The present disclosure relates, in some aspects, to orthopaedic implants for securing soft tissue to bone and methods for using the same. One particular implant comprises a first exposed porous surface region, having pores for promoting bone ingrowth, and a second exposed porous surface, having pores for promoting soft tissue ingrowth. At least some of the pores of the first exposed porous surface region may be seeded with osteocytic factors and at least some of the pores of the second exposed porous surface region may be seeded with fibrocytic factors. Such orthopaedic implants can advantageously facilitate regeneration of the soft tissue to bone interface.

A hybrid prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and having a support frame configured to be expanded post implant in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein (a valve-in-valve procedure). The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally expanded form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon or other mechanical expander. An inflow stent frame is expandable for anchoring the valve in place, and may have an outflow end that is collapsible for delivery and expandable post-implant to facilitate a valve-in-valve procedure.

The invention relates to an endoprosthesis (60), in particular a vascular stent or a heart stent. The endoprosthesis comprises a stent structure (2) with a stent surface (3) and has at least one fiber (1) arranged on the stent surface (3). The stent structure (2), preferably the stent surface (3), comprises an attachment mechanism (4,5,6,7) to directly attach a fiber (1) on the stent.

The present disclosure relates, in some aspects, to orthopedic implants for securing soft tissue to bone and methods for using the same. One particular implant comprises a first exposed porous surface region, having pores for promoting bone ingrowth, and a second exposed porous surface, having pores for promoting soft tissue ingrowth. At least some of the pores of the first exposed porous surface region may be seeded with osteocytic factors and at least some of the pores of the second exposed porous surface region may be seeded with fibrocytic factors. Such orthopedic implants can advantageously facilitate regeneration of the soft tissue to bone interface.

A prosthetic insertion apparatus and related methods of use in delivering filled prosthetic bladders through a skin incision and into a surgical cavity or pocket. The prosthetic insertion apparatus imparts control and retention properties to a surgical professional such the prosthetic bladder can be oriented and manipulated into the surgical cavity without risk of inadvertent dropping of the prosthetic bladder and without imparting damaging stress or torque to the bladder. Suitable materials can be utilized that are selected as having advantageous properties including lubricity, rigidity, easily sterilizable, and high strength.

Described herein are systems and methods from delivering prosthetic devices, such as prosthetic heart valves, through the body and into the heart for implantation therein. The prosthetic devices delivered with the delivery systems disclosed herein are, for example, radially expandable from a radially compressed state mounted on the delivery system to a radially expanded state for implantation using an inflatable balloon of the delivery system. Exemplary delivery routes through the body and into the heart include transfemoral routes, transapical routes, and transaortic routes, among others.

This guide catheter includes a resin tube having an inner lumen through which a guide wire is insertable; a metal pipe attached to an inside of the tube to be coaxial with the tube; and a metal wire having a distal end portion welded to a region more distal than a proximal end of the pipe on an outer circumferential surface of the pipe. The pipe has a most proximal portion formed in a proximal end surface of the pipe, the most proximal portion is more proximal than other portions of the proximal end surface in a central axis direction of the pipe. A welding region of the wire welded to the pipe is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the pipe and a proximal end of the welding region is positioned apart from the most proximal portion of the pipe in the central axis direction of the pipe.

A silicone prosthesis delivery apparatus and associated methods are disclosed for facilitating the transport and subsequent insertion of a silicone prosthesis into a surgically developed pocket of a patient. In at least one embodiment, a flexible, substantially funnel-shaped delivery sleeve is constructed out of a material having a lubricating additive that forms a textured inner surface within the delivery sleeve. An entry portion of the delivery sleeve defines a stretchable entry opening configured for allowing the prosthesis to pass therethrough to a position inside the delivery sleeve. An opposing exit portion defines a stretchable exit opening configured for allowing the prosthesis to pass therethrough when the prosthesis is subsequently expelled from the delivery sleeve. A volume of surgical lubricating fluid coats the textured inner surface of the delivery sleeve so as to reduce the coefficient of friction between the inner surface of the delivery sleeve and the prosthesis.

A liner is arranged for use in prosthetic and orthopedic devices. The liner defines first and second end portions, and inner and outer surfaces. The liner includes an inner layer having a frictional component and forms at least part of the periphery of the inner liner surface. The inner layer defines a plurality of apertures. A porous element is in communication with the inner liner surface and is connected to the inner layer such that the apertures permit a transfer of air from the inner surface to the porous element. A base layer adjoins the porous element and extends between the first and second end portions of the liner.

A silicone prosthesis delivery apparatus and associated methods are disclosed for facilitating the transport and subsequent insertion of a silicone prosthesis into a surgically developed pocket of a patient. In at least one embodiment, a flexible, substantially funnel-shaped delivery sleeve is configured for receiving and subsequently expelling the prosthesis therefrom. The delivery sleeve provides a substantially conical-shaped entry portion and a substantially conical-shaped exit portion, the entry portion and exit portion opposingly positioned and joined with one another so as to form a relatively larger diameter middle section. A tapered free end of the entry portion provides an entry opening configured for allowing the prosthesis to selectively pass therethrough when the prosthesis is inserted into the delivery sleeve. A tapered free end of the exit portion provides an exit opening configured for allowing the prosthesis to selectively pass therethrough when the prosthesis is expelled from the delivery sleeve.