A valve prosthesis and methods for implanting the prosthesis are provided. The prosthesis generally includes a self-expanding frame and two or more engagement arms. A valve prosthesis is sutured to the self-expanding frame. Each engagement arm corresponds to a native mitral valve leaflet. At least one engagement arm immobilizes the native leaflets, and holds the native leaflets close to the main frame. The prosthetic mitral valve frame also includes two or more anchor attachment points. Each anchor attachment point is attached to one or more anchors that help attach the valve prosthesis to the heart.

Expandable absorbable implants have been developed that are suitable for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The implants can be implanted in the vicinity of a tissue expander, for example, by suturing to the detached edge of the pectoralis major muscle to function as a pectoralis extender, and used to form a sling for a tissue expander. The implants, which permit tissue-ingrowth and slowly degrade, can be expanded in the breast using a tissue expander in order to form a pocket for a permanent breast implant. After expansion, the tissue expander can be removed and replaced with a permanent breast implant. The expandable implants help reduce patient discomfort resulting from tissue expansion, and avoid the need to use allografts or xenografts to create the pocket for the tissue expander. The expandable absorbable implant preferably comprises poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer thereof.

Surgical constructs that at least one fixation device, at least one flexible strand the forms at least one adjustable loop, and a self-locking mechanism, and methods of tissue repair using the same.

A method of implanting a device in a heart includes inserting an implant into a blood vessel with a delivery apparatus. The implant includes a stent member and an adjustment member. The stent member is circumferentially expandable and contractible. The adjustment member is coupled to the stent member. The delivery apparatus includes a rotatable shaft and a locking mechanism coupled to an end portion of the shaft. The shaft of the delivery apparatus is releasably coupled to the adjustment member of the implant by the locking mechanism of the delivery apparatus. The method further includes positioning the implant at an implantation location within a heart by manipulating the delivery apparatus, and rotating the shaft of the delivery apparatus relative to the stent member of the implant to actuate the adjustment member of the implant. Actuating the adjustment member results in circumferential expansion or contraction of the stent member.

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

The present technology is directed to adjustable flow glaucoma shunts, systems, and methods for making and using such devices. In many of the embodiments described herein, the shunts include a drainage element configured to fluidly couple an anterior chamber of an eye and a target outflow location, such as a subconjunctival bleb space. The shunts can further include a flow control assembly coupled to the drainage element and configured to control the flow of fluid (e.g., aqueous) therethrough. The shunts can further include an outer membrane or bladder that encases the flow control assembly. The outer membrane can include a plurality of apertures that fluidly couple an interior of the outer membrane with an environment exterior to the outer membrane.

A fluid collection system may include a fluid collection device, a tube, a fluid collection container configured to receive fluid from the fluid collection device, and a vacuum source configured to pull an at least partial vacuum to draw the fluid from the fluid collection device through the tube into the fluid collection container. The fluid collection device may include a fluid impermeable barrier including an outer surface and an inner surface, the fluid impermeable barrier defining a chamber, at least one opening, and a fluid outlet. The fluid collection device may include a porous material disposed in the chamber and an external support coupled to the outer surface of the fluid impermeable barrier. The fluid impermeable barrier exhibits a first shape prior to shaping the external support and a second shape after shaping the external support with the first shape being different from the second shape.

A modular prosthetic valve device for implantation in a patient and a system for and method of delivering such a modular valve device and assembling it in vivo are disclosed. The valve device is designed as two or more modules to be delivered unassembled, spatially separate, and combined into an assembled valve device in the body at or near the site of implantation. The valve device of the invention is deliverable as modules, providing a smaller delivery diameter than pre-assembled percutaneous valves, permitting use of a delivery device of reduced diameter, and increasing the flexibility of the valve device during delivery, compared to percutaneous valve devices in the art. The modules of the valve device may be connected by pull wires for delivery sequentially, and then assembled by remote manipulation using the pull wires. Various locking mechanisms are provided for attaching the device modules together.

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.

Lens support structure for supporting an intraocular lens (IOL) is provided, the lens support structure being configured and operable to be securely implanted in a lens capsule of a human eye and hold the IOL in one of a plurality of positions, the support structure comprising a repositioning assembly configured and operable to be activated remotely by a remote energy source and controllably displace the IOL in at least one of directions along and around an optical axis of the IOL, thereby enabling moving the IOL between the plurality of positions. Lens control system is also provided, the control system comprising the lens support structure and a source energy for activating parts thereof. Intraocular lens system is also provided, the system comprising the lens support structure and a lens integrated therein.