A stent (1) comprising a tubular frame (2) comprising a first end (3) and a second end and a longitudinal axis (4) therebetween. The frame (2) comprises a plurality of struts (9) defining a generally cylindrical portion comprising a longitudinally extending helical fin (11) protruding radially inwardly and having a helix angle. The angle, relative to the longitudinal axis (4), of at least some of the struts (9) in the helical fin (11) is substantially aligned with the helix angle of the helical fin (11).

Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly comprising an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilatation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium. The encapsulated stents may also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

A valve repair devices and systems for repairing a native valve of a patient include a spacer, a pair of paddles, and a pair of moveable clasp arms. The pair of moveable clasp arms are disposed between the pair of paddles and the spacer. The moveable clasp arms are configured to attach to leaflets of a heart valve. The spacer, the pair of paddles, and the moveable clasp arms are configured such that, when attached to the leaflets, the moveable clasp arms are located between the spacer and first portions of the leaflet, while second portions of the leaflet engage the spacer.

A method produces a marker element, which is composed of two radiopaque layers and an interposed adhesive layer. The marker element is heated and joined into the eyelet of a stent. The introduction of the mechanical force causes the two layers of the marker element to be compressed, whereby the available volume is reduced for the softened adhesive of the adhesive layer. Consequently, the softened adhesive from the adhesive layer is pushed out of the side of the marker element, so that the adhesive flows into the empty volume of the adhesive gap between the marker element and the inner edge of the eyelet of the scaffold and bonds to the inner edge of the eyelet.

A valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient includes a catheter and a valve repair device. The valve repair device is disposed in the catheter. The valve repair device comprises a compressible spacer and a pair of paddles. The pair of paddles are moveable between an open position and a closed position. The valve repair device can transition to a compressed configuration with the compressible spacer between the pair of paddles in the closed position.

Disclosed are methods, devices and materials for the in situ formation of a nerve cap to inhibit neuroma formation following planned or traumatic nerve injury. The method includes the steps of identifying a severed end of a nerve, and positioning the severed end into a cavity defined by a form. A transformable media is introduced into the form cavity to surround the severed end. The media is permitted to undergo a transformation from a first, relatively flowable state to a second, relatively non flowable state to form a protective barrier surrounding the severed end. The media may be a hydrogel, and the transformation may produce a synthetic crosslinked hydrogel protective barrier. The media may include at least one anti-regeneration agent to inhibit nerve regrowth

The invention relates to an artificial eye lens comprising an optical part, which has a first optical side as viewed in a direction of an optical principal axis of the artificial eye lens and an opposite second optical side, wherein a structure with at least one depression is formed in a haptic arrangement of the artificial eye lens and/or in a surround that surrounds the optical part at least in certain areas and that differs from the haptic arrangement, wherein the structure is formed as a micro-perforation with a multiplicity of perforation zones and at least some perforation zones are filled at least in certain areas with at least one medicament for the purposes of producing a medicament repository. The invention also relates to a method for producing such an artificial eye lens.

An exemplary valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open heart procedure includes a delivery device and a valve repair device. The valve repair device includes a pair of gripping members that are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. A gripper control mechanism is configured to independently engage and move each of the gripping members.

An exemplary valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient has a pair of paddles, a pair of gripping members, and at least one latch member. The paddles are movable between an open position and a closed position. The paddles and/or the gripping members are configured to attach to the native valve of the patient. When the paddles are in the closed position, the latch members latch the paddles in the closed position.

The present invention relates to a weaving method for a nasal sinus stent, comprising: providing a filament; providing a weaving tool having a longitudinal central axis, wherein the weaving tool comprises a first shaping part and a second shaping part which are axially spaced from each other, wherein the first shaping part is provided with n first anchor points, and the second shaping part is provided with n second anchor points; forming an initial configuration stent by around a circumferential direction of the weaving tool, allowing a single filament starting from 1st first anchor point on the first shaping part, coming across m1 vertex intervals to extend towards the second anchor point, and then coming across m2 vertex intervals to extend towards the first anchor point, so as to complete a first “V” shaped weaving path, and then repeating the “V” shaped weaving path until the single filament returns to the 1st first anchor point, wherein the initial configuration stent has a circumference and n vertices with vertex interval obtained by dividing the circumference by n; m1 and m2 are integral multiples of 0.5, the sum of m1+m2 is an integer, and the sum of m1+m2 is not an integral multiple of a divisor of n. The sinus stent obtained by the above weaving method has good shape adaptability and is particularly suitable for being used as a self-expanding stent in the nasal cavity.