Abstract: An article cut from a metallic sheet, has a first pattern of struts forming a plurality of inner apexes situated substantially within a plane that contains the plurality of the inner apexes. There is a second pattern of struts forming a plurality of outer apexes that are situated substantially within the plane containing the inner apexes. Each outer apex has at least one strut in common with an adjacent inner apex. There is also described a method of forming a non-planar three dimensional structure by patterning a planar sheet of material to form an article having a plurality of inner apexes, a plurality of outer apexes with a common curvilinear strut between an inner apex and an adjacent outer apex. Thereafter, everting the article into a non-planar three dimensional structure with the inner apexes at one end of the structure and the outer apexes at another end of the structure.

Abstract: A stent-graft for insertion into a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, is utilized in order to repair such lumen. The stent-graft includes a substantially cylindrical hollow expandable stent comprising a plurality of interconnected struts. The stent has a distal end and a proximal end, and an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one strut of the stent has first and second apertures extending therethrough from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The stent-graft also includes a graft member covering a predetermined portion of least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the stent. In addition, the stent-graft further includes a staple for attaching the graft member to the stent. The staple has a crown and two legs extending therefrom. At least one of the legs of the staple extends through the graft material and through the first aperture. Both of the legs are bent inwardly towards said crown such that they evert back and extend through the second aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bone anchors, particularly of the type for fixing medical devices to bone. The bone anchor system includes a bone-anchoring element that has super elastic and/or shape memory components that extend radially outward for engaging the bone.

Abstract: A medical fastener having first undeployed shape for loading into an applier, and a second deployed shape for connecting tissue together. The fastener includes a crown having two ends and first and second legs one attached to each end of the crown. The legs are separated from one another when the fastener is in the first shape. The legs comprise first, second and third layers of material joined together. The first layer of material is a superelastic alloy having a relaxed configuration substantially in the second shape of the fastener. The second layer of material comprising a linear elastic material having a relaxed configuration substantially in the first shape of the fastener. The second layer of material has sufficient rigidity to keep the first layer in the first shape prior to the fastener being deployed. The third layer of material is disposed between the first and second layers and is a material which substantially prevents diffusion between the first and second layers of material.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing medical devices of a size sufficiently small to be passed through the vasculature of the body, and more particularly through the small vessels of the brain. The method includes the steps of laser cutting a pattern of apertures in the surface of a tubular workpiece, radially compressing the tubular workpiece to reduce the outer dimensions of the workpiece and heat setting the reduced diameter workpiece to form the very small medical device.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing medical devices of a size sufficiently small to be passed through the vasculature of the body, and more particularly through the small vessels of the brain. The method includes the steps of laser cutting a pattern of apertures in the surface of a tubular workpiece, radially compressing the tubular workpiece to reduce the outer dimensions of the workpiece and heat setting the reduced diameter workpiece to form the very small medical device.

Abstract: A stent for use in a lumen in a human or animal body, has a generally tubular body formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits enhanced elastic properties with a point of inflection in the stress-strain curve on loading, enabling the body to be deformed inwardly to a transversely compressed configuration for insertion into the lumen and then revert towards its initial configuration, into contact with and to support the lumen. The shape memory alloy comprises nickel, titanium and from about 3 at. % to about 20 at. %, based on the weight of the total weight of the alloy composition, of a ternary element selected from the group consisting of niobium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten and gold. The ratio of the stress on loading to the stress on unloading at the respective inflection points on the loading and unloading curves is at least about 2.5:1, and the difference between the stresses on loading and unloading at the inflection points at least about 250 MPa.

Abstract: A stent assembly comprises a stent whose configuration can change between a transversely compressed state for delivery into a lumen in a human or animal body, and a relaxed state in which in use the stent contacts the lumen to support it. The stent is positioned in a delivery device and constrained by it in its transversely compressed state. The delivery device comprises a tubular member formed from a shape memory alloy and can be fitted to or within a catheter for delivery of the stent through a lumen.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: A shaped part made of a composite material having shape memory properties is intended to be assembled in such a way that various changes in shape, including complex changes, take place in dependence on the temperature. This is achieved by providing that the shaped part has several sections which have shape memory properties and which are coupled together with one another in such a way that independent results of the shape memory effect cause temperature-specific changes in the shape of the shaped part, in the course of which the shaped part assumes the same number of permanent and/or reversible shapes as the number of sections having shape memory properties.

Abstract: The contact element is produced by sonic or ultrasonic welding one or more contact pieces onto a carrier, an intermediate layer in the form of a grinding powder being interposed between the contact piece and the carrier prior to such welding in order to assist in the welding of contact pieces made of material which would otherwise be difficult to weld.