Abstract: A hybrid stent is formed which exhibits both high flexibility and high radial strength. The expandable hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by one or more links. In one embodiment, a dip-coated covered stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer material. In other embodiments, at least some of the rings and links are formed of a polymer material which provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent. These polymer rings and links are alternated with metallic rings and links in various configurations to attain sufficient column strength along with the requisite flexibility in holding open the target site within the body lumen. Alternatively, a laminated, linkless hybrid stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer tube.

Abstract: A self-anchoring cardiac harness is configured to fit at least a portion of a patient's heart and includes a tissue engaging element for frictionally engaging an outer surface of a heart. The engaging element produces sufficient friction relative to the outer surface of the heart, so that the harness does not migrate substantially relative to the heart. There is enough force created by the engaging element that there is no need to apply a suture to the heart in order to retain the cardiac harness. Further, the engaging element is adapted to engage the outer surface of the heart without substantially penetrating the outer surface.

Abstract: A cardiac harness configured to be fit around at least a portion of a patient's heart, including a conductive material that is coated with a dielectric coating to electrically insulate at least the heart tissue from the conductive material. The cardiac harness applies a compressive force on the heart during diastole and systole. The cardiac harness includes an arrangement that provides no electrical continuity circumferentially about the harness, so that if an electric current created by a defibrillation device is applied to a patient who has a harness that is placed on their heart, the electric current will pass through the heart unimpeded instead of being conducted around the heart through the harness.

Abstract: A retaining apparatus is formed with a retaining arm and a retainer clip. The retaining arm is formed combining two joint arms. After combining the two joint arms, those joint arms still have a specific action space. The retainer clip is combined with the retaining arm.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. At least some of the links are formed of a polymer material providing longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the rings along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The rings are defined by undulations of relatively large and relatively small amplitudes wherein bar arms extend between peaks and valleys and wherein selected bar arms are non-linear. The links connecting the cylindrical rings are non-linear.

Abstract: A retaining apparatus is formed with a retaining arm and a retainer clip. The retaining arm is formed by combining two joint arms. After combining the two joint arms, those joint arms still have a specific action space. The retainer clip is combined with the retaining arm.

Abstract: A hybrid stent is formed which exhibits both high flexibility and high radial strength. The expandable hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by one or more links. In one embodiment, a dip-coated covered stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer material. In other embodiments, at least some of the rings and links are formed of a polymer material which provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent. These polymer rings and links are alternated with metallic rings and links in various configurations to attain sufficient column strength along with the requisite flexibility in holding open the target site within the body lumen. Alternatively, a laminated, linkless hybrid stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer tube.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The rings have peaks and valleys from which extend straight and nonlinear bar arms, forming a figure-eight The links connecting the cylindrical rings may be straight, undulating, or include bounded apertures for additional flexibility.

Abstract: An expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen is provided. An intravascular stent is formed by cylindrical rings connected by links. The rings have peaks and valleys from which extend straight and nonlinear bar arms, forming a figure-eight. An elemental unit is defined with straight and nonlinear bar arms, and elemental units on adjacent rings are mirror images of one another. The links have one end connected at a peak of one ring and the other end connected to a central portion of a nonlinear bar arm. Alternating rows of the links consist of nonlinear links.

Abstract: An expandable hybrid stent having metallic rings and polymer interconnecting links is disclosed. One embodiment of the stent has radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more polymer links that attach at formations formed in the rings. The polymer links have sufficient column strength to keep the rings from collapsing together axially. The formations may be holes, notches, grooves, channels, dovetails, or the like and the links wrap around, pass through, or lie on the formations. The junction of the link and ring at the formation is then melted and allowed to solidify. Alternatively, beads may be formed on either side of where the link passes through a hole in the ring thus securing the ring to the link.

Abstract: A cardiac harness for treating or preventing congestive heart failure is configured to be placed about at least a portion of a patient's heart so as to apply a mild compressive force on the heart. In one embodiment, the cardiac harness comprises a plurality of spaced apart conductive panels arranged so that there is no electrical continuity circumferentially around the harness. In an additional embodiment, a cardiac harness is provided that is insulated so as not to conduct electricity circumferentially about the harness.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an expandable polymer link hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery along with a method of making the stent. The stent generally includes a series of metallic cylindrical rings longitudinally aligned on a common axis of the stent and interconnected by a series of polymeric links. The polymer links are formed by applying polymer layers between the rings and laser ablating the excess material. The polymeric material forming the polymeric links, provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the cylindrical rings along the longitudinal axis. The metallic material forming the rings provides the necessary radial stiffness.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The rings have peaks and valleys from which extend straight and nonlinear bar arms, forming a figure-eight. The links connecting the cylindrical rings may be straight, undulating, or include bounded apertures for additional flexibility.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. At least some of the links are formed of a polymer material providing longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the rings along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery. The stent consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. At least some of the links are formed of a polymer material providing longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent while maintaining sufficient column strength to space the rings along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The rings have peaks and valleys from which extend straight and nonlinear bar arms, forming a figure-eight. The links connecting the cylindrical rings may be straight or undulating.

Abstract: A method for preparing vascular valves from submucosal tissue is described. Both bicuspid and tricuspid valve constructs are described. The bicuspid constructs can be formed with or without a supporting stent. The tricuspid constructs are formed by fixing submucosal tissue to a supporting stent, folding the submucosal tissue, and forming the valve commissures from the folded submucosal tissue by cutting along the folds. The artificial vascular valves are useful for replacing damaged or diseased valves of a warm-blooded vertebrate.