Abstract: Conditioned bioprosthetic tissues for forming prosthetic valves including a sheet of bioprosthetic tissue having a first major surface and a second major surface. The first major surface has a pattern including at least one depressed region and areas of relief adjacent to the at least one depressed region. The at least one depressed region has a first tissue density that is greater than a second tissue density of the areas of relief.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a sheet of bioprosthetic tissue for use as a prosthetic valve leaflet are disclosed. A method includes positioning a sheet of bioprosthetic tissue across an engagement face of a first patterned substrate. The engagement face defines a pattern having at least one raised region and areas of relief adjacent the at least one raised region. The tissue is compressed against the engagement face to deform the tissue to a deformed state corresponding with the pattern.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a sheet of bioprosthetic tissue for use as a prosthetic valve leaflet are disclosed. A method includes positioning a sheet of bioprosthetic tissue across an engagement face of a first patterned substrate. The engagement face defines a pattern having at least one raised region and areas of relief adjacent the at least one raised region. The tissue is compressed against the engagement face to deform the tissue to a deformed state corresponding with the pattern.

Abstract: Methods of compressing a stented prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. The method including inserting a stented prosthetic heart valve having a self-expandable stent frame into a container, initiating a cooling element in the container, transferring heat through a thermal conductor to cool an interior of the container, reducing a temperature of the self-expandable stent frame while located within the container to a critical temperature of not greater than 8° C., and compressing an outer diameter of the stented prosthetic heart valve while the stented prosthetic heart valve is at the critical temperature.

Abstract: A paravalvular leak resistant prosthetic heart valve system including a stent frame, a valve structure and a sealing mechanism. The stent frame has a surface. The valve structure is associated with the stent frame. The sealing mechanism at least partially extends over the surface of the stent frame. The sealing mechanism includes at least one semi-permeable membrane and an osmotic gradient driving material.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter actuation handle 14 for deflecting a distal end 18 of a tubular catheter body 12, the handle including an auto-locking mechanism, 54. The handle comprises upper and lower grip portions 24a, 24b, an actuator 20, and an auto-locking mechanism, 54. The auto-locking mechanism 54 is adapted to hold a deflected distal end 18 of the catheter 10 in place without input from the operator. When the distal end 18 of the catheter 10 is deflected from its zero position, it typically will seek a return to its zero position, and as a result exerts a force on the actuator 20. The auto-locking mechanism 54 acts by providing a second force that resists this force from the distal end 18 and holds the distal end 18 in place. As a result, the operator does not need to maintain contact with the buttons 22a, 22b to maintain the distal end 18 in a set position once placed there by actuating the actuator 20.

Abstract: A catheter-deliverable filter assembly for deploying a filter element in a vessel of the body, comprising an elongated support having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the elongated support comprising a hook, separate filter and anchoring elements spaced axially along said support and each comprising a core carried by the support and a plurality of flexible, resilient wires having proximal portions attached to the core and distal portions extending distally of the core and configured to expand into resilient contact with walls of a vessel, said wires converging proximally toward their respective cores to define apices of the respective elements, said filter element being spaced distally of said anchoring element, and said anchoring element alone including gripping elements carried by distal portions of said wires and adapted to grip the walls of the vessel to anchor the filter assembly in the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter actuation handle for deflecting a distal end of a tubular catheter body including first, second and third actuation wires extending from a proximal end of the body. The handle comprises a grip portion, a first actuator, first and second stationary gear racks, first and second moveable gear racks, first and second pinion gears, and a second actuator. The grip portion is coupled to the proximal end of the body. The first actuator is pivotally coupled to the grip portion. The first and second stationary gear racks are fixed relative to the grip portion. The first and second moveable gear racks are moveable relative to the grip portion and couple to the first and second actuation wires, respectively. The first pinion gear is coupled to the first actuator and located between, and engaged with, the first stationary gear rack and the first moveable gear rack.

Abstract: An ablation catheter having a catheter shaft and a virtual electrode, the virtual electrode comprising portholes through an outer peripheral wall of the catheter shaft and a metal electrode, the catheter being used for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an active region, which is either a looped structure transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft, or a linear structure that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. During use, the active region is directed into contact with, for example, the wall of a pulmonary vein. Upon energization, the virtual electrode creates a continuous lesion on an inner wall of the pulmonary vein, thereby electrically isolating the pulmonary vein from the left atrium.