain implanted while the valve assembly may be removed and replaced.