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 of controllably deploying an endovascular device comprises delivering, into a body vessel, a Nitinol structural element comprising a variable austenite finish temperature A.sub.f(x) along a predetermined length (L) thereof, where 0<xL. The variable austenite finish temperature A.sub.f(x) increases or decreases monotonically as a function of x and lies above body temperature at any location along the predetermined length of the Nitinol structural element. During and/or after delivery into the body vessel, the Nitinol structural element is heated above body temperature. As a temperature of the Nitinol structural element reaches A.sub.f(x) at each location along the predetermined length, the Nitinol structural element recovers a pre-set shape at the respective location, and the endovascular device is controllably deployed.

A method of sequenced deployment of an endovascular device comprises delivering, into a body vessel, a Nitinol structural element comprising n deployable regions each having a local austenite finish temperature above body temperature. The local austenite finish temperature of at least one of the n deployable regions is different from the local austenite finish temperature of another of the n deployable regions. During and/or after delivery, the Nitinol structural element is heated above body temperature, and each of the n deployable regions is deployed when the local austenite finish temperature thereof is reached. Thus, a deployed configuration of an endovascular device is achieved in a sequenced deployment process.

An intravascular emboli capture and retrieval system for intravascular embolism protection and embolism removal or maceration. Guidewire mounted proximally and distally located multiple opening filters are deployed within the vasculature and used to part, divide and macerate embolic debris and to capture such embolic debris within the confines thereof. A deployable flexible preformed memory shaped capture sleeve is alternatively used to collapse one or more filters and embolic debris therein for subsequent proximal withdrawal from the vasculature.

An intravascular emboli capture and retrieval system for intravascular embolism protection and embolism removal or maceration. Guidewire mounted proximally and distally located multiple opening filters are deployed within the vasculature and used to part, divide and macerate embolic debris and to capture such embolic debris within the confines thereof. A deployable flexible preformed memory shaped capture sleeve is alternatively used to collapse one or more filters and embolic debris therein for subsequent proximal withdrawal from the vasculature.

A spacer including a first part made from a first shape memory material, and a second part made from a second shape memory material.

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.

An intravascular emboli capture and retrieval system for intravascular embolism protection and embolism removal or maceration. Guidewire mounted proximally and distally located multiple opening filters are deployed within the vasculature and used to part, divide and macerate embolic debris and to capture such embolic debris within the confines thereof. A deployable flexible preformed memory shaped capture sleeve is alternatively used to collapse one or more filters and embolic debris therein for subsequent proximal withdrawal from the vasculature.

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.

An implantable expandable medical device in which selected regions of the device are in a martensite phase and selected regions are in an austenite phase. The martensitic regions exhibit pseudoplastic behavior in vivo and may be deformed without recovery under in vivo body conditions. In contrast the austenitic regions exhibit superelastic behavior in vivo and will recover their pre-programmed configuration upon deformation or release of an applied strain.