Abstract: A replacement mitral valve prosthesis includes a support structure and a valve body having three flexible leaflets. The support structure preferably includes an internal valve frame and an external sealing frame. The valve frame supports the flexible leaflets. The sealing frame is adapted to conform to the shape of the native mitral valve annulus. The sealing frame may be coupled to an inlet end of the valve frame, an outlet end of the valve frame, or both. A plurality of anchors is coupled to the outlet end of the valve frame. The anchors extend radially outwardly for placement behind native leaflets. The prosthesis preferably includes a skirt disposed along an exterior of the external sealing frame. The prosthesis is collapsible for delivery into the heart via a delivery catheter. The prosthesis is configured to self-expand for deployment in the heart when released from the delivery catheter.

Abstract: The invention is an improved biocompatible surface for a variety of medical purposes. The biocompatible surface employs a unique tight microstructure that demonstrates enhanced cellular response in the body, particularly when placed in contact with blood. As a blood contact surface, the present invention can be beneficially employed in a wide variety of implantable devices and in many other devices and equipment that come in contact with blood.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valve devices for percutaneous replacement of native heart valves and associated systems and method are disclosed herein. A prosthetic heart valve device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an anchoring member having an upstream portion configured to engage with tissue on or near the annulus of the native heart valve and to deform in a non-circular shape to conform to the tissue. The device can also include a mechanically isolated valve support coupled to the anchoring member and configured to support a prosthetic valve. The device can further include an atrial extension member extending radially outward from the upstream portion of the anchoring member and which is deformable without substantially deforming the anchoring member. In some embodiments, the upstream portion of the anchoring member and the extension member may be deformed while the valve support remains sufficiently stable.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to repair devices for repair of regurgitant mitral valves. A repair device includes a body having a perimeter defining an upper side and a lower side. An annular groove is disposed along a posterior section of the perimeter of the device and is configured to receive posterior rim tissue of a mitral valve annulus. First and second anchors extend from the body in an anterior direction. The first and second anchors are configured to engage with respective commissures of the mitral valve to assist in securing the repair device in position. The repair device is structured to minimize or eliminate imparting or transmitting radially outward forces along an anterior section so as to avoid imparting forces to the septum to avoid hindering the function of the aortic valve and the left ventricular outflow tract.

Abstract: A two-part aortic annular support system for supporting an aortic annulus during aortic valve repair procedures for prevention of further annular dilation. The first part comprises a composite annular ring that is positionable from within an aortic valve into the left ventricular outflow tract at the level of annular plane. The composite ring comprises a semi-rigid section and a resiliently deformable section. The semi-rigid section is shorter in length than the deformable section. The deformable section is extendible into a commissure of the aortic valve. The second part is a resilient band that is positionable external to the aortic root. The resilient band is securable to the composite ring through the aortic annulus by suturing. The present disclosure also relates to a use of the aortic annular support system and a method of inserting and securing the aortic annular support system during a surgical intervention.

Abstract: A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include a stent, a valve assembly disposed within the stent, a flange, and a plurality of anchor arms coupled to the stent. The stent may have collapsed and expanded conditions and inflow and outflow ends. The flange may include a plurality of braided wires and may be coupled to the stent and may be positioned adjacent the inflow end of the stent in the expanded condition of the stent. Each anchor arm may have a first end coupled to the stent adjacent the outflow end of the stent, a second end coupled to the stent adjacent the outflow end of the stent, and center portions extending from the first and second ends toward the inflow end of the stent. The center portions may be joined together to form a tip pointing toward the inflow end of the stent in the expanded condition of the stent.

Abstract: A device of a shape memory material configured to implement a predetermined level of expansion while allowing contraction and twist can be implemented in a portion of a vascular system, such as in the left ventricle of the heart of a patient suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Abstract: A prosthesis for a cardiac valve including prosthetic leaflets which are intended to functionally replace the native leaflets of a cardiac valve following the implantation of the cardiac prosthesis. The prosthesis also including a prosthetic member on which there are mounted the prosthetic leaflets and which is intended to take up a stable, predetermined functional configuration in which the prosthetic member and the prosthetic leaflets reproduce the functionally correct configuration for the purpose of the physiological replacement of the native cardiac valve. The prosthetic member is preconfigured so as to move gradually from an altered, temporary functional configuration, in which the prosthetic member has a deformed geometry with respect to the stable, predetermined stable functional configuration, to said stable, predetermined functional configuration.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible stent and a valve assembly disposed within the stent. A first cuff is disposed adjacent the stent. A second cuff having a distal edge facing the outflow end of the stent is disposed about the stent radially outward of the first cuff and the stent. The stent may include a plurality of fingers each having a first end coupled to a corresponding cell of the stent and a free end adapted to extend radially outward of the corresponding cell. The distal edge of the second cuff may be coupled to the fingers at spaced locations around the circumference of the stent to position the distal edge radially outward from the corresponding cells at the spaced locations. Various stent struts may be tapered to reduce the stent circumference in the collapsed condition, and to improve the fatigue resistance and/or bendability of the stent.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The stent is a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending there between. The tubular member has a first smaller diameter for insertion into a patient and navigation through the vessels, and a second larger diameter for deployment into the target area of a vessel. The tubular member is made from a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between the front and back ends. The hoops include a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts. The stent further includes a plurality of bridges having loop to bridge connections which connect adjacent hoops to one another. The bridge to loop connection points are separated angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis. The bridges have one end attached to a loop, another end attached to a loop on an adjacent hoop.

Abstract: A sealing device for use as a vascular implant including a frame, the frame having an inflow edge and an outflow edge relative to axial blood flow within a vessel, wherein at least a partial axial extent of the frame is configured to decrease in axial length when expanded from a radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration. The sealing device also includes a membrane layer coupled to a radially outward surface of the at least partial axial extent of the frame between the inflow edge and the outflow edge of the frame, wherein the membrane layer is coupled to the frame at one or more axially spaced connection points such that at least a portion of the membrane layer projects radially outward relative to the frame when the frame is in the radially-expanded configuration.

Abstract: An implantable blood pump comprising a housing. At least one stator is disposed within the housing. A rotor is disposed within the housing, the at least one stator being configured to rotate the rotor when current is applied to the stator. At least one at least partially piezoelectric disk is disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A differential pressure regulating device is provided for controlling in-vivo pressure in a body, particular in a heart. The device may include a shunt being positioned between two or more lumens in a body, to enable fluids to flow between the lumens, and an adjustable flow regulation mechanism being configured to selectively cover an opening of the shunt to regulate the flow of fluid through the shunt in relation to a pressure difference between the body lumens. In some embodiments, a control mechanism coupled to the adjustable flow regulation mechanism may be provided to remotely activate the adjustable flow regulation mechanism.

Abstract: Miniature axial flow pumps are implanted inside the heart or major arteries to provide hemodynamic support. These pumps commonly utilize tubular blood conduit tubes to transport blood across the aortic valve. The valve leaflets themselves are very thin and flexible, and will seal against the conduit if it is centered within the valve orifice. The present invention provides a conduit support device that retains the conduit centered within the annulus of the natural heart valve. A leaflet valve stent may be combined with a conduit support device comprised of a ring supported by posts attached to the valve stent ring. A blood pump may be attached to the center of a transvalvular support stent, for optimal fixation of the pump with relation to a trileaflet or bi-leaflet tissue or polymer valve.

Abstract: A stent includes a high radial/crush force segment and a highly flexible segment. In an aspect, a plurality of first ring struts connected such that each of the plurality of first rings comprises a sinusoidal pattern having a plurality of apices and troughs, each first ring connected to an adjacent first ring by at least one connector. The connector extends from a ring strut of the first ring from a position near an apex of the first ring to a ring strut of the adjacent first rings near an apex of the adjacent ring, and a second stent segment comprises a plurality of second rings connected to one another to form a series of second rings.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a first collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and a second expanded mode when it is implanted.

Abstract: Within a delivery passage of a catheter, an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure is transluminally advanced toward a heart of a subject while the annuloplasty structure is in a substantially linear configuration in which a distal end of the annuloplasty structure is closer than a proximal end of the annuloplasty structure to a distal opening of the catheter. Subsequently, the distal end of the annuloplasty structure is advanced, followed by the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure, out of the catheter and into an atrium of the heart. Within the atrium, the annuloplasty structure is transitioned toward a ring form by the distal end of the annuloplasty structure being brought towards the proximal end of the annuloplasty structure. While the annuloplasty structure remains in the ring form, the annuloplasty structure is placed against tissue of the annulus and is anchored to the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implantable self-driven pump for use as a cavopulmonary assist device. The invention comprises an aortic turbine that uses some systemic blood from the left ventricle as an energy source and a venous pump that is coupled magnetically or mechanically to the turbine. The present invention more particularly relates to a cavopulmonary assist device (10) for a total cavopulmonary connection with superior vena cava-pulmonary artery anastomosis and inferior vena cava-pulmonary artery bridging via a conduit (9), said cavopulmonary assist device (10) comprising a pump unit (20) and a turbine unit (30) coupled by a shaft (401).

Abstract: An epicardial clip for reshaping the annulus of the mitral valve of a heart includes a curved member having an anterior segment configured to be positioned in the transverse sinus of the heart, a posterior segment configured to be positioned on the posterior side of the heart, such as on or inferior to the atrioventricular groove, and a lateral segment extending between the anterior segment and the posterior segment. The lateral segment includes a curve such that the first end of the member is positioned at or above the plane of the mitral valve and the second end of the member is positioned at or below the plane of the mitral valve.