A stent 10 includes corrugated pattern bodies 11 and connection elements 12. A corrugated pattern is formed of corrugated units 14, corrugated unit 14 including a first stem 15, a second stem 16, a third stem 17, a first top portion 18 coupling a first end portion 15a of the first stem 15 and a first end portion 16a of the second stem 16, and a second top portion 19 coupling a second end portion 16b of the second stem 16 and a first end portion 17a of the third stem 17. A second end portion 17b of the third stem 17 is connected to a second end portion 15b of the first stem 15 in another corrugated unit adjacent to corrugated unit. A first end portion 12a of connection element 12 is connected to the first top portion 18 of one of adjacent ones of the corrugated units 14, and a second end portion 12b of connection element 12 is connected to the second end portion 15b of the other one of the adjacent ones of the corrugated units 14.

A stent has one or more redundant crests for a ring. The redundant crest is located at a Y-crown for a peak-to-valley type stent pattern in one example. The stent may also have frangible bridges for connecting links. The stent's radial stiffness decreases when a redundant crest fractures and its axial and bending stiffness decreases when a frangible bridge breaks.

A stent includes a plurality of rings which form a tubular scaffold. The rings include an elongation mechanism which allows for further expansion of the stent.

A prosthesis is provided for a variety of medical treatments. The prosthesis may include an expandable tubular frame structure and a covering disposed along the frame structure. A proximal liner may be situated along a proximal end of the frame, a distal liner may be situated along a distal end of the frame, and an intermediate liner may be between the proximal liner and the distal liner along the frame. The intermediate liner comprises an extended layer that meets and bonds to the proximal liner and the distal liner at their respective ends. A method of manufacturing the prosthesis is also provided.

According to one aspect of the preset invention, a fatigue resistant stent includes a flexible tubular structure having an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a sidewall therebetween and having apertures extending through the sidewall. According to other aspects of the invention, processes for making a fatigue resistant stent are disclosed. According to further aspects of the invention, delivery systems for a fatigue resistant stent and methods of use are provided.

A delivery catheter for implanting a self-expanding implant such as a cardiovascular implant. An outer catheter shaft is formed as an implant capsule for encasing the implant during delivery. A flexible distal support element having a substantially truncated cone-shaped portion, which tapers in the proximal direction, is attached, directly proximally of the implant, in a fixed position to a first, inner catheter shaft, and/or a flexible proximal support element having a substantially truncated cone-shaped portion, which tapers in the proximal direction, is inserted at the proximal end of the implant capsule into the second, outer catheter shaft in a fixed position.

A prosthetic heart valve including a stent frame and a valve structure. The valve structure is disposed within a lumen of the stent frame. The stent frame is configured to self-expand from a compressed condition for transluminal delivery. The stent frame has a lattice structure forming a tubular shape defining a circumference and a plurality of closed cells arranged to define a band exhibiting a variable radial stiffness. The prosthesis can be deployed such that the band applies a minimal force on to anatomical locations relating to the heart's conductive pathways. A region of the band otherwise having low radial stiffness is located at or over a conductive pathway upon final implant.

A method for deploying an expandable prosthetic heart valve in a patient includes introducing a guidewire into a patient and advancing the guidewire through a vasculature of a patient to a deployment site. A distal end portion of a delivery apparatus and the prosthetic heart valve mounted in a radially compressed configuration along the distal end portion are advanced over the guidewire. The prosthetic heart valve is positioned at the deployment site. A screw mechanism is rotated, which exerts an axially directed onto the prosthetic heart valve, causing the prosthetic heart valve to radially expand from the radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration.

A stent and method of making incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect element(s) across an intervening space. The polymeric connecting elements are designed to fold within the space between the outer diameter of the stent and the inner diameter of the stent.

Medical devices that can be delivered in a first, flexible configuration and subsequently locked into a second, rigid configuration are provided. The device comprises an elongate body having a plurality of slots openings along a bending portion of the body. Using a tension member to shorten the distance between two points along the elongate body causes the device to curve. The device can be locked into the curved configuration.