Abstract: An endovascular stent graft assembly (10) for use with abdominal aorta aneurysms (70) and having a main stent graft body (12) and a separate attachment graft tube (14) that extends proximally therefrom having the proximal attachment stent (50) thereon for infrarenal attachment of the assembly (10) to the aorta (74). A distal end portion (44) of the attachment graft tube (14) underlies the proximal end portion (30) of the main stent graft body (12) and presses outwardly there against forming a friction fit, at an overlapping region (64). The main stent graft body (12) has an ipsilateral leg (22) and a contralateral stump (24) at the bifurcation (26). After deployment of the attachment graft tube (14), the contralateral leg (16) is deployed at the contralateral stump to complete the stent graft assembly (10).

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.

Abstract: A prosthesis assembly for deployment in an aorta to span an aortic aneurysm. The prosthesis assembly has at least first and second members (2,4) with an end portion (12) of one member (2) to be joined to an end portion (24) of the other member (4) when in and when expanded within a lumen of a patient. Each member (2,4) has a stent arrangement (10,25) associated with a graft arrangement (8,26). The end portion of one member has at least part of its stent arrangement on the inner surface of its graft arrangement and the end portion of the other member has at least part of its stent arrangement on the inner surface of its graft arrangement. Advantageously two stents are overlapped. The joining portions of the first and second members can have the same diameter.

Abstract: A thoracic stent graft (20) has a tubular bio-compatible graft material body (22) with a lumen therethrough with a proximal end (26) and a distal end (27). There is a sealing stent (28) at the proximal end of the tubular body with an anchoring device which may be a barb (30) affixed to the sealing stent. A distal attachment stent (34) with barbs (36) can be affixed to and extend from the distal end (27) of the graft material body. Intermediate stents (24) are provided along the length of the body. The thoracic stent graft can be in one or two portions.

Abstract: A stent (30) formed from cannula and having flexible segments (31) and high hoop strength segments (32) alternating therealong. Longitudinal struts or tie bars (41) interconnect the segments. Minimal length reduction of the strut occurs upon expansion. In the high hoop strength segment (32), struts (37) in a zig-zag configuration (Gianturco Z-stent) are initially parallel in the unexpanded strut condition. In the flexible segment (31), struts (58) extend from a respective C-shaped bend (59) to converge at the opposite ends thereof when unexpanded. In one embodiment, certain adjacent struts (39–41) of the hoop segment are spaced apart by elongated openings or gaps (46, 48) interposed therebetween and interconnected at their respective ends (42, 44) to form a T-shaped strut interconnection (45). The selected width (50, 51) of the first and third struts (54, 57) increases toward the ends (47, 48) of the elongated openings (46, 48) adjacent the strut interconnection (45).

Abstract: A modular stent graft assembly (10) for repairing a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm (90) and having an aortic section tubular graft (12) and an iliac section tubular graft (14). The aortic section graft has a proximal attachment stent (32) thereon for suprarenal attachment of the assembly (10) to the aorta. A proximal end portion (50) of the iliac section graft (14) underlies the distal end portion (28) of the aortic graft (12) and presses outwardly thereagainst forming a a friction fit, at a telescoping region (64). The assembly (10) can be selected from an inventory (300) containing a set of delivery systems (100) of four size aortic section grafts (12) and a set of delivery systems (200) of four size iliac section grafts (14), that together accommodate a large majority of aneurysm sizes, and delivery systems (250) containing four standard sizes of occluders (80).

Abstract: A graft (1) which is in the form of an inflatable member adapted to be formed into a predetermined and/or selected shape when deployed in situ by filling with a filler material (6) which can be made rigid in situ and deployed on a balloon catheter (12). The deployment balloon (13) is formed from a non-compliant material.

Abstract: A stent graft deployment device adapted for release of a distal end (29) of a stent graft (25) before the proximal end (27) of the stent graft (25). The arrangement (15) allows movement of at least part of the deployment catheter (23) independently of movement of a proximal end release mechanism has a fixed handle (16) associated with a trigger wire release mechanism (6) and a sliding handle (17) to which the deployment catheter and a capsule (21) are fixed. The sliding handle (17) is mounted on the fixed handle (16) and can slide longitudinally with respect to the fixed handle (16).

Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a structure (12) adapted for introduction into a patient, the structure (12) being formed of a preferably non-porous base material (14) having a roughened or textured surface (16). The structure (12) is conveniently configured as a vascular stent with a base material (14) of stainless steel, nitinol or another suitable material. The medical device (10) also includes a layer (18) of a bioactive material posited directly upon the roughened or textured surface (16) of the base material (14) of the structure (12). The surface (16) of the base material (14) is roughened or textured by etching or by abrasion with sodium bicarbonate or another suitable grit. A preferred roughened or textured surface (16) is thought to have a mean surface roughness of about 10 ?in. (about 250 nm) and a surface roughness range between about 1 ?in. and about 100 ?in. (about 25 nm and about 2.5 ?m).

Abstract: An access valve (2) for a laparoscopic device or a intraluminal deployment device has a cylindrical diaphragm (8) with a longitudinal aperture (3), a flexible member (14) is passed circumferentially around the cylindrical diaphragm and an extension arrangement to pull the flexible member radially and/or tangentially to constrict the diaphragm to at least partially close off the longitudinal aperture. A rotary actuator may be used (12).

Abstract: A stent (10,20,30,40,50,58,60,80,90,100,150,254,256,300) having an inflatable member or a plurality of members affixed directly thereto. One type of inflatable member, or pair or plurality of members, may be affixed to the outer stent surface to expand upon inflation to seal against the vessel wall, and optionally to each other as well, and may be annular (14,18,20,42,46,82,94) or spirally (22,24,26,84) or asymmetrically (32,34,36) configured. In another embodiment a member (304), or pair of opposed members (306), can be affixed to the inner stent surface and used to occlude the lumen upon inflation. The device of the present invention can also be utilized with conventional stent grafts (152) to protect branch vessels that are involved in the aneurysm span.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for sustaining a vessel or hollow organ lumen (a stent) having a tubular wire frame (1) with rows of elongate cells (2) each having a larger axis and a smaller axis. The cells are arranged with the larger axis in the circumferential direction of the frame (2) and the smaller axis parallel to the axial direction thereof. Each cell is formed by two U-shaped wire sections, and in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis one of the branches of the U-shaped wire sections in one row form together a closed ring shape (4) which provides the frame (1) with large radial stiffness. In the axial direction the frame (1) has only low stiffness so that it easily conforms to the vascular wall even if this deforms due to external loads. The interconnection between the cells (2) may be flexible.

Abstract: A coated implantable medical device 10 includes a structure 12 adapted for introduction into the vascular system, esophagus, trachea, colon, biliary tract, or urinary tract; at least one coating layer 16 posited on one surface of the structure; and at least one layer 18 of a bioactive material posited on at least a portion of the coating layer 16, wherein the coating layer 16 provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material from the coating layer. In addition, at least one porous layer 20 can be posited over the bioactive material layer 18, wherein the porous layer includes a polymer and provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material therethrough. Preferably, the structure 12 is a coronary stent. The porous layer 20 includes a polymer applied preferably by vapor or plasma deposition and provides for a controlled release of the bioactive material.

Abstract: An aorta graft device comprising a primary graft part having a proximal end and a first connecting portion at a distal opening, wherein the primary graft part has an anchoring area positioned between an ascending portion extending to said proximal end and a descending portion extending to said distal opening. Furthermore, the ascending portion is corrugated, and the descending portion is at least partially non-corrugated.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a needle such as a medical needle, during exposure to radiation, such as X-ray radiation. The apparatus includes a needle collar and a control bar. The needle collar attaches to the needle shaft and has a first attachment point while the control bar has a second attachment point, where the first and second attachment points cooperate to releasably engage the needle collar and the control bar. In use, when the needle collar and the control bar are engaged, the user grasps the control bar to control the needle while releasing the needle and maintaining the hands of the user outside of a field of the radiation, e.g., outside of a field of the X-ray radiation. The control bar is dimensioned such that its proximal end (i.e., the end to be grasped by the user) is outside the field of radiation.

Abstract: A cement delivery needle for use in performing vertebroplasty is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a cement delivery needle with a sheath and an insert. The sheath has an inlet to receive a bone cement and a tapered outlet for expressing the cement into a vertebral body. The insert is receivably removable within the sheath. The insert also has a tip that is alignable with the outlet, when the insert is inserted into the sheath, to present a continuous edge. When the edge is inserted into a resistant material, an application of force to the needle creates an opening in the material to allow the needle to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A stent (10) formed from cannula and having flexible segments (11) and high hoop strength segments (12) alternating therealong. Axial tie bars (21,22) interconnect the segments; minimal length reduction would occur upon expansion. In the high hoop strength segment (12), struts (16) are initially parallel in the unexpanded strut condition, while in the flexible segment (11), struts (14) extend from a respective bight (15) to converge at distal ends when unexpanded. In one embodiment, certain adjacent struts (16) of the hoop segment are spaced apart by a large gap (20) while others are spaced apart by a small gap (18). In another embodiment all the struts (16) of the hoop segment are spaced apart uniformly from each other (or from an axial tie bar) by a small gap (23), resulting in minimizing the occurrence of fatigue of high-stress sites upon expansion/contraction cycles from continuous pulsatile events.

Abstract: A coated implantable medical device 10 includes a structure 12 adapted for introduction into the vascular system, esophagus, trachea, colon, biliary tract, or urinary tract; at least one coating layer 16 posited on one surface of the structure; and at least one layer 18 of a bioactive material posited on at least a portion of the coating layer 16, wherein the coating layer 16 provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material from the coating layer. In addition, at least one porous layer 20 can be posited over the bioactive material layer 18, wherein the porous layer is includes a polymer and provides for the controlled release of the bioactive material therethrough. Preferably, the structure 12 is a coronary stent. The porous layer 20 includes a polymer applied preferably by vapor or plasma deposition and provides for a controlled release of the bioactive material.

Abstract: An endovascular stent graft assembly (10) for use with abdominal aorta aneurysms (70) and having a main stent graft body (12) and a separate attachment graft tube (14) that extends proximally therefrom having the proximal attachment stent (50) thereon for infrarenal attachment of the assembly (10) to the aorta (74). A distal end portion (44) of the attachment graft tube (14) underlies the proximal end portion (30) of the main stent graft body (12) and presses outwardly there against forming a a friction fit, at an overlapping region (64). The main stent graft body (12) has an ipsilateral leg (22) and a contralateral stump (24) at the bifurcation (26); and prior to deployment of the attachment graft tube (14), the main stent graft body is pulled against the vessel bifurcation (72). After deployment of the attachment graft tube (14), the contralateral leg (16) is deployed at the contralateral stump to complete the stent graft assembly (10).