Abstract: A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a filter has a generally conical shape formed by a set of filter legs extending from a free distal end to an apex of the assembly and specifically to a coupling device. A retrieval element such as a hook extends from the hub of. A spacer member is disposed at the hub and is formed of a plurality of curved wire elements. The spacer member has a radius or width smaller than the greatest radius of the filter device, defined by the free ends of the filter legs. The spacer member allows the filter assembly to tilt within a vessel but limits the tilt to a maximum desired or permitted tilt, ensuring that the retrieval device remains spaced from the vessel wall and therefore not subject to tissue ingrowth.

Abstract: An implant release mechanism for releasing, for example, a stent (60) is provided with three restraining wires (62) which pass in the space between a wire guide catheter (24) and a pusher sheath or dilator (30) and are arranged substantially equi-angularly threrearound. Each restraining wire (62) holds both the proximal and distal ends of the stent (60), in this case each holding a proportion of the ends of the stent (60). When the restraining wires (62) are pulled they will first unwrap from the proximal end of the stent (60) and will then release the distal end of the stent (60) so as to allow the stent to become fully deployed within the lumen of the patient. The use of common release wires improves deployment of implants and reduces the number and volume of components in the device, thereby allowing it to occupy a smaller volume.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a filter apparatus and method of filtering in a body vessel. The filter apparatus comprises a filter unit and an expandable introducer designed to deliver the filter unit to the target filtering site. The filter unit attaches to the expandable introducer via a plurality of anchors on the filter unit. The expandable introducer delivers and presses the anchors to the vessel wall during implantation. After implantation, the filter unit exerts minimal or about zero radial force against the vessel wall.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (100) including at its distal end a dilator tip (20) and an inner catheter for supporting an implantable medical device (1) for deployment, is provided with a plurality of strut elements (102, 202) extending from the dilator tip (20) to the proximal end of the medical device (1). The strut elements (102, 202) act to apply both a pulling and a pushing force against the proximal end of the medical device (1), having the effect of assisting in the correct positioning of the proximal end of the medical device in a patient's lumen, particularly where this is curved such as with the aortic arch. The strut elements (102, 202) form part of the introducer assembly and are removed from the patient following the deployment procedure. The device avoids the need for bare stents at the end of a stent graft.

Abstract: A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

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: An endoluminal prosthesis that includes a support structure comprising a curvilinear portion having a first strut and a second strut that meet at an apex. Disposed on the support structure is an anchor with an anchor body and one or more barbs extending outwardly from the anchor body and where the anchor body comprises a multi-filar tube fits at least partially about, and conforms to the first strut, second strut, and the apex.

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 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 fitting device (104) for fitting a stent-graft (100) into a lumen of a patient includes a catheter (110), a cannula (112) reciprocably carried in the catheter (110) and a pair of gripper claws (106) in the cannula (112). The gripper claws (106) grip onto a stent (102) at the proximal end (128) of the stent-graft (100) which a suture loop (108) is tied to a stent (102) at an intermediate position along the stent graft (100). The stent-graft (100) can be curved by pulling the end-most stent (102) backwards, that is by retracting the cannula (112) into the catheter (110) while the gripper claws (106) grip onto the stent (102). The proximal end of the stent-graft (100) can also be adjusted position-wise by moving the cannula (112) into and out of the catheter (110). Thus, precise positioning and curving of the stent-graft (100) can be achieved.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (60) is provided with a dilator tip (40) which has at least one portion (46) which is asymmetric in transverse cross-section, preferably being flattened or oval. A dilator tip (40) which is asymmetric over at least a part of its length gives the tip different flexure characteristics in different radial directions (54, 56). This provides advantages in trackability of the dilator tip (40) and thus of the introducer assembly (60) as well as providing for self-orientation of the dilator tip (40), useful in orienting medical devices or treatment tools.

Abstract: A vascular occluder includes a frame (10) having a generally cylindrical body portion (12), first and second end conical portions (14, 16) and first and second extremities (18, 20). Located within the fame (10) is a fibrous barrier (28) which provides rapid occlusion. The extremities (18, 20) are coupled by a coil spring (22) which acts to pull the extremities (18, 22) towards one another and thereby to cause longitudinal contraction an consequential radial expansion of the frame (10). The coil spring (22) ensures rapid and reliable deployment of the occluder in a patient's vessel. The occluder also can be compressed to a narrow diameter for deployment by means of narrow diameter sheaths.

Abstract: A stent graft for use in a medical procedure to treat a dissection of a patient's ascending thoracic aorta. The stent graft includes bare alignment stents at least at a proximal end, and often with a stent at both ends, each stent having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one broader set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other narrower set of apices. The proximal stent is flared in a manner such that its broad apices occupy a larger circumference around the stent than do its narrower apices, where this flared feature provides for anchoring engagement near the aortic root in a manner not interfering with the coronary arteries or the aortic valve.

Abstract: An introducer (10) includes release wires (42?) that constrain at least one stent (4?) while the remainder of a stent graft (18) is expanded during deployment. By allowing the constrained stent (4?) to expand after an adjacent stent (4), the constrained stent (4?) overlaps with the interior of the adjacent stent (4) where the stent graft (18) is deployed within a curved body lumen (70).

Abstract: An introducer assembly for introducing a stent-graft (70) or other device into a vessel of a patient includes a pre-shaped curved cannula (60) made preferably of a shape memory material. The curved cannula can pull the proximal end (74) of the stent-graft (70) against the inner side wall of the vessel thereby to ensure a good leak free connection at this point. The assembly is particularly useful in deploying stent-grafts into the aortic arch.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis that includes a support structure comprising a curvilinear portion having a first strut and a second strut that meet at an apex. Disposed on the support structure is an anchor with an anchor body and one or more barbs extending outwardly from the anchor body and where the anchor body fits at least partially about, and conforms to the first strut, second strut, and the apex.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes a carrier element (10) provided with an elongate cannula or catheter (12) upon which a plurality of sleeves (20) are disposed. The sleeves (20) are located within a zone (18) at which a medical device (40) is carried. The sleeves (20) include restraining mechanisms, typically channels (30), for receiving respective trigger wires (42-44). The medical device (40) is radially constrained by the trigger wires (42-44), in combination with the sleeves (20). The sleeves (20) are initially provided as separate elements which are fitted onto the elongate carrier (12) in a number and at locations suitable for the medical device (40) to be located on the carrier element (2). The arrangement provides a simple and effective restraining structure which can be adapted for different medical devices (40) and an arrangement in which the medical device (40) is radially constrained from within.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (10) is provided with a sheath (12) and carrier element (20). The sheath (12) is oval in axial cross-section and has an oval internal wall (24). The carrier element (20) has an outer wall (22) which is oval and which has a shape corresponding to the shape of the internal wall (24) of the sheath (12). The non-round shapes of the sheath (12) carrier element (20) extend the whole length of the introducer (10).

Abstract: An introducer assembly (60) is provided with a dilator tip (40) which has at least one portion (46) which is asymmetric in transverse cross-section, preferably being flattened or oval. A dilator tip (40) which is asymmetric over at least a part of its length gives the tip different flexure characteristics in different radial directions (54, 56). This provides advantages in trackability of the dilator tip (40) and thus of the introducer assembly (60) as well as providing for self-orientation of the dilator tip (40), useful in orienting medical devices or treatment tools.