Abstract: A stent formed of a metallic material having a two-way memory adapted to be retrieved or repositioned after delivery includes an elongated tubular body and at least one crown connected to a respective longitudinal end of the body, the crown including a plurality of unconnected leaves, each leaf having a longitudinally extending frame connected at one end to the end of the body. A method of manufacturing the stent so that the crown has a greater two-way memory effect than the body is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular stent comprises at least one stent module including an intermediate segment consisting of one of either a closed-cell segment or a Z-segment and a pair of end segments connected to respective longitudinal ends of said intermediate segment, each end segment consisting of the other of said closed-cell segment or Z-segment, each closed-cell segment consisting solely of at least one annular closed-cell ring and each Z-segment consisting solely of at least one annular Z-ring. A method of manufacturing a stent form a small diameter tube includes laser-cutting the small diameter tube to define a plurality of longitudinally adjacent Z-rings, providing interconnector portions of said tube integrally joining facing aligned or offset Z-rings, expanding the small diameter tube, and removing predetermined interconnector portions from the expanded tube to provide the predetermined desired arrangement of interconnected closed-cell rings and Z-rings.

Abstract: A stent formed of a metallic material having a two-way memory adapted to be retrieved or repositioned after delivery includes an elongated tubular body and at least one crown connected to a respective longitudinal end of said body, the crown including a plurality of unconnected leaves, each leaf having a longitudinally extending frame connected at one end to said end of said body. A method of manufacturing the stent to that the crown has a greater two-way memory effect than the body is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular stent comprises at least one stent module including an intermediate segment consisting of one of either a closed-cell segment or a Z-segment and a pair of end segments connected to respective longitudinal ends of said intermediate segment, each end segment consisting of the other of said closed-cell segment or Z-segment, each closed-cell segment consisting solely of at least one annular closed-cell ring and each Z-segment consisting solely of at least one annular Z-ring. A method of manufacturing a stent form a small diameter tube includes laser-cutting the small diameter tube to define a plurality of longitudinally adjacent Z-rings, providing interconnector portions of said tube integrally joining facing aligned or offset Z-rings, expanding the small diameter tube, and removing predetermined interconnector portions from the expanded tube to provide the predetermined desired arrangement of interconnected closed-cell rings and Z-rings.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

Abstract: A first stent delivery system provided with a sheath for covering the stent, the sheath including proximal sheath portion adapted to be movable in a proximal direction and a distal sheath portion adapted to be moveable in a distal direction. A second stent delivery system including an outer and intermediate tubular members covering a chamber with a preloaded stent, the outer tubular member being retractable prior to the retraction of the intermediate sheath and release of the stent. A third stent delivery system including with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the system for fixing the system in place within the vessel prior to the release of the stent thereby insure accurate stent deployment.

Abstract: A first stent delivery system provided with a sheath for covering the stent, the sheath including proximal sheath portion adapted to be movable in a proximal direction and a distal sheath portion adapted to be moveable in a distal direction. A second stent delivery system including an outer and intermediate tubular members covering a chamber with a preloaded stent, the outer tubular member being retractable prior to the retraction of the intermediate sheath and release of the stent. A third stent delivery system including with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the system for fixing the system in place within the vessel prior to the release of the stent thereby insure accurate stent deployment.

Abstract: A first stent delivery system provided with a sheath for covering the stent, the sheath including proximal sheath portion adapted to be movable in a proximal direction and a distal sheath portion adapted to be moveable in a distal direction. A second stent delivery system including an outer and intermediate tubular members covering a chamber with a preloaded stent, the outer tubular member being retractable prior to the retraction of the intermediate sheath and release of the stent. A third stent delivery system including with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the system for fixing the system in place within the vessel prior to the release of the stent thereby insure accurate stent deployment.

Abstract: Methods for delivery and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

Abstract: Methods for delivery and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

Abstract: A first stent delivery system provided with a sheath for covering the stent, the sheath including proximal sheath portion adapted to be movable in a proximal direction and a distal sheath portion adapted to be moveable in a distal direction. A second stent delivery system including an outer and intermediate tubular members covering a chamber with a preloaded stent, the outer tubular member being retractable prior to the retraction of the intermediate sheath and release of the stent. A third stent delivery system including with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the system for fixing the system in place within the vessel prior to the release of the stent thereby insure accurate stent deployment.

Abstract: A stent formed of a metallic material having a two-way memory adapted to be retrieved or repositioned after delivery includes an elongated tubular body and at least one crown connected to a respective longitudinal end of said body, the crown including a plurality of unconnected leaves, each leaf having a longitudinally extending frame connected at one end to said end of said body. A method of manufacturing the stent so that the crown has a greater two-way memory effect than the body is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.

Abstract: A modular stent comprises at least one stent module including an intermediate segment consisting of one of either a closed-cell segment or a Z-segment and a pair of end segments connected to respective longitudinal ends of said intermediate segment, each end segment consisting of the other of said closed-cell segment or Z-segment, each closed-cell segment consisting solely of at least one annular closed-cell ring and each Z-segment consisting solely of at least one annular Z-ring. A method of manufacturing a stent from a small diameter tube includes laser-cutting the small diameter tube to define a plurality of longitudinally adjacent Z-rings, providing interconnector portions of said tube integrally joining facing aligned or offset Z-rings, expanding the small diameter tube, and removing predetermined interconnector portions from the expanded tube to provide the predetermined desired arrangement of interconnected closed-cell rings and Z-rings.

Abstract: Methods for delivery and deploying a stent formed of a shape memory alloy to a desired position in a tubular area of the body, and/or for repositioning and/or retrieving a stent formed of a two-way shape memory alloy. An arrangement is provided by which the temperature of the stent is locally adjusted during delivery, repositioning and/or retrieval in a safe and controlled manner by engagement with an expandable and collapsible thermal transfer member situated on a catheter assembly.