78 results about "Annulus of Zinn" patented technology

A method and apparatus for treating mitral regurgitation by approximating the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve. The distal end of the device is inserted into the coronary sinus of the heart and the proximal end of the device rests within the right atrium along the tendon of Todaro and extends to at least the membranous septum of the tricuspid valve. Because the coronary sinus approximates the lateral (posterior) annulus of the mitral valve and the tendon of Todaro approximates the septal (anterior) annulus of the mitral valve, the device encircles approximately one half of the mitral valve annulus. The apparatus is then adapted to deform the underlying structures i.e. the septal annulus and lateral annulus of the mitral valve in order to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and eliminate mitral regurgitation.

Methods and apparatus for and performing a partial or complete discectomy of an intervertebral spinal disc accessed by one or more trans-sacral axial spinal instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) axial bore formed through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, trans-sacral anterior or posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL or PAIFL) line. A discectomy instrument is introduced through the axial bore, the axial disc opening, and into the nucleus to locate a discectomy instrument cutting head at the distal end of the discectomy instrument shaft within the nucleus. The cutting head is operated by operating means coupled to the instrument body proximal end for extending the cutting head laterally away from the disc opening within the nucleus of the intervertebral spinal disc and for operating the cutting head to form a disc cavity within the annulus extending laterally and away from the disc opening or a disc space wherein the disc cavity extends through at least a portion of the annulus. A discectomy sheath that is first introduced to extend from the skin incision through the axial bore and into the axial disc opening having a discectomy sheath lumen that the discectomy instrument is introduced through. The discectomy sheath is preferably employed for irrigation and aspiration of the disc cavity or just aspiration if irrigation fluids are introduced through a discectomy instrument shaft lumen. The cutting head of the discectomy tool is deflected from the sheath lumen laterally and radially toward the annulus using a deflecting catheter or pull wire.

Methods and devices are provided for replacing a spinal disc. In an exemplary embodiment, artificial disc replacements and methods are provided wherein at least a portion of a disc replacement can be implanted using a posterolateral approach. With a posterolateral approach, the spine is accessed more from the side of the spinal canal through an incision formed in the patient's back. A pathway is created from the incision to the disc space between adjacent vertebrae. Portions of the posterolateral annulus, and posterior lip of the vertebral body may be removed to access the disc space, leaving the remaining annulus and the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments in tact. The disc implant can be at least partially introduced using a posterolateral approach, yet it has a size that is sufficient to restore height to the adjacent vertebrae, and that is sufficient to maximize contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.

Disclosed methods and devices treat chronic lower back pain from degenerated or injured intervertebral discs. Electrodes connected to a pulse generator deliver electrical impulses to nerves located within the posterior longitudinal ligament and annulus fibrosus of lumbar intervertebral discs. The stimulation reduces back pain reversibly, adjustably, and with almost complete coverage of the pain-generating region. A temporary percutaneous lead and a permanent paddle lead are used. The percutaneous lead, designed to prevent inappropriate stimulation of the thecal sac, is inserted using a specially-designed introducer cannula and lead blank. The paddle lead is configured individually for implantation in the anterior epidural space of each patient. Electrical stimulation parameters may also be selected so as to ablate the nerves, using non-thermal irreversible electroporation, or using joule heating wherein a thermal insulator covers substantially all of the thecal sac, thereby shielding the thecal sac from potential heat damage.

At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium. The present invention also has application to ablating tissue around the ostium of a renal artery for the treatment of hypertension.

Methods and devices are provided for replacing a spinal disc. In an exemplary embodiment, artificial disc replacements and methods are provided wherein at least a portion of a disc replacement can be implanted using a posterolateral approach. With a posterolateral approach, the spine is accessed more from the side of the spinal canal through an incision formed in the patient's back. A pathway is created from the incision to the disc space between adjacent vertebrae. Portions of the posterolateral annulus, and posterior lip of the vertebral body may be removed to access the disc space, leaving the remaining annulus and the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments in tact. The disc implant can be at least partially introduced using a posterolateral approach, yet it has a size that is sufficient to restore height to the adjacent vertebrae, and that is sufficient to maximize contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.

An adjustable vertebral spacer includes a spacer body, a movable member coupled to the spacer body, an adjustment ring mounted on the spacer body and rotatable to move the movable member and to further adjust the combined height of the spacer body and the movable member, a lock ring mounted on the spacer body for locking the movable member to the adjustment ring, and a top endplate coupled to the movable member at the top and tiltable to fit the angle of the adjacent upper vertebral body during surgery operation.

Described herein are shock wave devices and methods for the treatment of calcified heart valves. One variation of a shock wave device may comprise an elongated flexible tube carried by a sheath. The tube may have a fluid input end, which may be located near a proximal end of the sheath. The tube may include a loop portion. The loop portion may be configured to be at least partially accommodated within a cusp of the heart valve. The tube may be fillable with a conductive fluid. In some variations, the shock wave device may include an array of electrode pairs associated with a plurality of wires positioned within the loop portion of a tube. The electrode pairs may be electrically connectable to a voltage source and configured to generate shock waves in the conductive fluid in response to voltage pulses.

The invention is directed to a lens that comprises an optic and at least two haptic rings, one positioned to rest against the posterior capsule distally outward from the optic zone, the other to rest on the anterior capsule some distance from the equator. The haptic rings of the lens are connected by segments of haptic material that may be arched or straight, and sections of open space to provide for ample circulation of the aqueous humor. The optic is suspended between the two haptic rings such that the distance between the optic and the anterior ring is constant while the distance between the optic and the posterior ring may vary according to the overall capsular dimensions of the eye of the patient.

The invention is directed toward an osteochondral repair assembly comprising a shaped allograft construct comprising an unbalanced barbell-shaped cylindrical cancellous bone primary member formed with a mineralized cylindrical base section having a smaller diameter cylindrical stem leading to a second cylindrical section which is demineralized. A mineralized ring-shaped support member is forced over the compressed demineralized second demineralized the aperture of the ring-shaped member to fit around the stem with one ring surface being adjacent the bottom surface to the second cylindrical section and the opposite ring surface being adjacent the upper surface of the mineralized cylindrical base section.

A connector for joining a first hollow structure to the side wall of a second hollow structure, the connector comprising:

• • a first component comprising:
    • an inner collar for disposition within the interior of the second hollow structure, the inner collar having a toroidal configuration characterized by an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, with the inner collar being flexible;
    • a hollow body connected to the inner collar and upstanding therefrom, the hollow body of the inner collar being aligned with the inner perimeter of the inner collar; and
    • a graft element mounted to the inner collar and forming a conduit extending through the hollow body and the inner perimeter of the inner collar, the graft being formed out of a fluid-retaining material; and
  • a second component for disposition outside the second hollow structure, the second component comprising an outer collar and a hollow body connected to the outer collar, the outer collar having a toroidal configuration characterized by an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, with the hollow body of the outer collar being aligned with the inner perimeter of the outer collar;
  • the hollow body of the second component being sized for coaxial disposition over the hollow body of the first component so that the outer collar of the second component can be adjustably positioned relative to the inner collar of the first component and so that the conduit of the graft element provides fluid communication between (i) the region beyond the inner collar, and (ii) the region beyond the hollow body of the first component.

The invention provides a puborectalis-simulated type dual-ring artificial anal sphincter prosthesis which comprises an upper fixing ring, a lower fixing ring, a connecting support, a power unit, a speed reduction gear box and a movable semi-ring, wherein the upper fixing ring and the lower fixing ring are arranged in parallel, implanted into the periphery of the intestinal tract of a patient to be fixed and arranged at the two ends of the connecting support respectively, the middle of the connecting support is connected with the movable semi-ring, the power unit and the speed reduction gear box are both integrated with the connecting support, and the power unit controls the movable semi-ring through the speed reduction gear box, so that the movable semi-ring moves towards a center hole of the upper fixing ring and a center hole of the lower fixing ring or in the circumferential direction of the upper fixing ring and the lower fixing ring. The puborectalis-simulated type dual-ring artificial anal sphincter prosthesis is small in size, light in weight and capable of increasing the success rate of prosthesis implantation.

A prosthetic heart valve reinforcement ring is disclosed. The prosthetic includes an outer ring sized and dimensioned to fit around an annulus of a heart valve and an inner ring configured and arranged to couple to the outer ring. The inner ring and the outer ring have complimentary mating formations configured and arranged to grip sutures therebetween. A method of reinforcing heart valve is also disclosed. Sutures are provided around an annulus of a heart valve. The sutures are corralled within an outer sizing ring. The outer sizing ring is placed around the annulus of the heart valve. An inner sizing ring is inserted within the outer ring, locking the sutures. The sutures are adjusted and the heart valve is tested for a proper fit. The outer sizing ring is removed and a prosthetic ring is placed over the inner sizing ring, locking the sutures. The sutures are tied.

A position limitation protection type ani sphincter prosthesis comprises an upper fixed ring arranged on an upper ring sleeve in a sleeving mode, a movable middle ring arranged on a middle ring sleeve in a sleeving mode and a lower fixed ring arranged on a motor sleeve in a sleeving mode, wherein the upper fixed ring, the movable middle ring and the lower fixed ring are sequentially connected, the upper ring sleeve is axially connected with the middle ring sleeve, a reduction gearbox connected with a motor is arranged between the middle ring sleeve and the upper ring sleeve, the movable middle ring is connected with a reduction gear train in the reduction gearbox through an inner gear ring arranged on a gear ring sleeve in a sleeving mode, a Hall element is arranged on an upper cover plate of the reduction gearbox, and two magnets matched with the Hall element are arranged at the opposite ends of the gear ring sleeve and the upper cover plate of the reduction gearbox in a spaced mode. It can be effectively avoided that intestines are damaged due to the too large swing amplitude of a swing arm of the middle ring, a mechanical is stuck due to the overturning of the motor, and the motor is burnt down due to the too large current; the opening and closing amplitude of the prosthesis can be adjusted by a mechanism according to the feeling of human intestines; the whole device is simple in structure, small in size, light in weight and beneficial for increasing the transplanting success rate.

The invention discloses an adaptive middle swing arm structure and a puborectalis muscle-like double-ring praeternaturalis anus sphincter prosthesis thereof. The puborectalis muscle-like double-ring praeternaturalis anus sphincter prosthesis comprises the adaptive middle swing arm structure, an upper fixed ring, a lower fixed ring, a connection bracket, a minitype motor and a gear reduction gearbox, wherein the upper fixed ring and the lower fixed ring are arranged in parallel and are implanted into the periphery of an intestinal tract to be fixed and are respectively arranged on two ends of the connection bracket; a swing arm body, the minitype motor and the gear reduction gearbox are all in integrated arrangement with the connection bracket; the minitype motor is meshed with a gear transmission device by the gear reduction gearbox. The adaptive middle swing arm structure has the advantages of small size and light weight, damage to tissues around the intestinal tract by an actuator is further lightened, and a prosthesis implantation success rate can be improved.