Abstract: Methods and systems for rotationally aligning a commissure of a prosthetic heart valve with a commissure of a native valve are disclosed. In some examples, a method can comprise advancing a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus toward a native valve; visualizing under fluoroscopy and for a selected imaging view, a position of a radiopaque marker on the distal end portion relative to a guidewire extending through the delivery apparatus, the marker circumferentially offset from a selected commissure of the radially compressed prosthetic valve by a predetermined amount that is determined based on the selected imaging view; rotating the delivery apparatus until the marker is centered along the guidewire; and advancing the distal end portion into the native valve and inflating the balloon to radially expand and implant the prosthetic valve in the native valve such that the selected commissure is aligned with a commissure of the native valve.

Abstract: A method of operating an implantable blood pump and a pacing device, the method includes determining an end diastolic volume (EDV) and ejection fraction of one from the group consisting of the right ventricle and the left ventricle at a predetermined pump set speed. An average flow rate based on the predetermined pump set speed is determined. A target heart rate based at least in part on the determined EDV, ejection fraction, and average flow rate is determined. A lower rate for the pacing device is determined, the pacing device being in electrical communication with a chamber of the heart. The chamber of the heart is paced when a measured heart rate drops below the lower rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical devices and methods of using them. The devices are prostheses which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The prostheses are configured to have a lattice resistant to dilation and creep, which is defined by a plurality of openings. The prosthesis may also optionally have a stent disposed proximal to the lattice. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite materials exhibit high elongation while substantially retaining the strength properties of the fluoropolymer membrane. In at least one embodiment, the lattice is made of a composite material that includes a least one fluoropolymer membrane including serpentine fibrils and an elastomer. A lattice including a generally tubular member formed of a composite material including a least one fluoropolymer membrane containing serpentine fibrils and an elastomer is also provided.

Abstract: First and second stent-grafts are provided. The first stent-graft defines a first lateral opening, and is configured for positioning a first end thereof in a descending aorta, and a second end thereof in one of the branches of an aortic arch, with the first lateral opening disposed in the aortic arch facing upstream. The second stent-graft includes a second generally tubular support element and a second covering element that partially covers the second support element. The first and the second stent-grafts are configured such that the second stent-graft forms a blood-impervious seal with the first stent-graft around the first lateral opening when the second stent-graft is disposed therethrough such that a proximal portion of the second support element is disposed within the first stent-graft. The second covering element does not fully cover the proximal portion, thereby allowing blood flow through the first stent-graft. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valve devices having a leaflet frame coaxially disposed within a body frame, as well as methods of making the valve devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implantable device for improving the pump function of the heart of a human patient by applying an external force on a first position of the heart muscle following the heart's contractions. The implantable device comprising a first pump device adapted to assist the pump function of the heart. The pump device comprises a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a fluid connection adapted to fluidly connect said first reservoir with said second reservoir, such that fluid can flow between said first reservoir and said second reservoir.

Abstract: Systems, assemblies, and related modules for connecting components of medical devices employ connector cables with electrical conductors and optical fibers. A connector assembly for coupling a battery module with a medical system including an implanted or worn medical device includes an input connector and an output connector. The input connector includes metal contact plates, has no moving parts, and is sealed to prevent water or dust ingression into the housing. The output connector includes metal pins to electrically couple to the metal plates of the input connector, a connector cable including electrical conductors coupled to the metal pins configured to transmit electrical power and an optical fiber configured to transmit data, and a latching mechanism disposed at an end of the output connector configured to physically attach the output connector to the housing. The cable body has a substantially flat cross-section.

Abstract: A packaged bioprosthetic heart valve comprising a bioprosthetic heart valve, an adaptive seal and a package. The bioprosthetic heart valve comprises an at least partially dehydrated biological tissue leaflet structure coupled to a supporting frame. The bioprosthetic heart valve has a periphery, an inflow portion, and an outflow portion. The adaptive seal is coupled to the bioprosthetic heart valve around at least a portion of the periphery. The adaptive seal comprises an expandable material that expands after exposure to an initiating condition. The bioprosthetic heart valve and the adaptive seal is stored and contained within the package, which does not contain a liquid storage solution in contact with the bioprosthetic heart valve and the adaptive seal.

Abstract: A dual-flange stent can have a therapeutic effect that can bring about a marked increase in patency. The dual flanges of the stent can comprise a first discrete flange component and a second discrete flange component. One or both flange components can include a magnetic element. The stent can further comprise a shaft connecting the flange components. At least one of the flanges can transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, where the first configuration is compact and the second configuration provides a large tissue-compressing surface. In one instance, the transition to the configuration with a large tissue-compressing surface can include filling a balloon with saline or another fluid. The first flange and the second flange may be drawn together to compress interposed tissue of the stricture.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves may be delivered to a targeted native heart valve site via one or more delivery catheters. In some embodiments, the prosthetic heart valves are implanted using catheter-based deployment systems that include multiple control wires. In particular implementations, the deployment systems can include a retrieval catheter that can be used to recapture the prosthetic heart valve back into a delivery sheath after being expressed from the delivery sheath. The prosthetic heart valves occupy a small delivery profile, thereby facilitating a smaller delivery catheter system for advancement to the heart. Some delivery catheter systems can include a curved control catheter and/or a deflectable catheter to facilitate deployment of the prosthetic heart valve to a native tricuspid valve site via a superior vena cava or inferior vena cava.

Abstract: A controller for an implantable medical device including a housing sized and configured to be received within a patient, the housing having a thermally conductive shell defining an exterior surface. At least a portion of the exterior surface of the thermally conductive shell defines at least one from the group consisting of a plurality of corrugations and a plurality of protuberances.

Abstract: Devices and methods for supplementing and/or replacing native cardiac valve functionality, e.g., the mitral valve with a single prosthetic leaflet. An exemplary device is directed to dysfunctional mitral valves. In some cases, the entire device, including the single prosthetic leaflet, will be arranged entirely above the dysfunctional mitral valves and, therefore, disposed entirely within the left atrium. In other cases, the valve support and/or single prosthetic leaflet may extend a distance into the annulus between the left atrium and left ventricle. In some cases, the device will not physically interact with the native leaflets. In other cases, the device may physically interact with the native leaflets.

Abstract: A component for conducting a fluid having a sensor, wherein the component comprises an inner and an outer wall, where-in the inner wall is configured to conduct the fluid, the outer wall terminates the component to the outside, and a wall region is formed between the inner and outer walls. The component in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the sensor has an electromechanical element and is arranged in the wall region at the inner wall, wherein the sensor is adapted to measure a degree of deformation of the inner wall in the region of the sensor by means of the sensor element and to output it as an electrical signal, wherein the sensor element preferably has a length and/or a width of ?50 ?m.

Abstract: There is provided an intravascular blood pump for insertion into a patient's body. The system comprises a slotless motor having p magnet pole pairs and n phases, where p is an integer greater than zero, and n is an integer ?3. The motor comprises a stator winding having 2np coils wound to form two coils per phase per magnet pole pair such that a coil from each phase is circumferentially arranged next to a coil from a different phase in a sequential order of phase, the arrangement repeated along the stator winding such that each coil spans 360°/(2np) about the cross section of the stator winding. The motor also comprises a permanent magnet rotor supported for rotation and configured to generate a magnetic flux for interaction with the stator winding. The two coils per phase per magnet pole pair are connected in series.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a hearing protection device and a method of forming such device are disclosed. The hearing protection device includes a first hearing protector, a second hearing protector, and an elongated connector including a first end that is connected to the first hearing protector and a second end that is connected to the second hearing protector. The device further includes a frangible attachment element disposed between a first portion of the elongated connector and a second portion of the elongated connector that temporarily connects the first portion to the second portion such that the elongated connector is in a compact configuration. The elongated connector is adapted to be disposed in an elongated configuration when the frangible attachment element is broken.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to endovascular prostheses. More particularly, the disclosure relates to endovascular prostheses having an outer surface of a graft material thereof associated with a hydrogel composition, which may swell upon implantation within a blood vessel, thereby mediating various complications associated with endovascular procedures. The hydrogel compositions can also include various stabilizing polymers and active agents to further aid their use in the body.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of edema which devices use an intravascular edema pump with an anticoagulant. The invention provides devices and methods for treating edema that use an indwelling catheter to place an impeller in a blood vessel of a patient, near an outlet of a lymphatic duct. Operating the impeller creates a local depression in blood pressure, which promotes drainage of lymph from the lymphatic system. The catheter is also used to release an anticoagulant such as heparin to wash and lubricate the impeller. Specifically, the anticoagulant inhibits clotting, hemolysis, or thrombosis from occurring and interfering with smooth operation of the impeller.

Abstract: A catheter pump system with a pump having a fluid displacement member in the blood flow channel, a motor and a motor controller having a pressure sensing port for connection to a control pressure source. The motor controller is arranged for causing motor speed to be increased in response to a reduction of pressure applied to the pressure sensing port and for causing motor speed to be reduced in response to an increase of pressure applied to the pressure sensing port. The motor may be a pneumatic motor for driving the pump and the motor controller may be arranged for controlling motor speed by reducing flow through a supply channel to the motor and allowing an increase of flow through the supply channel to the motor in response to control signals received via an input interface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for performing a valve replacement or repair. Apparatuses may include systems and may include an outer catheter, one or more interchangeable inner catheters, a guidewire and an expandable chordae tendinae deflector. Also described herein are rapid pacing sheaths that may be used with any of these apparatuses and methods.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a radiopaque marker to a prosthetic heart valve to indicate a location of a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, and at least one commissure comprising an attachment member comprising a central portion and a flap extending outward from the central portion, the flap folded over a radially outward facing side of the central portion, and the attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the frame. The commissure further comprises commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to a radially inward facing side of the central portion, and a radiopaque marker arranged on the flap of the attachment member, between the flap and the radially outward facing side of the central portion.