Abstract: Described embodiments include apparatus (20) that includes an assembly of tubes (34), each one of the tubes being shaped to define a tube lumen (62). The apparatus further includes a plurality of tissue anchors (60), each one of the tissue anchors being disposed within a respective one of the tube lumens, an expandable annular structure (36), including a plurality of teeth (40), coupled to the assembly of tubes, and a plurality of control wires (38) coupled to the annular structure, configured to position the tubes for deployment of the tissue anchors from the tube lumens, by manipulating the annular structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Described embodiments include an apparatus (20, 20a), including a plurality of flexible tube guides (35), an annular assembly of tubes (34), each of the tubes being slidably disposed within a respective one of the tube guides, a plurality of threads (58), each of which comprising a distal end that is carried by a respective one of the tubes, and an expandable annular structure (36) coupled to the tube guides, configured to expand the assembly of tubes, from a collapsed configuration, over tissue (42) of a subject, by moving the tube guides radially outward. The apparatus further includes a plurality of control wires (40) coupled to the tube guides, configured to position the tubes, subsequently to the expansion of the assembly, for deployment of the threads from the tubes and into the tissue, by flexing the tube guides. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: Described embodiments include apparatus (20) that includes an assembly of tubes (34), each one of the tubes being shaped to define a tube lumen (62). The apparatus further includes a plurality of tissue anchors (60), each one of the tissue anchors being disposed within a respective one of the tube lumens, an expandable annular structure (36), including a plurality of teeth (40), coupled to the assembly of tubes, and a plurality of control wires (38) coupled to the annular structure, configured to position the tubes for deployment of the tissue anchors from the tube lumens, by manipulating the annular structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A stent-delivery assembly that includes a catheter; an expandable stent that is movable, relative to the catheter, from a first position to a second position; and a guidewire assembly extending through a longitudinal passage of the catheter and a longitudinal passage of the stent, the guidewire assembly being movable, relative to the catheter, from a third position to a fourth position. While the expandable stent is in the first position and while the guidewire assembly is in the third position, the stent-delivery assembly has an a-traumatic shape. While the expandable stent is in the second position and while the guidewire assembly is in the fourth position, the guidewire assembly is capable of passing through the stent to allow for retrieval of the stent-delivery assembly. Methods of use and manufacture are also included.

Abstract: Various stent assemblies for placement in a body lumen that includes a support element comprising metal struts constructed to be positioned in a body lumen, and a knitted layer or cover disposed over an interior, an exterior, or both, of the support element and along an entire length thereof, wherein the knitted layer or cover comprises a single polymer fiber or metal wire having a diameter of at least 40 nanometers to 30 microns, wherein the support element and knitted cover together have apertures sized 100 microns to 300 microns in diameter, or alternatively from 200 microns to 1500 microns, to block larger debris when the stent assembly is properly placed in a body lumen. Methods of stenting a body lumen by applying the stent assembly to a patient in need of treatment and expanding the stent assembly in situ are disclosed.

Abstract: Described embodiments include apparatus (20) that includes an assembly of tubes (34), each one of the tubes being shaped to define a tube lumen (62). The apparatus further includes a plurality of tissue anchors (60), each one of the tissue anchors being disposed within a respective one of the tube lumens, an expandable annular structure (36), including a plurality of teeth (40), coupled to the assembly of tubes, and a plurality of control wires (38) coupled to the annular structure, configured to position the tubes for deployment of the tissue anchors from the tube lumens, by manipulating the annular structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An intravascular device configured to treat an aneurysm that includes a support structure including metal struts configured to be positioned in a body lumen and defining a central fluid passage that extends axially along the support structure, and a knitted mesh cover disposed over an exterior thereof and across a radial arc and along a length of the support structure sufficient to exceed an opening of an aneurysm to be treated, and the cover includes a polymer fiber having a diameter of at least 40 nanometers to 30 microns and apertures therethrough, the apertures being sized to prevent blood from passing through the device to prevent further expansion of the aneurysm. Devices including apertures that are at least 20 microns and sized to minimize or prevent an aneurysm-filling material from exiting the aneurysm through the knitted mesh cover and support structure, and methods of stenting, are also encompassed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for opening a vessel lumen comprising a radially expandable stent configured to open a vessel lumen, the radially expandable stent comprises a curved wall having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen connecting the proximal portion and the distal portion. The assembly further comprises a knitted jacket comprising a plurality of interconnected loops, the knitted jacket further comprising a tubular wall that substantially surrounds an exterior surface of the radially expandable stent, and at least one retainer belt that slidingly passes through at least one knitted loop of the plurality of interconnected loops in the knitted jacket.

Abstract: An enhanced stent apparatus, comprising: a support element, wherein the support element is constructed to be positioned in a body lumen; and, a porous structure, the porous structure located on a surface of the support element, and wherein the porous structure is comprised of at least one fiber under 30 microns in diameter, has a coverage area of less than 30% and is provided with apertures.

Abstract: A method of stenting, comprises: implanting a stent assembly in a vessel of a subject, the stent assembly, including: a stent jacket, comprising an expansible mesh structure, formed of fibers of a diameter between about 7 micrometers and about 18 micrometers, the diameter having a property of forming a substantially stable layer of endothelial cells, covering the fibers, thus reducing platelet aggregation, and an expansible stent, operatively associated with the stent jacket. The method further comprises administering to the subject an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) comprising a platelet aggregation reducer for a shortened time period, not exceeding six months, the shortened time period being a consequence of the property. In accordance with some embodiments, the administration of a platelet aggregation.

Abstract: A stent assembly adapted to carotid arterial placement that includes a self-expanding support element comprising metal struts constructed to be positioned in a body lumen and expanded from a retracted state to an expanded state, and a knitted cover disposed over an exterior of the support element and along an entire length thereof, wherein the knitted cover comprises a single polymer fiber having a diameter of at least 40 nanometers to 30 microns, wherein the self-expanding support element and knitted cover together have apertures sized 20 microns to smaller than 100 microns in diameter to block larger debris when the stent assembly is placed in a carotid artery and expanded to the expanded state. Methods of stenting a carotid artery by applying the stent assembly to the carotid artery of a patient in need of treatment and expanding the stent assembly in situ are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: A method of affixing a stent jacket to a stent, comprising aligning the stent jacket coaxially with the stent, placing a portion of the stent within a portion of the stent jacket, wherein a central axis of the stent is aligned with a central axis of the stent jacket, and affixing the stent jacket to the stent with a plurality of stitches, wherein the plurality of stitches form a plurality of consecutive loops that pass through one or more holes in the stent jacket and through an outer surface of the stent.

Abstract: A stent-delivery assembly that includes a catheter; an expandable stent that is movable, relative to the catheter, from a first position to a second position; and a guidewire assembly extending through a longitudinal passage of the catheter and a longitudinal passage of the stent, the guidewire assembly being movable, relative to the catheter, from a third position to a fourth position. While the expandable stent is in the first position and while the guidewire assembly is in the third position, the stent-delivery assembly has an a-traumatic shape. While the expandable stent is in the second position and while the guidewire assembly is in the fourth position, the guidewire assembly is capable of passing through the stent to allow for retrieval of the stent-delivery assembly. Methods of use and manufacture are also included.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: Methods of providing a stent assembly that includes a stent jacket formed from an expansible mesh structure having apertures and that includes a fiber having a diameter of about 7 micrometers and about 40 micrometers, and an expansible stent operatively associated with the stent jacket. The method further comprises administering to the subject an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) eluted from the stent assembly.

Abstract: A cognitive alteration system includes a storage unit at least to store one or more scripts, each to control a cognitive alteration process where the process occurs within at least one of: a dedicated session and a follow-up open time period and where the storage unit stores both a script per dedicated session and a script per follow-up open time period for the process; a script handler at least to run at least one script; at least one of a wearable and a non-wearable element to sense an attribute of a subject or to provide an output to the subject during one of the dedicated session and the follow-up open time period; an information analyzer at least to perform analysis of the readings of the at least one element, an integrator to integrate the analysis and a script updater to update at least one of the scripts.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. An inner diameter of the end portion of the tube is greater than an inner diameter of the body portion of the tube. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.