Abstract: A linear actuator assembly that can include a drive shaft, and a piston, where rotation of the drive shaft extends or retracts the piston at a speed that automatically changes based on an opposing force applied to the piston. A system that can include a piece of rig equipment configured to engage an object, with one or more linear actuator assemblies incorporated into the piece of rig equipment, where the linear actuator assemblies selectively engage the object and each of the linear actuator assemblies can include a drive shaft, and a piston, and where rotation of the drive shaft extends or retracts the piston at a speed that automatically changes based on an opposing force applied to the piston.

Abstract: A method for making a graft layer is provided. The graft layer has at least two layers with different porosities. The two layers are applied by electrospinning. The parameters of the electrospinning may be varied when applying the first and second layers in order to achieve different porosities of the first and second layers.

Abstract: Medical devices, as well as methods of treatment and manufacturing such devices, are provided for applying vascular therapy locally within the body vessel. The medical devices include an expandable tubular frame and a sleeve or graft material. The medical devices can be used for local delivery of a therapeutic agent within a body vessel or a tamponade for a lacerated body vessel, while simultaneously allowing perfusion of fluid or blood flow distal of the implanted medical device. The tubular frame of the medical device may have a proximal non-expanding portion and a distal self-expanding support structure. The self-expanding support structure can expand radially outward to urge the graft material to contact the wall of the body vessel. In the expanded configuration, a portion of the device allows fluid flow to continue while the sleeve is against the body vessel wall.

Abstract: A method for making a graft layer is provided. The graft layer has at least two layers with different porosities. The two layers are applied by electrospinning. The parameters of the electrospinning may be varied when applying the first and second layers in order to achieve different porosities of the first and second layers.

Abstract: A method for making a graft layer is provided. The graft layer has at least two layers with different porosities. The two layers are applied by electrospinning. The parameters of the electrospinning may be varied when applying the first and second layers in order to achieve different porosities of the first and second layers.

Abstract: A two-stage method of compressing a stent entails providing an expandable stent (100,105) in a radially expanded state. An outward pressure is applied to an inner surface of the tubular framework to support the stent, and a diameter of the stent is reduced to a first compressed diameter (D1) while applying the outward pressure. The outward pressure is halted after reaching the first compressed diameter. According to an embodiment in which the stent is balloon-expandable, a delivery balloon catheter (130) comprising an uninflated balloon in a delivery configuration is inserted into the lumen after halting the outward pressure. The diameter of the stent is reduced to a second compressed diameter (D2) smaller than the first compressed diameter to crimp the stent onto the delivery balloon catheter.

Abstract: A method of loading a medical device into a delivery system includes providing a two-stage shape memory alloy at a temperature at which at least a portion of the alloy includes austenite. A stress which is sufficient to form R-phase from at least a portion of the austenite is applied to the medical device at the temperature. A delivery configuration of the medical device is obtained, and the medical device is loaded into a restraining member. Preferably, the delivery configuration of the medical device includes stress-induced R-phase.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for deployment in a body vessel is provided for filtering emboli within the body vessel. The embolic protection device generally includes a filter having a plurality of openings formed therethrough and an extraction element configured to be movable with respect to the filter between a non-extraction position and an extraction position. The extraction element is located distally of the filter when in the non-extraction position so as to allow the filter to open into an expanded state to collect the emboli. Additionally, the extraction element is disposed about at least a portion of the filter when in the extraction position so as to close the filter into a collapsed state and to permit the embolic protection device to be extracted from the body vessel.

Abstract: An endovascular device tip assembly and method of making the same, incorporating a radiopaque marker usable with catheters and other suitable endovascular devices is provided. The tip assembly incorporates a radiopaque marker device by providing a counterbore within a primary bore of a tubular tip of an endovascular device. The marker device is fitted securely within the counterbore and the tubular tip is further deformed distally of the marker in order to secure the marker within the device.

Abstract: An expandable stent radially adjustable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. The stent generally includes a main body and a plurality of connector segments. The main body has first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, and a plurality of ring structures. Each of the plurality of connector segments joins adjacent ring structures. Some ring structures may be connected by a pair of diamond connector segments that define a diamond-shaped portion when the stent is in the expanded state. Some ring structures may be connected by flex connector segments oriented to permit rotation of the second ring structure about the longitudinal axis during radial expansion of the stent.

Abstract: An embolic protection device includes a basket formed from flexible struts. The struts extend from a first end of the basket to the second end of the basket. The struts form a middle portion of the basket where the struts extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, running between the first and second end of the basket.

Abstract: A method for making a graft layer is provided. The graft layer has at least two layers with different porosities. The two layers are applied by electrospinning. The parameters of the electrospinning may be varied when applying the first and second layers in order to achieve different porosities of the first and second layers.

Abstract: A quaternary nickel-titanium alloy includes: Ni at a concentration of between about 48 at. % and about 52 at. %; Cr at a concentration of from about 0.3 at. % to about 1 at. %; Co at a concentration of from about 0.5 at. % to about 2 at. %; and Ti at a concentration wherein a ratio of Ni:Ti is about 1.03. According to one exemplary embodiment of the alloy, the concentration of Cr may be about 0.5 at. % and the concentration of Co may be about 0.75 at. %. According to another exemplary embodiment of the alloy, the concentration of Cr may be about 0.25 at. % and the concentration of Co may be about 0.5 at. %.

Abstract: A device for capturing emboli during treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a base having expanded and collapsed states, and proximal and distal portions. The distal portion has a support portion configured to deploy in the body vessel when the base is in the expanded state. The device further comprises a filter portion disposed on the distal portion of the base. The filter portion includes a lip extending to a filter body to a filter end. The filter portion is configured to engage the support portion when deployed to define an opening of the filter portion for capturing emboli. The device further comprises a collector through which the base is slideably disposed for delivery and retrieval of the device.

Abstract: An occlusion device for implantation within a body lumen includes a distal end, a proximal end, and an expandable member extending from the distal end to the proximal end. The expandable tubular member defines a passageway extending from the distal end to the proximal end. The expandable tubular member includes a plurality of struts that are joined to adjacent struts to form a plurality of closed shapes each defining a closed path. The plurality of struts are joined to form a plurality of fixed joints so that adjacent struts are pivotable around respective one of the fixed joints when an external force is applied to the expandable tubular member. The tubular member defines an ellipsoid shape.

Abstract: A process to load a medical device comprising a shape memory material into a delivery system is described herein. According to one aspect, the method includes applying a force to the medical device to obtain a delivery configuration thereof, where the device is at a first temperature within an R-phase temperature range of the shape memory material during application of the force. The medical device is cooled in the delivery configuration to a second temperature at or below a martensite finish temperature of the shape memory material. The force is then removed from the medical device, and the device is loaded into a delivery system. Preferably, the medical device substantially maintains the delivery configuration during the loading process.

Abstract: An embolic protection device including a core wire and a basket is disclosed. The basket includes struts and a filter portion formed from a cannula. The struts extend from a first end of the basket to the second end of the basket. The filter portion extends from the struts and is formed unitarily therewith. The filter portion extends between a middle portion of the basket and the second end of the basket and includes openings in the cannula configured to allow the passage of blood cells therethrough.

Abstract: An embolic protection device includes a foam body attached to a plurality of flexible struts. The foam body has a generally conical geometry and the bottom of the conical geometry having a generally conical recess. The filter portion has pores sized such that blood cells can pass through the foam body, but larger material such as objects would be trapped in the recess. Each strut is attached along the periphery of the foam body and extend from the first end of the foam body to a connection point located proximate the first end.

Abstract: A two-stage method of compressing a stent entails providing an expandable stent (100,105) in a radially expanded state. An outward pressure is applied to an inner surface of the tubular framework to support the stent, and a diameter of the stent is reduced to a first compressed diameter (D1) while applying the outward pressure. The outward pressure is halted after reaching the first compressed diameter. According to an embodiment in which the stent is balloon-expandable, a delivery balloon catheter (130) comprising an uninflated balloon in a delivery configuration is inserted into the lumen after halting the outward pressure. The diameter of the stent is reduced to a second compressed diameter (D2) smaller than the first compressed diameter to crimp the stent onto the delivery balloon catheter.

Abstract: A method of characterizing phase transformations of a shape memory material specimen entails recording data from the specimen during heating and cooling. The temperature of the specimen is changed in a first direction to a first temperature sufficient to define a first inflection and a second inflection in the data being recorded. The temperature of the specimen is changed in a second direction to a second temperature sufficient to define a third inflection in the data. The third inflection is formed by overlapping primary and secondary sub-inflections. The temperature of the specimen is changed in the first direction to a third temperature sufficient to define the first inflection but not sufficient to define the second inflection. The temperature of the specimen is then changed in the second direction to a fourth temperature sufficient to define the secondary sub-inflection in the data being recorded.