Devices, systems, and methods for crimping a medical device are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for reducing the diameter of a collapsible heart valve prosthesis to be loaded onto a delivery device. The devices, systems, and methods using at least one funnel to crimp the heart valve prosthesis and load it onto the delivery system.

The disclosure relates to transcatheter stented prosthesis delivery devices including transition elements that route, constrain, support and reduce damage to tension member wear as tension in the tension members is varied to adjust the compression of a stented prosthesis loaded onto the delivery device. Various disclosed tension elements include inserts, edge treatments and guides proximate a distal portion of the delivery device upon which the stented prosthesis is loaded. In some embodiments, the transition feature is positioned proximate a location where at least one tension member transitions from a first orientation that is not parallel to the distal portion to a second orientation that is generally parallel to the distal portion. Further embodiments disclose configurations and methods of selectively locking and unlocking a longitudinal and/or rotational position of the stent frame with respect to the distal portion of the delivery device.

Features for a restraint to facilitate delivery and deployment of an implantable cardiac device are described. The restraint may include a series of circumferential engagements for securing inwardly corresponding portions of the implant. The restraint may be located inside the implant and provide a radially inward force on the implant. The restraint may include a center shaft having a series of grooves configured to cooperate with corresponding splines of the implant. Distal or proximal advance of the restraint disengages the restraint from the implant. The implant may include a tubular frame configured to contract and be secured by the restraint in a contracted configuration and to expand upon disengagement from the restraint. The restraint may provide for a smaller overall cross-sectional profile of a transcatheter delivery system, for instance by negating the need for a distal delivery sheath.

A loading tool to facilitate loading a prosthesis into a delivery system includes a hinged body with first and second body portions and a collar slidingly disposed over the hinged body. First ends of the body portions are attached and second ends of the body portions are not attached. Each body portion includes a resilient clip that includes a radial protrusion. Each resilient clip is configured to displaced radially inwards when a pinching force is applied thereto. The loading tool has an open configuration in which the second ends are radially spaced apart and the collar is disposed over the first ends. The loading tool has a closed configuration in which the second ends are disposed directly adjacent to each other and the collar is disposed over the second ends. The radial protrusions lock the loading tool in the closed configuration when the resilient clips are not displaced radially inwards.

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.

A deployment tool and associated method are disclosed for implanting a vascular connector in a patient. The vascular connector deployment tool has a housing, an inner sheath extending distally from the housing, a floating mandrel, a vascular connector disposed coaxially about the mandrel, and an outer sheath telescopically deployed over an inner sheath. The outer sheath constrains the vascular connector around the mandrel in an insertion profile when the outer sheath is disposed over the vascular connector. The inner sheath may be rotated to cause the outer sheath to retract relative to the floating mandrel and expose sequential portions of the vascular connector. A drive disposed within the housing and coupled to a proximal end of the outer sheath translates rotational motion of the inner sheath into longitudinal motion of the outer sheath.

A medical device delivery system can be used to advance a medical device to a target area within a patient's vasculature. The system can comprise a catheter, a support sheath, and a core member coupled to a medical device. The core member can be used to longitudinally advanced or retracting medical device within a lumen of the support sheath. The support sheath can be advanced within the catheter until a distal end of the support sheath contacts or abuts a reduced diameter section of the catheter lumen. Thereafter, the core member can be advanced into the catheter lumen toward the target area.

Systems and methods for delivering a device for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left atrium and right atrium are provided. The delivery apparatus may include a first catheter, a hub having one or more engagers disposed thereon configured to releasably engage with a first expandable end of the shunt in a contracted delivery state within a lumen of a sheath, and a second catheter extending through a center lumen of the first catheter and the hub, wherein the first catheter, the hub, and the second catheter are independently moveable relative to the sheath. The inventive devices may reduce left atrial pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and may increase cardiac output, increase ejection fraction, relieve pulmonary congestion, and lower pulmonary artery pressure, among other benefits. The inventive devices may be used, for example, to treat subjects having heart failure, pulmonary congestion, or myocardial infarction, among other pathologies.

A connector for transfer of an implantable device from a loading tube to a delivery catheter, comprising: a first connecting portion (110) having a first distal end (120) configured to receive a delivery catheter (190); a second connecting portion (130) having a second proximal end (150) configured to receive a loading tube (180) extending towards the first distal end, the second connecting portion movably connected to the first connecting portion; and a biasing element (160) connecting the first and second connecting portions, having a relaxed configuration in which the first distal end and the second proximal end are spaced apart by a predetermined distance, and configured to bias the first distal end and second proximal end to the relaxed configuration when the first distal end and second proximal end are moved apart; such that when the loading tube is received, upon receiving the delivery catheter by the first connecting portion, the loading tube is biased to the delivery catheter to form a connection for the transfer of the implantable device.

Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves), associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery, and guide-wire compatible closure devices for sealing access orifices are provided.