Abstract: There is provided a device to secure a prosthesis, such as a stent graft, to the internal wall of a body lumen. The device is formed from two elongate elements each comprising a central portion with at least one arm extending therefrom. The central portions of the elements abut. Optionally, the central portions are joined together, optionally by a joining element which can act as a hinge. The terminal end of each arm can be shaped for engagement with the inner surface of the body lumen. The device is reversibly interchangeable between a first folded configuration and a second deployed or open configuration. The device is preferably attached to the sleeve of a stent graft independent of the stents which are preferably ring stents. A stent graft comprising the device is also described.

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 member a plurality of spaced stent elements for location on a tubular graft, wherein a first stent element is located in a first location on said graft, and wherein a second stent element is located in a second location or said graft, and wherein the second stent element comprises a saddle shaped stent. The first stent element includes a ring shaped (circular) stent. The second stent element includes at least one, preferably 2 to 5, saddle shaped stents. Optionally a third stent element comprising from 1 to 10 saddle shaped stents is also present. The stents are typically form a continuous loop of an elongate member of resilient material such as nitinol or PEEK. A stent graft comprising a tubular sleeve to which the stent member is attached is also described, as is the use of the prosthesis for treatment of vascular disorders such as aortic aneurysm.

Abstract: There is provided a device to secure a prosthesis, such as a stent graft, to the internal wall of a body lumen. The device is formed from two elongate elements each comprising a central portion with at least one arm extending therefrom. The central portions of the elements abut. Optionally, the central portions are joined together, optionally by a joining element which can act as a hinge. The terminal end of each arm can be shaped for engagement with the inner surface of the body lumen. The device is reversibly interchangeable between a first folded configuration and a second deployed or open configuration. The device is preferably attached to the sleeve of a stent graft independent of the stents which are preferably ring stents. A stent graft comprising the device is also described.

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: 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: There is provided a prosthetic aortic conduit (4) comprising a replacement valve locating means (13). The replacement valve locating means can be, for example, a biocompatible radio-opaque marker (7), for example a tantalum marker. Optionally the replacement valve locating means comprises three radio-opaque markers, conveniently equi-distally spaced around the circumference of the conduit. The replacement valve locating means identifies the location of the aortic valve and facilitates later insertion of a replacement aortic valve by catheter.

Abstract: A prosthesis that resiliently engages a body passage includes an annular clamping ring which may be folded along a diametric axis for insertion into the body passage. The clamping ring is adapted to resiliently spring outwardly, once in position inside the body passage, and to be continually resiliently biased against the interior surface of the body passage. One or more of the clamping rings may be attached to opposed ends of a tubular graft. The rings and connected graft may be positioned in the body passage using an applicator which selectively permits expansion and/or in some embodiments contraction of the annular ring in position within a body passage. Alternatively a retaining member may be used to retain the annular ring in a compressed condition until it is in a desired position within a body passage.

Abstract: A prosthesis that resiliently engages a body passage includes an annular clamping ring which may be folded along a diametric axis for insertion into the body passage. The clamping ring is adapted to resiliently spring outwardly, once in position inside the body passage, and to be continually resiliently biased against the interior surface of the body passage. One or more of the clamping rings may be attached to opposed ends of a tubular graft. The rings and connected graft may be positioned in the body passage using a applicator which selectively permits expansion and/or in some embodiments contraction of the annular ring in position within a body passage. Alternatively a retaining member may be used to retain the annular ring in a compressed condition until it is in a desired position within a body passage. Among other potential uses, the present invention may be useful as a vascular stent for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: A prosthesis that resiliently engages a body passage includes an annular clamping ring which may be folded along a diametric axis for insertion into the body passage. The clamping ring is adapted to resiliently spring outwardly, once in position inside the body passage, and to be continually resiliently biased against the interior surface of the body passage. One or more of the clamping rings may be attached to opposed ends of a tubular graft. The rings and connected graft may be positioned in the body passage using a applicator which selectively permits expansion and/or in some embodiments contraction of the annular ring in position within a body passage. Alternatively a retaining member may be used to retain the annular ring in a compressed condition until it is in a desired position within a body passage. Among other potential uses, the present invention may be useful as a vascular stent for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: A prosthesis that resiliently engages a body passage includes an annular clamping ring which may be folded along a diametric axis for insertion into the body passage. The clamping ring is adapted to resiliently spring outwardly, once in position inside the body passage, and to be continually resiliently biased against the interior surface of the body passage. One or more of the clamping rings may be attached to opposed ends of a tubular graft. The rings and connected graft may be positioned in the body passage using a applicator which selectively permits expansion and/or in some embodiments contraction of the annular ring in position within a body passage. Alternatively a retaining member may be used to retain the annular ring in a compressed condition until it is in a desired position within a body passage. Among other potential uses, the present invention may be useful as a vascular stent for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: There is provided a thin-walled self-sealing vascular graft with a first tubular structure formed from ePTFE and having a wall thickness of 0.2 mm or less, and a resealable polymer layer, such as a styrene copolymer, located on one surface of said first tubular structure. A second tubular structure may also be present, so that the resealable polymer layer is disposed between said first and second tubular structure. The second tubular structure is preferably formed from a textile layer but can also be ePTFE. The graft can be used for replacing a defective portion of the vasculature in a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: There is described an artificial blood vessel for use in a region of a living body which needs to be repeatedly pierced with a needle. The artificial blood vessel includes a main section having a vessel wall which includes a laminated assembly comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and an intermediate layer positioned therebetween, and a pair of anastomotic sections disposed on the respective opposite ends of the main section. Each of the anastomotic sections has an intermediate layer thinner than the intermediate layer of the main section or is free of an intermediate layer, so that the anastomotic section as a vessel wall thinner than the main section.

Abstract: There is provided a thin-walled self-sealing vascular graft with a first tubular structure formed from ePTFE and having a wall thickness of 0.2 mm or less, and a resealable polymer layer, such as a styrene copolymer, located on one surface of said first tubular structure. A second tubular structure may also be present, so that the resealable polymer layer is disposed between said first and second tubular structure. The second tubular structure is preferably formed from a textile layer but can also be ePTFE. A method of forming such a self-sealing graft is also provided comprising the steps of wrapping unsintered ePTFE tape helically onto a mandrel such that adjacent turns of the ePTFE tape overlap; sintering the layers of tape by heating above the crystalline melting point of ePTFE to form a sintered tubular structure, and applying a resealable polymer layer to one surface of said first tubular structure. The graft can be used for replacing a defective portion of the vasculature in a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: There is described a synthetic aortic conduit formed from two tubular porous layers having a non-bioresorbable sealant, such as SEPs, interposed therebetween. The synthetic aortic conduit can be attached to an aortic valve, such as a xenograft valve, to form an aortic root replacement prosthesis. The synthetic aortic conduit has the advantage that it can be stored in the preservative solutions required for tissue valves without degradation.

Abstract: There is described an artificial blood vessel for use in a region of a living body which needs to be repeatedly pierced with a needle. The artificial blood vessel includes a main section having a vessel wall which includes a laminated assembly comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and an intermediate layer positioned therebetween, and a pair of anastomotic sections disposed on the respective opposite ends of the main section. Each of the anastomotic sections has an intermediate layer thinner than the intermediate layer of the main section or is free of an intermediate layer, so that the anastomotic section as a vessel wall thinner than the main section.

Abstract: A prosthesis that resiliently engages a body passage includes an annular clamping ring which may be folded along a diametric axis for insertion into the body passage. The clamping ring is adapted to resiliently spring outwardly, once in position inside the body passage, and to be continually resiliently biased against the interior surface of the body passage. One or more of the clamping rings may be attached to opposed ends of a tubular graft. The rings and connected graft may be positioned in the body passage using an applicator which selectively permits expansion and/or in some embodiments contraction of the annular ring in position within a body passage. Alternatively a retaining member may be used to retain the annular ring in a compressed condition until it is in a desired position within a body passage. Among other potential uses, the present invention may be useful as a vascular stent for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abstract: There is provided an improved graft for treatment of diseased, typically aneurysmal, tissue of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. The graft described is based on the “Elephant Trunk” graft which requires a two-stage procedure for completion of treatment. The modified graft includes a series of markers to allow visualisation of the distal end of the graft, irrespective of the requirements to trim the distal end of the graft to match the patient's anatomy. The markers are typically radio-opaque allowing visualisation by X-ray.

Abstract: There is provided a medical device which is resistant to bacterial infection, especially Staphylococcus infection. The device is at least partially coated or impregnated with a composition comprising rifampicin and tobramycin. The medical device can be a vascular graft, vascular patch or a heart valve. The device can include 0.05 to 0.15 mg/cm2 of rifampicin and 0.02 to 0.05 mg/cm2 of tobramycin. A method of making such a device is also described.

Abstract: A vascular graft comprised of a tubular polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sheet is provided. The ePTFE sheet has a substantially uniform coating of bioresorbable gel material, for example gelatin, on a surface thereof. The coating minimises bleeding through suture holes in the ePTFE sheet and provides an increase in longitudinal extensibility.