3149 results about "Insertion stent" patented technology

A replacement heart valve apparatus. The heart valve apparatus includes a stent and a valve frame having a substantially cylindrical body defining a lumen. The valve frame includes a plurality of curved wire pairs attached to the substantially cylindrical body. Each curved wire pair includes an inner curved wire and an outer curved wire. The wire frame further having a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet is attached to a respective inner curved wire and extends over a respective outer curved wire, so as to position the body of the leaflet within the lumen of the valve frame.

Expandable heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement surgeries are disclosed. In a first embodiment, an expandable pre-assembled heart valve includes a plastically-expandable annular base having plurality of upstanding commissure posts. A tubular flexible member including a prosthetic section and a fabric section is provided, with the prosthetic section being connected to the commissure posts and defining leaflets therebetween, and the fabric section being attached to the annular base. In a second embodiment, an expandable heart valve includes an annular tissue-engaging base and a subassembly having an elastic wireform and a plurality of leaflets connected thereto. The annular base and subassembly are separately stored and connected just prior to delivery to the host annulus. Preferably, the leaflet subassembly is stored in its relaxed configuration to avoid deformation of the leaflets. The expandable heart valves maybe implanted using a balloon catheter. Preferably, the leaflets of the heart valves are secured to the commissure regions of the expandable stents using a clamping arrangement to reduce stress.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat.

Sinusitis, enlarged nasal turbinates, tumors, infections, hearing disorders, allergic conditions, facial fractures and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches and, in many cases, flexible catheters as opposed to instruments having rigid shafts. Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Access and occluder devices may be used to establish fluid tight seals in the anterior or posterior nasal cavities/nasopharynx and to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g., scopes, guidewires, catheters, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for injecting diagnostic or therapeutic agents, devices for implanting devices such as stents, substance eluting devices, substance delivery implants, etc.

A vascular implant for replacing a native heart valve comprises a self expanding stent supporting a valve body having leaflets. The stent preferably comprises an anchoring structure configured to prevent the implant from passing through the valve annulus. For delivery, the implant is compacted within a delivery device and secured at one end. During delivery the implant is partially released from the delivery device, and positioning of the implant is verified prior to full release. The implant can be at least partially resheathed and repositioned if desired.

A sensor is disclosed, for implantation within a blood vessel to monitor a substance in or property of blood. In one embodiment, the sensor detects nitric oxide or a nitric oxide metabolite. In another embodiment, other substances such as glutamate, aspartate, arginine, citrulline, acetylcholine, calcium, potassium, or dopamine are monitored. The sensor may be attached to a support structure such as a stent, guidewire, or catheter. In a further embodiment, a catheter is disclosed that extracts patient fluid to a sensor outside the body for monitoring a substance or property of the patient fluid. Methods are also disclosed.

Prosthetic valve devices for implantation in body vessels, and methods of making same, are provided. The device has a main body with first and second ends and defining a lumen, with the second end being inverted into the lumen. A valve is disposed at the second end. In multiple valve devices, valves are disposed at the first and second ends, and individually may be inverted into the lumen. The prosthetic valve devices may further include a support structure such as a stent. Methods of making a prosthetic valve device include providing a main body having first and second ends and defining a lumen, forming a valve at the second end, and inverting the second end into the lumen. Methods may further comprise forming multiple valves and may also include attaching a support structure.

A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent system carries a self expandable noncylindrical stent, which is particularly suited for treating a widened portion of a blood vessel immediately proximal to a bifurcation. A stent delivery system is also disclosed, for delivering the stent such that a larger expanded diameter end of the stent faces the bifurcation, and a smaller expanded diameter end of the stent faces proximally in the main vessel.

A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve comprises a replacement valve supported on an expandable valve support. If desired, one or more anchors may be used. The valve support, which entirely supports the valve annulus, valve leaflets, and valve commissure points, is configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable to contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the assembly is properly positioned. Portions of the valve support may expand to a preset diameter to maintain coaptivity of the replacement valve and to prevent occlusion of the coronary ostia. A radial restraint, comprising a wire, thread or cuff, may be used to ensure expansion does not exceed the preset diameter. The valve support may optionally comprise a drug elution component. The anchor engages the lumen wall when expanded and prevents substantial migration of the valve assembly when positioned in place. The prosthetic valve assembly is compressible about a catheter, and restrained from expanding by an outer sheath. The catheter may be inserted inside a lumen within the body, such as the femoral artery, and delivered to a desired location, such as the heart. A blood pump may be inserted into the catheter to ensure continued blood flow across the implantation site during implantation procedure. When the outer sheath is retracted, the prosthetic valve assembly expands to an expanded position such that the valve and valve support expand at the implantation site and the anchor engages the lumen wall. Insertion of the catheter may optionally be performed over a transseptally delivered guidewire that has been externalized through the arterial vasculature. Such a guidewire provide dual venous and arterial access to the implantation site and allows additional manipulation of the implantation site after arterial implantation of the prosthetic valve. Additional expansion stents may be delivered by venous access to the valve.

A valve prosthesis includes a plurality of flexible leaflets and a stent having a central lumen. A slit in the stent extends from the central lumen to an outer surface. An occluding portion of the flexible leaflets extends across the central lumen and an attachment portion extends from the central lumen through the slit and forms a sewing cuff for attachment to a patient's tissue. The attachment portion forms a sewing cuff for attachment to native heart tissue.

A device for the transvascular implantation and fixation of prosthetic heart valves having a self-expanding heart valve stent (10) with a prosthetic heart valve (11) at its proximal end is introducible into a patient's main artery. With the objective of optimizing such a device to the extent that the prosthetic heart valve (11) can be implanted into a patient in a minimally-invasive procedure, to ensure optimal positioning accuracy of the prosthesis (11) in the patient's ventricle, the device includes a self-expanding positioning stent (20) introducible into an aortic valve positioned within a patient. The positioning stent is configured separately from the heart valve stent (10) so that the two stents respectively interact in their expanded states such that the heart valve stent (10) is held by the positioning stent (20) in a position in the patient's aorta relative the heart valve predefinable by the positioning stent (20).

Systems, devices and methods are provided for providing sensing and therapy functions using a chronically-implanted device. According to one embodiment, the device includes a structure adapted to be chronically placed within a biosystem, and further includes sensing circuitry and therapy-providing circuitry attached to the structure. The sensing circuitry is adapted to sense mechanical parameters in the biosystem. The therapy-providing circuitry is adapted to provide therapy to the biosystem. According to various embodiments of the device, the sensing circuitry is further adapted to sense electrical and/or chemical parameters in the biosystem, and/or is adapted to provide electrical therapy and/or to provide drug-eluting therapy. One embodiment of the device includes a stent-like structure adapted to be chronically placed intravascularly in the biosystem.

A venous valve prosthesis having a substantially non-expandable, valve portion comprising a valve-closing mechanism, such as a pair of opposing leaflets; and an anchoring portion, such as one or more self-expanding frames or stents that are expandable to anchor the prosthesis at the implantation site. In one embodiment, the rigid valve portion includes a deposition of material such as pyrolitic carbon to reduce the thrombogenecity of the blood-contacting surfaces. The anchoring portions preferably include a covering, such as a tubular construct of synthetic or collagen-derived material (such as a bioremodelable ECM material), which attaches about the support structure such that blood flow is directed through the valve mechanism as it transitions from the larger diameter anchoring portion to the intermediate, smaller-diameter portion of the prosthesis. In another embodiment, the valve support housing and valve-closing elements are delivered in a collapsed, folded, and/or dissembled state sized for delivery, then manipulated in situ to the second expanded configured following deployment.

A self-expanding stent includes a plurality of segments having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. Preferably, the segments are unconnected to each other in at least the expanded configuration. The segments include restraining structures that temporarily restrain them from expansion until activated. This allows the user to position the desired number of segments at a treatment site and to deploy them simultaneously, thereby avoiding misalignment, overlap, and excessive spacing between segments. In preferred embodiments, multiple segmented stents of user-selectable length may be deployed at multiple locations in a single intervention.

A connecting band for a highly flexible tissue-type heart valve having a stent with cusps and commissures that are permitted to move radially. The connecting band follows the cusps and commissures and extends outwardly. The valve is connected to the natural tissue along the undulating connecting band using conventional techniques, such as sutures. The connecting band may be a cloth-covered inner suture-permeable member and attaches to the underside of the valve at the cusps to provide support to the stent and to the outer side of the valve at the commissures. The connecting band includes commissure portions defining generally axial gaps that help permit flexing of the valve. The inner member may include one or more slits along the cusps to enhance flexibility. The inner member may further include a continuous outwardly projecting sewing ridge around its periphery which includes a series of ribs separated by grooves around the inflow edge of the cusps. The sewing ridge enables supra-annular implant of a valve constructed with the connecting band.

An endoluminal prosthesis is provided for restricting fluid flow in a lumen. The endoluminal prosthesis has a tubular graft having a flexible body with at least one stent coupled thereto. The endoluminal prosthesis also includes a prosthetic valve coupled to the inside the tubular graft. The prosthetic valve can be made of a synthetic or an organic material, such as an extracellular matrix, and can operate to limit fluid flow in one direction, but allow fluid flow in the other direction.

Devices and methods are provided for an implantable medical device which is degradable over a clinically relevant period of time. The medical devices may have the form of implants, graft implants, vascular implants, non vascular implants, wound closure implants, sutures, drug delivery implants, biologic delivery implants, urinary tract implants, inter-uterine implants, organ implants, bone implants including bone plates, bone screws, dental implants, spinal disks, or the like. In preferred embodiments, the implantable medical device comprises an implantable luminal prosthesis, such as vascular and non-vascular stents and stents grafts.

A valve prosthesis device is disclosed suitable for implantation in body ducts. The device comprises a support stent, comprised of a deployable construction adapted to be initially crimped in a narrow configuration suitable for catheterization through the body duct to a target location and adapted to be deployed by exerting substantially radial forces from within by means of a deployment device to a deployed state in the target location, and a valve assembly comprising a flexible conduit having an inlet end and an outlet, made of pliant material attached to the support beams providing collapsible slack portions of the conduit at the outlet. The support stent is provided with a plurality of longitudinally rigid support beams of fixed length. When flow is allowed to pass through the valve prosthesis device from the inlet to the outlet, the valve assembly is kept in an open position, whereas a reverse flow is prevented as the collapsible slack portions of the valve assembly collapse inwardly providing blockage to the reverse flow. The device is configured so that retrograde flow will be altered from laminar flow and directed towards the leaflets to effect closing.

A system for treating a vascular condition includes a catheter and a stent coupled to the catheter. The stent includes a stent framework having at least one stent segment with a plurality of interconnected struts and crowns and at least one stiffening ring having a plurality of ring segments connected between circumferentially adjacent crowns of the stent segment. The stiffening ring is oriented circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the stent framework when the stent is deployed. A stent and a method of treating a vascular condition are also disclosed.

A first stent delivery system provided with a sheath for covering the stent, the sheath including proximal sheath portion adapted to be movable in a proximal direction and a distal sheath portion adapted to be moveable in a distal direction. A second stent delivery system including an outer and intermediate tubular members covering a chamber with a preloaded stent, the outer tubular member being retractable prior to the retraction of the intermediate sheath and release of the stent. A third stent delivery system including with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the system for fixing the system in place within the vessel prior to the release of the stent thereby insure accurate stent deployment.

An intravascular catheter with micro spines that penetrate arterial wall to delivery drug or mechanical injury to the vessel wall inducing a “stent” like healing process in the vessel.

The present invention comprises electrosurgical apparatus and methods for maintaining patency in body passages subject to occlusion by invasive tissue growth. The apparatus includes an electrode support disposed at a shaft distal end having at least one active electrode arranged thereon, and at least one return electrode proximal to the at least one active electrode. In one embodiment, a plurality of active electrodes each comprising a curved wire loop portion are sealed within a distal portion of the electrode support. The apparatus and methods of the present invention may be used to open and maintain patency in virtually any hollow body passage which may be subject to occlusion by invasive cellular growth or invasive solid tumor growth. Suitable hollow body passages include ducts, orifices, lumens, and the like, with exemplary body passages including the coronary arteries. The present invention is particularly useful for reducing or eliminating the effects of restenosis in coronary arteries by selectively removing tissue in-growth in or around stents anchored therein.

In one aspect, a stent delivery system includes a catheter having two or more pullwire lumens evenly spaced about the central axis of the catheter and thereby balanced within the catheter. Pullwires are positioned in the pullwire lumens. Proximal portions of the pullwires are attached to a connector, which is attached to a master pullwire. The connector has a given range of motion that allows the pullwires to move within the pullwire lumens, thereby ensuring full flexibility of the catheter. The pullwires assume different lengths. A pullwire positioned over the outer curve of a flexed catheter may be longer than a pullwire positioned within the inner curve of the catheter, preventing the catheter from being straightened or displaced by the action of retracting the pullwires. The catheter may serve as either an inner member on which a stent is mounted or a sheath enclosing a stent.

A stent includes a flaring portion and a main portion connected to the flaring portion. The main portion includes a plurality of bands of cells spaced apart axially from one another, adjacent bands of cells being intermittently connected to one another. During use, the stent is introduced into a main vessel in a contracted condition and positioned with the flaring portion adjacent an ostium. The flaring portion is flared, and the stent is advanced at least partially into the ostium. The stent is expanded further such that the main portion expands within the branch body lumen and/or the flaring portion expands adjacent the ostium. The main portion compresses axially during at least one of the steps when the stent is expanded, which may enhance conformance of the stent relative to the ostium and/or enhance reinforcement of the ostium.

A delivery system for an endoprosthesis includes a spindle having a spindle body and spindle pins extending radially outward from the spindle body. The delivery system further comprises a tip comprising a sleeve, the spindle pins extending from the spindle body toward the sleeve. The endoprosthesis includes a proximal anchor stent ring having spindle pin catches and anchor pins. The spindle pins of the spindle extend into the spindle pin catches and the sleeve radially constrains the anchor pins.

A stent for application within an aneurysm the stent comprising an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end. The stent has a proximal portion expandable from a first diameter to a second diameter. The distal end of the stent may be expandable to a third diameter, which third diameter is larger than the second diameter. The stent may be left disposed across the neck of the aneurysm.

A valve replacement system that can be used for treating abnormalities of the right ventricular outflow tract in a nonsymmetrical region of a vessel or conduit that includes a prosthetic valve device and a foundation structure. The foundation structure contacts a portion of the inner wall of a vessel or conduit, and undergoes a shape change resulting in a corresponding change in the wall of the vessel or conduit. As a result, the lumen of the conduit is made symmetrical, and is complementary to the exterior surface of the stented valve, and thereby, improves the functioning of the valve. Another embodiment of the invention includes a method for replacing a pulmonary valve that includes forming a symmetrical region in a lumen of a conduit and placing a stented valve in the symmetrical region.

Several methods and apparatus are available for treating patients that suffer from both gastro-esophageal reflux disorder and hiatal hernias. In order to treat these patients, an endoscopic probe may be used to push the herniated stomach below the diaphragm. In some embodiments, a two-part stent comprising a funnel stent and a reverse stent may be deployed to prevent a future re-herniation of the stomach and to reduce the annulus of the lower esophageal sphincter. In some embodiments, a reverse stent with perforating barbs may be deployed, in which the barbs penetrate the esophageal wall and attach to the diaphragm. In some embodiments, the crus muscles may be sutured together to reduce the hiatus size and a reverse stent may be deployed to reduce the annulus of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Described is a prosthetic valve, comprising: an expandable stent including an inner lumen and having a first and a second end; and a spring attached to the first end of the expandable stent; wherein the expandable stent and the spring can expand radially to a desired diametric configuration in order to anchor the prosthetic valve at an implantation position in a body lumen. Related systems and methods.

Gastric space occupying devices are provided that include a stent configured for deployment in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, and in particular, for deployment in the esophagus or the stomach. Secured to the stent is an expandable member that is adapted to reside within the patient's stomach. When expanded, the expandable member occupies a predefined volume within the patient's stomach and is further tethered to the deployed stent, thereby retaining or anchoring the expandable member within the stomach. Methods and systems for the deploying the space occupying devices are also provided.