Abstract: A stent graft system and method of use includes a stent graft for fixation at an attachment site with graft material defining at least one opening having an opening perimeter; a support attached to the graft material; a guide rail attached around the opening perimeter; and a helical anchor having a plurality of coils with a point at one end. The plurality of coils are rotatable around the guide rail to cause the pointed end of the coils to penetrate the graft material and the adjacent tissue in contact with the stent graft to sew the stent graft to the attachment site.

Abstract: A stent graft fixation system and method of use includes a stent graft system for fixation to a vessel wall, the system having a helical anchor and a stent graft. The helical anchor has a number of coils with a point at one end and a helical anchor axis, and the stent graft has a stent graft axis. The coils are operable to sew the stent graft to the vessel wall with the helical anchor axis generally parallel to the stent graft axis.

Abstract: To facilitate the widespread use of the RF plasma catheter to provide in situ fenestration of a main stent-graft, potential side-effects of the fenestration are ameliorated using an electrode from a family of electrodes. Specifically, a family of electrodes is provided so that for a particular application, an appropriate electrode can be selected.

Abstract: A branch vessel suture stent system and method including a branch vessel suture stent having a stent body having a first end, a second end, and a central axis, the first end having a first periphery; and shape memory hooks disposed about the first periphery, each of the shape memory hooks being attached to the first periphery at an attachment point, the shape memory hooks being elongated in a stressed state and looped in a parent state, each of the shape memory hooks defining a loop plane in the parent state. The shape memory hooks are substantially parallel to the central axis in the stressed state, and the first periphery at the attachment point for each of the shape memory hooks is substantially orthogonal to the loop plane for each of the shape memory hooks in the parent state. The delivery system allows the main body of the branch device to expand while maintaining the hooks in an undeployed configuration using individual hypotubes.

Abstract: Endolumenally sealing a zone around the puncture and dilation area of a stent-graft fenestration or sealing the juncture between two lumens with an expandable sealant delivery device. In exemplary embodiments, an expandable sealant delivery device includes a catheter mounted balloon, which has a microporous membrane or a plurality of pores suitable for delivering a surgical sealant.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering a self-expanding stent graft within a segment of a body vessel having a branch vessel extending therefrom. The graft includes one or more self-expanding stents for anchoring the graft to the vessel wall and has a stent-free body portion positionable across the branch vessel. The graft delivery system includes an expandable fenestration support structure at the distal end thereof that is positioned within the graft during delivery. Once the graft has been delivered and expanded into apposition with the vessel wall, the support structure may be expanded therein to press the unsupported body portion of the graft against the branch vessel such that a separate puncture device may be delivered to create a fenestration in the graft for perfusion of the branch vessel. In addition, the expanded fenestration support structure reduces any wrinkles in the graft without a secondary procedure.

Abstract: A tubular synthetic endoluminal graft having at least one radiopaque ink marker pattern to radiographically delineate the surface of the graft cloth. The radiopaque ink marker includes a matrix of ink dots defining an annular band about a circumference of the graft. The endoluminal graft including at least one stent attached to the graft. The at least one stent may overlap or be positioned adjacent the radiopaque ink marker. The radiopaque ink marker may be utilized to facilitate creation of a fenestration in the side wall of the graft in situ to perfuse a side branch vessel.

Abstract: A method includes deploying a fenestration segment stent-graft into a main vessel such that a fenestration section of the fenestration segment stent-graft covers a first branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. The fenestration segment stent-graft includes a proximal section, a distal section, and the fenestration section attached to and between the proximal section and the distal section. The fenestration section has a greater resistance to tearing than the proximal section and the distal section facilitating formation of a collateral opening aligned with the branch vessel in the fenestration section.

Abstract: A method of deploying an eversible branch stent-graft includes deploying the eversible branch stent-graft into a main vessel such that a collateral opening in a main stent-graft of the eversible branch stent-graft is aligned with an ostium of a branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. A branch stent ring suture threaded though outer exposed crowns of an outer stent ring of the branch stent-graft is grasped and pulled through the collateral opening to evert the branch stent-graft into the branch vessel as a branch anchor suture is removed to release a protruding end of a branch stent-graft from a proximal end of the main stent-graft.

Abstract: A method includes deploying a bloused stent-graft into a main vessel such that a bloused section of the bloused stent-graft covers a branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. The bloused section includes loose graft cloth. A pressure differential between the main vessel and the branch vessel causes the bloused section to be forced into an ostium of the branch vessel creating a pocket aligned with the branch vessel. A distal tip of a puncture device is located in the pocket and thus aligned with the branch vessel. An outward force is applied to the puncture device to cause the distal tip of the puncture device to fenestrate the bloused section thus creating a collateral opening in the bloused section precisely aligned with the branch vessel.

Abstract: When a main stent-graft is placed in a vessel of a patient and a branch vessel is blocked by the main stent-graft, a RF plasma catheter is used to cut out a portion of the graft cloth of the main-stent graft adjacent to an ostium of the branch vessel to be perfused. To ameliorate possible adverse effects associated with the use of the RF plasma catheter, e.g., creation of coagulum, (desiccated, coagulated blood) or perhaps a cut stent strut, a special process using saline flushing, a novel RF plasma catheter with an insulated tip, or a combination of the two is used.

Abstract: An anchoring balloon of an anchoring balloon catheter is advanced through the branch vessel to be adjacent to the main stent graft within a main vessel. The anchoring balloon is inflated to center an inner member of the anchoring balloon catheter within the branch vessel and to anchor the anchoring balloon within the branch vessel. A needle assembly is advanced to pierce the graft material of the main stent graft with a needle forming a needle hole in the graft material. A dilator assembly is advanced to dilate the needle hole with a dilator.

Abstract: Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: A helical screw dilator system and method including a helical screw dilator having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial length, the helical screw dilator including a piercing tip at the distal end; a threaded dilation portion operably connected to the piercing tip along the axial length, the threaded dilation portion having an outer surface increasing in circumference with distance from the distal end and having threads disposed about the outer surface; and a shaft between the threaded dilation portion and the proximal end and a guidewire lumen through the center to guide the system to its destination.

Abstract: One or more markers or sensors are positioned in the vasculature of a patient to facilitate determining the location, configuration, and/or orientation of a vessel or certain aspects thereof (e.g., a branch vessel), determining the location, configuration and/or orientation of a endovascular devices prior to and during prosthesis deployment as well as the relative position of portions of the vasculature and devices, generating an image of a virtual model of a portion of one or more vessels (e.g., branch vessels) or devices, and/or formation of one or more openings in a tubular prosthesis in situ to allow branch vessel perfusion when the prosthesis is placed over one or more branch vessels in a patient (e.g., when an aortic abdominal artery stent-graft is fixed to the aorta superior to the renal artery ostia).

Abstract: RF power is applied to a circular RF electrode cutting a side opening in a graft material of a main stent-graft in situ. As the side opening is formed by the applied RF power and the associated plasma discharge, the side opening is formed with a minimal application of force to the graft material. Further, the side opening is circular and has a fused edge.

Abstract: Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Abstract: Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.