Abstract: A binding component for binding together a pair of biological tissues. The binding component includes an elongated body defining a body longitudinal axis, the body being made, at least in part, of a shape memory material. The body is configured and sized so as to be both substantially flexible and substantially compressible in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding together two biological tissue portions with a binding component. The apparatus includes a body defining a body handle for receiving a hand; at least one drum rotatably mounted to the body, the at least one drum including a binding component attachment for attaching the binding component thereto; a drum actuating lever mounted to the body, the drum actuating lever being operatively coupled to the at least one drum for rotating the at least one drum in a predetermined direction when the drum actuating lever is moved; and a crimping assembly operatively coupled to the body for holding a crimp component and selectively crimping the crimp component to the binding component.

Abstract: A binding component for binding together a pair of biological tissues. The binding component includes an elongated body defining a body longitudinal axis, the body being made, at least in part, of a shape memory material. The body is configured and sized so as to be both substantially flexible and substantially compressible in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a balloon-deployable stent having a progressive expansion over time and a method for using such a stent, thereby reducing restenosis. The stent has a progressive radial expansion of an armature (12) comprising a material having an elasticity allowing the self-deployment of the armature and of a matrix (14) comprising a second material having a rigidity and a conformation allowing a retention of the armature in a contracted position. The stent is deployed with the help of a balloon delivered into the armature, which allows an irreversible deformation of the matrix during the inflation of the balloon and enables a radial expansion of the armature.