An implantable artificial bronchus including a body having a proximal upper opening and a distal lower opening. The distal lower opening being in fluid communication with the proximal upper opening, and the body at least partially tapering along a length toward the distal lower opening. The body having a plurality of side openings configured to allow air to enter into and exit the implantable artificial bronchus through the body. A length of the body is greater than 4 times the size of a largest diameter of the body, and the diameter of the proximal upper opening is larger than a diameter of the distal lower opening.

The invention is directed to a system and methods for treating neurovascular compression. Certain preferred embodiments of the invention generally comprise an apparatus having an elongated body portion including a proximal anchor element and distal anchor element. The apparatus also may include one or more marker elements to facilitate placement of the apparatus by the user. The apparatus may be configured to permit the user, after insertion and deployment of the apparatus in a blood vessel, to move the blood vessel so that the blood vessel is no longer in contact with and compressing a nerve or other parts of the nervous system.

In one embodiment according to the present invention, a stent is described having a generally cylindrical body formed from a single woven nitinol wire. The distal and proximal ends of the stent include a plurality of loops, some of which include marker members used for visualizing the position of the stent. In another embodiment, the previously described stent includes an inner flow diverting layer.

A method for placing a transcatheter stent-valve having replacement leaflets that are attached along their free edges. The stent-valve frame has supports that extend distally of the replacement leaflets to fastening sites. The replacement leaflets are attached along a leaflet base forming a linear attachment to the stent-valve frame. The free edges of the leaflets have cords attached; the cords attach the leaflets to the supports. The stent-valve can be a single component stent-valve or it can be a second component that attaches to a first component or dock.

Multi-filter endolumenal methods and systems for filtering fluids within the body. In some embodiments a multi-filter blood filtering system captures and removes particulates dislodge or generated during a surgical procedure and circulating in a patient's vasculature. In some embodiments a dual filter system protects the cerebral vasculature during a cardiac valve repair or replacement procedure.

A method for transcatheter delivery to a native heart valve needing replacement. A first component is attached to the native annulus upstream of the native leaflets maintaining native leaflet function, and is held to the native annulus by barbs that are activated by a torus balloon after the first component is fully expanded. The torus balloon can be implanted along with the support frame. A limiting cable restricts further expansion of the first component and holds a second component that contains the replacement leaflets.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for inserting prosthesis implants into surgically-created implant pockets in a subject and for preventing capsular contracture resulting from surgical insertion of prosthesis implants. The apparatus includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface and having an aperture formed therein which extends through the upper surface and the lower surface of the base. The apparatus also includes a tubular member that is coupled to the base. The inner bore of the tubular member is operable to receive the implant and has a substantially uniform cross-sectional width over the predetermined length. The apparatus is capable of shielding the implant from microbial contamination, including contamination by the endogenous flora of the subject, during insertion of the implant into the surgically-created implant pocket.

A prosthetic heart valve has a frame and a valvular structure coupled thereto. The valvular structure has multiple leaflets, with paired tabs from the leaflets forming commissure tab assemblies that couple the valvular structure to the frame. The frame is tapered with its inflow end diameter being smaller than its outflow end diameter. The valvular structure is constructed such that a flow channel formed by the leaflets is also tapered, with the inlet end cross-section being smaller than the outlet end cross-section. The commissure tab assemblies are attached to the frame with leaflet bending axes at or adjacent to the radially-inner surface of the frame. During systole, separation of blood flow induced by the tapered geometry of the flow channel generates an annular back flow region adjacent to the inner surface of the valve at the outflow end, which prevents the free edge of the leaflets from contacting the frame.

Devices, systems, and methods used to seal a treatment area to prevent embolic agents from migrating are described. The concept has particular benefit in allowing liquid embolic to be used with a variety of intravascular therapeutic applications, including for occluding aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations in the neurovasculature.

A method for mechanically capturing and removing a thrombus from a blood vessel includes contacting the thrombus with an inner catheter. A self-expanding body is advanced toward the thrombus, wherein the self-expanding body has a proximal end fixed to a distal end of an elongate catheter. The self-expanding body is preferably made from nickel-titanium and includes a tapered proximal end portion and an open distal end. The self-expanding body preferably has a mesh structure. The self-expanding body is allowed to self-expand in the blood vessel. At least a portion of the thrombus is captured by the self-expanding body and the captured thrombus is then retrieved into a lumen of an aspiration catheter. Negative pressure is applied through the lumen of the aspiration catheter during retrieval of the captured thrombus. A thrombolytic drug may be delivered into the blood vessel before capturing and removing the thrombus.