Abstract: A system for generating a blood circulation in at least part of an organ of a vertebrate, including a first artificial cavity and a second artificial cavity. The cavities each include a flexible membrane capable of beating under the action of a gas. Each of the membranes separate in a sealed manner a blood circulation chamber and a chamber containing the gas. The system also includes: a first low pressure gas buffer reservoir; a second high-pressure gas buffer reservoir; a gas distribution; and a pneumatic pump.

Abstract: A cardiac valve delivery system includes a lead configured to be inserted through a venous system to a heart, the lead having a distal end with a myocardial attachment apparatus, and a transcatheter prosthesis element configured to be delivered along the lead. The transcatheter prosthesis is configured with an anchoring element located on the outside rim of the prosthesis, configured to fix the transcatheter prosthesis in place along the lead. The prosthesis is also movable along the lead and steerable towards the appropriate angulation with the lead.

Abstract: An example medical device for treating a body lumen is disclosed. The medical device includes an expandable scaffold including first and second regions, each of the first and second regions include a plurality of interstices located therein. The medical device also includes a covering spanning each of the plurality of interstices of the first region. The second region is free of the covering. A biodegradable gripping material is disposed on an outer surface of the covering. Further, the expandable scaffold is configured to shift from a collapsed state to an expanded state and the second region is configured to contact an inner surface of the body lumen in the expanded state. Additionally, the gripping material is designed to initially prevent migration of the expandable scaffold upon implantation in the body lumen until the second region is secured to the inner surface of the body lumen.

Abstract: Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves) and associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery are provided. The stent-valves include a stent component having a first flared end region and a second end, a plurality of leaflets coupled to the stent, and a sealing element coupled to the first end region.

Abstract: A transcatheter atrio-ventricular valve prosthesis for functional replacement of an atrio-ventricular valve in a connection channel, having a circumferential connection channel wall structure, between atrial and ventricular chambers of a heart, including an inner device to be disposed in the interior of the connection channel, the inner device having a circumferential support structure which is radially expandable and having a valve attached to the circumferential support structure, and an outer device to be disposed on the exterior of the connection channel, wherein the outer device at least partly extends around the inner device at a radial distance to the inner device, wherein the inner and outer devices form a securing mechanism for securing the circumferential connection channel wall structure therebetween.

Abstract: A replacement heart valve prosthesis for transcatheter repair of a native valve, the replacement heart valve comprises a valve construct mounted to the exterior surface of an expandable frame. The frame comprises an expandable region near the distal end of the frame, and a cusp region near the proximal region comprising a plurality of valve attachment features. The valve construct may be attached to the valve construct at least at the valve attachment features. The replacement heart valve prosthesis of present disclosure may be a more durable and long-lasting valve that has added benefits by placing valve tissue between the expandable frame and native cardiac tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for retaining, positioning and releasing a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes a valve holder, and a control handle. The valve holder includes a connection base and at least one holding arm. The holding arms are distributed around a periphery of the connection base, with the holding arms having positioning structures at the distal side thereof for engaging with an outflow side of the prosthetic heart valve. The control handle is coupled to the valve holder for controlling the valve holder.

Abstract: Bioabsorbable medical devices such as vascular closures, mitral chorea replacements, and mitral leaflet extensions are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for use at a native valve of a heart of a subject. At a distal portion of a delivery tool, a balloon is coupled to a shaft. The distal portion is advanced to the heart with an implant and the balloon disposed within a capsule. The implant includes a tubular frame and one or more shape-memory flanges. The tubular frame is compressed around the balloon, and the flanges are constrained within a downstream capsule-portion of the capsule. The flanges are exposed from the downstream capsule-portion such that the flanges automatically deflect radially outward. Subsequently, the flanges are pressed against a downstream surface of the native valve by moving the implant in an upstream direction. While the flanges are in contact with the downstream surface, the tubular frame is plastically expanded radially by inflating the balloon. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A stent device includes generally cylindrical rings aligned along a longitudinal axis, and interconnected by interconnecting members. Each interconnecting member includes a first coupling end, a second coupling end, and an elongate portion therebetween. The first coupling end, the elongate portion, and the second coupling end combine in either a first orientation or a second orientation, which are substantially mirror images. For each interconnecting member, the first coupling end can intersect with a midpoint of a transition region of a substantially repeating curved segment on one of the rings, and the second coupling end can intersect with a midpoint of a curved segment of a different and immediately adjacent ring. The interconnecting members can be arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the device. Along each row, consecutive interconnected members alternate between the first orientation and the second orientation. A cover may be provided over the stent device.

Abstract: A vaginal device and method of preventing urinary incontinence is disclosed. The device includes a longitudinal portion having a geometrical centre line, a first end and a second end, the first end being the innermost of the vaginal device during use, at least one supporting portion protruding from the longitudinal portion at the first end, the at least one supporting portion being configured to support against the urethra, through the vaginal wall, at a site located adjacent the maximal urethral pressure point, and a reference member protruding from the longitudinal portion at the second end, wherein the reference member during use is fixated against the vaginal introitus, holding the vaginal device securely fixated inside of the vagina and ensuring the at least one supporting portion is arranged at the intended site.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a valve ring, which includes metal segments, and which is cylindrical when in an expanded state. A valve ring fabric sleeve is coupled to the valve ring. A leaflet frame is disposed within the valve ring. A plurality of prosthetic leaflets are coupled to the leaflet frame. An upper skirt includes an upper skirt fabric, coupled to the valve ring fabric sleeve; and a flexible upper skirt frame, coupled to the upper skirt fabric such that the upper skirt fabric separates a downstream end of the upper skirt frame from an upstream end of the metal segments of the valve ring. When the prosthetic heart valve is in an expanded state, the upper skirt extends radially outward from the valve ring in an upstream direction and is configured to rest against an atrial surface of the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of commissure points is disposed on the stent. The valve assembly is disposed within the stent and includes a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet has a free edge. An end portion of the free edge of each leaflet is folded and sutured to a corresponding one of the plurality of the commissure points.

Abstract: An implantable device includes an outer tubular member defining a longitudinal axis and a lumen. The outer tubular member includes: an outer wall portion having a plurality of first strands defining a plurality of first openings therebetween, the outer wall portion having a first porosity; and an inner baffle portion disposed within the lumen, the inner baffle portion including a plurality of second strands defining a plurality of second openings therebetween, the inner baffle portion having a second porosity that is lower than the first porosity of the outer wall portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for altering the shape of a target tissue structure of a subject, e.g., a nasal septum or other nasal tissue that include securing a first end of a shaping element to tissue adjacent the structure; manipulating the tissue to alter a shape of the structure; and applying a force to the shaping element to maintain the altered shape of the structure.

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 embodiment, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame including a plurality of struts forming a plurality of cells of the frame arranged between an inflow end and an outflow end of the frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, at least one commissure comprising an attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the plurality of cells of the frame and attached to struts of the frame forming the selected cell, and commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to the attachment member, and a radiopaque marker arranged on the attachment member of the commissure. The marker is configured to indicate a location of the commissure of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to an assembly including a single branch stent device and a modular stent device configured to be coupled to the single branch stent device. The single branch stent device includes a main body and a branch coupling extending radially from the main body. The modular stent device includes a main body configured to be coupled inside of the main body of the single branch stent device, a bypass gate extending distally from a distal end of the main body of the modular stent device, and an artery leg extending distally from the distal end of the main body of the modular stent device.

Abstract: The vascular prosthesis includes a luminal graft component having at least one fenestration. At least one fenestration ring borders the at least one fenestration and is fixed to the luminal graft component. The fenestration ring includes a main component with two opposing ends and a connecting component. The diameter of the fenestration ring can expand upon insertion of a branch prosthesis through the fenestration ring during implantation at a surgical site. The vascular prosthesis can be implanted in a patient to thereby treat, for example, an arterial aneurysm, spanning a region of an aneurysm that includes at least one arterial branch.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a biceps tenodesis system is provided and includes a sheath inserter tool, an expandable sheath configured to couple to the sheath inserter tool, an expander inserter tool, and an expander configured to couple to the expander inserter tool. The sheath inserter tool is configured to advance the expandable sheath, with a tendon disposed therearound, into a bone hole, and the expander inserter tool is configured to advance the expander through an outer shaft of the sheath inserter tool and to drive the expander into the sheath. The expander is configured to be received within a lumen extending at least partially through the expandable sheath to thereby expand the sheath. In this way, the system delivers the tendon or ligament into the bone hole and locks the sheath and tendon within the bone hole.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention are a stent apparatus having a self-pleated skirt, a processing method therefor, a skirt pleating method, and a cardiac valve. The stent apparatus comprises a stent, and is further provided with a flexible skirt. The skirt comprises: an unfolded state, where the skirt extends axially and surrounds the periphery of the stent before release; and a stacked state, where the skirt is driven by deformation during release of the stent, and gathers and is stacked along an axial direction of the released stent to form an annular perivalvular leakage blocking part. The stent apparatus is further provided with a pull-wire which is merely threaded on the skirt, and the pull-wire may react to the radial deformation during the release of the stent to drive the skirt to enter the stacked state.