Abstract: Storage devices, loading devices, delivery systems, kits, and associated methods for implantable medical devices are described. An example embodiment of a storage device includes a storage member, a first cap, and a second cap. The storage member has a first end, a second end, and a main body that defines a first opening, a second opening, a passageway, a separating wall, and a plurality of holes. The passageway has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends from the first end of the storage member to the separating wall and the second portion extends from the second end of the storage member to the separating wall. Each hole of the plurality of holes extends through the separating wall and provides access between the first portion and the second portion. Each of the first and second caps is releasably attached to the storage member.

Abstract: A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.

Abstract: An endoscope can include an elongate, manipulable shaft with a distal-end visualization element and a handle body comprising at least one control surface for manipulating a distal region of the shaft, where the handle body includes a passage through which a length of the shaft is passable, and where the handle body includes a novel connection structure configured for firmly, securely, and removably mounting the handle to a channel of another endoscope in a manner axially aligning the passage with the channel to provide a path of communication for the shaft. A dual medical endoscope system can be constructed including a first and a second medical endoscope, where the first endoscope comprises an accessory channel with a proximal mounting port providing access thereto, and where the second endoscope comprises a handle body that is securely and removably attached to the proximal mounting port.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multilayered tape comprising a first layer; where the first layer comprises a first surface and second surface; the first surface of the first layer having a surface texture; a second layer; the second layer having a first surface and a second surface; where the first surface of the second layer is closer to the second surface of the first layer than the second surface of the second layer; where the second surface of the second layer contains at least one partition that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the multilayered tape.

Abstract: Examples of prostheses are provided having an internal branch. A tubular graft body of the prosthesis defines a main lumen extending between an inflow end and an outflow end of the graft body. A stent structure is coupled along the graft body. A trough is at least partially defined by a trough wall extending into the main lumen from a sidewall of the graft body. A side branch defines a branch lumen and extends from the trough within the main lumen towards one of the inflow or outflow ends of the graft body. A branch lumen facing surface of the trough wall is a continuous surface with an outer surface of the sidewall of the graft body. A boundary of the trough may be configured to provide a smooth transition surface between the trough and the sidewall.

Abstract: A minimally invasive implantable device has a generally cylindrical device body that includes: a first end having a first element; a second end having a second element; a wall disposed between the first end and the second end, and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface defines a lumen extending between the first end and the second end; and at least one protruding element protruding from the outer surface, wherein an outermost diameter of the first element and an outermost diameter of the second element is larger than a diameter of the outer surface of the wall, and the at least one protruding element does not protrude beyond the outermost diameter of the first element or the outermost diameter of the second element.

Abstract: Example lithotripsy probe assemblies, lithotripsy systems, and methods of using a lithotripsy system are described. An example lithotripsy probe assembly has a probe coupling, a probe, and a plurality of sealing members disposed on the probe coupling. The probe coupling has a probe coupling proximal end, a probe coupling distal end, a probe coupling length, and a probe coupling main body that defines a plurality of projections, a probe coupling first passageway, and a probe coupling second passageway. The probe coupling length extends from the probe coupling proximal end to the probe coupling distal end. The probe is attached to the probe coupling and is partially disposed within the probe coupling first passageway. The probe has a probe proximal end, a probe distal end, and a probe length that extends from the probe proximal end to the probe distal end and is greater than the probe coupling length.

Abstract: A stent graft (2) for placement in the thoracic arch of a patient has a first tubular body portion (6) with a first lumen therein for placement in the ascending aorta of a patient and a second tubular body portion (8) to extend along the thoracic arch and down the descending aorta. The second tubular body portion is of a lesser diameter than the first tubular body portion. There is a step portion (10) between the first body portion and the second body portion. The step portion is joined to and continuous with the first portion and the second portion. A first side of each of the first body portion, the step portion and the second body portion are substantially aligned so that there is a step (18) defined on a second side opposite to the first side of the body portion. There is an aperture (30) in the step portion and an internal tube (32) extending from the aperture towards the first body portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes intraluminal support devices having high radial stiffness regions with smaller diameter and low radial stiffness regions with larger diameter. When deployed to the vasculature of a patient in need of treatment, the high radial stiffness region is sized such that it has approximately the diameter of the vessel in need of treatment, so that it produces substantially zero chronic radial force when the vessel is not being subjected to external compression. The low radial stiffness regions anchor the device to the vessel wall and provide a less-abrupt transition from the high radial stiffness structure. Methods of making and using such devices are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating a lesion in a gastrointestinal tract and an injectate system are provided. The method includes injecting a crosslinkable gel into a first tissue layer, the crosslinkable gel increasing a volume of the first tissue layer. The method also includes providing a crosslinker and resecting a portion of a first tissue layer having the increased volume away from a second tissue layer creating an exposed region in a remaining portion of the first layer and leaving a portion of the gel covering at least a portion of the exposed region. The injectate system includes a crosslinkable gel and a crosslinker where the crosslinkable gel and the crosslinker form a crosslinked gel having a compressive modulus of about 10-500 kPa.

Abstract: Prostheses and methods of making the same are provided. The prosthesis has an internal branch configuration. A trough or branch opening is at least partially defined by a trough wall extending into a main lumen from a sidewall of the prosthesis. The internal branch extends from the trough within the main lumen towards one of the outflow end of the graft body in a helical, retrograde arrangement. Other arrangements are described. The prosthesis may include a scalloped fenestration having a width larger than the trough. The trough may be positioned along a tapered region of the prosthesis. The trough and internal branch may be made from the same graft material. The trough and internal branch, in addition to the main graft body, may be made from the same graft material.

Abstract: A forceps is provided that includes a housing defining an internal passageway and a longitudinal axis, first and second jaws slidably and pivotably connected to the housing, a first connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the first jaw, a second connection member having a first end pivotably attached to the second jaw; and a driver pivotably connected to the other ends of the first connection member and the second connection member, wherein the jaws have an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in a first direction rotates the first and second jaws relative to the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration, wherein longitudinal movement of the driver in the first direction also moves the first and second jaws longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the housing from the open configuration towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide delivery systems for facilitating orientation of a prosthesis in a bodily passage. In one example, a system comprises an inner cannula having proximal and distal regions, and further comprises an atraumatic tip having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central region disposed therebetween. At least a portion of the atraumatic tip may be coupled to the proximal region of the inner cannula. A plurality of orientation struts are provided having a retracted delivery state, an expanded deployed state, and a retracted withdrawal state. The plurality of orientation struts each have apices that are oriented proximally relative to the atraumatic tip in the retracted delivery state, are oriented radially outward relative to the atraumatic tip in the expanded deployed state, and are oriented distally relative to the atraumatic tip in the retracted withdrawal state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a graft material including a self-healing polymer layer and to implantable medical devices including such a graft material. The invention also relates to methods of using and manufacturing such graft materials and devices. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device is a stent graft.

Abstract: A constraint arrangement for a stent-graft loaded onto a delivery system having a suture extending circumferentially around a surface of a graft from a first fixed end fixed to a stent-graft to a positionable region, and through the graft at a first constraining perforation into the lumen and returning out of the lumen to the surface of the graft at a second constraining perforation to a second fixed end fixed to the stent-graft, thereby forming a loop of the suture within a lumen of the graft, the loop wrapped circumferentially around a cannula such that a pair of legs of the loop hold the positionable region with respect to the cannula, wherein a bight of the loop extends through a gap between the legs and wherein the release wire extends through the bight thereby capturing the bight and releaseably securing the loop around the cannula.

Abstract: A stent-graft comprises: a graft defining an elongate lumen having a longitudinal axis; an external stent having a plurality of struts and apices between the struts, the apices including proximal apices and distal apices; a set of proximal sutured knots, the proximal sutured knots securing the proximal apices of the stent to the graft; a set of distal sutured knots, the distal sutured knots securing the distal apices of the stent to the graft; and a plurality of intermediate sutured knots, formed along a continuous suture, the continuous suture including a plurality of bridging portions, the bridging portions bridging between neighbouring struts of the stent, the intermediate sutured knots securing struts of the stent to the graft.

Abstract: A closure mechanism for closing a tubular portion of a graft that includes a closure element having aperture or looped ends. The closure element is provided around the circumference of a tubular length of graft material and is attached thereto. The closure element is biased into an annular profile by threading a release element through the ends holding them together. In its annular profile, the closure element thus holds the lumen of the tubular length of graft material in an open configuration. Withdrawal of the release element causes the closure element to take on a flat/linear profile, pulling the lumen closed as it does so. The closure mechanism can be used in a vascular implant such as a graft, stent graft, including tubular, bifurcated, and branched stent grafts, an occlusion device, or the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes filter devices for deployment to body vessels where clots or emboli may need to be captured, particularly the vena cava. The filter device is of unitary construction, having been cut from a substantially planar sheet of a metal, in some instances a shape memory metal. The device has a construction including a plurality of petals, the petals containing an inner rib which curves in the deployed state. A method of making a filter device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stent delivery system and method are provided. The stent delivery system includes an elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the elongate shaft. A stent is positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft, the stent having a first position and a second position. A proximal constraining member is positioned on a proximal end of the stent. A distal constraining member is positioned on a distal end of the stent. A restraining member disposed throughout a length of the elongate shaft and releasably engaged with at least one of the proximal constraining member and the distal constraining member, the restraining member having a proximal end and a distal end. The stent is in the first position, the distal restraining member applies an axial mechanical force to the distal constraining member.

Abstract: Support frames and medical devices are described. An example medical device comprises an expandable support frame with first and second leaflets attached to the support frame. Each of the first and second leaflets defines a domed radius that is equal to or less than the radius of the expandable support frame when the expandable support frame is in an expanded configuration and the leaflets are subjected to fluid pressure sufficient to affect closure of the valve orifice.