Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for controlling and indicating the deployed length of an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. Devices for controlling the length of the interventional element include gear driven actuators, motors, and other mechanisms. Devices for indicating length of an interventional element to the user include sensors, detents, visual displays and other mechanisms providing visual, audible, and tangible indications of length to the user. The control and indication devices preferably work in tandem to enable highly precise adjustment of interventional element length.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot near a distal end of a shaft is inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot carries suturing attachment cuffs, and needles are advanced from the shaft through the vessel wall outside of the penetration and into engagement with the needle cuffs after the foot has been drawn proximally up against the endothelial surface of the blood vessel. The cross-section of the shaft within the tissue tract can be minimized by laterally deflecting the needles as they leave the shaft, while tapered depressions within the foot can guide the advancing needles into engagement with the cuffs. The cuffs lockingly engage the needles and can be withdrawn proximally along the needle paths and through the tissue tract so as to form a loop of suture across the puncture.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices include at least one implantable stent carrier and/or membrane for carrying multiple stents or stent segments over an expandable member. At least a portion of the implantable carrier is expandable by the expandable member to deploy the portion of the carrier and one or more stent segments disposed thereon. A sheath may be retracted to expose and expand a distal portion of the expandable member to expand and deploy a distal portion of the carrier and the stent segment(s) disposed thereon. Stent delivery devices and methods provide enhanced delivery of multiple stents or stent segments by delivering the segments while coupled with one or more implantable carriers and/or membranes that are typically flexible and dividable.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices and methods include a shuttle for carrying multiple stent segments, to avoid direct contact between the stent segments and an expandable member. A sheath is disposed over the expandable member such that when it is withdrawn, a distal portion of the expandable member is exposed to expand against the shuttle, thus expanding the shuttle and expanding and deploying a selected number of stent segments. To deploy a second selected number of stent segments, the sheath may be withdrawn further to expose more of the expandable member. Thus, one or more custom length stents may be deployed with a reduced risk of damage to the expandable member and the stent segments and enhanced ease and accuracy of stent placement at a treatment location.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices and methods include multiple stents or stent segments mounted at fixed positions on an expandable member of the stent delivery catheter. One or more of the fixed-position stents may be selectively deployed in a body lumen such as a blood vessel by positioning one or more sheaths to constrain some stents while exposing other for deployment. Some embodiments include two axially movable sheaths for serially deploying stents while containing a portion of the expandable balloon from which stents have been deployed. Other embodiments include inner and outer balloon shafts to allow the balloon to be retracted into the delivery catheter as stents are deployed. Devices and methods of the invention provide enhanced serial deployment of multiple stents or stent segments while reducing the risk of damage to an expandable deployment member.

Abstract: An implantable flow control element is provided which prevents air from entering an isolated portion of a patient's lung. The element may permit air to escape from the isolated portion so that the element acts like a valve. Systems for implanting pulmonary devices are also provided.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are expanded using an evertible braided prosthesis. The braided prosthesis is delivered to the blood vessel in a radially collapsed configuration. A leading edge of the braided prosthesis is then everted so that it expands as it is advanced through the blood vessel. Optionally, the prosthesis can be provided with a biologically active substance in order to inhibit hyperplasia or have other desired biological effects.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include a flexible catheter shaft, an expandable member, a tubular prosthesis selectively movable in an axial direction over the expandable member, and a stop member disposed on the catheter shaft near the distal end of the catheter shaft for stopping the prosthesis at a deployment position on the expandable member. A variety of different stop members are provided according to various embodiments, such as stop members disposed outside the expandable member, stop members disposed inside the expandable member, movable stop members, and the like. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering stents to bifurcated vessels involve delivering a first stent in a main branch of a vessel using a stent delivery catheter and delivering a second stent in a side branch of a vessel, without removing the stent delivery catheter from the patient. In various embodiments, multiple stents may be placed in either or both of the main and side branches. In some embodiments, stents in main and side branches are separate and do not touch, while in other embodiments a side branch stent may extend through a sidewall opening in a main branch stent. Stent length may optionally be adjusted in situ, and some embodiments provide for predilatation of one or more lesions.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discreet stent structures, or continuous coiled or mesh stent structures. Stent structures may be balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sights. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having a deployment mechanism for deploying one or more stents of selectable length into the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stent delivery provide for dilatation at a treatment site as well as stent delivery, using the same stent delivery apparatus. Apparatus generally include a catheter having at least one expandable member, at least one stent positionable thereon, and a sheath disposed over the expandable member and the stent. Some embodiments include separate expandable members for dilatation of a lesion and for stent expansion, while other embodiments use the same expandable member for both. In some embodiments a stent includes multiple separable stent segments. In various embodiments, self-expanding stents may be used. Methods involve positioning a stent delivery device at a treatment site, expanding an expandable member to dilate at least a portion of a lesion at the treatment site, and expanding (or allowing to expand) a stent at the treatment site.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating aneurysms, such as abdominal aortic aneurysms (“AAA”) generally include one or more stent-graft devices. Some embodiments include self-expanding and/or balloon-expandable stent components and one or more graft components coupled with the stent components. Using various combinations of self-expanding stent members, balloon-expandable stent members, graft members, and/or anchoring members enhances the anchoring abilities of a stent-graft device to prevent leakage around it, and may further allow the device to be adjusted after placement at a site for treatment. Some embodiments further include a skirt graft member for further prevention of leakage and/or device slippage.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using stent structures comprising a plurality of radially expansible rings where at least some of the rings comprise axially extending elements which interleave with axially extending elements on adjacent unconnected rings. The ring structures may be open cell structures or closed cell structures, and the axially extending elements will typically be formed as part of the open cell or closed cell structure.

Abstract: Devices and methods for augmenting or otherwise enhancing closure of body lumens comprise magnetic or magnetizable components or particles which are implanted in the wall of the lumen. The magnet fields exerted by the components or particles act to close the body lumen with a desired force.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide delivery of one or more therapeutic agents to a treatment site at or near an aneurysm, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm (“AAA”). Methods typically include placing a device at or near the AAA and releasing one or more therapeutic agents from the device. This may also involve releasing multiple agents in sequential fashion. Examples of possible therapeutic agents include doxycycline, roxithromycin, tetracycline, tetracycline derivatives, and collagen promoting agents, such as propranolol. Devices used to deliver one or more therapeutic agents may include stents, grafts, stent grafts, balloons with perforations and/or needles, expandable wire baskets, drug-eluting capsules, or suitable combinations thereof. One embodiment includes a stent graft with a distally-extending skirt and an supra-renal anchor.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discreet stent structures. Stent structures may be balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sights. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having both a pusher rod for advancing the stents relative to a sheath and a reciprocatable delivery catheter for implanting the stents.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are expanded using an evertible braided prosthesis. The braided prosthesis is delivered to the blood vessel in a radially collapsed configuration. A leading edge of the braided prosthesis is then everted so that it expands as it is advanced through the blood vessel. Optionally, the prosthesis can be provided with a biologically active substance in order to inhibit hyperplasia or have other desired biological effects.