Abstract: Various methods and systems for using email to convey backup and restore data are disclosed. One method involves: receiving a request to perform a backup system operation; generating an email that includes data and metadata (which is associated with the data); and sending the email to an email address associated with a backup system component. The request can be a backup request, in which case the data includes data to be backed up, and the backup system component is a backup server. Alternatively, the request can be receiving a restore request. In this scenario, the data includes data to be restored, and the backup system component is a backup client.

Abstract: A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.

Abstract: A stent graft for use in a medical procedure to treat a dissection of a patient's ascending thoracic aorta. The stent graft includes bare alignment stents at least at a proximal end, and often with a stent at both ends, each stent having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one broader set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other narrower set of apices. The proximal stent is flared in a manner such that its broad apices occupy a larger circumference around the stent than do its narrower apices, where this flared feature provides for anchoring engagement near the aortic root in a manner not interfering with the coronary arteries or the aortic valve.

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 endoluminal prosthesis and systems and methods for making the prosthesis are provided. In one example, a patterned graft material for a prosthesis includes a network of electrospun fibers. The network of electrospun fibers may include a plurality of continuous electrospun fibers. The fibers may be collected on a collector plate using an electrospinning process to form the network of fibers. The patterned graft material also may include a plurality of openings in the network of electrospun fibers. The plurality of openings may be arranged in a pattern. The network of electrospun fibers may include a plurality of edges, each surrounding a corresponding one of the plurality of openings. Each of the plurality of edges may include at least one electrospun fiber of the network of electrospun fibers. A majority of the electrospun fibers of the plurality of edges may be continuous at the edges.

Abstract: A stent structure is provided with an alternating arrangement of hoop cells and flex cells. Longitudinal struts extend through the hoop cells but do not extend through the flex cells. The flex struts in the flex cells are wider than the hoop struts in the hoop cells.

Abstract: A stent (30) is provided with an improved structural member (38) at the end (34) of the stent structure (32) to minimize deformation of the stent structure when pushing forces are applied to the end of the stent. The improved structural member is wider than other structural members (40, 42, 44, 46, 48) in the stent structure. The improved structural member is better able to distribute pushing forces to the other structural members in the stent structure with minimal deformation.

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: A barb for anchoring an implantable medical device to a body vessel comprises a thin-walled body portion for engagement with a structural element of an implantable medical device and a penetrating element extending from the body portion. The body portion has a longitudinal axis. The penetrating element includes a tip portion for anchoring into tissue and a base portion between the tip portion and the body portion. In a deployed configuration of the barb, the base portion curves away from the longitudinal axis at a first curvature and the tip portion curves toward the longitudinal axis at a second curvature which is opposite in sign from the first.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for using email to convey backup and restore data are disclosed. One method involves: receiving a request to perform a backup system operation; generating an email that includes data and metadata (which is associated with the data); and sending the email to an email address associated with a backup system component. The request can be a backup request, in which case the data includes data to be backed up, and the backup system component is a backup server. Alternatively, the request can be receiving a restore request. In this scenario, the data includes data to be restored, and the backup system component is a backup client.

Abstract: A stent graft (40) for treating Type-A dissections in the ascending aorta (22) is provided with a plurality of diameter-reducing suture loops (56-60) operable to constrain the stent graft during deployment thereof in a patient's aorta. The diameter-reducing loops (56-60) allow the stent graft (40) to be partially deployed, in such a manner that its location can be precisely adjusted in the patient's lumen. In this manner, the stent graft can be placed just by the coronary arteries (26, 28) with confidence that these will not be blocked. The stent graft (40) is also provided with proximal and distal bare stents (44,52) for anchoring purposes.

Abstract: Various stents and stent-graft systems for treatment of medical conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary stent-graft system may be used for endovascular treatment of a thoracic aortic aneurysm. The stent-graft system may comprise proximal and distal components, each comprising a graft having proximal and distal ends, where upon deployment the proximal and distal components at least partially overlap with one another to provide a fluid passageway therebetween. The proximal component may comprise a proximal stent having a plurality of proximal and distal apices connected by a plurality of generally straight portions, where a radius of curvature of at least one of the proximal apices may be greater than the radius of curvature of at least one of the distal apices. The distal component may comprise a proximal z-stent coupled to the graft, where the proximal end of the graft comprises at least scallop formed therein that generally follows the shape of the proximal z-stent.

Abstract: An expandable stent for use in a body vessel comprises a thin-walled tubular framework including two or more circumferentially adjacent end members extending in a longitudinal direction from an end of the framework. In a delivery configuration of the tubular framework, the end members have an interlocking configuration. Each end member has a first interlocking side and a second interlocking side, where the first interlocking side has a circumferentially directed protrusion and the second interlocking side has a circumferentially directed recess. The protrusion of a first end member mates with the recess of a second end member. In an expanded configuration of the tubular framework, the end members are disengaged from the interlocking configuration. Each end member may be an eyelet including an opening for a radiopaque rivet. A method of preparing the expandable stent for delivery into a body vessel is also described.

Abstract: A balloon expandable covered stent consists of a plurality of primary stent units, each having an undulating shape defined by a series of primary strut members converging to form peaks and valleys. The primary stent units are assembled into a single cylindrical structure of the stent by connecting corresponding peaks with secondary strut members. Generally, surfaces of the stent may then coated with a polymeric, hyper-elastic material, preferably Thoralon®, by pre-expanding the stent prior to coating.

Abstract: A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.

Abstract: A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.

Abstract: A balloon expandable covered stent consists of a plurality of primary stent units, each having an undulating shape defined by a series of primary strut members converging to form peaks and valleys. The primary stent units are assembled into a single cylindrical structure of the stent by connecting corresponding peaks with secondary strut members. Generally, surfaces of the stent may then coated with a polymeric, hyper-elastic material, preferably Thoralon®, by pre-expanding the stent prior to coating.

Abstract: An expandable stent for medical implantation is described which has a generally cylindrical structure with a central longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the generally cylindrical structure is formed from an arrangement of circumferentially curved structural members. The portion expands from a compressed state to an expanded state by a spiraling motion of each of the structural members about the central longitudinal axis. In the compressed state, each of the structural members may nest within an open region formed by segments composing the structural member, such that the portion of the generally cylindrical structure has no overlapping regions. A ratio of a circumferential length of each structural member to a spacing between adjacent structural members may be in the range of about 1.8 to about 2.3.

Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly apparatus employing at least a robotic or automated assembly apparatus to manipulate the components to be assembled and at least a first vision alignment system to align the components prior to their assembly. An adhesive dispense system is provided to connect, attach or otherwise adhere the components together. In a method in accord with the present invention for assembling components, a source of the components is provided is located relative to a global reference system. The components held by the source are then located relative to the global reference system based upon the determined location of the source. An adhesive is dispensed onto a first of the components and a second component is manipulated into an initial attachment position relative to the first component.