Abstract: A frame for an implantable medical device, comprising: a first member, comprising a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells, wherein the first member is annular and defines a longitudinal direction which is parallel to the axis of the first member, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction; a second member, comprising a plurality of struts and coupled to the first member at circumferentially distributed locations; wherein the second member overlaps a first end portion of the first member and extends beyond the first end portion of the first member.

Abstract: A method of designing or selecting an implantable medical device comprises the steps of: i) obtaining a plurality of measured data points of a characteristic of an anatomical feature of an individual; ii) using said data points to construct a surrogate model of said characteristic, the surrogate model being constructed by interpolating or regressing measured data points of the characteristic, and using said surrogate model to obtain predicted values of said characteristic at a plurality of locations; iii) using said predicted values to determine or select at least one value of a design parameter of the implantable medical device. There is further disclosed a method of monitoring or diagnosing a disease or disorder.

Abstract: A frame for an implantable medical device, comprising: a first member, comprising a plurality of struts defining a plurality of cells, wherein the first member is annular and defines a longitudinal direction which is parallel to the axis of the first member, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction; a second member, comprising a plurality of struts and coupled to the first member at circumferentially distributed locations; wherein the second member overlaps a first end portion of the first member and extends beyond the first end portion of the first member.

Abstract: A tubular stent has first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The tubular stent is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis, the struts delineating a plurality of cells within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell. There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis of cells from the nodal cell to a first distal cell in the row that is closer to the first or second end of the tubular stent. There is a second distal cell in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis from the nodal cell and the first distal cell. The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings. Each ring extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and the rings are located adjacent to each other parallel to the longitudinal axis to define the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A method of designing or selecting an implantable medical device comprises the steps of: i) obtaining a plurality of measured data points of a characteristic of an anatomical feature of an individual; ii) using said data points to construct a surrogate model of said characteristic, the surrogate model being constructed by interpolating or regressing measured data points of the characteristic, and using said surrogate model to obtain predicted values of said characteristic at a plurality of locations; iii) using said predicted values to determine or select at least one value of a design parameter of the implantable medical device. There is further disclosed a method of monitoring or diagnosing a disease or disorder.

Abstract: A tubular stent has first and second ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The tubular stent is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis, the struts delineating a plurality of cells within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell. There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis of cells from the nodal cell to a first distal cell in the row that is closer to the first or second end of the tubular stent. There is a second distal cell in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis from the nodal cell and the first distal cell. The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings. Each ring extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and the rings are located adjacent to each other parallel to the longitudinal axis to define the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A tubular stent (1) has first and second ends (2,3) and a longitudinal axis (4) therebetween. The tubular stent (1) is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis (4), the struts delineating a plurality of cells {23, 30, 31, 32, 33) within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis (4). At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell (23). There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) of cells from the at least one nodal cell (23) to a first distal cell (30) in the row that is closer to the first or second end (2, 3) of the tubular stent (1). There is a second distal cell (31) in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) from the nodal cell (23) and the first distal cell (30). The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings (6, 6?, 9, 9?, 13, 13?, 16, 16?, 17, 17?).

Abstract: A method of design optimization, the method comprising producing a first computer model of a first geometry, producing a CFD mesh from the first computer model, using the CFD mesh from the first computer to produce a measure of the fluid dynamic performance of the first geometry, producing a new computer model of a new geometry, producing a CFD mesh from the new computer model, using the CFD mesh to produce a measure of the fluid dynamic performance of the new geometry, and “identifying an optimal geometry using the fluid dynamic performance measurements of the first and new geometries previously produced.

Abstract: A tubular stent (1) has first and second ends (2,3) and a longitudinal axis (4) therebetween. The tubular stent (1) is formed from a network of struts which defines a cylindrical surface about the longitudinal axis (4), the struts delineating a plurality of cells {23, 30, 31, 32, 33) within the network, there being rows of cells parallel to the longitudinal axis (4). At least one cell in each row is a nodal cell (23). There is an increase in the maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) of cells from the at (east one nodal cell (23) to a first distal cell (30) in the row that is closer to the first or second end (2, 3) of the tubular stent (1). There is a second distal cell (31) in the row which has a different maximum length parallel to the longitudinal axis (4) from the nodal cell (23) and the first distal cell (30). The network of struts comprises a plurality of circumferential rings (6, 6?, 9, 9?, 13, 13?, 16, 16?, 17, 17?).

Abstract: A method of designing a structure, such as an airfoil section. A first set of candidate designs is generated in a first optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of M design variables associated with an M-dimensional design space. A subset of the first set of candidate designs is selected. The selected subset of candidate designs is analysed by proper orthogonal decomposition or principal component analysis to generate an N-dimensional design space defined by N design variables, N being less than M. A second set of one or more candidate designs is then generated in a second optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of N design variables associated with the N-dimensional design space.

Abstract: A method of design optimization includes: a) producing a first computer model of a first geometry, the first computer model including: i) a set of nodes; and ii) a set of construction points each having a position defined by a local co-ordinate system; b) producing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) mesh from the first computer model; c) using the CFD mesh to produce a measure of the fluid dynamic performance of the first geometry, such as drag count or lift coefficient; d) producing a new computer model of a new geometry by: i) moving one or more of the nodes; and ii) recalculating the positions of the construction points in response to movement of the one or more nodes; e) producing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) mesh from the new computer model; f) using the CFD mesh to produce a measure of the fluid dynamic performance of the new geometry, such as drag count or lift coefficient; and g) identifying an optimal geometry using the fluid dynamic performance measurements of the first and new geometries

Abstract: A method of designing a structure, such as an airfoil section. A first set of candidate designs is generated in a first optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of M design variables associated with an M-dimensional design space. A subset of the first set of candidate designs is selected. The selected subset of candidate designs is analysed by proper orthogonal decomposition or principal component analysis to generate an N-dimensional design space defined by N design variables, N being less than M. A second set of one or more candidate designs is then generated in a second optimisation process, each candidate design comprising a set of N design variables associated with the N-dimensional design space.

Abstract: A method of identifying a configuration of an object, the method comprising the steps of: specifying a plurality of different object configurations; for each specified object configuration, using a first simulation procedure to simulate the specified conditions so as to generate data that can be used to evaluate the object configuration against the optimisation criterion; identifying a functional relationship between data generated for each specified object configuration; using the functional relationship and the optimisation criterion to select a data point, and identifying an object configuration corresponding thereto; and using a second simulation procedure, wherein the second simulation procedure comprises iteratively calculating values of variables characterising the object configuration until the values satisfy a convergence criterion, wherein for at least one of the specified object configurations, the first simulation procedure is completed before the values calculated therein satisfy the convergence