Abstract: The disclosure relates to support frames for prosthetic implantable valves. The support frames may include a plurality of symmetrically arrayed interconnected U-shaped member structures. Preferred support frames are tubular structures enclosing a longitudinal axis and including a plurality of U-shaped member structures facing a distal or a proximal end of the support frame. Each U-shaped member structure may be connected to a single longitudinally adjacent U-shaped member facing in an opposite longitudinal direction, as well as two laterally adjacent U-shaped members.

Abstract: A perfusion device and a delivery system for repair of a damaged portion of a body vessel. Perfusion device can include a tubular body that is self-expandable, having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion. One or more series of barbs can be disposed circumferentially along the intermediate portion. Barbs are capable of penetrating into the tunica intima and tunica media of said vessel wall upon insertion of said device into said body vessel, and not into said tunica adventitia. A graft can be associated with the tubular body. Graft has a proximal end and a distal end, and preferably extends entirely along a luminal wall of the tubular body. Graft may also extend along an exterior surface of the tubular body at the proximal and distal portions. A remodelable covering can be applied along the intermediate portion. Delivery devices for the perfusion implant and methods of delivering the perfusion implant are also provided.

Abstract: An occluding device is provided for occluding fluid flow through a lumen of a body vessel. The occluding device includes an expandable tubular body having a tubular wall defining a lumen formed therethrough. The tubular wall has a proximal end extending to a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. A plurality of longitudinal slits is formed through the tubular wall to define a plurality of flexible strips bound by a proximal non-slit portion and a distal non-slit portion. A plurality of barbs is disposed on the flexible strips. The tubular body is configured to open radially to engage the barbs with the vessel wall defining an expanded state and to collapse along the longitudinal axis to draw the vessel wall radially inward defining a collapsed state. Occluding material is housed within the lumen of the tubular body and the occluding material is configured to move between a collapsed state and an expanded state with the tubular body.

Abstract: A dilator may include a leading portion that includes a leading end coupled to a leading stem. The dilator may further include a trailing portion that includes a trailing end coupled to a trailing shaft. The dilator may also include a segmented body disposed between the leading end and the trailing end. The segmented body may include a plurality of segments disposed circumferentially around the leading stem. The leading stem may extend through a passageway of the segmented body, an opening of the trailing end and a channel of the trailing shaft. The leading stem and the trailing shaft may be configured to move longitudinally relative to one another to radially outwardly expand the segmented body.

Abstract: Cutting devices useful for cutting objects or materials are described. Examples of cutting devices useful for creating avulsions in animals, such as human beings, are described. A cutting device includes an elongate main body having proximal and distal ends. A first portion of the main body has a cross-sectional shape that substantially lacks flat surfaces and a second portion of the main body has a cross-sectional shape having one, two or more flat surfaces. The distal end defines a hook having one or more sharpened edges disposed within the notch of the hook. Methods of making cutting devices are also described.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis, such as an artificial venous valve, is described. The valve prosthesis has a support frame formed from a cannula and an attached covering that defines an opening adapted to move between a first position in which the opening is open to fluid flow and a second position in which the opening is closed to fluid flow. The support frame includes a leaflet support portion and a circumferential centering support element disposed adjacent the leaflet support portion with respect to a lengthwise axis of the support frame and mirroring the leaflet support portion with respect to a transverse axis of the support frame.

Abstract: A low profile support frame for use as or in an expandable intraluminal medical device includes first and second wire members that define arcuate paths having opposing curves. Connectors join the wire members. A stabilizing member has a proximal end contained within one of the connectors. The support frame has radially compressed and radially expanded configurations. When the support frame is in the radially expanded configuration, substantially no portion of the support frame is disposed on a first transverse axis of the frame opposite one end of the frame and substantially no portion of the frame is disposed on a second transverse axis of the frame opposite the other end of the frame. The support frame can be used as an intraluminal medical device by itself or as a component in a medical device that includes other components, such as a stent, prosthetic valve, occluder, or filter.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in certain aspects, unique products and methods for abrading or otherwise disrupting an interior surface of a bodily a vessel. In some forms, these products and methods further incorporate the use of one or more occluding members to be deployed in the bodily vessel in and/or around a disrupted vessel region. Abrasive endoluminal devices, in certain embodiments, exhibit a low-profile first condition for delivery into and/or through the vasculature. The device can then be transitioned to a second, expanded condition inside the vasculature for carrying out a desired abrasion. With these types of devices, the manner and design by which the device transitions from a first condition to a second condition can vary. Embodiments of such are disclosed herein.

Abstract: An occluding device is provided for occluding fluid flow through a lumen of a body vessel. The occluding device includes an expandable tubular body having a tubular wall defining a lumen formed therethrough. The tubular wall has a proximal end extending to a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. A plurality of longitudinal slits is formed through the tubular wall to define a plurality of flexible strips bound by a proximal non-slit portion and a distal non-slit portion. A plurality of barbs is disposed on the flexible strips. The tubular body is configured to open radially to engage the barbs with the vessel wall defining an expanded state and to collapse along the longitudinal axis to draw the vessel wall radially inward defining a collapsed state. Occluding material is housed within the lumen of the tubular body and the occluding material is configured to move between a collapsed state and an expanded state with the tubular body.

Abstract: An occluding device is provided for occluding fluid flow through a lumen of a body vessel. The occluding device includes an expandable tubular body having a tubular wall defining a lumen formed therethrough. The tubular wall has a proximal end extending to a distal end along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. A plurality of longitudinal slits is formed through the tubular wall to define a plurality of flexible strips bound by a proximal non-slit portion and a distal non-slit portion. A plurality of barbs is disposed on the flexible strips. The tubular body is configured to open radially to engage the barbs with the vessel wall defining an expanded state and to collapse along the longitudinal axis to draw the vessel wall radially inward defining a collapsed state. Occluding material is housed within the lumen of the tubular body and the occluding material is configured to move between a collapsed state and an expanded state with the tubular body.

Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed apparatuses and methods for medically sealing an opening in a vessel or wall. For example, in medical applications, a delivery tube is provided for insertion through a sheath into a vessel (e.g. a blood vessel). A dome-shaped seal fixed to a filament, an absorbent and/or compressible buffer, and a locking member are provided in the delivery tube. The delivery tube is configured so that it can be inserted into the vessel through a sheath. Tension is maintained on the filament to hold the seal against the tube or sheath. The sheath is pulled out, which pulls out the tube at the same time, leaving the seal over the opening in the vessel wall. The locking member compresses the buffer against the outside of the vessel and with the filament holds the seal in place against the inside of a vessel.

Abstract: A delivery system deploys a prosthesis for open surgical repair of a body vessel. The system includes a sleeve to retain segments of a prosthesis in a compressed configuration and retraction members. The sleeve has outer segments associated with each end of the prosthesis. Retraction of the retraction members removes the outer segments of the sleeve from the prosthesis outer ends to allow for expansion of the outer ends of the prosthesis in an outside-in direction. The system can include a handle and an actuation member movably attached to the handle. The actuation member is coupled to the sleeve outer segments so that movement of the actuation member corresponds to removal of the sleeve. The system can include elements to retain the sleeve outer segments to the actuation member and to redirect the retraction members to a direction different from the axis of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and system that includes an elongated body, a vascular closure device that can occlude a hole in a vessel wall coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, a sleeve assembly and a biasing member arranged to elastically deform coupled between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly, where the elongated body is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the sleeve assembly, wherein the biasing member exerts a force on the elongated body approximately proportional to a longitudinal displacement between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly and where the biasing member is arranged deform a discernible amount when a conforming force sufficient to occlude the hole is applied to the elongated body through the biasing member and the sleeve assembly.

Abstract: Among other things, methods and apparatus for inserting devices for closing tissue openings are disclosed. Examples may include a handle, sheath and/or sleeve for insertion into a patient and through or adjacent a tissue defect, fistula, or other tissue opening to be closed. Winding mechanisms for operation in or with such inserting devices are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sealing an opening in a wall within the body of a patient are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system has an elongated body coupled to a vascular closure device and a resisting member, the elongated body having a high resistance portion and a low resistance portion and being constructed and arranged to interface with a resisting member to apply a conforming force to a vascular closure device. In some exemplary embodiments, the elongated body comprises a large diameter portion positioned in a proximal end region of the elongated body. Methods and other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a housing with a passage through which a catheter is received. A valve body is mounted in the passage, and, as the catheter penetrates through the valve body, the valve body conforms to the outer wall of the catheter to maintain a fluid tight seal between the valve body and the catheter. When the valve body is unstressed before being mounted in the passage, the valve body has a first planar dimension and a second planar dimension that is less than the first planar dimension.

Abstract: A low profile support frame for use as or in an expandable intraluminal medical device includes first and second wire members that define arcuate paths having opposing curves. Connectors join the wire members. A stabilizing member has a proximal end contained within one of the connectors. The support frame has radially compressed and radially expanded configurations. When the support frame is in the radially expanded configuration, substantially no portion of the support frame is disposed on a first transverse axis of the frame opposite one end of the frame and substantially no portion of the frame is disposed on a second transverse axis of the frame opposite the other end of the frame. The support frame can be used as an intraluminal medical device by itself or as a component in a medical device that includes other components, such as a stent, prosthetic valve, occluder, or filter.

Abstract: Among other things, methods and apparatus for inserting devices for closing a tissue opening are disclosed. An anchoring or sealing member has one or more stems and/or filaments that are offset from the center of the member, so that lateral adjustments or movements of the anchoring or sealing member do not uncover the opening, cause the anchoring or sealing member to stick through or pull through the opening. Embodiments including a valve adapted to accommodate a guide wire for addressing emergencies are also disclosed.

Abstract: Among other things, there is disclosed devices for closing an internal opening, e.g. a hole in a blood vessel, that includes a shape memory function. Particular substances have been found to provide advantages in use, and in particular forms of closure structures.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable valve prosthesis. The valve prosthesis includes a frame defining a lumen extending between a proximal frame end and a distal frame end along a longitudinal axis, and a first valve leaflet positioned within the lumen and having a distal edge attached to the frame and a proximal edge free of the frame. The first valve leaflet comprises a first and a second slit extend distally from the proximal edge and defining a free portion of the first valve leaflet between the first and second slits. The first valve leaflet is movable between a first position that allows fluid flow in a first, antegrade, direction and a second position that restricts flow in a second, retrograde direction.