Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to a modular stent device that is deployed via supra aortic access through the brachiocephalic artery. The modular stent device is a base or anchor component to which additional modular stent devices can be attached to exclude diseased areas of the aorta while at the same time allowing perfusion of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery.

Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to a modular stent device that is deployed into the ascending aorta via femoral access. The modular stent device is a base or anchor component to which additional modular stent devices can be attached to exclude diseased areas of the aorta while at the same time allowing perfusion of the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and/or the left subclavian artery.

Abstract: Objects in a virtual space may be non-traversable such that traversal by characters of the virtual space through such objects is not permitted by the physics of the virtual space. Objects may be relocated during interactive gameplay. A navigation map of the virtual space is updated interactively, e.g. after an object has been relocated, by determining which regions are traversable or non-traversable, the boundaries of these regions, and which boundaries separate adjacent traversable regions. The updated navigation map may be queried on behalf of a non-player character in the virtual space, e.g. to determine where to go and/or how to get there.

Abstract: A spherical bearing for a damper system includes a first segment and a second segment with a ball therebetween. The ball includes a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft extends out of the first segment. A lubricious liner is disposed between the first segment and the second segment.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a helical anchor is provided in a relaxed state. During deployment, a distal portion of the helical anchor is superelastically deformed to protrude longitudinally. The longitudinally protruding distal portion of the helical anchor is longitudinally advanced to cause the distal portion to pierce a prosthesis and a vessel wall. The distal portion returns to the relaxed state after passing through the prosthesis and the vessel wall. By superelastically deforming the distal portion during deployment, it is easier to cause the anchor to penetrate the prosthesis and the vessel wall. Further, by having the anchor return to its relaxed state after passing through the prosthesis and vessel wall, better clamping of the prosthesis to the vessel wall is achieved.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes a first wire bent into a first waveform and spirally wrapped into a first helix having a plurality of windings that form a hollow cylindrical shape and a second wire bent into a second waveform and spirally wrapped into a second helix having a plurality of windings that form a hollow cylindrical shape. The first and second wires are disposed relative to each other such that the plurality of windings of the first wire and the plurality of windings of the second wire are disposed about a common longitudinal axis and the plurality of windings of the first wire and the plurality of windings of the second wire are axially offset from each other, with windings of the plurality of windings of the first wire alternating or interwoven between windings of the plurality of windings of the second wire along a length of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A venous valve prosthesis includes a frame and a prosthetic valve coupled to the frame. With the venous valve prosthesis implanted in a vein, the prosthetic valve includes a closed configuration wherein an outer surface of the prosthetic valve is in contact with a wall of the vein around a circumference of the prosthetic valve to prevent blood from flowing past the prosthetic valve between the wall of the vein and the outer surface of the prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve is configured to move to an open configuration such that at least a portion of an outer wall of the prosthetic valve partially collapses away from the wall of the vein in response to antegrade blood flow through the vein to enable blood flow between the outer surface of the prosthetic valve and the wall of the vein.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes a first wire bent into a first waveform and spirally wrapped into a first helix having a plurality of windings that form a hollow cylindrical shape and a second wire bent into a second waveform and spirally wrapped into a second helix having a plurality of windings that form a hollow cylindrical shape. The first and second wires are disposed relative to each other such that the plurality of windings of the first wire and the plurality of windings of the second wire are disposed about a common longitudinal axis and the plurality of windings of the first wire and the plurality of windings of the second wire are axially offset from each other, with windings of the plurality of windings of the first wire alternating or interwoven between windings of the plurality of windings of the second wire along a length of the prosthesis.

Abstract: A venous valve prosthesis includes a frame and a prosthetic valve coupled to the frame. With the venous valve prosthesis implanted in a vein, the prosthetic valve includes a closed configuration wherein an outer surface of the prosthetic valve is in contact with a wall of the vein around a circumference of the prosthetic valve to prevent blood from flowing past the prosthetic valve between the wall of the vein and the outer surface of the prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve is configured to move to an open configuration such that at least a portion of an outer wall of the prosthetic valve partially collapses away from the wall of the vein in response to antegrade blood flow through the vein to enable blood flow between the outer surface of the prosthetic valve and the wall of the vein.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a helical anchor is provided in a relaxed state. During deployment, a distal portion of the helical anchor is superelastically deformed to protrude longitudinally. The longitudinally protruding distal portion of the helical anchor is longitudinally advanced to cause the distal portion to pierce a prosthesis and a vessel wall. The distal portion returns to the relaxed state after passing through the prosthesis and the vessel wall. By superelastically deforming the distal portion during deployment, it is easier to cause the anchor to penetrate the prosthesis and the vessel wall. Further, by having the anchor return to its relaxed state after passing through the prosthesis and vessel wall, better clamping of the prosthesis to the vessel wall is achieved.

Abstract: A venous valve prosthesis includes a frame and a prosthetic valve coupled to the frame. With the venous valve prosthesis implanted in a vein, the prosthetic valve includes a closed configuration wherein an outer surface of the prosthetic valve is in contact with a wall of the vein around a circumference of the prosthetic valve to prevent blood from flowing past the prosthetic valve between the wall of the vein and the outer surface of the prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve is configured to move to an open configuration such that at least a portion of an outer wall of the prosthetic valve partially collapses away from the wall of the vein in response to antegrade blood flow through the vein to enable blood flow between the outer surface of the prosthetic valve and the wall of the vein.

Abstract: A helical stent includes a central segment having a first tubular waveform and a first end segment having a second tubular waveform. The waveforms are defined by a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns connecting adjacent struts together. The struts of the second tubular waveform have different lengths such that second tubular waveform includes a plurality of amplitudes. The second tubular waveform comprises a complete turn around a longitudinal axis of the stent. A first connector connects together the first tubular waveform first end, the second tubular waveform first end, and the second tubular waveform second end. Due to the configuration of the second tubular waveform of the first end segment, the stent end at the first end segment is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the stent. A second end segment similar to the first end segment can be connected to a second end of the first tubular waveform.

Abstract: A helical stent includes a central segment having a first tubular waveform and a first end segment having a second tubular waveform. The waveforms are defined by a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns connecting adjacent struts together. The struts of the second tubular waveform have different lengths such that second tubular waveform includes a plurality of amplitudes. The second tubular waveform comprises a complete turn around a longitudinal axis of the stent. A first connector connects together the first tubular waveform first end, the second tubular waveform first end, and the second tubular waveform second end. Due to the configuration of the second tubular waveform of the first end segment, the stent end at the first end segment is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the stent. A second end segment similar to the first end segment can be connected to a second end of the first tubular waveform.

Abstract: Systems for delivering a bifurcated stent to a bifurcation site include catheters and/or bifurcated systems delivered therefrom. A catheter includes a balloon with a bulge region that allows a portion of the stent to be expanded.

Abstract: Systems and methods of delivering and retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue, wherein a docking base and the implant are sequentially delivered to an implantation site. In a first stage, the docking base is delivered and deployed into tissue at an implantation site. In a second stage, the implant is navigated through the vasculature and coupled to the docking base. Various mechanisms for navigating the implant to the previously implanted docking base and coupling the implant thereto are described. Navigational mechanisms include advancing the implant over a proximally extending wire portion that is releasably attached to the previously implanted docking base, utilizing fluoroscopic visualization to guide the implant to a previously implanted docking base that is at least partially radiopaque and utilizing electromagnetism to guide the implant to a previously implanted docking base that is electro-magnetizable.

Abstract: Systems and methods of delivering and retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue, wherein a docking base and the implant are sequentially delivered to an implantation site. In a first stage, the docking base is delivered and deployed into tissue at an implantation site. In a second stage, the implant is navigated through the vasculature and coupled to the docking base. Various mechanisms for navigating the implant to the previously implanted docking base and coupling the implant thereto are described. Navigational mechanisms include advancing the implant over a proximally extending wire portion that is releasably attached to the previously implanted docking base, utilizing fluoroscopic visualization to guide the implant to a previously implanted docking base that is at least partially radiopaque and utilizing electromagnetism to guide the implant to a previously implanted docking base that is electro-magnetizable.

Abstract: Systems for delivering a bifurcated stent to a bifurcation site comprise catheters and/or bifurcated stents delivered therefrom.

Abstract: Systems for delivering a bifurcated stent to a bifurcation site comprise catheters and/or bifurcated stents delivered therefrom.

Abstract: A bifurcated stent includes a first stent section and a second stent section. The first stent section is balloon expandable, has an unexpanded configuration, an expanded configuration, and a tubular wall defining a secondary opening. The secondary stent section is self-expanding and an end of the secondary stent section is engaged to a portion of the tubular wall of the primary stent section defining the secondary opening. The secondary stent section has an unexpanded configuration with a first length and an expanded configuration with a second length where the first length is less than the second length. The secondary stent section is expanded to the expanded configuration after the primary stent section is expanded to the expanded configuration. The secondary stent section forms a portion of the tubular wall of the primary stent section in the unexpanded configuration.

Abstract: A bifurcated stent includes a first stent section and a second stent section. The first stent section is balloon expandable, has an unexpanded configuration, an expanded configuration, and a tubular wall defining a secondary opening. The secondary stent section is self-expanding and an end of the secondary stent section is engaged to a portion of the tubular wall of the primary stent section defining the secondary opening. The secondary stent section has an unexpanded configuration with a first length and an expanded configuration with a second length where the first length is less than the second length. The secondary stent section is expanded to the expanded configuration after the primary stent section is expanded to the expanded configuration. The secondary stent section forms a portion of the tubular wall of the primary stent section in the unexpanded configuration.