An annuloplasty repair segment for heart valve annulus repair and a method for forming. A multi-stranded cable replaces solid core wire for both the tricuspid and mitral valves which allows for greater deployment flexibility for minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) implant, while still maintaining the required strength and similar tensile properties of solid-core wire. The particular shape of the annuloplasty ring is fixed using a heat setting process including heating the flexible core member to a temperature higher than 500 C. and holding it in a desired heat-set saddle shape for a period of time. The core is then rapidly cooled to impart physical properties such that the flexible core member can be straightened, during implantation, to fit through a tubular access device and regain the heat-set saddle shape after exiting the access device and, when attached to the native heart valve, the flexible core member is strong enough to remodel the native heart valve.

Methods for treating an annulus fibrosis having a defect include inserting a flexible device into the defect. The flexible device is advanced distally beyond an outer layer of the annulus fibrosus. The flexible device is then expanded such that a width of the flexible device is larger than the defect, where the flexible device prevents escape of nucleus pulposus through the defect. The flexible device may have at least two appendages made from a shape-memory metal. Alternatively, the flexible device may have a U-shaped structure that includes a central portion and two legs. The flexible device may also be anchored to the annulus fibrosis and/or the vertebrae.

An expandable spacer, comprising: an axial tube having a surface, a proximal end and a distal end and a length, wherein, said surface defines a plurality of slits, said plurality of slits defining at least two axially displaced extensions, such that when said tube is axially compressed, said extensions extend out of said surface and define a geometry of an expanded spacer. Preferably the spacer is adapted to be inserted between two spinal vertebrae of a human.

Devices and methods for providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning. The devices include a cardiac jacket made of a flexible biocompatible material and at least one inflatable bladder disposed on an interior surface of the jacket. Inflation of the bladder causes the bladder to expand to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart. In some cases, a phase-change material is filled into the bladder as a liquid and the material solidifies at body temperature. In some cases, a positioning tool is used prior to the implantation of the jacket in order to determine effective positions for the inflatable bladder(s) to be located on the heart to improve heart functioning.

A prosthetic delivery system may include a plurality of concentric shafts and an actuator mechanism for actuating one or more of the concentric shafts. A stop mechanism may be coupled to the actuator mechanism. The stop mechanism prevents advancement or retraction of at least some of the shafts beyond a predetermined position unless the stop mechanism is released. A second stop mechanism may be included in the system for controlling another of the shafts. A plurality of filaments may be coupled to a prosthesis carried by the delivery system and actuation of the filaments may be used to control deployment or retrieval of the prosthesis.

A blood filter delivery system for delivering a filter into a vein from either a femoral or jugular access. The preferred system includes an introducer and a push-rod with a spline member disposed along the push-rod and a pusher member disposed on a distal end. The spline member has a main body, first and second boss portions spaced apart along the longitudinal axis to provide a gap for retaining anchor members of the filter during delivery via the introducer. In an alternative embodiment, a preferred filter includes first and second filter structures diverging in opposite directions. A link is connected to portions of each of the first and second filter structures so that each filter structure can be independently collapsed into a generally cylindrical shape.

A stent has a tubular shaped framework that includes a plurality of vertices that are each defined by a pair of struts. A plurality of induction responsive muscles are associated, respectively, with one of the plurality of vertices by being attached to each strut of a pair of struts. The induction responsive muscles have a relaxed state at body temperatures, and have a contracted state at an elevated temperature greater than body temperature. If the stent has an initial unsatisfactory implant orientation or position or other expansion irregularity, the application of an electromagnetic induction field may be applied to temporary 11 reduce the diameter of the stent to adjust its positioning and/or orientation.

An annuloplasty repair segment for heart valve annulus repair. In one embodiment a multi-stranded cable replaces solid core wire for both the tricuspid and mitral valves. Cable allows for greater deployment flexibility for minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) implant, while still maintaining the required strength and similar tensile properties of solid-core wire. Stranded cable provides a MIS annuloplasty ring with sufficient flexibility in the x-y plane to allow a surgeon to squeeze the ring into a small incision, such as being able to pass through an 18 Fr or smaller catheter, while maintaining structural rigidity under forces exerted on the implanted ring by the cardiac cycle. The particular shape of the annuloplasty ring is fixed using a heat setting process.

A method for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve including the following steps: endovascularly delivering an anchor and a replacement valve supported within the anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in a collapsed delivery configuration, the anchor having grasping elements adapted to grasp tissue in a vicinity of the heart valve; expanding the anchor, thereby rotating the grasping elements; and grasping the tissue with the rotating grasping elements.

A medical device includes a polymer stent (or scaffold) crimped to a catheter balloon. The stent, after being expanded from a crimped state by the balloon, provides a crush recovery of about 90% of its expanded diameter after being pinched or crushed by an amount equal to about 50% of the expanded diameter. The stent has a pattern including a W-shaped or W-V shaped closed cell and links connecting the closed cells.