Abstract: Apparatus for progressively dilating the lumen of a narrow natural vessel such as an iliac artery and implanting a tubular device enabling access through the dilated lumen to conduct subsequent procedures via the dilated lumen, includes an inflatable integrated balloon locatable at least partially within the tubular device, the tubular device having a length L1 providing a self-expanding tubular body having at least a portion including stents, so that when the integrated balloon is removed the dilated lumen of the natural vessel remains dilated and supported by the tubular device.

Abstract: An endoprosthetic device comprises a tubular main body having a length including proximal and distal portions, the tubular main body having a flexible portion between the proximal and distal portions, and at least one adjustable length docking branch extending laterally from the tubular main body, and having sections bearing a tab or loop graspable by a user, and optionally further having at least one auxiliary branch, and at least one access branch, for assembly with at least one tubular branch body having a laterally extending access branch, using a delivery system including a delivery shaft, and a retrieval capsule and corresponding press-fit retrieval pin and retrieval wire, wherein the delivery shaft is provided with a pivotal slotted housing serving as a user handle for the delivery shaft.

Abstract: A hybrid endoprosthetic device comprises a stented tubular part and a branched tubular body connected such that a main lumen of the stented tubular part communicates with a main lumen of the branched tubular body. The branched tubular body has multiple branch lumens for connection with natural vessels of the vasculature, and includes at least one branch lumen for access to facilitate delivery and implantation of the hybrid endoprosthetic device by an endovascular step in a hybrid surgical procedure. The hybrid endoprosthetic device is configured to replace a part of the aorta and common iliac artery. A delivery system for use with the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoluminal valve (30) for controlling fluid flow during a surgical procedure is integrated into an access branch (24) of a tubular prosthetic device (10), the access branch (24) receiving a delivery system (100) including a shaft (110), a housing (112) with a depressible finger actuator (122) configured to contact a resilient wall surface (38) of inwardly tapering closure elements (40) of the integrated valve (30), and a fluid venting plug (133) on the shaft (110) which removably seats in an access opening (34) at the proximal end (32) of the endoluminal valve (30), wherein the proximal end (32) is secured within a lumen (26) of the access branch (24) and a distal end (36) of the endoluminal valve (30) located within the lumen (26) comprises self-sealing edges (42) coming together to form a flow-inhibiting seal.

Abstract: The present application relates to a stent device deployment apparatus. The apparatus comprises a body having an internal bore for receiving at least a length of sheathed stent device collapsed into an un-deployed state. A bore restriction is provided for restricting passage of any stent device present in the bore to a distal end of the body. The bore restriction is configured for allowing stent device sheath material of a stent device in the bore to be accessed at the distal end of the body and pulled past the bore restriction, thereby exposing the stent device at a proximal end thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent device comprising a sleeve formed with a plurality of compactable spring ring elements arranged along its length, the sleeve having compacted and expanded states. Each said ring element has an undulating profile at the surface of the sleeve so that adjacent ring elements at least partially overlap along the longitudinal extent of the device, the ring elements being compactable against their natural resilience to reduce the outer diameter of the sleeve for allowing housing of the compacted stent device in a frangible sheath, with adjacent ring elements being inter-coupled so as to substantially maintain their axial spacing between the compacted and expanded states.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an integrated imaging and medical device delivery apparatus comprising retaining means for retaining a deployable medical device; and an imaging probe lumen defining a navigation pathway through the apparatus, the navigation pathway allowing an imaging probe to be reciprocally axially movable through the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising one or more reference points along the navigation pathway, and providing positional information relative to a retained deployable medical device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve component for a medical valve assembly, the valve component comprising a deformable body for location in a valve assembly housing, the deformable body comprising a conduit for receiving one or more medical instruments there-through, one or more helical grooves being formed on a surface of the conduit, the one or more helical grooves extending into the deformable body from the conduit surface.

Abstract: A surgical device controls fluid flow through a vessel by releasable constriction of the vessel using a compressible “C”-shape operating member with first and second elongate flexible members respectively configured to form a first loop and a second loop, the first and second loops intersecting to define an eye surrounding the vessel, wherein the operating member has first and second arms separated by a gap, the first arm being attachable to the first elongate flexible member, the second arm being attachable to the second elongate flexible member, so as to apply tension to the first and second elongate flexible members, the eye being located in the gap, whereby compression of the operating member relaxes tension in the elongate flexible members permitting opening of the eye and fluid flow within the vessel.

Abstract: A control system for deploying a stent graft including a resilient ring stent at one end, provides a delivery shaft carrying the stent graft with the ring stent adjacent a proximal end of the shaft for insertion into a lumen; a retractable sleeve for containing the stent graft on the delivery shaft; a control handle adjacent the distal end, of the delivery shaft; and stent peak and valley control wires extending from the proximal end of the delivery shaft to peak and valley controllers at the control handle. Use of the control wires effects movement and/or rotation of the graft allowing fine control of deployment in the lumen.

Abstract: Apparatus for progressively dilating the lumen of a narrow natural vessel such as an iliac artery and implanting a tubular device enabling access through the dilated lumen to conduct subsequent procedures via the dilated lumen, includes an inflatable integrated balloon locatable at least partially within the tubular device, the tubular device having a length L1 providing a self-expanding tubular body having at least a portion including stents, so that when the integrated balloon is removed the dilated lumen of the natural vessel remains dilated and supported by the tubular device.

Abstract: A stent graft prosthesis includes a fabric sleeve supported by a series of ring stents, including ring stents having a saddle shape with peaks and valleys, the axial alignment of equivalently shaped ring stents in the series of ring stents being such that with respect to at least one shaped ring stent other shaped ring stents are angularly offset. Multiple series of ring stents may be interposed such that at least one ring stent in a first series of ring stents S1-Sn is located between two ring stents in at least one other series of ring stents So1-Son, the angular offset of ring stents in the first series S1-Sn being different from the angular offset of ring stents in at least one other series of ring stents (So1-Son). The offset changes the amount of fabric surface between peripheral contact points of successive shaped ring stents.

Abstract: A crimping tool is provided, where the tool comprises a mandrel (1) having a first portion (3) with a first outer diameter, and a second portion (5) with a second outer diameter which is greater than the first outer diameter. A chamfered abutment face (7) is provided between the first and second portions (3,5). At least one first collar (9) is mountable on the first portion (3) of the mandrel (5) and has a chamfered first end (11) which in use abuts the abutment face (7). At least one second collar (13) is mountable on the second portion (5) of the mandrel (1) and has a chamfered second end (15) which in use abuts the first end (11) of the first collar (9). A method of using the tool to form one or more crimps in a piece of fabric is also disclosed.

Abstract: An endoprosthetic device comprises a tubular main body having a length including proximal and distal portions, the tubular main body having a flexible portion between the proximal and distal portions, and at least one adjustable length docking branch extending laterally from the tubular main body, and having sections bearing a tab or loop graspable by a user, and optionally further having at least one auxiliary branch, and at least one access branch, for assembly with at least one tubular branch body having a laterally extending access branch, using a delivery system including a delivery shaft, and a retrieval capsule and corresponding press-fit retrieval pin and retrieval wire, wherein the delivery shaft is provided with a pivotal slotted housing serving as a user handle for the delivery shaft.

Abstract: A control system for deploying a stent graft including a resilient ring stent at one end, provides a delivery shaft carrying the stent graft with the ring stent adjacent a proximal end of the shaft for insertion into a lumen; a retractable sleeve for containing the stent graft on the delivery shaft; a control handle adjacent the distal end, of the delivery shaft; and stent peak and valley control wires extending from the proximal end of the delivery shaft to peak and valley controllers at the control handle. Use of the control wires effects movement and/or rotation of the graft allowing fine control of deployment in the lumen.

Abstract: A control system for deploying a stent graft (20) including a resilient ring stent (22) at one end, provides a delivery shaft (30) carrying the stent graft with the ring stent adjacent a proximal end (33) of the shaft for insertion into a lumen; a retractable sleeve (36) for containing the stent graft on the delivery shaft; a control handle (38) adjacent the distal end (34), of the delivery shaft; and stent peak (50, 52) and valley (70, 72) control wires extending from the proximal end of the delivery shaft to peak and valley controllers (58; 74, 76) at the control handle. Use of the control wires effects movement and/or rotation of the graft allowing fine control of deployment in the lumen.

Abstract: A stent graft prosthesis includes spaced stent elements for location on a tubular graft. First and second stent elements are located in first and second locations on the graft. The second stent element includes a saddle shaped stent. The first stent element includes a ring shaped stent. Optionally a third stent element is also present. The tubular graft includes a graft sleeve. The prosthesis can be used for treatment of vascular disorders such as aortic aneurysm.

Abstract: The apparatus has a delivery shaft 30 bearing a tubular device constrained within a moveable sheath 36, and a handle comprising a hollow shaft 124 with a static grip 126 and a grip slider 122 movable proximally or distally. The grip slider is connected to a slider block 24 fixed to a sheath hub 6 to which the sheath is fastened. A retraction wheel 120 has a spool 2 for winding a retraction wire 121 connected to a retraction block 20 in contact with the slider block enabling the slider block to be pushed as the retraction block is retracted distally. Initial incremental movement of the retraction block by winding of the retraction wire, moves the slider block and retraction block simultaneously. Subsequently the slider block is movable independently of the retraction block using the grip slider, leaving the retraction block behind.

Abstract: There is provided a stent element comprising a central portion with two arms extending therefrom, optionally in a V-shaped or Y-shaped configuration. The arms of the stent-element are resiliently deformable to facilitate packing and suitable material for forming the stent-element is nitinol or PEEK. The stent element can be used to stabilise two adjacent ring stents on a stent graft by attachment to the graft material between the ring stents, for example by sewing. The stent element stabilises the ring stent without risk of fracture. A stent graft having two ring stents and the stent element located between the ring stents is also described.

Abstract: A crimping tool is provided, where the tool comprises a mandrel (1) having a first portion (3) with a first outer diameter, and a second portion (5) with a second outer diameter which is greater than the first outer diameter. A chamfered abutment face (7) is provided between the first and second portions (3,5). At least one first collar (9) is mountable on the first portion (3) of the mandrel (5) and has a chamfered first end (11) which in use abuts the abutment face (7). At least one second collar (13) is mountable on the second portion (5) of the mandrel (1) and has a chamfered second end (15) which in use abuts the first end (11) of the first collar (9). A method of using the tool to form one or more crimps in a piece of fabric is also disclosed.