Abstract: A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. Such valving assembly may incorporate i) a hemostatic valve, ii) a first sealing valve and iii) a second sealing valve, positioned in series, to prevent leakage of body fluid out of the proximal end of the introducer and to permit two or more elongate members (e.g., catheters, guidewires) having differing outer diameters to be inserted through the introducer without leakage of body fluid therefrom. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body.

Abstract: A controlled advancement laser ablation device is provided for precise ablation of body matter. The laser ablation device includes a handle portion having proximal and distal openings and a fiber advancing device having a stationary member and a movable member. The movable member is movable towards and away from the stationary member. A fiber casing is included having proximal and distal ends. The distal end is secured to the proximal end of the handle portion and the proximal end is secured to the stationary member. At least one optical fiber is included having proximal and distal ends. The distal end is extendible through the handle portion and a portion of the fiber, defined between the proximal and distal ends, is secured to the movable member. A laser energy generator is optically connected to the proximal end of the optical fiber. The handle portion includes a self-biasing advancing mechanism.

Abstract: A delivery catheter and method for positioning an intraluminal graft within a branching vessel in a patient's body and a delivery catheter for use in that method is described. The delivery catheter comprises an elongate catheter having preferably an inflatable balloon adjacent one end, an intraluminal graft disposed about the balloon that bifurcates into two short tubular extensions, and a thin supplementary catheter containing a guidewire that extends upstream through one of the first tubular extensions and downstream through the other of the short tubular extensions of the graft. The method for positioning the intraluminal graft using the delivery catheter is particularly applicable to the appropriate positioning of a trouser graft so that it bridges an aneurysm which extends from a single vessel, such as the aorta, into one or more divergent vessels, for example, an iliac artery.

Abstract: A smooth-walled non-crimped inflow conduit for an implantable ventricular assist system. The conduit has an internally smooth lumen surface for enhanced washing of the conduit under irregular blood flow conditions. The conduit includes a tubular graft body that may be formed of a knitted fabric sealed with bovine collagen or gelatin, or formed of closed structured PTFE. The conduit may include external ribbing or support to prevent inward collapse under negative pressure conditions and also protect against damage from inadvertent physical contact in the operating room. The external support may be bonded to the exterior or formed integrally with the tubular graft body. An outer reinforcement cage may be provided to help prevent gross distortion or damage to the tubular graft body. The ends of the tubular graft body are left unsupported and wrapped around opposed lips of conduit coupling structure to minimize blood contacting surfaces at junctions with other conduits or with the heart.