Abstract: An oval-shaped extra-venous support for venous valve repair, including a cylindrical channel mesh shell, the cross-section whereof is oval, which is a one-piece one (1), laterally open (g) and includes anchor means (101?, 101?, 101??; 103?; 103?, 103??) in correspondence with at least a cross-section thereof at both the opposite extremities of the major axis thereof. Such major axis is made longer than the intercommissural diameter of an incompetent native valve to be cured, so that it is capable of operating as a traction-acting device in cooperation with fastening means to stretch the intercommissural walls of the valve so as to extend the free edges (C1, C2) of the cusps thereof up to recover the capability thereof of coapting with each other.

Abstract: External support for restoring valvular competence to veins, to be implanted about a vein, along its length. It includes a posterior and an anterior arcuate frame shell, in an elongated material. The posterior frame shell includes two branches of said elongated material penetratingly shaped for an easy insertion thereof behind the posterior wall of the vein, through two paths prepared by the surgeon. Each frame shell includes a respective traction side including longitudinal rectilinear side traction branch elements. The two frame shells are conformed to be juxtaposed to each other about the vein by longitudinal sides thereof. The traction sides are intended to be engaged to the vein by opposite valve intercoinmissural walls via surgical sutures or hook elements to dilate the intercommissural diameter of the vein by traction, so as to absorb the slackening of an incompetent venous valve by extending its cusps.

Abstract: Endovenous stent for restoring the function of an incompetent venous valve having slackened cusps. The stent includes two parallel struts; two terminal elastic elements, connecting the struts at their extremities and compressing them apart, and make them, once the stent implanted into the vein to be cured, to dilate the intercommissural diameter of the valve to be cured, taking up the slackening of the incompetent cusps; and such endovenous stent, further dressed with a venous valvulated segment reversed inside-out, in which the cusps perform their valvular function by moving themselves from inside out, so constituting a venous neovalvular endobioprosthesis for curing an incompetent vein by implantation into it, in case of damage or aplasia of the venous valve.

Abstract: Vascular guidewire for intravascular use, including a tip segment, an intermediate segment and a caudal segment, in succession to each other. The intermediate segment includes two curvilinear flexible wires joined to each other by their extremities in extremal commissures, and eventually one or more intermediate commissures, and which in their rest condition are coplanar and bent into one or more consecutive bell ansae—each one between consecutive commissures—that turn their convexity in each wire towards the same side, whilst they turn their convexity towards the opposite side relative to the bell ansae of the other wire. Application for vascular angioplasty for restoring competence to venous valves.

Abstract: External support for restoring valvular competence to veins, to be implanted about a vein, along its length. It includes a posterior and an anterior arcuate frame shell, in an elongated material. The posterior frame shell includes two branches of said elongated material penetratingly shaped for an easy insertion thereof behind the posterior wall of the vein, through two paths prepared by the surgeon. Each frame shell includes a respective traction side including longitudinal rectilinear side traction branch means. The two frame shells are conformed to be juxtaposed to each other about the vein by longitudinal sides thereof. The traction sides are intended to be engaged to the vein by opposite valve intercommissural walls by means of surgical sutures or hook means to dilate the intercommissural diameter of the vein by traction, so as to absorb the slackening of an incompetent venous valve by extending its cusps.

Abstract: A valve for use in a blood vessel, internal to the blood vessel itself, in contact with a blood stream, has a bent flexible wire mesh (1) with elasticity and plasticity so as to be collapsible and implantable remotely at a desired site. The wire mesh (1) is bent into three turns, two end ones (6, 6') and a central one (5), in such a way as to confine a tubular space. The central turn (5) is located at an angle relative to the end turns (6, 6') and mounts a monocusp sail-like valving element (2). A special catheter (12) is used to collapse the flexible wire mesh (1), to implant it remotely at the desired site, and to restore the wire mesh (1) to its original three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: An artificial venous valve with unidirectional flow, for insertion into the human venous system, biocompatible with the receiver, comprises a hollow elongated support and a plate carried by and within the hollow elongated support and movable relative to the support between a position to permit flow of blood in one direction and a position in which to prevent flow of blood in an opposite direction through the support. The plate is movable to open and close over a pressure differential range on opposite sides of the plate of 1-50 mm Hg.