Abstract: Vascular prostheses and methods of use are provided, wherein the vascular prosthesis includes a plurality of bistable unit cells configured to form a helical structure. A visualization catheter also is provided for use ensuring accurate measurement of a lesion and ensuring delivery and placement of the vascular prosthesis.

Abstract: A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.

Abstract: A stent is described comprising a unit cell having a negative spring rate and a bistable function. The unit cell comprises first and second segments, the first segment being more rigid than the second segment. The second segment is coupled to the first segment, and the first segment comprises a substantially fixed sinusoidal shape. In the contracted state, the second segment is held stable in a sinusoidal shape, but when a force is applied the second segment bends out to a stable, convex-shaped deployed state. The second segments withstand the application of radial forces in the convex-shaped deployed state, and diametral recoil of the stent is minimized.

Abstract: A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.

Abstract: A medical device including a fiber-reinforced membrane. The fibers can be embedded into or attached to the membrane to strengthen the device. In one embodiment, the device can be a vascular filter that is attached to an expandable frame. In one device fabrication approach, the device can be made by building it up around a mold. In addition, the mold can be coated with an intermediate material that is easily separated from the membrane material. The intermediate material is covered with the membrane material, after which the fibers are placed in contact with the membrane material that covers the intermediate material. The fibers can then be covered with additional membrane material to embed the fibers into the membrane, after which the mold may be removed by melting, dissolving, deforming or related techniques. Similarly, the intermediate material can be removed from the membrane.

Abstract: An improved endoluminal device. The device includes at least a control element (such as a guide wire) connected to a surrounding sheath and an elastic bias section to control changes to a bias force formed between the control element and the sheath. By applying an external force at a proximal end of the device, the shape can change between varying degrees of deformed shapes and an undeformed shape. In this way, both ease of insertion into the body lumen and anchoring to the lumen is promoted. A distal end of the assembly can be made to change shape for improved steerability, anchoring or both. In a particular form, the anchoring section can work as a floating parachute-like device to pull the assembly by means of the flow in the body lumen, while in a more particular form, the floating parachute-like device may be modified to act as a filter for trapping emboli.

Abstract: A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bistable cells and their use in devices, particularly medical devices such as stents, clamps and valves. An expandable stent formed of a plurality of bistable cells is described. The stent has two or more stable configurations, including a first stable configuration with a first diameter and a second stable configuration with a second, larger diameter. A valve comprising a bistable cell for use in eliminating incontinence is also disclosed.

Abstract: A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to place a bifurcated stent into a body lumen by using a delivery device requiring only one incision. Relative axial movements between a catheter and a sheath in the delivery device permit the insertion and expansion of the stent. During placement into and removal from the patient's body, the branch sections of the bifurcated stent are held in substantially parallel arrangement. Opposing tendencies between a self-expanding stent and leg portions within the delivery device can be tailored such that, during deployment, the bifurcation bias due to the elastic spring forces in the stent overcome the parallel bias within the delivery device. In situations where a balloon-expandable stent is used, the delivery device obviates the need for balloon change during stent placement.

Abstract: An expandable inter-vertebral prosthesis. The prosthesis takes over the supporting function of the inter-vertebra disc between two adjacent vertebra bodies, and includes one or more cages and a reinforcing element. Upon cage expansion, a hollow central portion of the cage can accommodate the reinforcing element. The reinforcing element, upon expansion, assumes a spiral shape, and substantially fills up the hollow central portion of the cage to provide enhanced load-bearing capability in a substantially longitudinal spinal direction. Hinges in the cage permit expansion and, once the cage has expanded, prevent it from collapsing. Delivery of the cage in an unexpanded condition into an inter-vertebral space is ensured with a restraining tool that engages the hinge members. The cage, reinforcing element and restraining tool are inserted with the aid of a conventional delivery tube.

Abstract: A method of processing a Ni—Ti—Nb based alloy which contains from about 4 to about 14 atomic percent Nb and in which the ratio of atomic percent Ni to atomic percent Ti is from about 3.8 to 1.2, comprising working the alloy sufficient to impart a textured structure to the alloy, at a temperature below the recrystallisation temperature of the alloy. Preferably, the alloy is worked at least 10%, by a technique such as rolling or drawing, or another technique which produces a similar crystal structure. The alloy has increased stiffness compared with Ni—Ti binary alloys with superelastic properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to place a bifurcated stent into a body lumen by using a delivery device requiring only one incision. Relative axial movements between a catheter and a sheath in the delivery device permit the insertion and expansion of the stent. During placement into and removal from the patient's body, the branch sections of the bifurcated stent are held in substantially parallel arrangement. Opposing tendencies between a self-expanding stent and leg portions within the delivery device can be tailored such that, during deployment, the bifurcation bias due to the elastic spring forces in the stent overcome the parallel bias within the delivery device. In situations where a balloon-expandable stent is used, the delivery device obviates the need for balloon change during stent placement.

Abstract: An expandable inter-vertebral prosthesis. The prosthesis takes over the supporting function of the inter-vertebra disc between two adjacent vertebra bodies, and includes one or more cages and a reinforcing element. Upon cage expansion, a hollow central portion of the cage can accommodate the reinforcing element. The reinforcing element, upon expansion, assumes a spiral shape, and substantially fills up the hollow central portion of the cage to provide enhanced load-bearing capability in a substantially longitudinal spinal direction. Hinges in the cage permit expansion and, once the cage has expanded, prevent it from collapsing. Delivery of the cage in an unexpanded condition into an inter-vertebral space is ensured with a restraining tool that engages the hinge members. The cage, reinforcing element and restraining tool are inserted with the aid of a conventional delivery tube.

Abstract: A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the behavior is superelastic. The wall of the tube has been provided with a plurality of slots in specific places, often near or at the distal end of the instrument, and in specific arrangements which allow local variations in diameter, shape, and/or length. These variations can either be caused by the memory effect during temperature change or by superelastic behavior during change of the mechanical influences on the memory metal by the surrounding material.

Abstract: The present invention is an instrument (10) which includes a tubular section (12) having a wall (13) made of a material exhibiting superelastic characteristics and a delivery tube (14) having a bore (15) through which the tubular section (12) passes. The instrument (10) may be adapted for use in medical/dental and non-medical procedures. The superelastic character of the wall material is used in combination with the delivery tube (14) to alternately restrict the shape of the wall (13) and allow it to change to its unconstrained shape. Thus, the wall (13) can be sufficiently deformed to permit the tubular section (12) to pass in and out of and through the delivery tube (14) while at the same time enabling the tubular section (12) to have a shape when extended outside of the delivery tube (14) that is sufficiently bent or curved to be suitable for performing a desired function, for example a medical or dental procedure inside a patient's body.

Abstract: A bone anchoring assembly and method for attaching a body part to a patient's bone which includes a bone anchor that is implantable in bone having an opening leading to a cavity formed therein. A coupling member with at least one portion made of a shape memory material having a transformation temperature range. The coupling member is movable through the opening and in and out of the cavity at temperatures below the transformation temperature range. With it in the cavity and at temperatures above the transformation temperature range, the coupling member is locked within the bone anchor. The coupling member is attachable to the body part.

Abstract: A medical/dental apparatus utilizing the properties of shape memory materials to variably control the spatial relationship between two or more elements having portions which are proximately disposed and overlapping relative to one another. Another portion of each element is connectable to part of a patient's body.

Abstract: Release mechanism for releasing a door-spring blocked by a blocking device, which mechanism comprises a temperature-sensitive control element for direct thermal actuation, by means of which the mechanism intervenes in the blocking device at a predetermined temperature of that element such that the door-spring is released. The release mechanism comprises for instance a rod guided for movement in longitudinal direction between a first end position and a second end position under a first bias in the direction to this first end position, and a control element comprising an SME material which at the predetermined temperature encloses the rod under a second bias greater than the first and in opposite direction thereto, which rod is coupled to a control member of the blocking device, which control member keeps the blocking device in operation in the first end position of the rod and renders the blocking device inoperative in the second end position of the rod.

Abstract: The present invention is a prosthesis (10) for replacing a body part which includes a first element (16) adapted to receive at least a portion of a second element (18) in an operative manner. The present prosthesis (10) also includes a variable locking ring (20) made of a shape memory material having a transformation temperature range ("TTR"). The locking ring (20) is used to allow insertion of the second element (18) into the first (16) at least at temperatures below the TTR and to lock the elements (16, 18) together at least at temperatures above the TTR. With it at a temperature below its TTR, the locking ring (20) is positioned between the two elements (16, 18). With it so positioned, the locking ring (20) is adapted to interlock the elements (16, 18) together at temperatures above its TTR by at least attempting to change its shape.