A stent is disclosed that has an elongated body composed of a bioabsorbable polymer having a proximal end, a distal end, two open spiral channels formed on the exterior surface of the body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. The stent also has a central lumen open at the proximal and distal ends of the stent for the passage of a guide wire. A method for using the stent and a kit containing the stent are also disclosed.

A stent is disclosed that has an elongated body composed of a bioabsorbable polymer having a proximal end, a distal end, two open spiral channels formed on the exterior surface of the body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. The stent also has a central lumen open at the proximal and distal ends of the stent for the passage of a guide wire. A method for using the stent and a kit containing the stent are also disclosed.

A side-deliverable prosthetic valve includes an outer frame, a flow control component mounted within the outer frame, and an anchoring element coupled to a distal side of the outer frame. The prosthetic valve is foldable along a longitudinal axis and compressible along a central axis to a compressed configuration for side delivery via a delivery catheter and is expandable to an expanded configuration when released from the delivery catheter. An end portion of the anchoring element is configured to engage a guide wire. The anchoring element is extended during deployment to allow the anchoring element to capture at least one of native leaflet or chordae and, in response to the guide wire being disengaged from the end portion, transitions to a folded configuration to secure at least one of the native leaflet or the chordae between the anchoring element and the distal side of the outer frame.

A prosthetic graft assembly (40, 120) is disclosed for placement of a patient's aortic arch and repair of the descending aorta in a procedure which requires only a sternotomy. The assembly includes a descending graft element (40) which includes an eversible cuff (52) which can be wrapped over a cut end (26) of the descending aorta (18). Distal perfusion can be re-established prior to aortic arch replacement. A second prosthetic element (120), optimised to the patient, is fitted with a replacement for the aortic arch and attached to the descending aorta graft (40). An introducer assembly (30) having a transparent or translucent sheath (70) enables the descending aortic graft element (40) to be deployed without the use of x-rays.

A method including generating a 3-D model of an unstenosed geometry of a blood vessel responsive to a 3-D model of an actual geometry of the blood vessel, establishing a parametric description of a stent that is expanded from a collapsed configuration to a final configuration that apposes the unstenosed geometry, developing a design for the stent by varying parameters of the parametric description responsive to a design heuristic that includes risk of stent strut breakage during a plastic deformation between the collapsed configuration and the final configuration, embodying the stent according to the design for the stent, inserting the stent into a blood vessel in its collapsed configuration, maneuvering the stent through the blood vessel to a stenosis, and expanding the stent to its final configuration.

A method including generating a 3-D model of an unstenosed geometry of a blood vessel responsive to a 3-D model of an actual geometry of the blood vessel, establishing a parametric description of a stent that is expanded from a collapsed configuration to a final configuration that apposes the unstenosed geometry, developing a design for the stent by varying parameters of the parametric description responsive to a design heuristic that includes risk of stent strut breakage during a plastic deformation between the collapsed configuration and the final configuration, embodying the stent according to the design for the stent, inserting the stent into a blood vessel in its collapsed configuration, maneuvering the stent through the blood vessel to a stenosis, and expanding the stent to its final configuration.

A device for radially compressing a stent may include a housing including a central opening and a first iris positioned adjacent the housing. The first iris includes a first circumferential ring and a first plurality of arms extending radially inward from the first circumferential ring to define a first central opening. The device may include a second iris axially offset from the first iris and including a second circumferential ring and a second plurality of arms extending radially inward from the second circumferential ring to define a second central opening. Rotation of the circumferential ring(s) relative to the housing changes a size of their respective central opening(s). The plurality of arms may shift between a first configuration and a second configuration via rotation of the circumferential ring(s) relative to the housing.

A device for radially compressing a stent may include a housing including a central opening and a first iris positioned adjacent the housing. The first iris includes a first circumferential ring and a first plurality of arms extending radially inward from the first circumferential ring to define a first central opening. The device may include a second iris axially offset from the first iris and including a second circumferential ring and a second plurality of arms extending radially inward from the second circumferential ring to define a second central opening. Rotation of the circumferential ring(s) relative to the housing changes a size of their respective central opening(s). The plurality of arms may shift between a first configuration and a second configuration via rotation of the circumferential ring(s) relative to the housing.

An eustachian tube (ET) drug eluting stent includes a plurality of longitudinal spars with spring-like elements between each of the plurality of longitudinal spars, creating smooth arcs between each of the plurality of longitudinal spars while minimizing impediment of mucociliary flow. The combination of the plurality of longitudinal spars with spring-like elements are configured to enter into the ET uncompressed.

An eustachian tube (ET) drug eluting stent includes a plurality of longitudinal spars with spring-like elements between each of the plurality of longitudinal spars, creating smooth arcs between each of the plurality of longitudinal spars while minimizing impediment of mucociliary flow. The combination of the plurality of longitudinal spars with spring-like elements are configured to enter into the ET uncompressed.