Abstract: Expandable devices are disclosed herein. Several of the embodiments are directed towards an expandable device comprising a mesh configured to be expanded at a blood vessel bifurcation of a human patient. The mesh may comprise a tubular body portion and one or more circumferentially discontinuous articulating portions. The mesh may be expanded such that the one or more articulating portions are positioned at an angle to the tubular body portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to valve replacement devices that are foldable for catheter-based deployment to the site of implantation, as well as systems for the delivery of valve prostheses, including prostheses having the special characteristics of the disclosed valve replacement devices. The devices include highly effective adhering mechanisms for secure and enduring precision implantation. The adhering mechanisms may employ a unique sealing mechanism that includes a cuff that expands slowly whereby the device is not secured in place until the completion of the implantation procedure. The implanted device, optionally together with the cuff, prevents perivalvular leaks and incorporate an appropriate leaflet system for reliable functioning in situ.

Abstract: Medical devices and related method for improving blood flow to regions of a patient are described herein. Some medical devices may include a first graft portion, a second graft portion, and a catheter portion disposed between the first graft portion and the second graft portion. The medical device may be implanted into a patient to establish a non-natural flow path.

Abstract: A tendon repair implant for treatment of a complete or partial thickness tear in the supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder is provided. The implant may incorporate features of rapid deployment and fixation by arthroscopic means that compliment current procedures; tensile properties that result in desired sharing of anatomical load between the implant and native tendon during rehabilitation; selected porosity and longitudinal pathways for tissue in-growth; sufficient cyclic straining of the implant in the longitudinal direction to promote remodeling of new tissue to tendon-like tissue; and, may include a bioresorbable construction to provide transfer of additional load to new tendon-like tissue and native tendon over time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prosthetic capsular bag and method for inserting the same. The prosthetic capsular bag helps to maintain the volume of the natural capsular bag, thereby stabilizing the effective lens position of an IOL so that refractive outcomes may be improved with cataract surgery. The prosthetic capsular bag further provides an integrated refractive surface, providing a means for experimentally determining an effective lens position prior to inserting an IOL.

Abstract: A self-sealing tubular graft is provided for implantation within a patient's body that includes an elongate tubular body including first and second self-sealing cannulation regions and a loop region extending between the first and second cannulation regions. The loop region includes one or more reinforcement members attached to a first length of the loop region and extending at least partially around a circumference of the tubular body. For example, the reinforcement members may include one or more sinusoidal or zigzag members extending along the first length with alternating peaks and valleys extending at least partially around a circumference of the tubular body. Self-sealing patches are also provided that include one or more reinforcement members embedded within base material.

Abstract: This disclosure describes decellularized, biologically-engineered tubular grafts and methods of making and using such decellularized, biologically-engineered tubular grafts.

Abstract: An expandable stent for implantation in a right ventricular outflow tract includes a frame having a plurality of struts that define a repeating pattern of cells. The repeating pattern of cells comprises a column of exactly three generally diamond shaped cells positioned in end-to-end alignment, and a column of exactly two generally diamond shaped cells positioned in end-to-end alignment. The frame has a substantially hourglass shape with a narrow portion in between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion and the distal end portion are configured to expand radially outward to contact a right ventricular outflow tract.

Abstract: A stent 10 includes corrugated pattern bodies 11 and connection elements 12. A corrugated pattern is formed of corrugated units 14, corrugated unit 14 including a first stem 15, a second stem 16, a third stem 17, a first top portion 18 coupling a first end portion 15a of the first stem 15 and a first end portion 16a of the second stem 16, and a second top portion 19 coupling a second end portion 16b of the second stem 16 and a first end portion 17a of the third stem 17. A second end portion 17b of the third stem 17 is connected to a second end portion 15b of the first stem 15 in another corrugated unit adjacent to corrugated unit. A first end portion 12a of connection element 12 is connected to the first top portion 18 of one of adjacent ones of the corrugated units 14, and a second end portion 12b of connection element 12 is connected to the second end portion 15b of the other one of the adjacent ones of the corrugated units 14.

Abstract: An implant delivery system includes a catheter, an implant, and a push body. The catheter extends from a first proximal end to a first distal end. The catheter defines an inner lumen extending through the first distal end. The implant includes a second proximal, a second distal end, and a plurality of resilient barbs. The implant is slidably housed within the inner lumen. The implant is compressed in the inner lumen such that the implant bears against an inner diameter of the inner lumen and the implant is retained within the inner lumen by friction. The push body is slidably housed within the inner lumen of the catheter. The push body is adjacent to the second proximal end of the implant.

Abstract: A method for providing blood flow across a surface of a mitral stent-valve frame. A portion of the stent-valve frame is placed into the left atrium and into the left ventricle with a securement band located intermediate that is attached to either the annulus or to a second support frame that is placed initially and above the mitral annulus without affecting native leaflet function. Portions of the frame above the securement band allow blood flow radially inwards to reduce stagnation regions in the atrium or outwards below the securement band to help cleanse native leaflets.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools.

Abstract: An implant includes a prosthetic valve and is transitionable from a compressed to an expanded state. The implant includes a frame assembly including a plurality of struts that collectively define an upstream-frame-assembly-perimeter at an upstream end of the frame assembly and a downstream-frame-assembly-perimeter at a downstream end of the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a valve frame that defines a lumen, and one or more appendages disposed at and extending in a downstream direction from the downstream-frame-assembly-perimeter. A plurality of prosthetic leaflets are disposed within the valve frame lumen and facilitate one-way upstream-to-downstream fluid flow through the lumen. The implant includes a fabric and, in the expanded state of the implant, the fabric obscures the one or more appendages and defines a downstream perimeter of the fabric at a downstream end of the implant. Additional embodiments are described.

Abstract: An esophageal stent configured to span a stricture may include a tubular body configured to shift between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the tubular body having a first end and a second end. In the deployed configuration: the tubular body defines a first flange portion, a second flange portion, and a saddle portion extending from the first flange portion to the second flange portion; the tubular body further defining an overall longitudinal length extending from the first end to the second end; the first flange portion has a first outer radial extent, and the second flange portion has a second outer radial extent; the first outer radial extent and the second outer radial extent are greater than an outer radial extent of the saddle portion; and a longitudinal length of the saddle portion is at least 50% of the overall longitudinal length of the tubular body.

Abstract: A stent which has a cylindrical tubular shape in which wires cross each other and are woven includes first regions each including a horizontal folding crossing portion in which the wires are folded in an axial direction and cross each other and a vertical folding crossing portion in which the wires are folded in a circumferential direction and cross each other. The first region is a region in which the horizontal folding crossing portion and the vertical folding crossing portion are arranged in the circumferential direction, and the first regions are arranged at intervals in the axial direction.

Abstract: An annuloplasty device is disclosed comprising first and second support rings being configured to be arranged as a coil in a first configuration around an axial direction, wherein the first and second support rings are configured to be arranged on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets of a heart valve, wherein the first and second support rings are separated with a first pitch distance in the axial direction, in the first configuration, wherein the first and second support rings are configured to assume a contracted state having a second pitch distance in the axial direction being shorter than the first pitch distance, and wherein the first and second support rings are configured to be transferable between the first configuration and the contracted state to pinch the heart valve leaflets. A method of repairing a defective heart valve is also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for use in the treatment of aneurysm involving branches is described, where at least one self-expandable braided framework extending along an axis is able to expand from a radially compressed state in a delivery configuration to a radially expanded state. The self-expandable braided framework includes a plurality of layers of wires made of biocompatible material forming a lattice with a plurality of wires of said layers; the wires being integrated in the mesh of at least one of the adjacent layers; the self-expandable braided framework including a lumen in a cylindrical form; characterized in that, in radially expanded state, a ratio of a thickness of a wall of the implantable endoluminal prosthesis in the radially expanded state to the diameter of wire being greater than 3.0; and the surface coverage ratio (SCR) of the braided framework is at least 30% and at most 50%.

Abstract: A system for preventing thrombosis in an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device sized for implantation at least partially within a patient's body. The device includes an at least partially electrically conductive portion that is disposed within a patient's body upon implantation, an electrode coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the device; and a power source coupled to the electrode. The power source provides a negative electric charge to the at least partially electrically conductive portion for an indefinite period of time. The device may be configured to resist thrombosis, infection, and/or undesired tissue growth via the charged conductive portion once implanted. Exemplary embodiments of the implantable medical device include a hemodialysis vasculature graft, a dialysis catheter, a coronary artery, and a heart valve.

Abstract: An implant delivery device for introducing and positioning implants within patients may include a sheath member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central longitudinal axis, the sheath member defining a lumen along the central longitudinal axis. The implant delivery device may additionally include an implant delivery shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the implant delivery shaft disposed at least partially within the sheath member and an implant spreader assembly disposed at the distal end of the implant delivery shaft. In some embodiments, the implant delivery device may further include a cap disposed at the distal end of the sheath member, the cap obstructing at least a portion of an opening into the lumen of the sheath member.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for resizing a valve annulus are described. An implant is delivered proximate a mitral valve, the implant comprising a tubular body and a plurality of piercing helical anchors, the tubular body comprising an proximal diameter and a distal diameter. Tissue proximate the mitral valve is engaged by rotating the plurality of anchors with corresponding rotational drivers. The tubular body may be transitioned from a first structural configuration having the proximal diameter smaller than the distal diameter to a second structural configuration having the proximal diameter larger than the distal diameter.