Abstract: A prosthetic valve for regulating fluid flow through a body vessel is provided. The valve includes an expandable support frame and a valve leaflet, and includes at least one opening that permits a controlled amount of retrograde flow through the valve when the valve is in a closed configuration.

Abstract: An introducer system for introducing a plurality of wire guides into a vessel of a patient includes first and second wire guides, and a catheter. The first wire guide has a curved proximal end, and a distal end sufficiently flexible for passage through the vessel to a target site for the procedure. The catheter has proximal and distal open ends, and a lumen extending therebetween. At least the distal end of the catheter has sufficient flexibility for passage over the first wire guide to the target site, and has an inwardly curved portion between the proximal and distal open ends. The catheter further has a side port proximally positioned along the inwardly curved portion. The side port is sized and arranged such that the curve of the first wire guide proximal end is passable therethrough when the catheter is passed over the first wire guide. The second wire guide is sized for passage through the lumen when the first wire guide is positioned in the lumen.

Abstract: A thrombus removal device includes a shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, a sheath with a distal end and a proximal end, and a helical coil attached at a proximal end to the distal end of the shaft and is disposed within the lumen of the sheath in a closed configuration. The helical coil includes a plurality of body portions with turns spaced apart longitudinally and laterally to facilitate screwing the helical coil into a thrombus and also providing an open area into which the thrombus can be captured. A distal tip of the helical coil is provided with a loop, an angle of which is about the same as the angle of at least one body portion. The helical coil assumes an open configuration when the sheath is retracted proximally from the distal tip. An aspiration device may be provided in fluid communication with the center of the helical coil.

Abstract: An valve prosthesis, such as an artificial venous valve, having a support frame and leaf structure comprising one or more leaflets in which the outer edge of each leaflet engages the inner circumference of the bodily passageway along a serpentine path urged against the passageway by an expandable frame, while the inner edges move in response to fluid to restrict retrograde flow. Optionally, one or more elements can extend from the support frame/leaf structure to provide centering support and/or protection from the leaflet adhering to the vessel wall. In one embodiment, the centering support structure comprises a second or third expandable frames attached to and extending from the proximal and/or distal ends of main valve structure and support frame. In another embodiment, one or more support elements extend outward from the valve support frame to engage the vessel wall to provide greater longitudinal stability.

Abstract: Prosthetic valves for regulating fluid flow are provided. The valves have at least one leaflet that includes a plurality of pores that allow a quantity of retrograde flow to pass through the leaflet when the valve is in a closed configuration.

Abstract: A system for anchoring an endoluminal prosthesis comprises a barb. The barb comprises a base, a retractable body extending distally from the base towards a distal anchor, and a hinge disposed between the base and the anchor and spaced apart from the base. The anchor pivots about the hinge between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A central venous catheter comprises a catheter body having a plurality of lumens extending longitudinally therein. At least one of the lumens extends longitudinally through the catheter body from its proximal end to an exit port at its distal end, and at least one other lumen extends longitudinally through the catheter body to a closed distal portion of the catheter body. The catheter body further includes a sideport positioned to establish communication between the closed-end lumen and an area exterior to the catheter body. The catheter body further includes a flexible member, such as a coiled spring, in the closed-end lumen in a space between the sideport and the closed end.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent delivery and deployment system and a method of delivering and deploying an intraluminal stent are described. The stent delivery and deployment system includes a catheter, an expandable stent disposed about a portion of the catheter, and at least one anchoring device attached to the catheter. The anchoring device has a proximal portion disposed distal of a midpoint of the stent. The anchoring device is deployed and engages a body vessel before the stent is expanded to a fully expanded configuration, thereby anchoring at least the catheter to the body vessel during the expansion of the stent.

Abstract: An introducer sheath and a method of manufacturing an introducer sheath. The introducer comprises a first polymeric sleeve having a first striped extrusion arranged in a generally helical pattern along the first sleeve. A second polymeric sleeve is positioned over and bonded to the first polymeric sleeve, the second polymeric sleeve comprising a second striped extrusion that is arranged in a generally helical pattern along the second sleeve. The first and second polymeric sleeves are axially aligned such that the second striped extrusion is superposed over the first striped extrusion to define a generally braid-like configuration. The introducer sheath can optionally include an inner liner disposed within a lumen of the first polymeric sleeve, and/or a coil fitted over the inner liner, such that the first polymeric sleeve is bonded to the inner liner between turns of the coil.

Abstract: A device and method for closure of a body channel of a patient, such as a patent foramen ovale. The device includes a frame member having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The frame member is sized and arranged to be percutaneously insertable into an area of the foramen ovale when in the collapsed condition, and to substantially span the foramen ovale when in the expanded condition. A promoter carried by the frame member, such as a clot-promoting composition and/or a tissue growth-promoting composition, is capable of promoting biological formation with the tissue bordering the foramen ovale to effect a closure of the foramen ovale.

Abstract: A catheter for use with at least two different sizes of wire guides is described. The catheter includes a wire guide lumen sized to receive a first wire guide of a first diameter. The catheter may also include a tip lumen that extends in a distal direction from a first opening in communication with the wire guide lumen to a second opening. The first opening is sized to receive the first wire guide, and the second opening is sized to receive a second wire guide of a smaller diameter than the first wire guide. The catheter also includes one or more longitudinal expansion features capable of radially expanding the tip lumen to receive a wire guide of a diameter up to the first diameter through the second opening. An adapter that may be attached to the catheter by a medical professional is also described.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator includes a support bracket, a foot pedal pivotable between a brake-released position and a brake-applied position, a push-to-release lock mechanism to selectively lock the foot pedal in the brake-applied position, and a torsion lock self adjust mechanism to automatically establish a predetermined slack tension in a control cable operably connected to a wheel brake mechanism when the foot pedal is in the brake-released position.

Abstract: A repair device (10) for affixing a migrating stent graft (30) to the interior surface of a vessel wall (31). The repair device includes tubular graft (11) with a bare or uncovered stent (16) affixed to the proximal end (12). The bare stent includes a plurality of distally pointed barbs (17) for securing the repair device to a vessel wall. A second stent (15) is positioned in the passage (14) of the tubular graft to expand the graft against the interior surface of the migrating stent graft (30). Proximally pointing barbs (20) are affixed to the struts of the second stent and extend through the graft material for securing the repair device to the migrating stent graft. Biological glue (22) and other sealing material (23) can be applied to the tubular graft and/or stents for sealing the repair device against the vessel wall and/or the interior of the migrating stent graft.

Abstract: A puncture resistant balloon catheter device and a method of using the device is described. The device is a balloon catheter having a puncture resistant cover disposed over the balloon. The cover is capable of moving between a deflated state and an expanded state. The cover inhibits piercing of the balloon surface that may occur during delivery and deployment of a stent in a body lumen.

Abstract: Endovascular filter (10) including a plurality of struts (14) with distal ends (18) adapted to anchor the filter to the vessel wall after deployment, such as by having barbs (20), the filter being adapted to be retrieved if desired. Strut distal ends (18) are coated with an antiproliferative agent (40) that inhibits the ingrowth of tissue around the filter, thereby permitting the filter to be retrieved and removed atraumatically after a prolonged period of time, thus extending the useful life of the retrievable filter. Optionally, the proximal end (22) of the filter may also be so coated, or the entire filter.

Abstract: An implant retrieval frame for advancement of a retrieval device to snare an implant is disclosed. The frame comprises a first arm and a second arm. The first arm has a first handle end and a first pivot end. The second arm has a second handle end and a second pivot end. The second pivot end is connected to the first pivot end to define a pivot axis about which the first and second arm pivotally move. The frame further comprises a connector to which the retrieval device is attached. The connector is configured to cooperate with the first and second arms to translate pivotal movement of one of the first and second arms to linear movement of the retrieval device relative to the pivot point.

Abstract: A method and device for implantation into a curved vessel is described. The device may be a stent with a generally curved configuration in its radially expanded state. The stent may have a first series of linkages located along a first side of the stent and a second series of linkages located along a second side of the stent. Both series of linkages interconnect structural elements of the stent. During deployment of the stent into a vessel, the second series of linkages undergo longitudinal expansion sufficient to produce a stent having a longer second side than a first side. This difference in longitudinal length between the second side and first side of the stent creates a curved configuration which conforms to the curvature of the vessel which it is implanted into.

Abstract: Medical devices for use in or on a mammalian body have improved properties through the use of magnetic pulse welding to join components. The improved properties include increased strength, corrosion resistance, and preservation of material characteristics. A method of forming a medical device using magnetic pulse welding is also provided.

Abstract: Described are devices, methods and systems useful for achieving occlusion of vascular vessels. Percutaneous procedures are used to occlude and obliterate the greater saphenous vein, for example in the treatment of varicose vein condition caused by venous reflux. Certain embodiments encompass the deployment of one or more vascular occlusion devices via a through-and-through percutaneous procedure that leaves the vascular occlusion device or devices in a through-and-through condition.

Abstract: Methods of making coated implantable medical devices are provided. The methods include positioning a first layer comprising a bioactive on at least a portion of a structure, and positioning at least one porous layer over the first layer. The at least one porous layer has a thickness adequate to provide a controlled release of the bioactive.