Described here are delivery devices for delivering one or more implants to the body, and methods of using. The delivery devices may deliver implants to a variety of locations within the body, for a number of different uses. In some variations, the delivery devices have a cannula with one or more curved sections. In some variations, a pusher may be used to release one or more implants from the cannula. In some variations, one or more of the released implants may be a self-expanding device. Methods of delivering implants to one or more sinus cavities are also described here.

A medical device includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes inflating the delivery balloon during a diameter reduction to improve scaffold retention and maintaining an inflated balloon during the diameter reduction and prior and subsequent dwell periods.

A radial compression mechanism utilizes a string wrapped around a plurality of compression dies to move the dies inward and close a central cylindrical cavity defined by the working surfaces of the dies. The string may be coupled to a string tension mechanism that enables a user to applied a desired tension to the string and thereby compress an article within the central cylindrical cavity. The compression dies may be coupled to a base and move along die-guiding slots from an open position to a closed position. A spring may be configured to force the compression dies open and provide some back-tension to the string. The string may extend around a pully on an opposing side of the compression mechanism and both ends of the string may be coupled to the string tension mechanism.

A medical device-includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes inflating the delivery balloon during a diameter reduction to improve scaffold retention and maintaining an inflated balloon during the diameter reduction and prior and subsequent dwell periods.

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing protection of at least one tissue layer of a medical device or implant during crimping of the medical device or implant. In various embodiments, an implant tissue protection tool may include an outer portion configured to surround one or more outer segments of at least one tissue layer of a medical device to be implanted into a body of a subject and at least one protrusion (which may be affixed to a surface of the outer portion) configured to minimize or prevent occurrence (or likelihood of occurrence) of the at least one tissue layer (in some cases, leaflet material, or the like) of the medical device passing through at least one opening defined by a frame structure of the medical device during crimping of the medical device by a crimping device in preparation for implantation into the body of the subject.

A prosthetic implant has a self-expanding frame with an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of struts interconnected at junctions. At least a portion of the plurality of struts have a reduced strut width at at least one junction configured to reduce or prevent infolding of the frame during recapture into a delivery cylinder of a delivery apparatus.

A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. Individual stent elements shorten upon expansion creating a space between stent elements. The distance between stent elements when deployed may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement. Thus, the multi-element, vascular stent described herein may be particularly advantageous for treating long lesions in tortuous peripheral blood vessels

The present disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for intravascularly delivering an implantable device to a targeted anatomical site such as the mitral annulus. A delivery system includes a delivery member coupled to a handle assembly and extending distally from the handle assembly. A delivery catheter is concentrically positioned within an outer member and configured to advance the intravascular device relative to the outer member. The delivery catheter includes a distal can structure configured to house at least a portion of the intravascular device in a compressed, pre-deployed position.

A system for replacing a deficient native aortic valve includes an implantable prosthetic valve having a self-expandable frame and a valve assembly formed with three valve leaflets. The self-expandable frame includes three angularly spaced longitudinal bars of fixed length defining respective slots and a plurality of web-like constructions extending between and connected to the longitudinal bars. The valve assembly includes commissures extending outwardly through the slots where they are supported on the outside of the frame. Each leaflet includes an inlet end portion secured to the inside of the frame with stitching extending through the leaflet and around adjacent frame portions. The system also includes a restriction tube adapted for insertion into a patient's body. The prosthetic valve is capable of being crimped for insertion into the restriction tube and capable of self-expansion upon release from the restriction tube for deployment in the deficient native aortic valve.

Described here are delivery devices for delivering one or more implants to the body, and methods of using. The delivery devices may deliver implants to a variety of locations within the body, for a number of different uses. In some variations, the delivery devices have a cannula with one or more curved sections. In some variations, a pusher may be used to release one or more implants from the cannula. In some variations, one or more of the released implants may be a self-expanding device. Methods of delivering implants to one or more sinus cavities are also described here.