Provided is a stent that can be easily and reliably placed in a branched portion of a biological lumen. A stent is configured to be placed within a biological lumen and comprises: a first skeleton which is for placement within a first lumen of the biological lumen, and which is made of a wire material and formed into a tubular shape; and second skeletons which are for placement within a plurality of second lumens branched from the first lumen, and which are made of a wire material different from that of the first skeleton and whish are formed into a tubular shape. The plurality of second skeletons are provided so as to branch from one end section of the first skeleton and are engaged with each other at the branched portion.

Methods for crimping a stent on an expandable member of a delivery catheter, and devices and methods for treating a bifurcation are disclosed. A method for crimping includes positioning a stent having a first portion and a second portion over the expandable member, and non-uniformly crimping the stent to the expandable member. The method can include routing an elongate shaft under the second portion of the stent and through the side hole so as to be routed external to the first portion. The stent second portion can be crimped so that the elongate shaft can be slidably disposed relative to the stent second portion prior to deployment of the stent.

Methods for crimping a stent on an expandable member of a delivery catheter, and devices and methods for treating a bifurcation are disclosed. A method for crimping includes positioning a stent having a first portion and a second portion over the expandable member, and non-uniformly crimping the stent to the expandable member. The method can include routing an elongate shaft under the second portion of the stent and through the side hole so as to be routed external to the first portion. The stent second portion can be crimped so that the elongate shaft can be slidably disposed relative to the stent second portion prior to deployment of the stent.

Methods and apparatuses to place a prosthesis within a receiving structure are provided. A delivery apparatus includes an elongated support member including a support member distal end. A stop cap is disposed at the support member distal end and includes a stop cap transverse dimension larger than an inner diameter of a receiving lumen of the receiving structure. An elongated prosthesis-positioning member extends along the support member and stop cap so a distal surface of the prosthesis-positioning member is disposed at a position longitudinally coincident with a portion of the stop cap. A sheath comprises a sheath lumen receiving the prosthesis-positioning member so the sheath translates longitudinally relative to the prosthesis-positioning member. The delivery apparatus has a loaded configuration in which the prosthesis is received in the sheath lumen with a proximal end of the prosthesis abutting the prosthesis-positioning member distal surface.

Methods and apparatuses to place a prosthesis within a receiving structure are provided. A delivery apparatus includes an elongated support member including a support member distal end. A stop cap is disposed at the support member distal end and includes a stop cap transverse dimension larger than an inner diameter of a receiving lumen of the receiving structure. An elongated prosthesis-positioning member extends along the support member and stop cap so a distal surface of the prosthesis-positioning member is disposed at a position longitudinally coincident with a portion of the stop cap. A sheath comprises a sheath lumen receiving the prosthesis-positioning member so the sheath translates longitudinally relative to the prosthesis-positioning member. The delivery apparatus has a loaded configuration in which the prosthesis is received in the sheath lumen with a proximal end of the prosthesis abutting the prosthesis-positioning member distal surface.

This disclosure is related to devices and related methods for isolating a treatment region in a human body from fluid pressure. In various embodiments, an implantable device for isolating a treatment region in a human body from fluid pressure comprises a first elongated segment, and a second elongated segment, and one or more branch segments in fluid communication with one of the first elongated segment and the second elongated segment. The elongated segments have a combined cross section that is substantially conformable to an intraluminal cross section of a body lumen into which they are implanted. A method of installing an implantable medical device into the body of a patient comprises deploying a first elongated segment, deploying a second elongated segment, and deploying one or more branch segments in a target region of a vasculature.

This disclosure is related to devices and related methods for isolating a treatment region in a human body from fluid pressure. In various embodiments, an implantable device for isolating a treatment region in a human body from fluid pressure comprises a first elongated segment, and a second elongated segment, and one or more branch segments in fluid communication with one of the first elongated segment and the second elongated segment. The elongated segments have a combined cross section that is substantially conformable to an intraluminal cross section of a body lumen into which they are implanted. A method of installing an implantable medical device into the body of a patient comprises deploying a first elongated segment, deploying a second elongated segment, and deploying one or more branch segments in a target region of a vasculature.

A branch vessel stent including a stent body and a first developing member, where the first developing member includes a first developing portion and a second developing portion. A length of the first developing portion and a length of the second developing portion in an axial direction of the stent body are both not less than 0.5 mm. A distance between the intersections of the first developing portion and the second developing portion on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the stent body gradually increases from a position where the distance is the minimum distance to an end that is away from a first end of the first developing portion or the second developing portion. The minimum distance between the intersections of the first developing portion and the second developing portion on a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the stent body is less than 2 mm.

An artificial heart valve includes support structure having a first end and second end and defining an interior of the valve. A covering covers the support structure and includes an intermediate portion with a plurality of intermediate strip-shaped sections having cuts between them. Some are attached to the stent and others are not so that a closed configuration prevents retrograde blood flow into an interior of the stent with the free strip-shaped sections abutting the stent and overlapping or abutting the attached strip-shaped sections to prevent retrograde blood flow into the interior. An open configuration is formed with the unattached strip-shaped sections lifting from the stent to allow antegrade blood flow from the interior of the stent.

A stent for use in a medical procedure having opposing sets of curved apices, where the curved section of one set of apices has a radius of curvature that is greater than the curved section of the other set of apices. One or more such stents may be attached to a graft material for use in endovascular treatment of, for example, aneurysm, thoracic dissection, or other body vessel condition.