Abstract: A transcatheter valve prosthesis includes a stent and a prosthetic valve. The stent is mechanically or balloon expandable. The stent has an inflow portion and an outflow portion. The inflow portion includes a plurality of side openings defined by a plurality of crowns and a plurality of struts. The outflow portion has three circumferentially spaced apart commissure posts. The prosthetic valve is disposed within and secured to at least the outflow portion of the stent. The prosthetic valve is configured to block blood flow in one direction to regulate blood flow through a central lumen of the stent. The commissure posts are configured to flex or bend flex radially inwardly to reduce stresses observed during valve loading and thereby improve or increase tissue durability of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrospun prosthetic valve includes utilizing a rotatable and angularly adjustable prosthetic valve mold. The prosthetic valve mold is set to a first angle. The prosthetic valve mold is rotated at a first rotational velocity and a first layer of electrospun fibers is deposited on the prosthetic valve mold. The prosthetic valve mold is stopped and a frame is positioned over the first layer. The prosthetic valve mold is set to a second angle. The prosthetic valve mold is rotated at a second velocity and a second layer of electrospun fibers is deposited on an outer surface of the first layer and an outer surface of the frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.