A delivery system includes a catheter with a removable constraint. The removable constraint is a knit tubular construct. The removable constraint can be used, for example, to constrain a medical device to a delivery configuration. The removable constraint may include one or more fibers or strands arranged about the device to maintain the device in a constrained or delivery configuration.

A vascular prosthesis for implantation at an aortic arch of a human patient includes major tubular component defining a longitudinal axis and an island graft that has a length parallel to the longitudinal axis that is greater than a width transverse to the longitudinal axis. The vascular prosthesis delivery system includes a vascular prosthesis of the invention. The vascular prosthesis can also be a hybrid vascular prosthesis, including a proximal surgical segment that can be corrugated, an endovascular stent graft segment extending distally from the surgical segment, and a collar interposed between the surgical segment and the endovascular stent graft segment. The island graft can be pleated or corrugated and can be radially raised from a surface of the major tubular component.

A stent with a selectively curved region. The stent includes a radially expandable tubular framework and a covering surrounding the tubular framework. A stent also includes a drawstring having a first end attached to the tubular framework at a first attachment location proximate the distal end of the tubular framework. The second end of the first drawstring is manipulatable proximate the proximal end of the tubular framework to deflect the tubular framework into a curved configuration.

A delivery system for implantable medical device and control handle thereof are provided. Also provided is an implantable medical device and securing method, loading method, and releasing method therefor. The delivery system includes a balloon catheter; a sheath in sliding fit over the balloon catheter and for covering the implantable medical device; an adjustment string for releasably securing the implantable medical device over the balloon catheter, one end of the adjustment string is capable of being fixed to the balloon catheter, and the other end is capable of passing through the implantable medical device and has an eyelet; and a locking wire having relative locked and unlocked states. In the locked state, the locking wire passes through the eyelet to restrain the implantable medical device, and in the unlocked state, the locking wire disengages from the eyelet to release the implantable medical device.

A stent delivery system and a method for mounting a stent (1) are disclosed. The stent delivery system includes a handle, an outer tube (52), a restraining member and delayed-release member (4) and is structurally simple and easy to use. During the release of a stent (1) from the restraining member, a proximal end of the stent (1) is always secured to the delayed-release member (4), avoiding the stent (1) from moving backward under the action of forces from the blood and thus resulting in improved positional accuracy of the release of the stent (1). Additionally, during the release of the stent (1) from the restraining member, a distal end of the stent (1) can be secured to an inner tube (51) by means of a fixed coil (32), and the proximal end of the stent (1) can remain fixed on the delayed-release member (4). This can avoid the stent (1) from moving forward or backward during the release of a middle section of the stent (1), allowing the stent (1) to be released under true accurate positional control.

A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.

A delivery system includes a handle, a guidewire catheter, a nose cone at the distal end of the guidewire catheter that with the guidewire catheter defines an opening concentric with the guidewire catheter, a plurality of wires that extend distally from the handle and essentially parallel with and distributed radially about the guidewire catheter and a stent graft. The wires each extend between a portion of the stents and wall of the stent graft, whereby the stent graft is radially constrained until the wires are retracted. The delivery system can be employed in methods of treating arterial disease, such as aortic aneurysms.

A method of implanting a device in a heart includes inserting an implant into a blood vessel with a delivery apparatus. The implant includes a stent member and an adjustment member. The stent member is circumferentially expandable and contractible. The adjustment member is coupled to the stent member. The delivery apparatus includes a rotatable shaft and a locking mechanism coupled to an end portion of the shaft. The shaft of the delivery apparatus is releasably coupled to the adjustment member of the implant by the locking mechanism of the delivery apparatus. The method further includes positioning the implant at an implantation location within a heart by manipulating the delivery apparatus, and rotating the shaft of the delivery apparatus relative to the stent member of the implant to actuate the adjustment member of the implant. Actuating the adjustment member results in circumferential expansion or contraction of the stent member.

Disclosed is a false lumen closure assembly for closing a false lumen in a body vessel including a compressed false lumen occluder, a carrier catheter and a retractable sheath. The compressed false lumen occluder includes a stent graft including at least one occlusive barrier across the stent graft to occlude blood flow through an interior of the stent graft. The carrier catheter carries the false lumen occluder and extends from a proximal end proximal of the false lumen occluder to a distal end distal of the false lumen occluder, and passes the false lumen occluder exteriorly of the stent graft. The compressed false lumen occluder and at least part of the carrier catheter are disposed in a lumen of the retractable sheath.

Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the delivery and deployment of a prosthetic mitral valve into a heart. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a catheter assembly, a valve holding tube and a handle assembly. The valve holding tube is releasably couplable to a proximal end portion of the catheter assembly and to a distal end portion of the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing and a delivery rod. The delivery rod is configured to be actuated to move distally relative to the housing to move a prosthetic heart valve disposed within the valve holding tube out of the valve holding tube and distally within a lumen of the elongate sheath of the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly is configured to be actuated to move proximally relative to the housing such that the prosthetic valve is disposed outside of the lumen of the elongate sheath.