The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation enhancement element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation enhancement element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation enhancement element, catheter and driver; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

Phase segregated block-copolymer based on repeating structural elements represented by formula I ##STR00001## wherein PHA represents at least one block based on one or more α-hydroxy acids, PDAS represents a central block based on a dialkylsiloxane, the PDAS block has a weight average molecular weight in the range of from 4000 to 10000, the blocks PHA have a weight average molecular weight in the range of from 2000 to 10 000, the phase segregated block copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from 40 000 to 120 000.

This invention relates to the design and function of a compressible valve replacement prosthesis, collared or uncollared, which can be deployed into a beating heart without extracorporeal circulation using a transcatheter delivery system. The design as discussed focuses on the deployment of a device via a minimally invasive fashion and by way of example considers a minimally invasive surgical procedure preferably utilizing the intercostal or subxyphoid space for valve introduction. In order to accomplish this, the valve is formed in such a manner that it can be compressed to fit within a delivery system and secondarily ejected from the delivery system into the annulus of a target valve such as a mitral valve or tricuspid valve.

Systems and methods discussed herein provide for fabricating orthopedic implants one or more shape-memory alloys including TiNi and TiNb and shape-setting the alloys to the geometry appropriate for the orthopedic implant. The shape-setting may include tuning the transformation temperature of the one or more alloys, and a single implant may comprise one or more alloys that may differ in composition, shape-setting process, or both.

Methods for controlling properties of structural elements of implantable medical devices, where the structural elements contain shape memory alloys (SMAs) include promoting or inhibiting in vivo formation of R-phase crystal structure or converging or separating the R-phase from the austenite phase.

Disclosed are compositions comprising collagen covalently bound to particles, wherein covalent bonds are formed between reactive groups of the collagen and reactive groups of the particles, and wherein the particles have an average particle diameter ranging from 20 to 1000 nanometers. Also disclosed are various methods that utilize the compositions.

Heart valve implants and methods for implanting and delivering same are described. A heart valve implant can include a shaft, having a first end and a second end, an anchor, and a plurality of wafers. The anchor is coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to secure the heart implant to a patient's heart. The wafers are coupled to the second end of the shaft and configured to form a stacked array of wafers. The stacked array of wafers can partially reduce a flow of blood through a heart valve upon coming in contact with a portion of a leaflet of the heart valve.

The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation enhancement element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation enhancement element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation enhancement element, catheter and driver; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

Medical devices and methods for delivering fluid. The medical devices include one or more needles for delivering fluid. The methods may include expanding an expandable member such as an inflatable member to expand an expandable scaffold outward toward a lumen wall.

The present invention provides a superelastic alloy containing Au in an amount of 8.0% by mass or more and 20.0% by mass or less and at least one of Cr and Mo as essential additive elements, Ta as an optional additive element, and Ti and inevitable impurities as a balance, wherein the Cr equivalent calculated on the basis of the following formula for the relationship of the Cr content, the Mo content and the Ta content is within the range of more than 0.5 and less than 8.0. The alloy is a Ni-free superelastic alloy, and has favorable X-ray-imaging property. Accordingly, the alloy can be suitably used in medical fields.

Cr equivalent=[Cr content (% by mass)]+([Mo content (% by mass)]/1.7)+([Ta content (% by mass)]/15)   [Formula 1]