Abstract: A delivery device for implanting a medical device that includes an expandable fixation member adapted to fix the position of the medical device within a lumen of a human body. The delivery device has an inner shaft rotatably disposed in a tubular outer shaft. A retention member is secured to and rotatable with the inner shaft and has a free end and a retainer portion adapted to protrude outwardly through an exit aperture in the outer shaft to extend circumferentially about the exterior of the outer shaft. The fixation member of the medical device may be retained on the tubular shaft in a low profile configuration by the outwardly protruding retainer portion and may be released to expand upon retraction of the retainer portion in response to rotation of the inner shaft.

Abstract: A device for percutaneously deploying a stented prosthetic heart valve includes a distal portion, a spacing collar, and an outer collar. The distal portion provides a coupling structure configured to selectively engage the stented prosthetic heart valve. The spacing collar is located proximal to the distal portion. The spacing collar is transitionable from a loaded state to an activated state. The spacing collar in the loaded state has a radial dimension less than the spacing collar in the activated state. The outer collar is configured to be movable relative to the distal portion and the spacing collar. The outer collar is slidably disposed over the spacing collar to provide the loaded state and is slidably retracted from the spacing collar when in the activated state.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal portion and an intermediate portion, and an inner lumen extending through the shaft assembly. The delivery system includes a sheath assembly defining an outer lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. At least one flush port is formed in the intermediate portion. The at least one flush port is in fluid communication with the inner lumen and the outer lumen. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A fixation device for retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue includes an array of elongate tines having self-expanding distal portions. The fixation tines may be advanced between an implant body and an outer jacket to deploy the tines from a delivery configuration in which the tines are constrained by the outer jacket to an expanded configuration in which the distal end portions of the tines are released from the outer jacket. The implant and fixation device are contained within a sheath for delivery to the treatment site and a pusher within the sheath advances the fixation device relative to the implant body and deploys the tines. A distal end of the implant having an electrode may form a distal tip of the delivery system, and a potential implantation site may be tested prior to deployment of the fixation device to allow for easy repositioning of the implant.

Abstract: A device for percutaneously repairing a heart valve of a patient including a self-expanding, stented prosthetic heart valve and a delivery system. The delivery system includes delivery sheath slidably receiving an inner shaft forming a coupling structure. A capsule of the delivery sheath includes a distal segment and a proximal segment. An outer diameter of the distal segment is greater than that of the proximal segment. An area moment of inertia of the distal segment can be greater than an area moment of inertia of the proximal segment. Regardless, an axial length of the distal segment is less than the axial length of the prosthesis. In a loaded state, the prosthesis engages the coupling structure and is compressively retained within the capsule. The capsule is unlikely to kink when traversing the patient's vasculature, such as when tracking around the aortic arch, promoting recapturing of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.

Abstract: A packaging system is disclosed for shipping a prosthetic tissue valve in a storage solution and preparing and loading of the bioprosthetic valve onto a catheter-based delivery system. The packaging system includes a fluid tight container filled with the storage solution attached to a delivery catheter, wherein the container surrounds the prosthetic tissue valve that is in a pre-loaded position on the delivery catheter during shipment and storage. The prosthetic tissue valve may include an attachment mechanism that attaches to the delivery catheter to properly position the tissue valve for loading within the delivery catheter. In another embodiment where the prosthetic tissue valve is not attached to the delivery catheter during shipment, the attachment mechanism may interact with the prosthetic tissue valve shipping container to prevent the bioprosthetic valve from moving during shipment.

Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.

Abstract: A packaging system is disclosed for shipping a prosthetic tissue valve in a storage solution and preparing and loading of the bioprosthetic valve onto a catheter-based delivery system. The packaging system includes a fluid tight container filled with the storage solution attached to a delivery catheter, wherein the container surrounds the prosthetic tissue valve that is in a pre-loaded position on the delivery catheter during shipment and storage. The prosthetic tissue valve may include an attachment mechanism that attaches to the delivery catheter to properly position the tissue valve for loading within the delivery catheter. In another embodiment where the prosthetic tissue valve is not attached to the delivery catheter during shipment, the attachment mechanism may interact with the prosthetic tissue valve shipping container to prevent the bioprosthetic valve from moving during shipment.

Abstract: A packaging system is disclosed for shipping a prosthetic tissue valve in a storage solution and preparing and loading of the bioprosthetic valve onto a catheter-based delivery system. The packaging system includes a fluid tight container filled with the storage solution attached to a delivery catheter, wherein the container surrounds the prosthetic tissue valve that is in a pre-loaded position on the delivery catheter during shipment and storage. The prosthetic tissue valve may include an attachment mechanism that attaches to the delivery catheter to properly position the tissue valve for loading within the delivery catheter. In another embodiment where the prosthetic tissue valve is not attached to the delivery catheter during shipment, the attachment mechanism may interact with the prosthetic tissue valve shipping container to prevent the bioprosthetic valve from moving during shipment.

Abstract: A multiple head array hard drive comprises a multiple fixed head array. The multiple fixed head array has multiple rows of read write heads. The read write heads of a row are fixed relative to each other on the multiple fixed head array. The heads of the multiple fixed head array are arranged in a staggered pattern. The staggered pattern can be a zigzag pattern or a diagonal pattern. The disk has data encoded on the disk. The multiple fixed head array is positioned to read data over a surface of the disk. The disc rotates relative to the multiple fixed head array.

Abstract: A catheter inner member includes an inner member body, including a first side and a second side, the second side opposing the first side. The inner member body includes an inner surface defining an inner member inner lumen and an outer surface defining a surrounding environment. The inner member further includes at least a first flush port and a second flush port in the inner member body. The first flush port and second flush port provide fluid communication between the inner lumen and a surrounding environment. The first flush port disposed on the first side and the second flush port disposed on the second side, wherein the first flush port is axially displaced from the second flush port.

Abstract: A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for delivering a self-expanding stent. The device has an inner shaft and an outer shaft moveable with respect to the inner shaft. The self expanding stent is received on the inner shaft adjacent its distal end. A tapered tip is located on the inner shaft distal end and it forms a smooth transition from the delivery device to the guide wire extending therethrough. A handle allows the practitioner to deploy the stent single handedly. The stent may have its segments in a first radial configuration for deliver of the stent or the stent may have a plurality of segments in a first radial configuration and a plurality of second segments in a second radial position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the delivery of workpieces to a position by: storing a digital reference image of the position prior to the delivery of workpieces; storing a digital operating image of the position during delivery of workpieces; performing image arithmetic on the reference image and the operating image to produce a digital evaluation image comprised of a plurality of pixels establishing a threshold image condition for the evaluation image that correlates to the existence of an operating condition relevant to the control of the delivery of workpieces; and examining the pixels in the evaluation image to determine whether the threshold image condition is met.

Abstract: Storage bottles are generally discussed herein with specific discussions extended to storage bottles having a round body section and a base with at least one straight edge. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, the base comprises four straight edges and four generally right comers. A transition section is disposed between the round body section and the base, which has a configuration that is neither generally circular or generally square.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the delivery of workpieces to a position by: storing a digital reference image of the position prior to the delivery of workpieces; storing a digital operating image of the position during delivery of workpieces; performing image arithmetic on the reference image and the operating image to produce a digital evaluation image comprised of a plurality of pixels establishing a threshold image condition for the evaluation image that correlates to the existence of an operating condition relevant to the control of the delivery of workpieces; and examining the pixels in the evaluation image to determine whether the threshold image condition is met.

Abstract: A catheter for a self-expanding stent includes a proximal shaft with a longitudinal guide way along the length of the proximal shaft, a guide member for accessing a guidewire lumen defined by the proximal shaft and for drawing a guidewire into and out of the guidewire lumen along the proximal shaft. In one aspect, the catheter includes a proximal sliding mechanism coupled to a link, which is coupled to a distal outer shaft retaining a self-expanding stent in a compressed state. The sliding mechanism draws the link proximally, which draws the distal outer shaft proximally thereby allowing the stent to radially expand. In another aspect, the proximal sliding mechanism is coupled to a proximal shaft, which is coupled to the distal outer shaft. The sliding mechanism draws the proximal shaft proximally, which draws the distal outer shaft proximally to thereby allow the stent to radial expand.