A variety of medical and non-medical devices are exploited by users to address a wide range of conditions. However, in the vast majority of instances the device has a limited number of options with respect to its fit for the user and its performance. Further, the determination of target performance and fit are established on a qualitative basis rather than a quantitative basis. In many instances these combinations lead to low user acceptance of the device due to the resulting performance and fit issues. Accordingly, it would enhance performance and user acceptance if a quantitative determination provided a recommended type where options exist, and this determination provided the basis of a custom designed device to the user's specific anatomical and/or performance requirements.

Apparatus and methods are provided for flaring a stent deployed within a branch vessel including an ostium communicating with a main vessel, a first end of the stent extending at least partially from the branch. A catheter is provided that includes a balloon having a reinforced region adjacent an unreinforced region. When the balloon is positioned at a desired location, e.g., within a stent, prosthetic valve, or other tubular prosthesis, the balloon may be inflated to a first pressure causing the reinforced and unreinforced regions to expand substantially simultaneously. Upon inflation of the balloon beyond the first pressure, the reinforced region of the balloon remains at the first diameter and the unreinforced region continues to expand, e.g., to flare one or more ends of the prosthesis.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to stents, valved-stents, and associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery.

An annuloplasty band having a differentiation in area moment of inertia, where the area moment of inertia in the out of plane direction is much less than the area moment of inertia in the plane of the annulus. This makes the band stiff enough to hold the annulus in the correct shape while being flexible enough out of plane to minimize the risk of suture dehiscence or breakage. One example is a C-shaped band with a core formed of nitinol and having a constant cross-section with a wider radial dimension than an axial dimension. The cross-section may be rectangular. The band is asymmetric across a minor axis with one end extending around the anterior side farther than the other. The free ends rise up from adjacent lateral sides, and a continuous posterior mid-section also rises upward.

A replacement mitral valve prosthesis includes a support structure and a valve body having three flexible leaflets. The support structure preferably includes an internal valve frame and an external sealing frame. The valve frame supports the flexible leaflets. The sealing frame is adapted to conform to the shape of the native mitral valve annulus. The sealing frame may be coupled to an inlet end of the valve frame, an outlet end of the valve frame, or both. A plurality of anchors is coupled to the outlet end of the valve frame. The anchors extend radially outwardly for placement behind native leaflets. The prosthesis preferably includes a skirt disposed along an exterior of the external sealing frame. The prosthesis is collapsible for delivery into the heart via a delivery catheter. The prosthesis is configured to self-expand for deployment in the heart when released from the delivery catheter.

Embodiments of a prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. An implantable prosthetic valve can include an annular frame having an inflow end, an outflow end and a central longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end to the outflow end. The valve can include a support layer, where a first portion of the support layer extends circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis along an outer surface of the frame and a second portion of the support layer extends circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis axially beyond the inflow end of the frame. The valve can further include a valvular structure, where at least a portion of the valvular structure is connected to the second portion of the support layer and is unsupported by the frame.

A braided stent having a plurality of retrieval and/or repositioning levers includes a stent body formed of a plurality of wires interbraided in a braided pattern. The repositioning and/or retrieval levers have a loop portion extending radially away from the stent body and first and second legs extending along the stent body. The levers are configured to be actuated radially inward toward the central longitudinal axis of the stent by a radially inwardly directed force to radially collapse the stent.

A luminal stent includes a tube body that can be compressed and expanded in the radial direction, and an anti-leakage structure. The tube body is divided by the anti-leakage structure into a first tube body positioned on one side of the anti-leakage structure, and a second tube body positioned on the other side of the anti-leakage structure, with at least part of the first tube body being encircled by the anti-leakage structure. In a compressed state, the maximum compression diameter of the anti-leakage structure and the first tube body encircled by the anti-leakage structure is greater than or equal to the maximum compression diameter of the second tube body.

A flow reducing implant for reducing blood flow in a blood vessel having a cross sectional dimension, the flow reducing implant comprising a hollow element adapted for placement in the blood vessel defining a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage comprising at least two sections, one with a larger diameter and one with a smaller diameter, wherein said smaller diameter is smaller than a cross section of the blood vessel. A plurality of tabs anchor, generally parallel to the blood vessel wall, are provided in some embodiments of the invention.

A surgically implanted occluding assembly comprises an implant body having a longitudinally split generally “C”-shaped cross-section tube circumscribing an anatomical lumen. In one embodiment, the surgically implanted occluding assembly is a male continence device selectively occluding a urethra. In some embodiments an occluding magnet is rigidly affixed with the implant body, and an external selective occlusion control assembly is used to selectively activate the surgically implanted occluding assembly. The external assembly has a magnet, and body supporting the magnet. The external selective occlusion control assembly is configured to be selectively placed and retained adjacent to the surgically implanted occluding assembly. In some embodiments, a bi-stable spring longer than and spanning the longitudinal split in the implant body has a first stable anatomical lumen occluding position curved into an interior of the longitudinal split, and a second stable anatomical lumen open position curved outward exterior of the longitudinally split tube.