Abstract: Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.

Abstract: Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.

Abstract: An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for replacing a damaged aortic valve is provided. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a balloon-expandable stent, a tubular conduit that extends into the ascending aorta, and a self-expanding stent. The tubular conduit extends across the balloon-expandable stent. The tubular conduit includes an artificial valve. The self-expanding stent extends across the tubular conduit into the ascending aorta. The balloon-expandable stent, the tubular conduit, and the self-expanding stent are coupled to provide unidirectional flow of fluid into the aorta and further into the coronary arteries. Also provided is a method for implanting the endoluminal prosthesis.

Abstract: A medical lumen-expansion balloon may include a generally cylindrical central body between first and second body end portions, a low-profile unexpanded first state and a radially-expanded second state, wherein the first body end portion is constrained by fiber material such that it will not expand longitudinally and circumferentially beyond a predetermined size, and the central body is constrained by fiber material so as to be circumferentially substantially noncompliant, but is longitudinally compliant, such that it will elongate with increased volume but will not substantially radially expand.

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: Catheters or other tubular devices and methods for using them to perform a medical procedure are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a tubular device includes an elongate tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a patient's body, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; an expandable member on the distal end comprising an outer impermeable membrane with an inner surface surrounding a substantially enclosed interior space; and a fiber network within the interior space coupled to the inner surface and configured to limit expansion of the membrane when inflation media is directed into the interior space from the lumen to expand the membrane to an expanded configuration.

Abstract: Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating lesions within a blood vessel include a two-layer angioplasty balloon designed for the simultaneous deployment of multiple balloon-expanded stents. The high-compliance (elastic) outer balloon secures stent position. The low-compliance (inelastic) inner balloon drives angioplasty and stent expansion. Stent deployment starts with the injection of a small quantity of fluid into the outer balloon, which bulges slightly at both ends and into the spaces between the stents and, once the stent has expanded a little, between the struts of the stents. The injection port to the outer balloon is then closed, and fluid is injected only into the inner balloon, which expands, opening the stents.

Abstract: Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.

Abstract: A stent graft and a stent graft system having a scallop at the proximal end of the stent graft and extending below the proximal edge, the scallop having two substantially longitudinally extending opposing side edges and a substantially laterally extending bottom edge parallel to the proximal edge of the stent graft and extending between the two substantially longitudinally extending opposing side edges to define a scallop parameter. The stent graft and stent graft system include side arms extending externally from the stent graft at an acute angle to the body of the stent graft with an open end of the side arms extending toward the proximal end of the stent graft.

Abstract: An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for replacing a damaged aortic valve is provided. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a balloon-expandable stent, a tubular conduit that extends into the ascending aorta, and a self-expanding stent. The tubular conduit extends across the balloon-expandable stent. The tubular conduit includes an artificial valve. The self-expanding stent extends across the tubular conduit into the ascending aorta. The balloon-expandable stent, the tubular conduit, and the self-expanding stent are coupled to provide unidirectional flow of fluid into the aorta and further into the coronary arteries. Also provided is a method for implanting the endoluminal prosthesis.

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: 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: 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: 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: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating lesions within a blood vessel include a two-layer angioplasty balloon designed for the simultaneous deployment of multiple balloon-expanded stents. The high-compliance (elastic) outer balloon secures stent position. The low-compliance (inelastic) inner balloon drives angioplasty and stent expansion. Stent deployment starts with the injection of a small quantity of fluid into the outer balloon, which bulges slightly at both ends and into the spaces between the stents and, once the stent has expanded a little, between the struts of the stents. The injection port to the outer balloon is then closed, and fluid is injected only into the inner balloon, which expands, opening the stents.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating lesions within a blood vessel include a two-layer angioplasty balloon designed for the simultaneous deployment of multiple balloon-expanded stents. The high-compliance (elastic) outer balloon secures stent position. The low-compliance (inelastic) inner balloon drives angioplasty and stent expansion. Stent deployment starts with the injection of a small quantity of fluid into the outer balloon, which bulges slightly at both ends and into the spaces between the stents and, once the stent has expanded a little, between the struts of the stents. The injection port to the outer balloon is then closed, and fluid is injected only into the inner balloon, which expands, opening the stents.

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: The present examples provide a stent for use in a medical procedure that comprises at least one apex having first and second generally straight portions and a curved portion disposed between the first and second straight portions. The curved portion may comprise at least one region having a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the first and second straight portions, which may facilitate compression of the stent and insertion of the stent into smaller vessels. The stent may be used alone, or in conjunction with a stent-graft, and may comprise one or more barbs configured to engage an inner wall of a vessel or duct.

Abstract: A stent graft leg extension (10) to extend from a bifurcated aortic stent graft into an iliac artery. The stent graft has a tubular body. (12) of a biocompatible graft material and a plurality of self-expanding stents (14) joined to and supporting the tubular body. An uncovered tubular self-expanding stent assembly (26) extends from a first end of the tubular body and is fastened thereto. The uncovered tubular self-expanding stent assembly (26) provides a smooth transition from the leg extension into the iliac artery to reduce the chance of kinks causing problems in the leg extension.