The present invention relates to a shape memory polymer that can be restored to an original shape from a deformed shape by means of body temperature in the body. When using the shape memory polymer of the present invention and a device for wrapping the outer wall of blood vessels prepared thereby, it is possible to effectively prevent abnormal blood vessel dilatation, and prevent stenosis by effectively inhibiting neointimal formation.

The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation assistance element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation assistance element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation assistance element and delivery catheter; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.

A sealant for sealing a puncture through tissue includes a first section. e.g., formed from freeze-dried hydrogel, and a second section extending from the distal end. The second section may be formed from PEG-precursors including PEG-ester and PEG-amine, e.g., in an equivalent ratio of active group sites of PEG-ester/PEG-amine greater than one-to-one, e.g., such that excess esters may provide faster activation upon contact with physiological fluids and enhance adhesion of the sealant within a puncture. At least some of the precursors remain in an unreactive state until exposed to an aqueous physiological environment, e.g., within a puncture, whereupon the precursors undergo in-situ cross-linking to provide adhesion to tissue adjacent the puncture. For example, the PEG-amine precursors may include the free amine form and the salt form. The free amine form at least partially cross-links with the PEG-ester and the salt form remains in the unreactive state in the sealant before introduction into the puncture.

A tip at the distal end of a catheter is designed to vibrates vigorously in order to break up a blood clot. Broken-up, the blood clot avoids “corking,” thus allowing it to be directly aspirated into the catheter. Unlike devices in minimally invasive surgery, where access to the organs to be removal are achieved through conveniently located small incisions, access to a location in the vascular space is achieved through a long flexible catheter, often 100 cm or more in length. An electroactive polymer (EAP) in at the tip of the distal end enables the vibration that breaks up the blood clot to be actuated from the proximal end of the catheter, without transferring mechanical action over substantially the entire length of the catheter.

An atherectomy catheter includes a sheath and an elongate corewire. The sheath has a side wall configured to define, in a lumen and in a distal sheath portion, an entrapment boundary region having a drilling allowance region. The elongate corewire has a distal wire portion having an outer bulge portion that is proximal to an elongate drill tip portion. The elongate corewire is located in the lumen of the sheath with the outer bulge portion of the elongate corewire slidably disposed in the drilling allowance region of the sheath, and with the elongate drill tip portion of the elongate corewire distally protruding from the distal end of the sheath.

A medical device may include a shaft extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, the shaft including a lumen extending from the proximal end toward the distal end; a first stapling head at the distal end, the first stapling head configured to contain one or more staples, and the first stapling head having a block disposed within, and movable relative to, the first stapling head; a second stapling head at the distal end; and a pushing element extending through the lumen, the pushing element being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein transition of the pushing element from the first position to the second position urges the block to move toward second stapling head to deploy the one or more staples.

The invention relates to a medical circulation detent device, comprising at least one circulation body and a latching element. The at least one circulation body comprising a restricted guide and at least one latching receptacle for the latching element. The latching element is guidable through the restricted guide from an unlatched position to a latched position at a first side of the at least one latching receptacle into the latter, and at a second side of the at least one latching receptacle from the latched position to an unlatched position again. An operative element is coupled to the latching element via a coupling element. A thermal actuating element is operatively connected to the latching element and transferable due to temperature from a first state to a second state and vice versa in order to move the operative element. The invention also relates to a medical sterilization container.

Embodiments relate to transformative shape-memory polymer tissue cavity markers and corresponding systems and deployment methods. In one embodiment, a tissue cavity marker for delivery to a tissue cavity via a minimally invasive surgical incision includes a transformative body having a first three-dimensional shape in a permanent state and a second three-dimensional shape different from the first three-dimensional shape in a temporary state, the transformative body comprising a shape-memory polymer material and being automatically transformable between the temporary state for delivery to a tissue cavity and the permanent state for residence within the tissue cavity by application of a stimulus; and at least one radiopaque marker coupled to the transformative body.

The present invention relates to an artificial blood vessel comprising a shape-memory polymer, and a vascular anastomotic member formed of a shape-memory polymer. An artificial blood vessel according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a shape-memory polymer including photo-crosslinkable functional groups, the artificial blood vessel thus provided having a fusion point suitable for in vivo transplantation. Also, provided is a vascular anastomotic member which comprises a shape-memory polymer including photo-crosslinkable functional groups, and thus has a fusion point suitable for in vivo transplantation.

A system for treating an aneurysm in a blood vessel or vein, wherein the aneurysm has a dome, an interior, and a neck. The system includes a shape memory polymer foam in the interior of the aneurysm between the dome and the neck. The shape memory polymer foam has pores that include a first multiplicity of pores having a first pore size and a second multiplicity of pores having a second pore size. The second pore size is larger than said first pore size. The first multiplicity of pores are located in the neck of the aneurysm. The second multiplicity of pores are located in the dome of the aneurysm.