The present disclosure provides embodiments of devices that are useful in the structural remodeling of various parts of the cardiovascular system, most notably the heart. Certain of the disclosed devices relate to RAMIN procedures (“remodeling and ablation using myocardial interstitial navigation”). RAMIN procedures, as described herein, represent a new family of non-surgical catheter-based procedures in order to accomplish ablation, drug delivery, re-shaping, pacing, and related structural heart interventional procedures, as desired.

Disclosed are embodiments of delivery systems for delivery of replacement heart valves. This can include mitral, aortic, tricuspid, and pulmonary valves. The delivery systems can include one or more different components and configurations that advantageously improve placement of the replacement heart valves during the operation of the delivery system.

Transluminally implantable cardiac valves configured for use in cardiac valve replacement and/or cardiac valve exclusion that are capable of percutaneous delivery on low-profile catheters having 15 French size or less. The implantable cardiac valves are fabricated of from a unitary metal material to form a lattice frame support having a main body portion and valve leaflet portion, and a plurality of elongate biasing arm members. A polymer coating or covering is disposed on the valve leaflet portion and the elongate biasing arm members and subtends space between adjacent pairs of elongate biasing arm members to form valve leaflet portions in which the elongate biasing arms and the polymer coating operate to share a mechanical load thereupon.

Disclosed are an implant conveying device and an inner tube assembly thereof, and a catheter, wherein the inner tube assembly comprises an implant protection part, an inner tube and a fixing head connected to the inner tube, wherein the implant protection part is connected to the inner tube or/and the fixing head, the implant protection part is configured to be in contact with an implant to support the implant, and a protector is in the shape of a circular ring sheet or a circular arc sheet.

An embolic filter is provided with a support frame and a porous polymeric membrane connected to the support frame. The embolic filter is configured to be movable between a collapsed state and a deployed state where the filter extends, in use, into contact with an inner wall of a patient's vasculature. The support frame of the embolic filter includes a shape memory material such that the support frame acts as a deployment arrangement to move the embolic filter from the collapsed state into the deployed state.

Shape memory alloys are used in aerospace structures, orthodontics, cardiovascular prosthetic devices, sensors and controllers, and many other engineering, technology, science, and other fields. The methods are described in the case of a temporary heart assist pump to illustrate the concepts, but the method applies to many other fields. The properties of shape memory alloys are used to fold or collapse and implant in the human body a device without breaking the device as it reaches body temperature or without reaching permanent plastic deformation. The properties of nitinol are also used to describe intended explantation of the device, at body temperature, from the body without breaking it. Such planned explantation may be needed in cases where the device is designed for temporary use, such as mechanical circulatory support devices intended for temporary use and then removal of all components of the device from the body. The same method can be used for devices that have not been initially designed for removal, such as stents or valves, that must later be explanted for reasons unanticipated when they were installed. The methods ensure that the devices stay within stress-strain-temperature conditions so they remain elastic, or under the upper stress plateau, or remain plastic, but always under the breaking strain, of shape memory alloys at: room or environmental conditions; cooler than environmental conditions; and at a higher temperature, or body temperature. The methods described may also be applied to other industrial applications, where shape memory alloys may be installed and removed at different temperatures. Applications in other industries, include aerospace, civil structures, mechanical structures are contemplated.

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). The stent (10) moreover comprises at least one auxiliary retaining arch (18) which connects the respective arms (16′,16″) of the at least one retaining arch (16) connected to the at least one positioning arch (15).

The invention relates to a catheter for the transvascular implantation of prosthetic heart valves, in particular including self-expanding anchorage supports (10), which allow a minimally invasive implantation of prosthetic heart valves. The aim of the invention is to reduce the risk to the patient during the implantation. To achieve this, according to the invention a prosthetic heart valve with anchorage supports is temporarily housed in a folded form in a cartridge-type unit (4) during the implantation. The cartridge-type unit can be fixed on the proximal end of a guide system (1), which includes a flexible region (9) that can be guided through the aorta. Actuating elements (2, 3) run through the interior of the hollow guide system, said elements permitting sections of the cartridge-type unit to be displaced radially about their longitudinal axis and/or laterally in a proximal direction, thus allowing individual sections of the anchorage support and the associated prosthetic heart valve to be sequentially released.

A delivery device for a collapsible heart valve includes an operating handle and a catheter assembly. The operating handle includes a frame defining a movement space therein, a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction within the movement space, and a coupler having locked and unlocked conditions, the coupler being operatively connected to the carriage assembly for movement therewith. The catheter assembly includes a shaft around which a valve-receiving compartment is defined, the shaft being operatively connected to one of the frame or the carriage assembly, and a distal sheath operatively connected to the carriage assembly for movement therewith between a closed condition adapted to maintain the valve in the compartment and an open condition adapted to fully deploy the valve.

The present disclosure concerns embodiments of implantable prosthetic devices, and in particular, implantable prosthetic valves, and methods for making such devices. In one aspect, a prosthetic device includes encapsulating layers that extend over a fabric layer and secure the fabric layer to another component of the device. In particular embodiments, the prosthetic device comprises a prosthetic heart valve, and can be configured to be implanted in any of the native heart valves. In addition, the prosthetic heart valve can be, for example, a transcatheter heart valve, a surgical heart valve, or a minimally-invasive heart valve.