Abstract: A stent graft (2) for placement in the thoracic arch of a patient has a first tubular body portion (6) with a first lumen therein for placement in the ascending aorta of a patient and a second tubular body portion (8) to extend along the thoracic arch and down the descending aorta. The second tubular body portion is of a lesser diameter than the first tubular body portion. There is a step portion (10) between the first body portion and the second body portion. The step portion is joined to and continuous with the first portion and the second portion. A first side of each of the first body portion, the step portion and the second body portion are substantially aligned so that there is a step (18) defined on a second side opposite to the first side of the body portion. There is an aperture (30) in the step portion and an internal tube (32) extending from the aperture towards the first body portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in certain aspects, medical graft products that incorporate multiple drug depots in and/or on the products. One such product is a sheet graft construct, for example for tissue support that includes a sheet graft material with a plurality of drug depots. The drug depots can be hardened deposits formed directly onto the sheet graft material and/or can be capable of eluting a drug for a minimum of 72 hours.

Abstract: A medical retrieval device for retrieving stones, calculi, and the like from various organs and passages may comprising an elongated member, and a first wire and a second wire that forms a retrieval basket. The wires forming the basket and the elongated member may be secured by a crimp joint and a second joint. Processing of the device may include placing all ends of the first wire and the second wire into an elongated member through a distal end of the elongated member, moving said elongated member to a position where the first loop and the second loop start their curvatures, placing said first and second wires and said elongated member through a crimping fixture having thru cuts configured for the interlocked wires, aligning said elongated member in a desired position, and crimping said first and second wires and said elongated member.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention provide compositions and implantable devices including a water-insoluble therapeutic agent solubilized in a matrix of a gallate-containing compound. Other aspects provide methods of manufacturing and using such compositions and devices.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a prosthesis delivery device is disclosed. The handle assembly has a proximal gripping portion and a stationary gripping portion. At least one rail extends distally from the proximal gripping portion through the stationary gripping portion. The proximal gripping portion is distally moveable along a longitudinal axis towards the stationary gripping portion from a first pre-deployment position to a second position. The at least one rail extends proximally from the stationary gripping portion when the proximal gripping portion is in a first pre-deployment position and distally from the stationary gripping portion when the proximal gripping portion is in a second position. The at least one rail is configured to prevent the build-up of torque along the length of the delivery device as well as prevent the build-up of torque among the various components of the handle assembly including the proximal gripping portion and the stationary gripping portion.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, such as an aortic aneurism repair stent graft, includes a framework of struts that includes a plurality of vertices. A fabric is in contact with the framework, and attached to the fabric at each of the vertices with a respective compound stitching connection. The compound stitching connection includes a plurality of short span fixation stitches and a fan spread of long span tear resistance stitches.

Abstract: Medical devices, methods and kits are described. An exemplary medical device comprises a catheter that has a catheter wall and defines a catheter lumen, a bend, and a coil disposed distal to the bend. The catheter defines one or more apertures that extend through the catheter wall and are in communication with the catheter lumen.

Abstract: A balloon catheter assembly comprises a balloon having attached to or in its wall one or more filar elements, extending from one end of the balloon to the other. The filar elements are made of a material which is at least as flexible as the material forming the walls of the balloon. In the event of circular burst of the balloon, the filar element(s) prevent disconnection of the material of the balloon into two or more separate pieces. The filar element(s) become attached to or in the material of the balloon wall when the raw material is inflated to the shape of a mold. The filar elements may comprise a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber or a metal wire.

Abstract: Hand-operated suction and irrigation medical devices are provided. An example medical device comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. The housing defines first and second inlet paths and an outlet path. A first tubular member is partially disposed within the first inlet path and a second tubular member is partially disposed within the second inlet path. Each of the first and second tubular members extends from the proximal end of the housing. A third tubular member is partially disposed within the outlet path and extends from the distal end of the housing. A control member is slidably disposed on the housing and is movable between a first, proximal position and a second, distal position. A passageway provides fluid communication between the first inlet path and an opening to an environment external to the housing such that covering the opening provides control over the flow of fluid through the first inlet path and the first tubular member.

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 method of treatment for a body vessel is provided. The body vessel includes a dissection flap formed from a wall of the body vessel, which longitudinally separates a natural body vessel lumen into a true lumen and a false lumen. One or more cuts are formed in the dissection flap with a cutting device or system. An expandable device is inserted within the true lumen, and expanded to reappose the dissection flap against the wall of the body vessel where the dissection flap was detached from the wall such that the false lumen is closed. A variety of cut patterns are disclosed.

Abstract: A stent assembly includes a framework having a tubular rest shape that defines a longitudinal axis, has an external surface that defines an expanded perimeter, and an internal surface that defines a passageway. The framework has a folded shape with a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that fits in a closed shape having a perimeter that is smaller than the expanded perimeter. The stent assembly has a constrained configuration characterized by the framework being held in the folded shape by a trigger wire supporting sheer stress by being in contact with interlaced loops of the framework. The stent assembly has an unconstrained configuration characterized by the framework being in the tubular rest shape with the trigger wire out of contact with the framework.

Abstract: A pre-loaded stent graft delivery device and stent graft, the stent graft delivery device. The stent graft has at least one fenestration or side arm and the fenestration is preloaded with an indwelling guide wire. Indwelling access sheaths are provided within auxiliary lumens of a pusher catheter and dilators are preloaded into the access sheaths along with the indwelling guide wire. The auxiliary lumens have an oblong cross-section. A handle assembly at a distal end of the guide wire catheter. The handle includes a multiport manifold with access ports to the auxiliary lumens in the pusher catheter. Upon deployment of the stent graft, the indwelling guide wire can be used to facilitate catheterization of a side branch or target vessel through the fenestration or be used to stabilize the access sheath during catheterization, advancement of the access sheath into the target vessel and deployment of a stent therein.

Abstract: A patient may be treated by implanting a combined arterial venous fistula graft implant in a limb of the patient. The combined implant includes a body with a vessel segment in contact with an artery and a first tubular segment for attachment to an end of a vein to form an arterial venous fistula, and a second tubular segment with an attached segment of artificial tubing for attachment to the vein at a second location to form an arterial venous graft. The arterial venous graft may be exclusively used to form hemodialysis for a period of time after the implanting step, while the arterial venous fistula matures.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods for treating a medical condition. In one embodiment, the system comprises a stent having proximal and distal regions, and further having a delivery state and an expanded state. A therapeutic agent is disposed on a segment of the stent. The stent is disposed around an exterior surface of a core assembly in the delivery state. A coupling assembly releasably secures the proximal region of the stent to the exterior surface of the core assembly. The coupling assembly secures the stent to the core assembly for a predetermined period while the stent is in the expanded state and during release of the therapeutic agent at a target site. The coupling assembly further enables the stent to be disengaged from the core assembly and deployed in a bodily passageway.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for delivering a medical device to a body vessel of a patient. The medical device may be a stent graft, and the delivery assembly may include at least one loop that connects an end stent of the stent graft to a trigger wire of the delivery assembly, thereby providing indirect connection between the device to be delivered and the trigger wire.

Abstract: An occluding device for occluding fluid flow through a lumen of a body vessel. The device comprises a coil and fibers attached to the coil. The coil has about 5 to 60 grams of initial tension to facilitate the coil to fold when deployed. The fibers extend from the coil at a length.

Abstract: A flexible kink-resistant introducer sheath (10). The introducer sheath includes an inner liner (31), a coil (33) and an outer tube (33). The inner liner includes a passageway (30) extending longitudinally therethrough, where a catheter (50) can be advanced through the passageway. The coil (33) has a plurality of turns positioned longitudinally and compression fitted around the inner liner (31), where the turns have a predetermined spacing therebetween. The outer tube (20) is positioned longitudinally around the coil (33) and the inner liner (31), and is connected to the inner liner through the spaces between the turns. A diameter difference between the inner liner and the catheter is in a range of about 0.0005 to about 0.004 inch (0.013 to about 0.10 mm).

Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods suitable for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site. The apparatus generally comprises at least one container for holding a therapeutic agent, and a pressure source for facilitating delivery of the therapeutic agent. In one embodiment, the pressure source may be placed in selective fluid communication with a proximal region of the container and fluid from the pressure source may flow through at least a portion of the container to urge the therapeutic agent through container towards the target site. In an alternative embodiment, the container and the pressure source may be coupled to first and second inlet ports of a connecting member, respectively, such that the therapeutic agent flows through an outlet port of the connecting member and towards the target site.

Abstract: A single-wire stylet may be constructed as an elongate single-wire, memory-metal alloy body with a generally cylindrical body profile, extending distally from a proximal end terminus, where embodiments include a polymeric distal tip member fixedly attached directly at a distal end of the single-wire body. At least one lengthwise portion of the single-wire body is at least partially in martensitic phase at operating temperatures at and below about 37° C. Where present, the polymeric distal tip member has a generally cylindrical body profile circumferentially bounded by an outer circumference substantially equal to or greater than that of the metal body. The polymeric distal tip member may be overmolded upon a distal-end tip length of an elongate single-wire, memory-metal alloy stylet body, where the distal end and/or discrete intermediate distal-portion length(s) that include martensitic-phase alloy and any polymeric member have greater flexibility than a proximal-most length of the alloy stylet body.