Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, apparatus, and method for treating, repairing, and/or replacing an aneurysm, preferably an aortic aneurysm, and most preferably, an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention include a first prosthesis or stent gasket, and at least one second prosthesis for bypassing the aneurysm. In preferred embodiments, the second prosthesis includes a branch leg that may be disposed and anchored in an either a cross artery or a downstream artery to facilitate fluid flow. In other preferred embodiments, at least one third prosthesis is provided for establishing a fluid flow channel through a second diseased artery to bypass an aneurysm disposed therein. In accordance with the invention, the first artery may be the abdominal aorta and the second artery may be an iliac artery.

Abstract: A stent or other intraluminal medical device may be constructed utilizing a series of anvil bridges interposed between a series of fixed bridges to reduce the likelihood of deformation during stent loading and stent deployment without sacrificing overall stent flexibility. The stent comprises a plurality of hoops interconnected by a plurality of fixed bridges. The stent also comprises a plurality of anvil bridges, which transmit forces only when the stent is subjected to compressive axial loading. The stent may also comprise markers formed from housings integral with the stent and marker inserts having a higher radiopacity than the stent. This design provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. The housings are formed integral to the stent and the marker inserts are made from a material close in the galvanic series to the stent material and sized to substantially minimize the effect of galvanic corrosion.

Abstract: A catheter and method for manufacturing catheters. The method includes the steps of manufacturing a tubular member sized and dimension for use as a catheter and irradiating the tubular member to impart a desired stiffness to the tubular member. A single coat catheter is constructed from a polymer tubular member irradiated to cross-link polymer molecules within the polymer tubular member, wherein cross-linking the polymer molecules alters properties of the polymer molecules to create a polymer tubular member having improved stiffness characteristics.