Abstract: A heart valve that can be expanded following its implantation in a patient, such as to accommodate the growth of a patient and the corresponding growth of the area where the valve is implanted, and to minimize paravalvular leakage. In one aspect, the invention may maximize the orifice size of the surgical valve. The invention includes expandable implantable conduits and expandable bioprosthetic stented valves. In one aspect of the invention, the valve may be adapted to accommodate growth of a patient to address limitation on bioprosthetic valve lifespans.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve including a replacement valve having a tubular valve body wall, an expandable stent having a framework with first and second ends, and suturing holding the framework to the valve body at the first and second ends. The suturing at the first end is colored differently from the suturing at the second end.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: A heart valve that can be expanded following its implantation in a patient, such as to accommodate the growth of a patient and the corresponding growth of the area where the valve is implanted, and to minimize paravalvular leakage. In one aspect, the invention may maximize the orifice size of the surgical valve. The invention includes expandable implantable conduits and expandable bioprosthetic stented valves. In one aspect of the invention, the valve may be adapted to accommodate growth of a patient to address limitation on bioprosthetic valve lifespans.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit, at a determined position in the tubular element with a wall comprising a cavity, is pushed there by a catheter and the unit comprises deformable feelers to, under the control of remote activation elements, change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: A method of percutaneously delivering a multi-layered stent assembly to a desired implantation location of a patient including the steps of radially compressing a multi-layered stent assembly to a compressed size for implantation in a patient, the multi-layered stent assembly including a first stent, a second stent coaxially positioned within at least a portion of a length of the first stent, and a valve, wherein the first stent comprises at least one different material property than the second stent. The method further includes delivering the multi-layered stent assembly to the desired implantation location of the patient using a delivery system and substantially simultaneously expanding the first stent and the second stent of the multi-layered stent assembly at the desired implantation location to a radially expanded size that is larger than the compressed size.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: Described is a prosthetic valve assembly comprising: a radially self-expandable stent configured to expand to bear against a wall of a native body lumen; and an implantable prosthetic valve, having a diameter, the valve being mounted inside the stent; wherein the diameter of the stent is greater than the diameter of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A heart valve that can be expanded following its implantation in a patient, such as to accommodate the growth of a patient and the corresponding growth of the area where the valve is implanted, and to minimize paravalvular leakage. In one aspect, the invention may maximize the orifice size of the surgical valve. The invention includes expandable implantable conduits and expandable bioprosthetic stented valves. In one aspect of the invention, the valve may be adapted to accommodate growth of a patient to address limitation on bioprosthetic valve lifespans.

Abstract: Described is a delivery system for minimally invasive delivery of a self-expandable stent to a body lumen, and particularly delivery of a prosthetic valve to the right ventricular outflow tract. Also described is a method of loading a stent onto such a delivery system, and a method of delivering a self-expandable stent to a desired anatomic site.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit, at a determined position in the tubular element with a wall comprising a cavity, is pushed there by a catheter and the unit comprises deformable feelers to, under the control of remote activation elements, change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: The implant implantation unit (2), at a determined position in the tubular element (51) with a wall comprising a cavity (50), is pushed there by a catheter (60) and the unit comprises deformable feelers (31) to, under the control of remote activation elements (42), change from a stowed form to a deployed functional form, to detect the cavity (50) and position itself there with reference to the position of the cavity.

Abstract: A method of percutaneously delivering a multi-layered stent assembly to a desired implantation location of a patient including the steps of radially compressing a multi-layered stent assembly to a compressed size for implantation in a patient, the multi-layered stent assembly including a first stent, a second stent coaxially positioned within at least a portion of a length of the first stent, and a valve, wherein the first stent comprises at least one different material property than the second stent. The method further includes delivering the multi-layered stent assembly to the desired implantation location of the patient using a delivery system and substantially simultaneously expanding the first stent and the second stent of the multi-layered stent assembly at the desired implantation location to a radially expanded size that is larger than the compressed size.

Abstract: A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The replacement heart valve includes a stent structure including a generally tubular body portion with an interior area and a series of wire portions arranged in a mesh-like configuration, and at least one stent post engaging structure extending radially outwardly from the body portion for engaging with an outer surface of a stent post of the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The stent structure further includes at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure.