Abstract: A stent for placement in a body lumen is fabricated by forming a tube having an un-deployed diameter sized for the tube to be placed on a deployment balloon and advanced through a body lumen to a deployment site. The tube is expandable upon inflation of the balloon to an enlarged diameter sized for the tube to be retained within the lumen at the site upon deflation and withdrawal of the balloon. The tube has a stent axis extending between first and second axial ends of the tube. The tube has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The tube is polished to polish the exterior surface to a smooth surface finish and with at least a portion of the interior surface having a rough surface finish rougher than the surface finish of the exterior surface.

Abstract: A prothesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular three-dimensionally braided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide one or more layers of sheeting that reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: A prosthesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular three-dimensionally braided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide one or more layers of sheeting that reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stent including a stent body having a stent axis. The stent body includes structural members defining openings through the stent body. The structural members are provided with regions having different widths. The relative sizes of the widths are selected to control the length of the stent body as the stent body is radially expanded from an un-deployed orientation to a deployed orientation. In one embodiment, the regions having different widths are provided by tapering the widths of selected segments of the structural member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a catheter including a segment having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of circumferential supports surrounding the axis. A plurality of filaments surround the circumferential supports to enhance torque transmission through the catheter segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a catheter including a segment having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of circumferential supports surrounding the axis. A plurality of filaments surround the circumferential supports to enhance torque transmission through the catheter segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a segment of catheter having a longitudinal axis extending between distal and proximal ends of the catheter segment. The segment includes a plurality of circumferential supports surrounding the longitudinal axis. The segment also includes axially members connected to the circumferential supports. The axial members extend in the direction generally along the longitudinal axis. The axial members include three ends that are positioned between the circumferential supports.

Abstract: A stent for placement in a body lumen is fabricated by forming a tube having an un-deployed diameter sized for the tube to be placed on a deployment balloon and advanced through a body lumen to a deployment site. The tube is expandable upon inflation of the balloon to an enlarged diameter sized for the tube to be retained within the lumen at the site upon deflation and withdrawal of the balloon. The tube has a stent axis extending between first and second axial ends of the tube. The tube has an exterior surface and an interior surface. The tube is polished to polish the exterior surface to a smooth surface finish and with at least a portion of the interior surface having a rough surface finish rougher than the surface finish of the exterior surface.

Abstract: The present invention is an occlusion device adapted for implantation into a fluid flow-supporting body lumen. The occlusion device comprises a flexible support structure and a flexible fluid flow-occluding membrane that is positioned concentric with the flexible support structure. The support structure is formed from a plurality of interwoven filaments that form an axially flexible and radially compressible structure that, in its expanded state, engages the lumen. The membrane generally includes a constricted region and constriction means, such as a mechanical seal, for closing the membrane at one end. The membrane is formed from a plurality of filaments, and in one embodiment, the membrane filaments are tightly interbraided with the structure filaments to form the occlusion device. Alternatively, the membrane is separately fabricated of interwoven filaments, and is positioned either within the support structure or without the structure so as to surround the support structure.

Abstract: The expandable stent-graft generally defines a cylindrical lumen made from a stent having a discontinuous wall that is at least substantially covered with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene covering may be a biaxially oriented, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having nodules and longitudinal and circumferential fibrils or a uniaxially oriented, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. The expandable stent-graft expands and compresses in association with the stent structure as it is contracted and expanded.

Abstract: A intraluminal stent comprises a reticulated tube having an un-deployed diameter and expandable to an enlarge diameter. The tube includes a structural beam extending between first and second ends. The structural beam changes from a first geometry to a second geometry when the tube changes from the un-deployed diameter to the enlarged diameter. The structural beam includes first and second longitudinal elements each extending at least partially between the first and second ends and with a spacing between the first and second elements. Each of said first and second elements changes from the first geometry to the second geometry when the tube changes from the un-deployed diameter to the enlarged diameter for the spacing to remain substantially unchanged as the tube changes from the un-deployed diameter to the enlarged diameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an intraluminal stent including a reticulated tube having an un-deployed diameter and expandable to an enlarged diameter. When the tube is at the un-deployed diameter, the tube has cell-defining portions with opposing surfaces defining an open cell bounded by the cell-defining portions. The cell has a major axis and a minor axis. The cell-defining portions include first and second longitudinal segments each having a longitudinal axis extending parallel to and positioned on opposite sides of the cell major axis. The longitudinal segments have an undulating pattern to define a plurality of peaks and valleys spaced outwardly and inwardly, respectively, from the longitudinal axes. The first and second longitudinal segments are interconnected at opposite ends.

Abstract: A catheter includes a segment having a longitudinal axis. The segment has a helical coil extending coaxially with the longitudinal axis. The coil has a plurality of turns along a length of the axis. Adjacent turns have opposing surfaces joined by bridging members tying at least selected ones of the adjacent turns.

Abstract: A prothesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular interbraided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide a sheeting that occupies interstices between adjacent structural strands, to reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: A stent graft for transluminal implantation includes a resilient tubular interbraided latticework of metal or polymeric monofilaments, a tubular interbraided sleeve of polymeric multifilament yarns, and an adhesive layer between the sleeve and latticework for bonding them together. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in respective sets of axially spaced apart and oppositely directed helices, concentric on a common axis of the stent graft. The respective braid angles of the monofilaments and multifilament yarns are carefully matched to ensure that the latticework and sleeve behave according to substantially the same relationship governing the amount of radial reduction that accompanies a given axial elongation. According to a process for fabricating the stent graft, the latticework and sleeve are braided and thermally set independently, then bonded to one another by a silicone polymer adhesive applied evenly to the latticework in a liquid spray that also incorporates an organic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention is an occlusion device adapted for implantation into a fluid flow-supporting body lumen. The occlusion device comprises a flexible support structure and a flexible fluid flow-occluding membrane that is positioned concentric with the flexible support structure. The support structure is formed from a plurality of interwoven filaments that form an axially flexible and radially compressible structure that, in its expanded state, engages the lumen. The membrane generally includes a constricted region and constriction means, such as a mechanical seal, for closing the membrane at one end. The membrane is formed from a plurality of filaments, and in one embodiment, the membrane filaments are tightly interbraided with the structure filaments to form the occlusion device. Alternatively, the membrane is separately fabricated of interwoven filaments, and is positioned either within the support structure or without the structure so as to surround the support structure.

Abstract: A bifurcated stent graft implantable in branched internal passageways includes an open-frame stent latticework formed of helically wound structural strands, and a graft sleeve formed of interwoven textile strands. The sleeve is substantially impervious to fluids and is adjustable along with the graft between a nominal state and radially-reduced axially-elongated state, according to substantially the same relationship of radial reduction versus axial elongation. The sleeve and stent are bonded to one another at least at proximal and distal end regions of the stent graft. The sleeve preferably is surrounded by the stent, and incorporates a flow dividing feature in the form of an axially extending seam. The seam brings together portions of the sleeve that otherwise would be circumferentially spaced apart in the tubular sleeve shape.

Abstract: A radially self-expanding stent particularly suited for treating esophageal strictures, includes a medial region and proximal and distal cuffs having diameters greater than the medial region diameter when the stent is in the relaxed state. A silicone coating circumscribes the medial region, but the cuffs are not coated and retain their open weave construction. As a result, the cuffs remain particularly well suited to immediately contact esophageal wall tissue and resist stent migration, while the silicone coated medial region provides a barrier to tumor ingrowth, and has an enhanced radial restoring force to maintain an open passageway in the esophagus. A deployment device for the stent includes an interior catheter surrounded by the stent and having an esophageal dilation feature, along with an exterior catheter that radially compresses the stent.

Abstract: The expandable stent-graft generally defines a cylindrical lumen made from a stent having a discontinuous wall that is at least substantially covered with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene covering may be a biaxially oriented, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having nodules and longitudinal and circumferential fibrils or a uniaxially oriented, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. The expandable stent-graft expands and compresses in association with the stent structure as it is contracted and expanded.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for manufacturing a prothesis for intraluminal implantation. The prosthesis is formed with a flexible tubular interbraided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns, and can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are wound on a mandrel arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage while wound on a mandrel, or by a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience.