The present application discloses a stent-graft prosthesis and a method for navigating such stent-graft prosthesis e.g. to a branch vessel. A first stent-graft prosthesis may include a main body and at least one lateral side branch connected to the main body. A further stent-graft prosthesis according to examples has a body having a generally tubular wall structure, the wall structure of the further stent-graft prosthesis including an orifice element (610) for receiving a guiding element (10). Preferably the wall structure has an overlap region (630) for interconnection, e.g. to the first stent-graft prosthesis. The orifice element (610) is then arranged at said overlap region, wherein said overlap region is preferably arranged at a proximal end region of said body. The guiding element (10) preferably is a textile thread or suture thread, optionally with a radiopaque marker, such as a fiducial marker and/or a radiopaque elongate marker extending at least along a portion of a length of said guiding element (10).

A modular valve prosthesis includes an inflow stent, a valve component including a valve stent and a prosthetic valve, and an outflow stent. In a radially compressed delivery configuration, an inflow end of the valve stent is separated from an outflow end of the inflow stent and an outflow end of the valve stent is separated from an inflow end of the outflow stent. In a radially expanded deployed configuration, the inflow end of the valve stent is in contact with the outflow end of the inflow stent and the outflow end of the valve stent is in contact with the inflow end of the outflow stent. A delivery system includes a capsule including first, second and third sections and flexible first and second bands between respective sections. The modules of the modular valve prosthesis are aligned with the sections and gaps between the modules are aligned with the bands.

A modular valve prosthesis includes an inflow stent, a valve component including a valve stent and a prosthetic valve, and an outflow stent. In a radially compressed delivery configuration, an inflow end of the valve stent is separated from an outflow end of the inflow stent and an outflow end of the valve stent is separated from an inflow end of the outflow stent. In a radially expanded deployed configuration, the inflow end of the valve stent is in contact with the outflow end of the inflow stent and the outflow end of the valve stent is in contact with the inflow end of the outflow stent. A delivery system includes a capsule including first, second and third sections and flexible first and second bands between respective sections. The modules of the modular valve prosthesis are aligned with the sections and gaps between the modules are aligned with the bands.

The invention includes an expandable stent having a tubular shape when expanded, the shape including a portion t where the stent radius grows with stent length so that the growth in the portion is constant conductance growth or near-constant conductance growth. The invention includes sheaths that will encase the stent to restrict the growth of the stent to the desired expanded shape. The invention also includes expandable stent balloons that expand the stent to the desired shape configuration with constant or near constant conductance portion. The balloons can include a similar sheath or sleeve to restrict the balloon's growth to the desired shape. The stent radius growth can be piecewise, and is not necessarily 4.sup.th order growth, but can be such that r.sup.n/l is a constant in the portion, where n>4.

The invention includes an expandable stent having a tubular shape when expanded, the shape including a portion t where the stent radius grows with stent length so that the growth in the portion is constant conductance growth or near-constant conductance growth. The invention includes sheaths that will encase the stent to restrict the growth of the stent to the desired expanded shape. The invention also includes expandable stent balloons that expand the stent to the desired shape configuration with constant or near constant conductance portion. The balloons can include a similar sheath or sleeve to restrict the balloon's growth to the desired shape. The stent radius growth can be piecewise, and is not necessarily 4.sup.th order growth, but can be such that r.sup.n/l is a constant in the portion, where n>4.

Devices are provided with an internal dimension that can be reduced and increased in vivo. In one example, an interatrial shunt for placement at an atrial septum of a patient's heart includes a body. The body includes first and second regions coupled in fluid communication by a neck region. The body includes a shape-memory material. The body defines a passageway through the neck region for blood to flow between a first atrium and a second atrium. The first and second regions are superelastic at body temperature, and the neck region is malleable at body temperature. A flow area of the passageway through the neck region may be adjusted in vivo.

A stent is effective for anti-migration after operation of a lumen, and a first outer stent or a second outer stent is used to be integral to a cylindrical stent and an upper end part of each of the first outer stent or the second outer stent is connected to the cylindrical stent by sutures to have a space part between the cylindrical start, the first outer stent, and the second outer stent. The space part is provided such that the first outer stent or the second outer stent is freely moved or transformed by an external force, and a displacement part caused by the movement or a transformation part caused by the transformation further presses or moves into a lesion part or an inner surface of the lumen to be securely held thereon, whereby the stent is effectively prevented from deviating from the lesion part.

A stent is effective for anti-migration after operation of a lumen, and a first outer stent or a second outer stent is used to be integral to a cylindrical stent and an upper end part of each of the first outer stent or the second outer stent is connected to the cylindrical stent by sutures to have a space part between the cylindrical start, the first outer stent, and the second outer stent. The space part is provided such that the first outer stent or the second outer stent is freely moved or transformed by an external force, and a displacement part caused by the movement or a transformation part caused by the transformation further presses or moves into a lesion part or an inner surface of the lumen to be securely held thereon, whereby the stent is effectively prevented from deviating from the lesion part.

A prosthesis for monitoring a characteristic of flow includes a first tubular prosthesis having a lumen and a sensor for detecting the characteristic of flow through the lumen. The sensor may be covered with another tubular prosthesis or by a layer of material ire order to insulate the sensor from the fluid flow. A pocket may be formed between the tubular prosthesis and the adjacent layer of material or prosthesis and the sensor may be disposed in the pocket.

A prosthesis for monitoring a characteristic of flow includes a first tubular prosthesis having a lumen and a sensor for detecting the characteristic of flow through the lumen. The sensor may be covered with another tubular prosthesis or by a layer of material ire order to insulate the sensor from the fluid flow. A pocket may be formed between the tubular prosthesis and the adjacent layer of material or prosthesis and the sensor may be disposed in the pocket.