Abstract: The present invention relates to an endoprosthesis having a plurality of web rings coupled by connectors, which include two or more essentially parallel struts and a foot extension protruding from one of the struts. An endoprosthesis constructed according to the principles of the present invention provides an elevated degree of scaffolding to a body lumen while retaining an acceptable degree of flexibility.

Abstract: A method for aligning a stent with a stent support includes the steps of (1) placing a stent support and a stent mounted on the stent support in a vertically position with the stent support's first support element at a lower position and the stent support's second support element at an upper position; (2) obtaining a digital image of the stent support and stent; (3) analyzing the digital image of the stent support and stent to compute the vertical position of the stent's upper end; (4) computing a desired position of the second support element based on the position of the stent's upper end; and (5) using a positioning device to move the second support element to the desired position. The movement of the second support element causes the conical sections of the first and second support elements to engage the respective ends of the stent to center the stent around a core element of the stent support and to secure the stent in a longitudinal direction of the stent support.

Abstract: An expandable stent for use in a body vessel comprises a thin-walled tubular framework including two or more circumferentially adjacent end members extending in a longitudinal direction from an end of the framework. In a delivery configuration of the tubular framework, the end members have an interlocking configuration. Each end member has a first interlocking side and a second interlocking side, where the first interlocking side has a circumferentially directed protrusion and the second interlocking side has a circumferentially directed recess. The protrusion of a first end member mates with the recess of a second end member. In an expanded configuration of the tubular framework, the end members are disengaged from the interlocking configuration. Each end member may be an eyelet including an opening for a radiopaque rivet. A method of preparing the expandable stent for delivery into a body vessel is also described.

Abstract: A covered stent including an endovascular implant having a polymeric stent structure with an integrally formed membrane-like graft component, also referred to as a stent-graft, and methods of manufacturing the one-piece stent-graft by an injection molding process. A molding system for creating the polymeric stent structure is injected with a melt stream of moldable material that is forced between a parting line of the molding system to create a thin, flexible membrane-like structure within the open areas or interstitial spaces of the molded stent structure. The stent-graft so created is a one-piece, unified structure molded from a polymeric material in a single manufacturing step.

Abstract: An expandable medical device includes a plurality of elongated struts, forming a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter. A plurality of different beneficial agents may be loaded into different openings within the struts for delivery to the tissue. For treatment of conditions such as restenosis, different agents are loaded into different openings in the device to address different biological processes involved in restenosis and are delivered at different release kinetics matched to the biological process treated. The different agents may also be used to address different diseases from the same drug delivery device. In addition, anti-thrombotic agents may be affixed to at least a portion of the surfaces of the medical device for the prevention of sub-acute thrombosis. To ensure that the different agents remain affixed to the device as well as to each other, primer layers may be utilized.

Abstract: A stent with strut bands and connectors, wherein the strut bands have long and short struts with a junction positioned between the short struts. Each junction defines a reservoir, wherein the reservoirs of a strut band are substantially circumferentially aligned. The connectors each have arms, wherein each arm includes an opposing U-shaped link. The opposing links have a shared portion disposed between a peak on one strut band and a longitudinally adjacent trough of an adjacent strut band.

Abstract: Expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen are disclosed. These implants comprise a circumferentially nested, diametrically expandable, moveable vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The device can be configured to allow for motion such as rotating, translating, and/or slide and lock. One advantage of the circumferentially nested stent is that it maintains the expanded size, without significant recoil.

Abstract: A stent deployment device comprises an elongate catheter shaft (2), and an inflatable balloon (3). The inflatable balloon (3) is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon (3) is curved in three-dimensional space, and part of the balloon (3) is helically shaped. A stent (6) is movable from a collapsed delivery configuration to a partially expanded intermediate configuration, and subsequently from the intermediate configuration to a fully expanded deployed configuration. In the delivery configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent (6) is straight. The longitudinal axis of the stent (6) may be straight or curved in three-dimensional space in the intermediate configuration. In the deployed configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent (6) is curved in three-dimensional space. The balloon (3) in the expanded configuration exerts force on the stent (6).

Abstract: A stent designed for catheter delivery to a target neurovascular site via a tortuous path, in a contracted state, and deployment at the target site, in an expanded state, is disclosed. The stent includes a plurality of expandable tubular members, where member is composed of a continuous wire element forming a plurality of wave segments, and segment contains a pair of opposite looped peaks having a wave shape such that the distance between adjacent sides of a wave, on proceeding from a peak toward opposite peaks, increases monotonically with an inflection point therebetween. The expandable tubular members are joined through adjacent peaks by axial connectors. Radial expansion of the stent from a contracted to expanded state is accommodated by movement of adjacent wave-segment peaks away from one another, without significant change in the axial dimension of the stent. Also disclosed are a system incorporating the stent, and a method of treating a neurovascular abnormality.

Abstract: An expandable stent is fabricated from a plurality of radially undulating rings, each pair of adjacent radially expandable undulating rings being interconnected by a multiplicity of flex members. Each flex member contacts a portion of an apex on one ring at a circumferential location and a portion of an apex of a directly adjacent ring at a circumferentially offset location. Each flex member is expandable and in one embodiment is circumferentially S-shaped. Adjacent flex members are mirror images of each other. The resulting stent is both flexible and strong when expanded thereby providing good scaffolding. In one embodiment, the strut material is fabricated of shape memory alloy such that when the strut is compressed so as to be insertable into a vessel, the strut will automatically expand to its previous dimension upon rising to the temperature of the vessel in which it is placed, thereby to expand and hold open the vessel without need for a balloon catheter.

Abstract: A catheter assembly and related methods directed to stent edge protection for an edge of a stent. One example stent edge protect member is positioned with a distal end portion of the stent edge protect member arranged proximal of and adjacent to a proximal end of the stent. The stent edge protect member defines an outer surface that transitions from an outer surface of the stent at the proximal end of the stent to an outer surface of the catheter branch on which the stent edge protect member is positioned. The stent edge protect member can be positioned on a single catheter branch or multiple catheter branches.

Abstract: A stent to be implanted in an organism includes a plurality of wavy annular members arranged in an axial direction thereof. Each of the wavy annular members has a plurality of one-end side bent portions each having an apex at a one-end side of the stent in the axial direction thereof and a plurality of other-end side bent portions each having an apex at an other-end side of the stent in the axial direction thereof. In the wavy annular members disposed adjacently to each other in the axial direction of the stent the wavy annular members disposed at the one-end side of the stent in the axial direction thereof has a sharing linear portion having a start point at the apex of one of the other-end side bent portions thereof or in the vicinity of the apex and a termination point between the apex of the other-end side bent portion thereof and the apex of one of the one-end side bent portions thereof. The sharing linear portion integrates the adjacent wavy annular members with each other.

Abstract: The stent of the present invention is a tubular member comprising annular members 1 arranged in a longitudinal direction thereof for keeping a body lumen open, and one or more connecting elements 2 for connecting longitudinally adjoining two annular members 1, 1 with one another. Each annular member 1 comprises first annular member elements 11 and second annular member elements 12 which are alternately jointed together in the circumferential direction of the annular member 1. The annular members 1 are expandable in the radial direction thereof. The stent is flexible and excellent in trackability to lumens, thus making it possible to allow the stent to pass through the three-dimensionally meandering lumens. The stent is substantially free from shortening and makes it possible to provide the stent with a lateral hole.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent (1) representing a prosthesis for a constricted body vessel. The stent (1) includes a tubular support frame (2) composed of ring segments (3, 4, 5) which are sequentially arranged in axial direction and which are formed by segment struts (5, 6) that are continuously joined to one another in the initial state via transitions (8). Adjacent ring segments (3-5) are coupled to each other using tie bars (9, 10). In order to prevent notch stress in the segment struts (5, 6), the width thereof increases from midsection (16) in the direction of the transitions (8), wherein the segment struts (6, 7) are curved in a wave-like manner.

Abstract: Tubular casting processes, such as dip-coating, may be used to form substrates from polymeric solutions which may be used to fabricate implantable devices such as stents. The polymeric substrates may have multiple layers which retain the inherent properties of their starting materials and which are sufficiently ductile to prevent brittle fracture. Parameters such as the number of times the mandrel is immersed, the duration of time of each immersion within the solution, as well as the delay time between each immersion or the drying or curing time between dips and withdrawal rates of the mandrel from the solution may each be controlled to result in the desired mechanical characteristics. Additional post-processing may also be utilized to further increase strength of the substrate or to alter its shape.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a delivery system including a stent protector to protect an end of the stent and/or stent body for delivery of the stent to an intended fixation site or treatment site within a body lumen. More specifically, the present invention is directed to balloon catheter which protects the distal end, proximal end and/or body of a stent during delivery to the deployment site and/or shipping of a preloaded system.

Abstract: A intraluminal stent comprises a reticulated tube having an un-deployed diameter and expandable to an enlarged diameter. The tube includes a structural beam extending between first and second ends. The structural beam changes from a first geometry to a second geometry when the tube changes from the un-deployed diameter to the enlarged diameter. The structural beam includes first and second longitudinal elements each extending at least partially between the first and second ends and with a spacing between the first and second elements. Each of said first and second elements changes from the first geometry to the second geometry when the tube changes from the un-deployed diameter to the enlarged diameter for the spacing to remain substantially unchanged as the tube changes from the un-deployed diameter to the enlarged diameter.

Abstract: Implantable frames for use in body passages are provided herein. The implantable frames can include a plurality of hoop members joined by a plurality of longitudinal connecting members to form a tubular frame defining a cylindrical lumen. The plurality of longitudinal connecting members may include one or more pairs of closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the implantable frame. The circumferential distance between the closely-spaced longitudinal connecting members preferably subtends an angle less than (2?/n) radians, where (n) is an integer equal to the total number of longitudinal connecting members connecting two longitudinally adjacent hoop members.

Abstract: A stent (1) to be implanted in an organism includes a plurality of wavy annular members (2) arranged in an axial direction thereof. Each of the wavy annular members (2) has a plurality of one-end side bent portions each having an apex (2a) at a one-end side of the stent (1) in the axial direction thereof and a plurality of other-end side bent portions each having an apex (2b) at an other-end side of the stent (1) in the axial direction thereof. In the wavy annular members disposed adjacently to each other in the axial direction of the stent, the wavy annular members (2) disposed at the one-end side of the stent in the axial direction thereof has a sharing linear portion (21) having a start point (22) at the apex (2b) of one of the other-end side bent portions thereof or in the vicinity of the apex (2b) and a termination point (23) between the apex (2b) of the other-end side bent portion thereof and the apex (2a) of one of the one-end side bent portions thereof.

Abstract: An improved delivery system for an implantable medical device includes a retention sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The implantable medical device is disposed within the inner lumen of the retention sheath, which restrains the implantable medical device. A plurality of substantially incompressible rings are disposed within the inner lumen of the retention sheath in a stacked co-axial configuration that extends from the proximal end of the retention sheath in a pre-deployment position to a proximal end of the implantable medical device. Each ring in the plurality of separate rings abuts at least a portion of an adjacent ring. The plurality of separate rings is configured to prevent the implantable medical device from moving toward a proximal end of the retention sheath when the retention sheath is moved from the pre-deployment position to a deployment position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a micro-muscle designed to be immersed in a biological liquid, comprising a deformable chamber whereof one portion at least consists of a semipermeable membrane, said chamber containing a solution capable of osmotic activity. The solution is preferably activated by a product to be injected into the biological liquid.

Abstract: Described herein are flexible implantable occluding devices that can, for example, navigate the tortuous vessels of the neurovasculature. The occluding devices can also conform to the shape of the tortuous vessels of the vasculature. In some embodiments, the occluding devices can direct blood flow within a vessel away from an aneurysm or limit blood flow to the aneurysm. Some embodiments describe methods and apparatus for adjusting, along a length of the device, the porosity of the occluding device. In some embodiments, the occluding devices allows adequate blood flow to be provided to adjacent structures such that those structures, whether they are branch vessels or oxygen-demanding tissues, are not deprived of the necessary blood flow.

Abstract: This invention is a system for the treatment of body passageways; in particular, vessels with vascular disease. The system includes an endovascular graft with a low-profile delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which it conforms to the morphology of the vessel or body passageway to be treated as well as various connector members and stents. The graft is made from an inflatable graft body section and may be bifurcated. One or more inflatable cuffs may be disposed at either end of the graft body section. At least one inflatable channel is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inflatable cuffs.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using stent structures comprising a plurality of radially expansible rings where at least some of the rings comprise axially extending elements which interleave with axially extending elements on adjacent unconnected rings. The ring structures may be open cell structures or closed cell structures, and the axially extending elements will typically be formed as part of the open cell or closed cell structure.

Abstract: A method for aligning a stent with a stent support includes the steps of (1) placing a stent support and a stent mounted on the stent support in a vertically position with the stent support's first support element at a lower position and the stent support's second support element at an upper position; (2) obtaining a digital image of the stent support and stent; (3) analyzing the digital image of the stent support and stent to compute the vertical position of the stent's upper end; (4) computing a desired position of the second support element based on the position of the stent's upper end; and (5) using a positioning device to move the second support element to the desired position. The movement of the second support element causes the conical sections of the first and second support elements to engage the respective ends of the stent to center the stent around a core element of the stent support and to secure the stent in a longitudinal direction of the stent support.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical devices for implantation in a body vessel, and methods of using and making the same. A medical device can include a frame with one or more projections each having at least one edge extending from the surface of the frame, and a biocompatible, water-soluble removable material coated over at least a portion of the at least one edge. The projections can be barbs positioned to engage the interior wall of a body vessel or to attach a material, such as a valve leaflet or graft, to the frame. The removable material can be dissolved within a body vessel upon implantation, thereby exposing the at least one edge. Methods of making an implantable medical device and methods of treating a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering an implantable stented device to a lumen of a patient, the delivery system including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a driver mechanism positioned at the proximal end of the elongated body, an elongated threaded rod located axially distal to the driver mechanism, and a sheath including an elongated tubular portion having a hollow interior portion with a first diameter that is sized for compression and retention of the implantable stented device in a compressed configuration for delivery to a body lumen.

Abstract: A generally tubular, cylindrical stent prosthesis has an unexpanded delivery configuration and an expanded configuration for contacting the vessel wall. The stent prosthesis has a plurality of adjacent stent struts, each stent strut having a wavelike or sinusoidal pattern of straight segments and crowns. A Y-shaped member is attached to one or more crowns to cause the crowns to flare outwardly at an angle from the cylindrical stent body when the stent is expanded. Upon expansion of the stent, the crown(s) having Y-shaped members attached thereto are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis and radially flare from the cylindrical stent body. The flared crowns anchor the stent within the vessel by protruding into the vessel wall and/or seating the stent within an ostium.

Abstract: An expandable helical stent is provided, wherein the stent may be formed of an amorphous metal alloy or other non-amorphous metal with a securement. The stent is formed from flat or tubular metal in a helical coiled structure which has an undulating pattern. The main stent component may be formed of a single helically coiled component. Alternatively, a plurality of helically coiled ribbons may be used to form a stent heterogeneous in design, material, or other characteristic particular to that stent. The helical tubular structure may be secured with a securement, such as a weld, interlock or a polymer, to maintain the helical coils in a tubular configuration. The helical coils of the main stent component may be spaced apart or nestled to each other. The nestling of the undulation of adjacent helical coils contributes to maintaining the tubular shape of the helically coiled stent.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis system deployable in a region of a patient's vasculature having one or more branch vessels, having a first main graft body having at least a first and second opening therein and a second main graft body having at least a first and a second opening therein. The first openings can be smaller than the second openings. The second main graft body can be expandable substantially within the first main graft body such that the second openings of each graft body do not substantially cover the first openings of the other graft body. The resulting graft system can have two openings therein, each being defined by the first openings in each of the first and second main graft bodies. One or more branch grafts can be attached to cover the openings in the main graft bodies, and the main graft bodies can have one or more cutouts therein.

Abstract: An expandable stent including a plurality of positioning arches configured to be positioned within a plurality of pockets of a native heart valve and positioned on a first side of a plurality of native heart valve leaflets, a plurality of retaining arches configured to be positioned on a second side of the plurality of native heart valve leaflets opposite the first side, and at least one radial arch substantially circumferentially aligned with at least one of the plurality of positioning arches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent (10) for the positioning and anchoring of a valvular prosthesis (100) in an implantation site in the heart of a patient. Specifically, the present invention relates to an expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. So as to ensure that no longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis (100) fastened to a stent (10) will occur relative the stent (10) in the implanted state of the stent (10), even given the peristaltic motion of the heart, the stent (10) according to the invention comprises at least one fastening portion (11) via which the valvular prosthesis (100) is connectable to the stent (10). The stent (10) further comprises positioning arches (15) and retaining arches (16), whereby at least one positioning arch (15) is connected to at least one retaining arch (16) via a first connecting land (17).

Abstract: An expandable vascular stent includes an m×n array of ovals formed in a cylinder, m being the number of columns of ovals in the circumferential direction and n being the number of rows of ovals in the axial direction, and a plurality of prongs extending inwardly from the outer ends of respective ovals in rows 1 and n of the m×n array, and being arranged in facing pairs extending from axially-aligned ovals. The cylinder is expandable from an initial diameter to a pre-determined final diameter, wherein an increase in the diameter of the stent results in a substantial decrease in the length of the stent. The tube and the prongs can be made of surgical stainless steel, the tube being expandable using an angioplasty balloon; or the tube and the prongs can be made of a memory metal and the tube is self-expanding.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to aneurysm treatment devices which are capable of being delivered to the situs of a vascular aneurysm through a catheter. The treatment devices comprise, in general, an expandable stent having fenestrations and a reactive material selectively applied to not all of the fenestrations. The reactive material has a non-reacted state and a reacted state and the reactive material in the reacted state is capable of increasing the resistance to blood flow through said fenestrations.

Abstract: An intraluminal prosthesis includes an outer three-dimensional (3D) anti-migration structure that is attached to the outer wall of a fully covered or partially covered stent to prevent migration and still allow stent removal at a later period of time. A method of manufacturing the intraluminal prosthesis includes attaching the anti-migration structure by usage of a polymer such as polyurethane.

Abstract: This invention relates to medical devices and an angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist compound, the medical device being adapted to release the AT2 receptor antagonist compound within a body of a patient. This invention also relates to medical devices and methods of treatment of disease, such as aneurysms and aortic dissection. Medical devices may include coated stents, grafts, stent grafts, balloons and catheters.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a cardiovascular disease, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, an arrhythmia, or heart failure. One step of the method includes providing an apparatus. The apparatus includes an expandable support member having oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and a main body portion extending between the end portions. The proximal end portion includes a plurality of wing members extending from the main body portion. At least a portion of the expandable support member is treated with at least one therapeutic agent for eluting into a blood vessel. The expandable support member is inserted into the pulmonary vasculature and then advanced to a bifurcation in the pulmonary vasculature. The bifurcation includes the intersection of a first pulmonary vessel, a second pulmonary vessel, and a third pulmonary vessel. The expandable support member is secured at the bifurcation to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, for example.

Abstract: An expandable endovascular implant (10) of the stent type is described, which is suitable in particular for occlusion of a blood vessel (31). The implant comprises a circumferential tubular wall extending about a longitudinal axis and composed of a radially expandable, flexible lattice structure, said wall enclosing a cylindrical hollow space with a cross section, characterized in that the cylindrical hollow space defined by the wall is narrowed at least one location along its axis.

Abstract: Temporary stent having a plurality of ring elements arranged adjacent to each other, with said stent being capable of being explanted after it has been implanted in a body lumen, with all ring elements (3a, b, c, . . . ) starting out from a spine (2) extending over the length of the stent (1) and comprising at least two weakened areas (4, 5, 6) which enable the ring elements (3a, b, c, . . . ) to be collapsible during the process of explantation of the stent, and said spline (2) being provided with a recovery element (8) at its proximal end (7).

Abstract: A device for repairing a vessel body including a plurality distinct and independently positionable, expandable frame units disposed within a tubular graft. The independent frame units are capable of being positioned, repositioned, or removed to conform the tubular graft to the anatomy of the vessel body.

Abstract: The present invention provides an endoprosthesis comprising a radially distensible, tubular stent comprising opposed open ends and a stent wall structure having opposed exterior and luminal surfaces; and a continuous and seamless ePTFE tubular covering having a node and fibril structure securably disposed to at least one of the stent surfaces, the graft covering comprising at least two laminated layers, wherein the laminated layers include at least one region where the laminated layers are not securely bonded; and the at least one region has a different bending flexibility from the tubular graft covering.

Abstract: An expandable medical device has a plurality of elongated struts joined together to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. At least one of the plurality of struts includes at least one opening extending at least partially through a thickness of said strut. A beneficial agent is loaded into the opening within the strut in layers to achieve desired temporal release kinetics of the agent. Alternatively, the beneficial agent is loaded in a shape which is configured to achieve the desired agent delivery profile. A wide variety of delivery profiles can be achieved including zero order, pulsatile, increasing, decrease, sinusoidal, and other delivery profiles.

Abstract: An apparatus for collapsing an expandable stent can include a plurality of movable members braided together to form a tubular member or main body portion. The movable members can at least partially define a lumen in the main body portion. The main body portion can be adapted to circumferentially apply an inward force as the diameter of the main body portion is reduced. The diameter of the main body portion can be reduced by moving opposing ends of the main body portion away from each other. An expanded expandable stent can be collapsed by positioning the stent inside the lumen of the main body portion and pulling opposing ends of the main body portion apart. An intermediate layer can be provided between the stent and the main body portion to reduce shear stresses and point forces on the stent.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel compressed tubular tissue supports (1) that can easily be introduced into vessels requiring support.

Abstract: Implantable prosthetic valves comprising support frames are provided. The support frames may include a plurality of symmetrically arrayed interconnected U-shaped member structures. Preferred support frames are tubular structures enclosing a longitudinal axis and including a plurality of U-shaped member structures facing a distal or a proximal end of the support frame. Each U-shaped member structure may be connected to a single longitudinally adjacent U-shaped member facing in an opposite longitudinal direction, as well as two laterally adjacent U-shaped members.

Abstract: An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions or ostial regions. The stent can include an end region which is fabricated to have a greater radial strength than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in ostial regions, which require greater support near the end of the stent. The stent alternatively can include sections adjacent the end of the stent with greater bending flexibility than the remaining axial length of the stent. Such a stent is particularly suited for use in curved arteries. The stent can also be constructed with an end that has greater radial strength and sections adjacent the end with greater bending flexibility. Such a stent prevents flaring of the stent end during insertion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by undulating links. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. The stent can be compressed or crimped onto a catheter to a very low profile since the peaks that are adjacent the curved portion of the undulating link are shorter than other peaks in the same cylindrical ring to prevent overlap yet still achieve a very low profile, tightly crimped stent onto a catheter.

Abstract: A stent made of nitinol having improved axial or radial stiffness, the stent having a support structure which comprises peripheral struts around the circumference, wherein the peripheral struts are linked to one another in the axial direction via connection struts. The support structure may assume a first compressed state and a second expanded state. The nitinol is in the support structure in a martensitic microstructure in the compressed state and largely in an austenitic microstructure in the second expanded state. One or more support structure sections, however, are entirely or partially in a martensitic microstructure in the second expanded state.

Abstract: An implantable stent includes multiple circumferential segments that surround a bore and are connected in series along a length to form a tubular wall. Multiple adjacent alternating opposite facing crowns arranged along each segment's circumference are bridged by struts. The struts include a series of staggered arcuate edges with limited flats to provide a limited region of maximum width between significantly extended reducing diameter tapers at either end where they transition into the crowns. Connections between adjacent segments are wider and stiffer than the struts and strut-crown transitions in the segments. The crowns include inner and outer radii with off-set centers along a common axis to provide medial crown peaks along the axis that are wider than the narrowed crown shoulders on either side of the axis and from which the tapered struts extend. Material strain and flexure along the stent during lateral bending is distributed mainly within the segments, e.g.

Abstract: A rapid exchange stent delivery catheter includes an inner tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a stent holding portion located adjacent the distal portion of the inner member, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of the inner member to a distal guide wire opening disposed at a distal end of the inner member. The proximal guide wire opening has a first length. An outer tubular member is slidably disposed about the inner member. The outer member has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of the outer member. The guide wire opening of the outer member has a second length that is shorter than the first length and a guide wire ramp extends into, and is movable along the first length.