Abstract:
Methods of manufacturing polymeric intraluminal stents and intraluminal stents are disclosed. The methods provide a method of manufacturing polymeric intraluminal stents (10) having a structure with hybrid strut configuration containing at least one circumferential ring element (40) in the structure in combination with geometric strut columns (20).
Abstract:
Prosthetic intervertebral discs, systems including such prosthetic intervertebral discs, and methods for using the same are described. The subject prosthetic discs include upper and lower endplates separated by a compressible core member. The subject prosthetic discs exhibit stiffness in the vertical direction, torsional stiffness, bending stiffness in the saggital plane, and bending stiffness in the front plane, where the degree of these features can be controlled independently by adjusting the components, construction, and other features of the discs.
Abstract:
A disc prosthesis, suitable for replacing an intervertebral disc, comprises a pair of endplates (11, 21) , and an intermediate body (31) , interposed or suitable for being interposed between the endplates. The intermediate body- comprises a nucleus (32) made of hydrogel, around which is wound a peripheral structure (35) made of fibre-reinforced hydrogel .
Abstract:
The vascular graft is for implantation within a body and has a PTFE tube structure (12b) including a length and inner and outer wall surfaces. The tube structure (12b) has a non-expanded portion (50, 54, 58, 60, 64, 70, 76, 78, 84, 86, 88, 92, 94) formed from sintering a PTFE green tube extrudate and an expanded portion (23b, 24b) formed subsequent to the sintering. The expanded (24b) and non-expanded portions (50) are of the same extrudate. The expanded portion (24b) has a region which adjoins the non-expanded portion (50) wherein a degree of expansion of the region is limited by the non-expanded portion (50). The limiting of the expansion by the non-expanded portion (50) is attenuated at a location of the region which is remote from the non-expanded portion (50). A method for making the vascular graft facilitates the formation of the non-expanded and expanded portions of the PTFE tube structure.
Abstract:
The present invention provides both a device and a method. The device is a human made replacement for the soft discs in the spine. A fabric pouch encloses a central hydraulic element made up of small soft beads. Two pouches with beads are implanted into a prepared disc space to function as an intervertebral disc. The method is conversion of the device into a fusion element.
Abstract:
An implantable composite medical device (10) having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion (26a, b) having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion (24) having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful. A knitted portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 5 to about 200 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension is also useful.
Abstract:
An implantable composite medical device having a longitudinal length a woven textile portion having yarns interlaced in a woven pattern, a knitted textile portion having yarns interlooped in a knitted pattern. The woven and knitted portions are securably attached to one and the other to provide a composite woven and knitted textile surface along the longitudinal length of the device. The woven portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 500 m1/min/cm 2 , and the knitted portion may have a permeability from about 30 to about 15,000 m1/min/cm 2 . Further, a crimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 10 to about 100 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension or an uncrimped woven portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability of less than about 10 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension are useful. A knitted portion with a resiliently longitudinal stretchability from about 5 to about 200 linear percent over its quiescent longitudinal dimension is also useful.
Abstract:
A porous structure having a plurality of bonded sheets each sheet having at least one aperture that partially overlaps an aperture of at least one other sheet. A method of producing a porous structure including stacking a plurality of sheets each sheet having a multiplicity of apertures, and bonding each sheet to its adjoining sheet. An open-pore network structure having a multiplicity of sheets each having a repeatable pattern. At least a portion of each sheet is bonded to the web of an adjacent sheet. The porous area of at least one of the sheets is askew to the porous area of at least another of the sheets. An open-pore structure having a multiplicity of bonded sheets, each sheet having a repeatable pattern defining a multiplicity of perforations, and a plurality of apertures defined by the repeatable pattern, the apertures extending through the perforations of at least two adjacent plates.
Abstract:
The medical implant is constructed of a fiber reinforced plastic. That fibers (50a, 50b) are generally aligned in layers (A, B), wherein the fibers of at least two different layers having different orientations. The fibers (50a, 50b) are long and oriented in relationship to the biomechanical requirements. The implant can oppose multi-directional forces and can be manufactured with the appropriate strength and stiffness.