Abstract: An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter, including an inner member and a sheath, extending from a handle. The handle includes a housing, a braking assembly, a carriage and a carriage driver. The braking assembly comprises a braking element within the housing interior and a braking element rotator. The carriage comprises at least one carriage braking surface engaging the braking element. The carriage driver, such as a spring, biases the carriage towards the proximal end of the handle. The inner member has a proximal end secured to the housing. The sheath has a proximal end secured to the carriage. Rotating the braking element causes the carriage to move proximally as the carriage braking surface slides along the braking element. This causes the sheath to move proximally relative to the inner member.

Abstract: An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The alternating helical section includes a first and second helical portions each having a flange and having adjacent ends joined directly to one another to define an apex. Each helical portion has a widened flange portion adjacent to the apex, the widened flange portions extending into a space between the helical portions. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter, including an inner member and a sheath, extending from a handle. The handle includes a housing, a braking assembly, a carriage and a carriage driver. The braking assembly comprises a braking element within the housing interior and a braking element rotator. The carriage comprises at least one carriage braking surface engaging the braking element. The carriage driver, such as a spring, biases the carriage towards the proximal end of the handle. The inner member has a proximal end secured to the housing. The sheath has a proximal end secured to the carriage. Rotating the braking element causes the carriage to move proximally as the carriage braking surface slides along the braking element. This causes the sheath to move proximally relative to the inner member.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis comprises generally tubular body placeable in contracted and expanded states and has an axial length and a circumferential dimension in the expanded state. The body includes a series of circumferential elements having first lengths. First and second connectors have connector lengths and join alternating ends of adjacent circumferential elements. The first length plus the connector lengths joined thereto equal a total circumferential length. Each connector length is between 2.5% and 25% of the total circumferential length. Adjacent circumferential elements and connectors extending therefrom are separated by a stress relief slot having a relief slot length of more than 50% and less than 95% of the total circumferential length. The stress relief slots have narrow width portions over a majority of the relief slot lengths, the narrow width portions having lateral dimensions of no greater than about 3 mm.

Abstract: An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis delivery system comprises a radially self expandable vascular prosthesis and a delivery sheath with a lumen with a smaller diameter storage region and a larger diameter delivery region. A prosthesis is housed within the storage region and is movable into the delivery region for delivery at a target site within a patient. The delivery force required to move the prosthesis from the delivery region into the patient can be less than the force required to move the prosthesis from the storage region into the delivery region. In some examples, the storage region defines a tapered lumen expanding in diameter in a distal direction. In some examples, the storage and delivery regions are generally coextensive and define a tapered lumen expanding in diameter in a distal direction. A method stores a vascular prosthesis in the storage region and delivers it to a target site from the delivery region.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis assembly includes a self expanding prosthesis and a selectively releasable retention mechanism over the outer surface of the prosthesis which maintains the vascular prosthesis in a contracted state. The retention mechanism may include a removable strand extending along the length of the prosthesis having a series of slip knots. The retention mechanism may also include a removable strand which engages overlying layers of a wrapped prosthesis by the passage of the strand through openings in the overlying layers. Manipulation of a user-accessible release strand permits release of the retention mechanism. The retention mechanism may also include a generally cylindrical sheath housing the vascular prosthesis, the sheath constructed to be split and removed to release the prosthesis. A method releases the prosthesis to expand at a target site using a retention mechanism.

Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for a vascular prosthesis including at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation that are coupled to one another at apices. The delivery system includes an elongate body, a plurality of retainers and an outer sheath. The plurality of retainers are configured to temporarily retain a plurality of inner wound apices of the vascular prosthesis. The outer sheath is configured to retain the vascular prosthesis in a contracted state on the elongate body.

Abstract: Embolic protection and plaque removal apparatus and methods are provided wherein an aspiration device aspirates, filters and reperfuses blood using a closed fluid circuit having a bi-directional working lumen. The plaque removal device includes a plurality of self-expanding cutting elements that form a cage that self-centers within the blood vessel to reduce the risk of trauma to the vessel lining.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an implantable vascular prosthesis configured for use in a wide range of applications, such as treating aneurysms, maintaining patency in a vessel, and providing controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to a vessel wall. The prosthesis comprises a helical body having a plurality of turns, wherein the proximal and distal edges of the turns of the prosthesis has a pattern that interdigitates when the prosthesis assumes the deployed configuration. The prosthesis optionally may comprise a radially expanding distal portion coupled to the helical body for facilitating placement of the prosthesis within a body vessel.

Abstract: A vascular prosthesis comprises generally tubular body placeable in contracted and expanded states and has an axial length and a circumferential dimension in the expanded state. The body includes a series of circumferential elements having first lengths. First and second connectors have connector lengths and join alternating ends of adjacent circumferential elements. The first length plus the connector lengths joined thereto equal a total circumferential length. Each connector length is between 2.5% and 25% of the total circumferential length. Adjacent circumferential elements and connectors extending therefrom are separated by a stress relief slot having a relief slot length of more than 50% and less than 95% of the total circumferential length. The stress relief slots have narrow width portions over a majority of the relief slot lengths, the narrow width portions having lateral dimensions of no greater than about 3 mm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an implantable vascular prosthesis configured for use in a wide range of applications, such as treating aneurysms, maintaining patency in a vessel, and allowing for the controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to a vessel wall. The prosthesis comprises one or more helical sections coupled to one or more anchoring sections having a generally zig-zag or cell-like configuration. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and further is configured to be precisely deployed in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening during deployment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an implantable vascular prosthesis configured for use in a wide range of applications, such as treating aneurysms, maintaining patency in a vessel, and allowing for the controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to a vessel wall. The prosthesis comprises a helical proximal section coupled to a distal anchoring section having a generally zig-zag configuration. The prosthesis is configured to comply to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and further is configured to be precisely deployed in a vessel without shifting during deployment. The prosthesis also has a substantially small delivery profile compared to other known stents, while having an increased surface area to enhance delivery of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a delivery catheter for use in deploying a vascular prosthesis having a self-expanding helical section for use in a wide range of interventional applications. The delivery catheter comprises an elongated member having a helical ledge with a pitch selected to impose a predetermined amount of foreshortening on the vascular prosthesis during deployment. Methods of making and using the delivery catheter of the present invention also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a delivery catheter for use in deploying a vascular prosthesis having a self-expanding radial distal section joined to a helical section for use in a wide range of interventional applications. The delivery catheter comprises an elongated member having a balloon disposed adjacent to a distal end of the member, means for engaging the distal section of the vascular prosthesis against axial translation, and a sheath that restrains the vascular prosthesis against the elongated member during transluminal delivery. The balloon also may be used to perform angioplasty of a stenosis located within the vessel prior to deployment of the vascular prosthesis. Methods of using the delivery catheter of the present invention also are provided.

Abstract: An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Abstract: An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Abstract: An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.