Abstract: A needle assembly comprises a shaft with two opposite tissue piercing ends. The assembly includes a shuttle which is moveable relative to the shaft between the two ends. The shuttle comprises means to secure a suture to the shuttle member.

Abstract: A needle assembly and method for ligating a vessel. The needle shaft is substantially curved and carries a shuttle tethered to a needle. The shuttle is configured to move longitudinally between the ends of the curved shaft during use.

Abstract: A needle assembly comprises a shaft with two opposite tissue piercing ends. The assembly includes a shuttle which is moveable relative to the shaft between the two ends. The shuttle comprises means to secure a suture to the shuttle member.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: An intraluminal device has a tubular main body and a plurality of expandable wireforms. The wireforms are grouped in a first group of one or more self expandable wireforms and a second group of one or more pressure expandable wireforms and arranged in alternating groups of wireforms comprising the first group and the second group. Also described is an intraluminal device for positioning within a branched vessel of a patient having an elongate main body and a branch portion. The branch portion is independently moveable relative to the main body.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: A thromboembolectomy device for performing a thromboembolectomy procedure in a bodily vessel. The device includes a thromboembolectomy means (30) capable of being moved relatively through the vessel and further capable of dislodging a thrombus from a wall of the vessel. A capture means (10) is positioned distal the thromboembolectomy means and is movable between a first collapsed configuration and a second expanded configuration. An extractor means (20) is further positioned proximal the thromboembolectomy means (30). The extractor means (20) has a lumen, a first end and a second end wherein at least the second end is capable of moving between a first collapsed state and a second expanded state. On dislodgment ol the thrombus from the vessel wall by the thromboembolectomy means (30), the dislodged thrombus can be drawn relatively towards the extractor means (20) for removal from the vessel and wherein further, any portions of thrombus that detach from the thrombus are retained by the capture means (10).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.

Abstract: An intraluminal graft includes a tubular graft body extending along a cylindrical axis, a plurality of wires spaced apart from each other and arranged to circumferentially reinforce said tubular graft body along a substantial portion of its length, and a body surface including an inner surface region and an outer surface region. The body surface defines a plurality of apertures extending from an exterior space to an interior space, and a first portion of a first wire is in the interior space while a second portion of the first wire is in the exterior space.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.

Abstract: A system for delivering and implanting a radially expandable endoluminal prosthesis within a body lumen (e.g., blood vessel). The system comprises a) an introducer/dilator assembly, and b) a delivery catheter/loader assembly. The introducer/dilator assembly comprises an elongate tubular introducer sheath which may be provided with a valving assembly mounted on the proximal end thereof. Such valving assembly may incorporate i) a hemostatic valve, ii) a first sealing valve and iii) a second sealing valve, positioned in series, to prevent leakage of body fluid out of the proximal end of the introducer and to permit two or more elongate members (e.g., catheters, guidewires) having differing outer diameters to be inserted through the introducer without leakage of body fluid therefrom. A dilator, which has regionalized differences in stiffness, is initially deployable within the lumen of the introducer to facilitate advancement of the introducer to its desired location within the body.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for placing a bifurcated aortic graft, with extensions, into a body lumen. An aortic graft is provided with a unique combination of self-expanding a balloon expandable wires. The aortic graft is bifurcated and includes ipsilateral and contralateral legs. Two extension grafts are provided for frictional engagement with the legs of the aortic graft. For placement of the bifurcated aortic graft with extensions, an introducer assembly including a dilator and a sheath assembly provides access for the introduction of a main catheter and a directional catheter. The main catheter is provided for deployment of the bifurcated aortic graft within the lumen of a vessel. A balloon is provided on the main catheter for expanding the balloon-expandable wires of the aortic graft. The directional catheter, which includes a deflecting spring portion, permits placement of a guidewire through the ipsilateral leg and into the contralateral leg of the aortic graft.