Abstract: A leaflet folding accessory or tool configured for use with a crimper when radially compressing a transcatheter valve prosthesis into a crimped configuration for delivery within a vasculature. The crimping accessory is configured to apply or remove fluid to or from the at least one leaflet of the transcatheter valve prosthesis during the crimping process to prevent protrusion of the leaflets into the frame of the transcatheter valve prosthesis that may cause leaflet pinching and damage.

Abstract: An assembly including a transcatheter valve prosthesis and a leaflet folding accessory configured for use when compressing the transcatheter valve prosthesis into the crimped configuration. The transcatheter valve prosthesis includes a frame and a prosthetic valve component including at least one leaflet disposed within and secured to the frame. The leaflet folding accessory includes a plurality of guide fingers. A leaflet contact portion of each guide finger is configured to be disposed radially within the frame and contact an inner surface of a leaflet of the at least one leaflet. During crimping of the transcatheter valve prosthesis, the plurality of guide fingers remain disposed radially within the frame such that the at least one leaflet preferentially folds around the plurality of guide fingers.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis is described and comprises a stent (40), At least one barb (42) secured to the stent, and a degradable barb guard (52) covering at least a portion of the barb and protecting the distal tip when the stent is in a compressed configuration. The barb guard (52) comprises a degradable structure that degrades to expose the distal tip of the barb when the stent is placed in a vessel. An endoluminal prosthesis deployment system comprising a sheath having a lumen and a prostesis within the sheath lumen is also described.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis is described and comprises a stent (40), At least one barb (42) secured to the stent, and a degradable barb guard (52) covering at least a portion of the barb and protecting the distal tip when the stent is in a compressed configuration. The barb guard (52) comprises a degradable structure that degrades to expose the distal tip of the barb when the stent is placed in a vessel.

Abstract: An endovascular delivery device (2) for a stent graft which has a pusher catheter (4), a flexible sheath (10) over the pusher catheter and at least one auxiliary catheter (32) extending between the pusher catheter and the flexible sheath. The pusher catheter has one or more longitudinal grooves (30) on its outside surface and the auxiliary catheter or catheters extend along the longitudinal grooves. A guide wire in the auxiliary catheter can be used to pre-catheterise a fenestration in the stent graft and a branch stent or stent graft delivered through the auxiliary catheter.

Abstract: A method and device for implantation into a curved vessel is described. The device may be a stent with a generally curved configuration in its radially expanded state. The stent may have a first series of linkages located along a first side of the stent and a second series of linkages located along a second side of the stent. Both series of linkages interconnect structural elements of the stent. During deployment of the stent into a vessel, the second series of linkages undergo longitudinal expansion sufficient to produce a stent having a longer second side than a first side. This difference in longitudinal length between the second side and first side of the stent creates a curved configuration which conforms to the curvature of the vessel which it is implanted into.