Abstract: An intraoperative anastomosis method is described and comprises the steps of providing an intraluminal prosthesis having a first end and a second end; suturing a first vessel to a second vessel to form a vessel junction; intraluminally delivering the prosthesis so that the first end of the prosthesis is disposed within the first vessel and the second end of the prosthesis is disposed within the second vessel; and deploying the prosthesis so that the prosthesis overlaps and reinforces the vessel junction. The vessel suturing, prosthesis delivering, and prosthesis deploying steps may be performed in a single operation. Other devices, systems, and methods are described.

Abstract: An aortic stent graft and a method of deploying the aortic stent graft. The method comprises providing a tapered tubular graft having a distal end and a proximal end, providing at least one stent attached to the graft at a site adjacent the distal end of the graft, loading the graft into an introducer, inserting the introducer through an incision in the aorta, deploying the graft inside the aorta; and suturing the proximal end of the graft in place.

Abstract: A delivery system (10) for implanting a medical device (30) such as a venous valve into the vasculature of a patient. The delivery system includes a delivery catheter (11) having a device-containing portion (15) adjacent to the distal end (14) thereof, and an inner member (16) extending through the catheter and beyond the distal end thereof, to an atraumatic distal tip portion (17) forward of the catheter distal end. Delivery catheter (11) includes inner tube (122), flat wire coil (123) compression fitted therearound, and outer tube (112) mechanically connected to roughened outer surface (126) of the inner tube through the spacing of the coil. Delivery catheter (11) can be provided with a window (184) to allow fluoroscopic visualization of a stent valve within the delivery system.

Abstract: A flexible kink-resistant introducer sheath (10). The introducer sheath includes an inner liner (31), a coil (33) and an outer tube (33). The inner liner includes a passageway (30) extending longitudinally therethrough, where a catheter (50) can be advanced through the passageway. The coil (33) has a plurality of turns positioned longitudinally and compression fitted around the inner liner (31), where the turns have a predetermined spacing therebetween. The outer tube (20) is positioned longitudinally around the coil (33) and the inner liner (31), and is connected to the inner liner through the spaces between the turns. A diameter difference between the inner liner and the catheter is in a range of about 0.0005 to about 0.004 inch (0.013 to about 0.10 mm).

Abstract: A expandable prosthesis having an imageable structure comprising one or more elements visually distinguishable by an external (e.g., radiographic or ultrasonic) imaging system, the structure being located about a first axis that corresponds to a structural feature of the prosthesis that is configured to perform a specific function particular to that axis. The imageable structure is configured to assist in the rotational orientation of the prosthesis during placement within the implantation site. In one embodiment, the prosthesis comprises a venous valve that includes imageable elements or structure, such as a pair of radiopaque markers, that defines the orifice of the valve structure such that the orifice can be oriented with a particular anatomical feature under imaging, such as to align the orifice with the long axis of the vessel.

Abstract: A delivery system (10) for implanting a medical device (30) such as a venous valve into the vasculature of a patient. The delivery system includes a delivery catheter (11) having a device-containing portion (15) adjacent to the distal end (14) thereof, and an inner member (16) extending through the catheter and beyond the distal end thereof, to an atraumatic distal tip portion (17) forward of the catheter distal end. The inner member extends through the medical device in the device-containing region, includes a proximal portion (18) with a sufficiently large diameter to prevent longitudinal movement of the device as the catheter is retracted during deployment, and centers the device upon release from the distal catheter end during deployment. The inner member is preferably radiolucent underlying the device for contrast with radiopaque markers (43) of the device.