A self expanding stent (10) formed from a resilient wire. The resilient wire comprises a zig zag form including an odd number of struts (12) such as seven struts and a bend (14) between each strut. There is first loop (18) of the resilient wire at the terminal end of a first strut and a second loop (18) of the resilient wire at the terminal end of a last strut. The stent as formed is substantially planar but in use is formed into a substantially cylindrical form (20) by being stitched onto a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material with at least the first strut and the last strut overlapping.

Devices and methods are provided for surgical repair of dilated aortic root to restore aortic valve competence while preserving native leaflets. In one aspect of the invention an expandable annuloplasty ring is provided for external placement at the base of a dilated aortic root. The expandable ring is capable of elastically expanding between a first diastolic diameter and a larger second systolic diameter to provide a physiologically representative surgical repair of the aortic root. In a further aspect of the invention, is provided a holder assembly for aortic annuloplasty ring and suitable for other cardiac valve prosthesis. The holder assembly consists of a holder body pivotingly coupled to a handle member through a ball-and-socket arrangement.

A placeholder for vertebrae or vertebral discs includes a tubular body, which along its jacket surface has a plurality of breakthroughs or openings for over-growth with adjacent tissue. The placeholder includes at least a second tubular body provided with a plurality of breakthroughs and openings at least partially inside the first tubular body. The first and second tubular bodies can have different cross-sectional shapes, can be are arranged inside one another by press fit or force fit or can be connected to each other via connecting pins and arranged side by side to one another in the first body.

A valve prosthesis to be deployed within a native heart valve at a native heart valve annulus. The valve prosthesis including an expandable frame and a plurality of spaced anchors. The expandable frame includes a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The expandable frame collapses radially for delivery and expands radially upon deployment to an expanded configuration. The plurality of spaced anchors extend from the distal end of the frame towards the proximal end, each anchor formed with a free end, and each anchor being expandable from a collapsed anchor configuration to an expanded anchor configuration, wherein each of the anchors includes a foot angle of from 0 to 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward catheter-based apparatuses, such as componentry utilized with or as part of catheters, or as catheters or catheter assemblies. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a method and/or apparatus involves a filter having a frame that forms a perimeter of the filter and separates opposing surfaces thereof. An articulated arm is connected to the frame and configured therewith to, when deployed within a tubular organ, engage with opposing inner sidewall portions of the tubular organ and to utilize the inner sidewall portions to seal filter to the inner sidewall by applying force to the frame.

The invention relates to a connecting structure of a stent and a valve leaflet for an interventional aortic valve or an interventional pulmonary valve, wherein the stent is a metal mesh tube, the valve leaflets are three fan-shaped valve leaflets arranged on the inner side of the stent, each of the three fan-shaped valve leaflets is provided with a free edge, an arc-shaped bottom edge and valve leaflet junction connecting parts extending on two sides, three connecting posts are uniformly distributed on the metal mesh tube, and the junction connecting parts on the two sides of each valve leaflet are folded on the inner side of each connecting post to form a cushioning portion, and then are connected and fixed to the connecting posts through sutures. The invention also provides an interventional pulmonary valve and interventional aortic valve applying the connecting structure. The connecting structure of the stent and the valve leaflets can avoid stress concentration when the valve leaflets are opened and closed and friction generated between the stent and the valve leaflets, so that hemodynamic effects similar to bioprosthetic valves and similar durability functions are realized.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a radially collapsible and expandable stent, a cuff and leaflets sutured thereto. The heart valve extends axially between an inflow end and an outflow end and the stent includes a layout of struts and nodes having a hybrid combination of vertical struts and oblique struts in the form of diamond-shaped and half diamond-shaped cells. The layout of the structure is configured to preserve a low cell density of material used in the stent to reduce the stent profile while in a collapsed state and to improve the deployment accuracy of the stent into the native valve annulus.

An implantable vein frame is contemplated in which two ring members are rigidly joined in spaced axial alignment via one or more interconnecting members. One of the one or more interconnecting members defines a protruding region that acts upon the implant placed within the frame and/or the vein that the vein frame is placed within to define a sinus region. The implant is placed within and scaffolded by the vein frame, and the vein frame is subsequently inserted within a vein via a venotomy, or interposed between two vein segments via vein interposition graft. The vein frame acts to support the structural integrity of the implant, and to scaffold and anchor the implant in place with the vein.

An orientable intravascular device having a “twelve o'clock” marker on a proximal and distal end for treating an aneurysm, including a packaging catheter with an identical fixed non-round shaped inner lumen, a pusher wire having an occlusion device releasably disposed on the distal end of said pusher wire, preloaded at a fixed circumferential orientation, with corresponding markers on the outside of said packaging catheter, a hub having an inner lumen that is shaped to marry with the outer lumen of the packaging catheter to deliver a delivery wire and occlusion stent in a predicted orientation, and maintaining such orientation as the wire and stent are advanced through said delivery catheter, and while said delivery catheter is withdrawn. Methods of using same are disclosed.

The devices and methods of this disclosure relate to a heart valve prosthesis that is configured to be implanted within a native heart valve having a smaller perimeter annuli with a generally elliptical shape.