Abstract: A catheter system for use in bypassing a block in an artery comprises four components. These components are an arterial catheter, an intravenous ultrasound catheter, a guide wire system, and finally a covered stent used as graft. The bypassing of the block in the artery which extends along a vein comprises the steps of forming a first connection between said artery and said vein proximal to the block in the artery, forming a second connection between said artery and said vein distal to the block in the artery, introducing a covered stent through said artery proximal to the block therein, through said first connection into said vein, via said vein to and through said second connection, and into said artery distal to the block therein, such that a proximal end of the covered stent is positioned in the artery proximal to the block therein and a distal end of the covered stent is positioned in the artery distal to the block therein, and fixing the proximal and distal ends of the covered stent within the artery.

Abstract: A device for reconditioning an internal body organ having or risking a functional failure or impairment associated with a fluid collection therein comprises a tube having a proximal end adapted for connection to a vacuum source, and a distal end portion having a plurality of openings. A chamber surrounds the distal end portion of the tube and the openings therein. A flexible material occupies said chamber and forms fluid connections between a selected part of an external surface of the chamber and the openings of the distal end portion of the tube. The selected part of the external surface of the chamber is adapted for contacting an external or internal surface portion of the internal body organ. Thereby, interstitial fluid of the internal body organ adjoining said selected part of the external surface of the chamber is sucked off from the internal body organ.

Abstract: A method for treatment of mitral annulus dilatation comprises reducing the circumference of the mitral valve annulus. The method further comprises inserting an elongate body into the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, fixing the position of the elongate body relative to the coronary sinus, and changing the shape of the elongate body in order to remodel the mitral valve annulus.

Abstract: A self-expanding device is to be inserted into a body vessel. In a contracted state, the self-expanding device has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the body vessel and it is self-expanding to a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the body vessel when the temperature of the device exceeds a transformation temperature, which is lower than the body temperature. An apparatus for the delivery of the self-expanding device into the body vessel comprises an elongate delivery means. This is flexible for introduction into the body vessel and it has a distal part for carrying said device in its contracted state. The apparatus further comprises a cooling means having a cooling surface at said distal part and being arranged to transfer heat from said device via the cooling surface towards a proximal part of the delivery means for maintaining the self-expandable device in said contracted state at a temperature below the transformation temperature of the device.

Abstract: A graft connector comprises a sleeve (10) and a collar (11). The sleeve (19 has an opening (12) in its circumferential surface and comprises a memory material. The collar (11) consists of a fluid-tight material and is fixed to the sleeve (10) before use of the graft connector. The collar has a shoulder portion (13) extending at least around the opening (12) and a neck portion (14) integral with the shoulder portion (13) and projecting radially from the opening (12). An introducer for the graft connector comprises two L-shaped elements (18, 19), and first releasable means (20, 21, 28-30) for locking the two L-shaped elements (18, 19) together so as to form a T-shaped element (26) having a stem (27) and two oppositely directed arms (24, 25). Removable means (31; 42; 46) are provided for temporarily reducing the diameter of the sleeve (10) during insertion into a blood vessel (2) and also for connecting the arms (24, 25) of the T-shaped element (26) along the sleeve (10) of the graft connector.

Abstract: A method of making a covered stent comprises the steps of producing a stent (1) having a diameter corresponding to an unexpanded state of the stent (1) and producing a tube (2) of a film material. The film material of the tube (2) should be shrinkable by exposure to an elevated temperature and the tube (2) should, before shrinking, have a greater diameter than the stent (1). As further steps of the method, the stent (1) is introduced into the tube (2), and the tube (2) is exposed to the elevated temperature for reducing the diameter of the tube (2) such that the stent (1) is affixed within the tube (2). The tube may be longer than the stent such that the ends of the tube may be introduced into the ends of the stent and affixed by short sections of a stent material. Collars may be formed at the ends of the tube and may also be covered by the film material.

Abstract: A device for providing a supplemental flow of blood from the left ventricle of a heart to a coronary artery thereof comprises a conduit having a first part and a second part. The first and second parts have longitudinal axes, which are at an angle to each other. The conduit further has a flexible part forming a connection between the first part and the second part.

Abstract: A branching device for a blood vessel has a sleeve (10), which is radially extensible and has an opening (12) in its circumferential surface, and a collar (11) consisting of a fluid-tight material and fixed to the sleeve before the branching device is used. The collar has on the one hand a shoulder portion (13), which extends at least around the opening in the circumferential surface of the sleeve, and on the other hand, a neck portion (14) integral with the shoulder portion and projecting radially from the opening in the circumferential surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: For connecting the end of a supplemental vessel to the side of a body vessel, which has a greater diameter than the supplemental vessel, use is made of a sleeve whose one end portion is expandable for the forming of an annular end flange. As a result, the supplemental vessel, after being passed through the sleeve in the direction of the expandable end portion and folding back at least over the expandable end portion, is formable into a collar, both sides of which enclose the annular end flange inside the supplemental vessel and internally surround an opening formed therein. The distal portion of the sleeve to be inserted into the body vessel may comprise a memory material enabling the end flange to be formed without using the balloon.

Abstract: A device for treatment of mitral annulus dilatation comprises an elongate body having two states. In a first of these states the elongate body is insertable into the coronary sinus and has a shape adapting to the shape of the coronary sinus. When positioned in the coronary sinus, the elongate body is transferable to the second state assuming a reduced radius of curvature, whereby the radius of curvature of the coronary sinus and the radius of curvature as well as the circumference of the mitral annulus is reduced.

Abstract: A site is prepared along a wall of a receiving blood vessel for connecting a prospective blood vessel thereto without interrupting the flow of blood through the receiving blood vessel. A device for the preparation comprises an elongated member and a sealing means. The device has a head portion to which the elongated member is connected, and a cutting means provided at a distal part of the head portion for making an initial opening in the receiving blood vessel. The sealing means is provided on the head portion proximally of the cutting means.

Abstract: A device for treatment of mitral annulus dilatation comprises an elongate body having two states. In a first of these states the elongate body is insertable into the coronary sinus and has a shape adapting to the shape of the coronary sinus. When positioned in the coronary sinus, the elongate body is transferable to the second state assuming a reduced radius of curvature, whereby the radius of curvature of the coronary sinus and the radius of curvature as well as the circumference of the mitral annulus is reduced.

Abstract: A branching device for a blood vessel has a sleeve (10), which is radially extensible and has an opening (12) in its circumferential surface, and a collar (11) consisting of a fluid-tight material and fixed to the sleeve before the branching device is used. The collar has on the one hand a shoulder portion (13), which extends at least around the opening in the circumferential surface of the sleeve, and, on the other hand, a neck portion (14) integral with the shoulder portion and projecting radially from the opening in the circumferential surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: For connecting the end of a first blood vessel (6) to the side of a second blood vessel, the latter of which preferably has a greater diameter than the first blood vessel, an expandable end portion (12, 12′) for forming an annular end flange (15, 15′) is provided on a sleeve (11, 11′). As a result, the first blood vessel (6), after being passed through the sleeve (11, 11′) in the direction of the expandable end portion and folding back at least over the expandable end portion, is formable into a collar, both sides of which enclose the annular end flange inside the second blood vessel and internally surround an opening formed therein.