Abstract: A catheter insertion system for inserting an expandable valve stent into the body of a patient and a method of implanting a valve stent. The catheter insertion system includes a catheter having a handle for manipulating a catheter tip, and enables the implantation of a valve prosthesis attached to a valve stent. The handle is configured to enable a pre-set sequence of steps to manipulate the catheter tip and sequentially release the valve stent. The catheter tip is configured to sequentially release the valve stent from a first collapsed mode to a second expanded mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1a-1d) for compressing a stent (100) or a stent (100) with a prosthetic heart valve affixed thereto. The invention further relates to a system as well as a method for loading a stent (100) into a medical delivery system. The device (1a-1d) according to the invention comprises a compressing mechanism (10a-10d), within which a stent (100) to be compressed can be at least partly accommodated, wherein the compressing mechanism (10a-10d) comprises externally-manipulatable clamping means (50; 70.1-70.n; 90.1-90.n; 110.1-110.n) and is designed so as to exert a compressive force in radial direction on at least parts of a stent (100) accommodated within the compressing mechanism (10a-10d) such that the cross-section of the stent (100) is reduced to a predefinable value at least at certain areas. The inventive device (1a-1d) further comprises a manipulating mechanism (40a-40d) for manipulating the at least one clamping means (50; 70.1-70.n; 90.1-90.n; 110.1-110.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for compressing a stent (100) with a prosthetic heart valve affixed as needed thereto. In order to achieve a compressing of the stent (100) with a prosthetic heart valve affixed as needed thereto to a diameter enabling it to be received in a catheter tip of a medical delivery system without running the risk of damaging the stent (100) or the prosthetic heart valve affixed as needed thereto during the compressing of the stent (100), the device (1) comprises a compressing mechanism (10) within which a stent (100) to be compressed can be at least partly accommodated, wherein the compressing mechanism (10) is designed so as to exert a defined compressive force in radial direction on at least parts of a stent (100) at least partly accommodated in the compressing mechanism (10) such that the cross-section of the stent (100) is reduced to a predefinable value at least at certain areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent for the positioning and anchoring of a valvular prosthesis in an implantation site in the heart of a patient. Specifically, the present invention relates to an expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. So as to ensure that no longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis fastened to a stent will occur relative the stent in the implanted state of the stent, even given the peristaltic motion of the heart, the stent according to the invention comprises at least one fastening portion via which the valvular prosthesis is connectable to the stent. The stent further comprises positioning arches and retaining arches, whereby at least one positioning arch is connected to at least one retaining arch.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta with a catheter. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and an expanded mode when it is implanted. The endoprosthesis may be introduced into a patient's body and expanded via a catheter. In an embodiment, the catheter has first and second slide mechanisms configured to independently manipulate first and second sleeve elements to sequentially expand the endoprosthesis from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has at plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a first collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and a second expanded mode when it is implanted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent (10) for the positioning and anchoring of a valvular prosthesis (100) in an implantation site in the heart of a patient. Specifically, the present invention relates to an expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. So as to ensure that no longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis (100) fastened to a stent (10) will occur relative the stent (10) in the implanted state of the stent (10), even given the peristaltic motion of the heart, the stent (10) according to the invention comprises at least one fastening portion (11) via which the valvular prosthesis (100) is connectable to the stent (10). The stent (10) further comprises positioning arches (15) and retaining arches (16), whereby at least one positioning arch (15) is connected to at least one retaining arch (16) via a first connecting land (17).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent for the positioning and anchoring of a valvular prosthesis in an implantation site in the heart of a patient. Specifically, the present invention relates to an expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. So as to ensure that no longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis fastened to a stent will occur relative the stent in the implanted state of the stent, even given the peristaltic motion of the heart, the stent according to the invention comprises at least one fastening portion via which the valvular prosthesis is connectable to the stent. The stent further comprises positioning arches and retaining arches, whereby at least one positioning arch is connected to at least one retaining arch via a first connecting web.

Abstract: An expandable stent including a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned within a plurality of pockets of a native heart valve and positioned on a first side of a plurality of native heart valve leaflets, a plurality of retaining arches configured to be positioned on a second side of the plurality of native heart valve leaflets opposite the first side, and at least one radial arch substantially circumferentially aligned with at least one of the plurality of positioning arches.

Abstract: An implantable device for use in a human and/or animal body for replacement of an organ valve. The device has an elongate main body having a first end and a second end provided with openings, and a membrane element provided with at least one opening. The device has, in a first operating state (primary form), a large ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis, and, in a second operating state (secondary form), a smaller ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis. The device is reversibly convertible from the secondary form into the primary form by application of force against elastic material forces. At least one of the two ends of the main body has an outwardly protruding anchoring portion for anchoring the device in the organ and/or a vessel.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta with a catheter. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and an expanded mode when it is implanted. The endoprosthesis may be introduced into a patient's body and expanded via a catheter. In an embodiment, the catheter has first and second slide mechanisms configured to independently manipulate first and second sleeve elements to sequentially expand the endoprosthesis from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart valve insufficiency, with an endoprosthesis which can be introduced into a patient's body and expanded to secure a heart valve prosthesis in the patient's aorta. In an embodiment, the endoprosthesis has at plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned with respect to a patient's aorta and a plurality of retaining arches to support a heart valve prosthesis. The endoprosthesis includes a first collapsed mode during the process of introducing it into the patient's body and a second expanded mode when it is implanted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent comprising terminal anchoring elements. Said stent (10) is provided with a tubular wall that extends along a longitudinal, flexible tubular axis (26), is formed from a flexible grid structure, and has tube ends (20) lying on opposing axis ends. Said wall consists of annular wall segments (11) that are lined up along the axis and are interconnected by means of connection segments (12). The annular wall segments (11) contain wall elements (14, 15) having an elastic structure.

Abstract: Stents (10) that are implanted within or around a hollow organ, especially self-expanding stents, comprising several annular wall segments (11) which are provided with an elastic structure and are joined to each other by means of connecting elements (12), are often problematic because the length of said stents is modified due to compressive stress, tensile stress, or contraction thereof, potentially resulting in undesired displacement of the stent (10). In order to prevent such positional changes of an implanted stent (10), the inventive connecting elements (12) form at least one continuous longitudinal web (13) which is provided with at least one component in an axial direction for receiving compressive stress or tensile stress in a longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An implantable device for use in a human and/or animal body for replacement of an organ valve. The device has an elongate main body having a first end and a second end provided with openings, and a membrane element provided with at least one opening. The device has, in a first operating state (primary form), a large ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis, and, in a second operating state (secondary form), a smaller ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis. The device is reversibly convertible from the secondary form into the primary form by application of force against elastic material forces. At least one of the two ends of the main body has an outwardly protruding anchoring portion for anchoring the device in the organ and/or a vessel.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods of improving a plant growth factor. The compositions and methods contain combinations of plant growth regulators such as plant growth retardants and inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis or action. The ethylene inhibitors comprise substituted oxime-ethers having the general formula: ##STR1## where R1 and R2 independently of one another are C1-C6-alkyl, n is 2 or 3 and R3 is hydrogen or C1-C6-alkyl. Specific inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis or action include: {?(isopropylidene)-amino!oxy}-acetic acid-2-(methoxy)-2-oxoethyl ester, {?(isopropylidene)-amino!oxy}-acetic acid-2-(hexyloxy)-2-oxoethyl ester, {{cyclohexylidene)-amino!oxy}-acetic acid-2-(isopropyloxy)-2-oxyethyl ester (methoxy)-2-oxoethyl ester, ?((isopropylidene)-amino!oxy acetic acid, aminooxyacetic acid, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, rhizobitoxine, silver ions (e.g. silver thiosulfate), and 2,5-norbornadiene.