Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for guiding an endovascular tool, such as a puncturing tool or an angioscope, in a radial direction, such as toward or through the sidewall of a vessel, stent, or stent graft, using elongate members and specialized catheters. The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for locating branch vessels from within a grafted main vessel while maintaining continuous blood flow to the branch vessel. Another aspect of the present disclosure involves a reverse cannulation system, particularly useful for stenting the abdominal aorta proximate the renal arteries and stenting the renal artery.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes an expandable medical device and outer sheath combination. The outer sheath is capable of being split to form multiple sheath sections that may be peeled back to expose a portion or all of the expandable medical device. The medical device, as well as the outer sheath, may include one or more therapeutic agents for delivery to a treatment area within a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a stent which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The stent is configured to have a central portion defined by “open” cells and at least two end portions, defined by “closed” cells, spaced apart and directly connected to the distal and proximal ends of the central portion of the stent. The stent may also optionally have a covering or a lattice with openings.

Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.

Abstract: The invention relates to medical devices and methods of using them. The devices are prostheses which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The prostheses are configured to have a lattice resistant to dilation and creep, which is defined by a plurality of openings. The prosthesis may also optionally have a stent disposed proximal to the lattice. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite materials exhibit high elongation while substantially retaining the strength properties of the fluoropolymer membrane. In at least one embodiment, the lattice is made of a composite material that includes a least one fluoropolymer membrane including serpentine fibrils and an elastomer. A lattice including a generally tubular member formed of a composite material including a least one fluoropolymer membrane containing serpentine fibrils and an elastomer is also provided.

Abstract: A catheter package and method of use which serve to straighten a curved catheter shaft. The straightening of the catheter shaft may be accomplished by passing the shaft through a pathway that bends the catheter in the opposite direction of the curvature imparted to the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft pathway may incorporate various shaped bumps, ridges, pins or rollers or other features which assist in straightening the shaft.

Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter operable by a single clinician that will neither displace a deployed stent nor cause undue trauma to the vascular lumen or lesion. The retrieval catheter may be sized to accommodate both a guidewire and a balloon wire. The retrieval catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways and will cross a previously deployed stent or stent-graft easily with minimal risk of snagging on the deployed stent or stent graft. The sheath and dilator are adapted to allow a guidewire or balloon wire to pass through the walls of both and to allow the sheath and dilator to move axially with respect to each other.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments comprise AV fistulas and other anastomotic devices for creating new or reinforcing existing side-branch vessels, and/or bridging neighboring vessels together. An exemplary embodiment may comprise a sidewall port, such as a flanged sidewall port, and/or flow frame design, such as a partially bare, flexible stent or a whisk, for purposes of creating a transmural flow. Another exemplary embodiment may comprise a compliant vessel support to aid in the transition from device to vessel and/or vessel to device, and to promote vessel dilation.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent-graft provided in a diametrically compacted state for implantation and retained preferably by a constraining sheath, useful for the temporary or permanent repair of injured, partially or entirely transected body conduits including blood vessels. It may be used under direct visualization to quickly stop or substantially reduce loss of blood from such damaged vessels and to quickly re-establish perfusion distal to the injury site. The device would typically be implanted under emergency room conditions but also be used in field situations by trained medical technicians. After an end of the device is inserted into a blood vessel through the injury access, deployment preferably initiates from the device end in a direction moving toward the middle of the length of the device by directionally releasing the constraining sheath.

Abstract: The present disclosure comprises devices, systems, and methods having an inverted sheath configured to cover, and in some instances constrain, a medical device and to retract through eversion, thus enabling the deployment of medical device at the treatment site. A constraining sheath can evert hydraulically. A constraining sheath can be configured to neck down a medical device to achieve a lower delivery profile. Furthermore, a constraining sheath can comprise a balloon to expand or positionally or structurally adjust a medical device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a class of fluorinated copolymers, such as PTFE copolymers, that can be dissolved in low toxicity solvents, such as Class III Solvents, and that enable the creation of stable water-in-solvent emulsions comprising the fluorinated copolymers dissolved in a low toxicity solvents and a hydrophilic agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) dissolved in an aqueous solvent, such as water or saline.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent-graft provided in a diametrically compacted state for implantation and retained preferably by a constraining sheath, useful for the temporary or permanent repair of injured, partially or entirely transected body conduits including blood vessels. It may be used under direct visualization to quickly stop or substantially reduce loss of blood from such damaged vessels and to quickly re-establish perfusion distal to the injury site. The device would typically be implanted under emergency room conditions but also be used in field situations by trained medical technicians. After an end of the device is inserted into a blood vessel through the injury access, deployment preferably initiates from the device end in a direction moving toward the middle of the length of the device by directionally releasing the constraining sheath.

Abstract: A stent graft including (1) a stent having a wall having at least one opening, an outer surface, and an inner surface and (2) a covering of a composite material having a least one expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer is provided. The cover can be used to cover the outer and/or the inner surface of the stent. The expanded fluoropolymer membrane contains serpentine fibrils. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite material may be axially and/or circumferentially wrapped around the stent. The composite material is fold-free throughout its operating diameter range and exhibits a sharp increase in stiffness at a predetermined diameter. The stent graft can be designed to have a stop point in either a radial or axial direction. The stent graft can advantageously be implanted undersized with respect to a nominal diameter without having material infolding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a stent which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The stent is configured to have a central portion defined by “open” cells and at least two end portions, defined by “closed” cells, spaced apart and directly connected to the distal and proximal ends of the central portion of the stent. The stent may also optionally have a covering or a lattice with openings.

Abstract: Controlled deployable medical devices that are retained inside a body passage and in one particular application to vascular devices used in repairing arterial dilations, e.g., aneurysms. Such devices can be adjusted during deployment, thereby allowing at least one of a longitudinal or radial re-positioning, resulting in precise alignment of the device to an implant target site.

Abstract: A catheter package and method of use which serve to straighten a curved catheter shaft. The straightening of the catheter shaft may be accomplished by passing the shaft through a pathway that bends the catheter in the opposite direction of the curvature imparted to the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft pathway may incorporate various shaped bumps, ridges, pins or rollers or other features which assist in straightening the shaft.

Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an aperture occlusion device and a method for occluding an aperture, including a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. The aperture occlusion device includes a wire frame element. The wire frame forms geometric shapes that include an occluder region and a securing region. The occluder region and the securing region are separated by an attachment region including a waist. The occluder region and securing region can include membranous coverings. The device can be attached to a delivery hub. The wires forming the occluder region and securing region can have a shape-memory capability such that they can be collapsed and distorted in a sheath during delivery, but resume and maintain their intended shape after delivery.

Abstract: A diametrically adjustable endoprosthesis includes a controlled expansion element extending along at least a portion of a graft and is supported by a stent. The controlled expansion element diametrically constrains and limits expansion of the endoprosthesis. Upon deployment from a smaller, delivery configuration, the endoprosthesis can expand to the initial diameter set by the controlled expansion element. Thereafter, the endoprosthesis can be further diametrically expanded (e.g., using balloon dilation) by mechanically altering the controlled expansion element.