Abstract: A stent suitable for deployment in a blood vessel to support at least part of an internal wall of the blood vessel comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart annular elements, and a plurality of connecting elements to connect adjacent annular elements. Each connecting element is circumferentially offset from the previous connecting element. Upon application of a load to the stent, the stent moves from an unloaded configuration to a loaded configuration. In the unloaded configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent is straight, and the stent is cylindrically shaped. In the loaded configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent is curved in three-dimensional space, and the stent is helically shaped.

Abstract: An expandable balloon, for insertion in a vessel of the human or animal body, is movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The balloon includes a plaque disrupting formation arranged to be on an outer surface of the balloon when in the expanded condition. When in the expanded condition, the balloon has a centre line which follows a substantially helical path.

Abstract: A medical device suitable for location in a body lumen is movable between a first loaded configuration and a second loaded configuration. The device has an unloaded configuration which is intermediate the first loaded configuration and the second loaded configuration. The device can be a stent for deployment in a blood vessel.

Abstract: A medical device suitable for location in a body lumen is movable between a first loaded configuration and a second loaded configuration. The device has an unloaded configuration which is intermediate the first loaded configuration and the second loaded configuration. The device can be a stent for deployment in a blood vessel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating hypoxia in tissue of a blood vessel, the method comprising placing a stent in the vessel, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall. There is disclosed a method of treating a subject with diabetic atherosclerosis, the method comprising placing a stent in a blood vessel of the subject, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall.

Abstract: A stent suitable for deployment in a blood vessel to support at least part of an internal wall of the blood vessel comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart annular elements, and a plurality of connecting elements to connect adjacent annular elements. Each connecting element is circumferentially offset from the previous connecting element. Upon application of a load to the stent, the stent moves from an unloaded configuration to a loaded configuration. In the unloaded configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent is straight, and the stent is cylindrically shaped. In the loaded configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent is curved in three-dimensional space, and the stent is helically shaped.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating hypoxia in tissue of a blood vessel, the method comprising placing a stent in the vessel, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall. There is disclosed a method of treating a subject with diabetic atherosclerosis, the method comprising placing a stent in a blood vessel of the subject, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall.

Abstract: A stent suitable for deployment in a blood vessel to support at least part of an internal wall of the blood vessel includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart annular elements, and a plurality of connecting elements to connect adjacent annular elements. Each connecting element is circumferentially offset from the previous connecting element. Upon application of a load to the stent, the stent moves from an unloaded configuration to a loaded configuration. In the unloaded configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent is straight, and the stent is cylindrically shaped. In the loaded configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent is curved in three-dimensional space, and the stent is helically shaped.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating hypoxia in tissue of a blood vessel, the method comprising placing a stent in the vessel, the stent having a center line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall. There is disclosed a method of treating a subject with diabetic atherosclerosis, the method comprising placing a stent in a blood vessel of the subject, the stent having a center line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall.

Abstract: A medical device suitable for location in a body lumen is movable between a first loaded configuration and a second loaded configuration. The device has an unloaded configuration which is intermediate the first loaded configuration and the second loaded configuration. The device can be a stent for deployment in a blood vessel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating hypoxia in tissue of a blood vessel, the method comprising placing a stent in the vessel, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall. There is disclosed a method of treating a subject with diabetic atherosclerosis, the method comprising placing a stent in a blood vessel of the subject, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating hypoxia in tissue of a blood vessel, the method comprising placing a stent in the vessel, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall. There is disclosed a method of treating a subject with diabetic atherosclerosis, the method comprising placing a stent in a blood vessel of the subject, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of stents is provided, each stent having a center line curving in three dimensions. The plurality of stents includes at least one stent with a center line having a right handed curvature and at least one stent with a center line having a left handed curvature.

Abstract: A medical device includes an expandable element for location in a blood vessel. The expandable element is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, at least a part of a longitudinal axis of the expandable element is curved in three-dimensional space. The medical device can be stent deployment device which includes an elongate catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon.

Abstract: A graft includes a flow tubing having a tubing portion defining a flow lumen. The flow lumen of the tubing portion is substantially free of ribs or grooves. A center line of the flow lumen follows a substantially helical path with a helix angle less than or equal to 65°. The amplitude of the helix is less than or equal to one half of the internal diameter of the tubing portion.

Abstract: A medical device suitable for location in a body lumen is movable between a first loaded configuration and a second loaded configuration. The device has an unloaded configuration which is intermediate the first loaded configuration and the second loaded configuration. The device can be a stent for deployment in a blood vessel.

Abstract: A stent suitable for deployment in a blood vessel to support at least part of an internal wall of the blood vessel includes a central section, a first intermediate section, a first end section, a second intermediate section and a section end section. The stent is movable between a delivery configuration and a deployment configuration.

Abstract: An expandable balloon, for insertion in a vessel of the human or animal body, is movable between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The balloon includes a plaque disrupting formation arranged to be on an outer surface of the balloon when in the expanded condition. When in the expanded condition, the balloon has a centre line which follows a substantially helical path.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of stents is provided, each stent having a centre line curving in three dimensions. The plurality of stents includes at least one stent with a centre line having a right handed curvature and at least one stent with a centre line having a left handed curvature.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating hypoxia in tissue of a blood vessel, the method comprising placing a stent in the vessel, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall. There is disclosed a method of treating a subject with diabetic atherosclerosis, the method comprising placing a stent in a blood vessel of the subject, the stent having a centre line which curves in three dimensions to promote the supply of oxygen from the blood flowing in the lumen of the stented vessel to the vessel wall.