Abstract: An introducer assembly (60) is provided with a dilator tip (40) which has at least one portion (46) which is asymmetric in transverse cross-section, preferably being flattened or oval. A dilator tip (40) which is asymmetric over at least a part of its length gives the tip different flexure characteristics in different radial directions (54, 56). This provides advantages in trackability of the dilator tip (40) and thus of the introducer assembly (60) as well as providing for self-orientation of the dilator tip (40), useful in orienting medical devices or treatment tools.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (100) including at its distal end a dilator tip (20) and an inner catheter for supporting an implantable medical device (1) for deployment, is provided with a plurality of strut elements (102, 202) extending from the dilator tip (20) to the proximal end of the medical device (1). The strut elements (102, 202) act to apply both a pulling and a pushing force against the proximal end of the medical device (1), having the effect of assisting in the correct positioning of the proximal end of the medical device in a patient's lumen, particularly where this is curved such as with the aortic arch. The strut elements (102, 202) form part of the introducer assembly and are removed from the patient following the deployment procedure. The device avoids the need for bare stents at the end of a stent graft.

Abstract: A stent-graft (100) is provided with a tightenable loop element (104) having a first end terminated in a slip knot or self-tightening knot (112) and a second end which is received in and can slide in the knot (112). The knot (112) is tied by a suture to the stent-graft (100) so as to be fixed thereto. The loop (104) is fitted to the stent-graft (100) in a manner as to pass between the inside to the outside of the graft material and in such a manner that controlled curvature of the stent-graft (100) is possible, in particular control of the overlapping of adjacent stents held within the zone of the loop (104). An introducer assembly is also disclosed which includes a control cannula (120) able to the fixed to the stent-graft (100) during the deployment procedure, as well as a mechanism of suture loops (150, 152) at the proximal end of the stent-graft (100) for retaining this in a constricted form during the process of curving the latter during the deployment process.

Abstract: A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter-reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter-reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Abstract: A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Abstract: A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (10) includes a guide wire catheter (12), a pusher element (16), an external manipulation unit (28) and an external sheath (30). The distal end (18) of the pusher element (16) is bonded, with adhesive or other bonding agent (32), to the guide wire catheter (12) so as to fix these components together at the distal end (18) of the pusher element (16). This reduces twisting of the pusher element (16) relative to the guide wire catheter (12) and thus twisting of any implantable medical device carried on the introducer assembly (10). This can reduce incorrect deployment of the implantable medical device and reduce instances of an abortive medical procedure. In addition, such bonding increases the torque resistance of the guide wire catheter (12) and pusher element (16) to reduce overall twisting at the distal end of the introducer assembly (10).

Abstract: A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.

Abstract: An introducer (10) includes release wires (42?) that constrain at least one stent (4?) whilst the remainder of a stent graft (18) is expanded during deployment. By allowing the constrained stent (4?) to expand after an adjacent stent (4), the constrained stent (4?) overlaps with the interior of the adjacent stent (4) where the stent graft (18) is deployed within a curved body lumen (70).

Abstract: A stent graft (18) for deployment in a curved lumen such as the aortic or thoracic arch (130) comprises a constraining mechanism at its proximal end. A stent (4?) provided at the proximal end of the stent graft (18) includes loops of material (11) that co-operate with restraining wires (42) that extend between a central guide wire carrier (24) and a restraining wire cannula (8). The constraining mechanism acts to maintain the proximal stent (4?) constrained at three points around its circumference at both the proximal and distal ends of the proximal stent (4?). The proximal stent (4?) is thus allowed to expand after expansion of the remainder of the stent graft (18) during deployment. In an embodiment, the constraining mechanism acts to constrain two adjacent struts of the proximal stent (4?) at three points radially therearound, at the proximal end of the stent (4?) and at the distal end of the stent (4?).

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis that includes a support structure comprising a curvilinear portion having a first strut and a second strut that meet at an apex. Disposed on the support structure is an anchor with an anchor body and one or more barbs extending outwardly from the anchor body and where the anchor body fits at least partially about, and conforms to the first strut, second strut, and the apex.

Abstract: An introducer for an expandable endovascular prosthesis having a self a self-expanding stent includes a proximal prosthesis positioning mechanism that has a retention device to retain the self-expanding stent and a control member to selectively release the retention device from the prosthesis. The retention device includes an opening forming a tapered cavity. The control member includes a plurality of loops coupled to the prosthesis and a trigger wire. The trigger wire passes through a first aperture of the retention device, through the plurality of loops, and through and a second aperture of the retention device to retain the loops.

Abstract: A stent graft for use in a medical procedure to treat a dissection of a patient's ascending thoracic aorta. The stent graft includes bare alignment stents at least at a proximal end, and often with a stent at both ends, each stent having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one broader set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other narrower set of apices. The proximal stent is flared in a manner such that its broad apices occupy a larger circumference around the stent than do its narrower apices, where this flared feature provides for anchoring engagement near the aortic root in a manner not interfering with the coronary arteries or the aortic valve.

Abstract: A retention system for retaining a stent graft (13) onto a deployment device (1) in which the stent graft has an exposed stent (11) at at least one end. The deployment device has a capsule (7) to receive the exposed stent during deployment and an arrangement to move the capsule to release the exposed stent when required. A release wire (17) associated with the deployment device engages a portion (19) of the exposed stent within the capsule to retain the exposed stent in the capsule. At least one retention loop (25) on the stent graft is connected around the release wire to prevent removal of the capsule from the exposed stent until the release wire has been removed from its engagement with the exposed stent within the capsule and the retention loop is released.