Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a stent-valve for transcatheter implantation to replace a cardiac valve. In some embodiments, the stent valve being compressible to a compressed state for delivery, and expandable to an operative state for implantation. In some embodiments, the stent-valve comprises a stent, a plurality of leaflets for defining a prosthetic valve, an inner skirt, an outer skirt, and a paravalve seal for sealing against surrounding tissue. In some embodiments, the paravalve seal comprising material that swells in response to contact with blood or components thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes embodiments for treating a defect in a tissue, the tissue having internal and external surfaces. A device includes a first portion for positioning at one of the internal and external surfaces for applying a treatment force to the defect. In addition, the device has a second portion for applying a counter-force, where the second portion is operable to be positioned so that the counter-force is applied on the other of the internal and external surfaces, away from the defect so as to substantially avoid application of force at the defect. Furthermore, the device includes a coupling member for connecting the inner and outer portions. Methods of using the device are described, for example in an intervertebral disc having a herniation.

Abstract: A method for creating a channel through a foreign material located in a body of a patient, the foreign material defining a material first surface and a substantially opposed material second surface, the channel extending through the foreign material between the material first and second surfaces, the method using an apparatus including an electrode, the method comprising: positioning the electrode substantially adjacent to the material first surface; energizing the electrode with a radiofrequency current; and using the electrode energized with the radiofrequency current to deliver energy into the foreign material to create the channel, wherein the foreign material is included in a stent graft.

Abstract: A stent to be used in an intraluminal cavity is disclosed. The stent comprises an elongated scaffold formed by a plurality of cells formed by a plurality of interlinked struts. In some embodiments, the scaffold comprises two longitudinally opposed ends, each of the ends having at least one protrusion that can be used to secure a cover to the stent. Each protrusion defines a cavity extending therethrough. The cover is secured to the scaffold at the protrusion by an adhesive extending through the cavity. Alternatively, the scaffold comprises at least two protrusions or segments, each defining a cavity for securing one end of the cover to the scaffold.

Abstract: A stent insertable in a body vessel, the body vessel defining a vessel wall. The stent includes a plurality of struts, the struts defining a substantially elongated stent passageway, the struts being configured, sized and operatively coupled to each other in a manner such that the stent is deformable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the stent passageway has a first radial dimension and a first longitudinal dimension, and in the second configuration, the stent has a second radial dimension and a second longitudinal dimension, the second radial dimension being at least as large as the first radial dimension and the second longitudinal dimension being larger than the first longitudinal dimension. The stent is able to expand substantially longitudinally with the body vessel as the body vessel grows without reducing in diameter so as to reduce risks of damaging the vessel wall as the body vessel grows.

Abstract: A stent including a substantially radially expandable scaffold including interlinked struts, the scaffold being configurable into both a retracted and an expanded configuration. In the retracted configuration, the diameter of the scaffold along at least a portion thereof is smaller than the diameter of the scaffold the expanded configuration. The stent further includes a sheath mounted to the scaffold so that at least some of the struts are embedded into the sheath. The sheath allows a substantially radial movement of the struts between the expanded and the retracted configurations with the at least some of the struts remaining embedded in the sheath during the substantially radial movement.

Abstract: A stent valve includes a scaffold, the scaffold including interlinked struts, the scaffold having a scaffold passageway extending substantially longitudinally therethrough. The stent valve also includes a valve leaflet extending at least partially across the scaffold passageway, the valve leaflet defining a leaflet periphery. At least a portion of the leaflet periphery extends integrally from at least a portion of at least one of the struts and at least a portion of the leaflet periphery is substantially parallel to the at least a portion of said at least one of said struts.

Abstract: A stent valve insertable in a body vessel containing a body fluid. The stent valve includes: a valve for at least partially controlling the flow of the body fluid in the body vessel; and a scaffold, the scaffold including : an anchoring section for anchoring the scaffold to said body vessel and a valve supporting section supporting the valve. The scaffold is substantially radially expandable from a scaffold retracted configuration to a scaffold expanded configuration. The valve supporting section is expandable over a greater range of radial expansion than the anchoring section.