A delivery tool includes a nosepiece that is fixed to a shaft, and distal to an implant, and an expandable element proximal to the nosepiece. Maximally-expanded, the expandable element (i) has an expanded external diameter at its widest part that is smaller than the expanded internal diameter of a lumen of the frame of the implant, (ii) tapers proximally away from the widest part and from the nosepiece, and (iii) is dimensioned to slide proximally through the lumen of the implant in its expanded state, between leaflets of the implant, and out of the lumen. When non-expanded, the widest part of the expandable element has a non-expanded external diameter that is smaller than the expanded external diameter of the expandable element. In a compressed state of the implant a portion of the expandable element is disposed within the lumen of the frame. Other applications are also described.

A system and method for a stent delivery system, the delivery system having a catheter and a balloon coupled to a distal portion of the catheter. The catheter with the radially expandable member is inserted into a cavity in a mold. Heat and pressure are applied for a period of time which inflates the balloon and imparts a shape memory to a portion of the balloon. The balloon is removed from the cavity of the mold with a shape memory.

In some embodiments, a medical device delivery system includes a catheter and a retainer. The retainer can be engaged with the medical device to restrain relative movement of the medical device in one or more axial and/or radial directions. A variety of retainers and retainer systems are disclosed, many of which can reliably disengage the medical device from the retainer. Methods for using the medical device delivery system are also described.

In various embodiments, a device is provided comprising a balloon configured to expand to an expanded state in response to introduction of a fluid at a first pressure, wherein the fluid perfuses through the balloon above a second pressure, the second pressure being the same or greater than the first pressure. In various embodiments, a method comprising fabricating a balloon configured to expand to an expanded state in response to introduction of a fluid at a first pressure, wherein the fluid perfuses through the balloon above a second pressure, the second pressure being at or greater than the first pressure, disposing the balloon on an elongate member having a lumen, placing the lumen in fluid communication with an interior volume of the balloon.

Methods for draining pseudocysts and stent delivery systems for use therein are disclosed. An illustrative system may include a catheter shaft having an inflatable balloon affixed to a distal end region thereof. A cutting electrode may be disposed at the distal end of the system and at least one heating electrode may be disposed within the inflatable balloon. A self expandable stent may be disposed about the inflatable balloon. The stent may be formed of a shape memory polymer. The inflation fluid may be heated within the balloon to facilitate expansion of the stent.

A graft securing system including at least one expandable frame moveable from a collapsed state to an expanded state, and at least one anchor coupled to the frame via an elastic support strut, said anchor including: an anchor base, at least one deflectable prong protruding from said anchor base and having at least one penetration tip and at least one restraining sleeve at least partially slideably moveable along the at least one prong and wherein in the collapsed state, the support strut is biased radially centrally bringing the at least one anchor to point generally axially, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

The invention relates to an expandable vascular implant for implantation into vessels of a patient, the vascular implant being convertible from a compressed state to an expanded state, and the vascular implant comprising the following: a hollow cylindrical main body having a longitudinal direction and a proximal end and a distal end, and a main body lumen which extends from the proximal to the distal end. The hollow cylindrical main body is formed by a tubular lattice structure, the tubular lattice structure having at least one first and at least one second region, the first region being fixedly connected to the second region, the first region being designed to be self-expandable, and the second region is designed to be balloon-dilatable.

A delivery device can provide sequential delivery of a plurality of intraluminal devices or tacks held in a compressed state on the delivery device. Delivery platforms on the delivery device can hold a tack in a compressed position and be positioned between annular pusher bands that may also be radiopaque markers. The annular pusher bands can be made of wire or sections of material to increase flexibility while remaining radiopacity. A post deployment dilation device can be included. The post deployment dilation device can be a plurality of expansion filaments, a bellows, or a balloon. A tack deployment method can include allowing a self-expanding tack to expand, aligning the post deployment dilation device under the tack, and causing the post deployment dilation device to expand radial to push outward on the tack.

A medical device includes a balloon expanded scaffold (or stent) crimped to a catheter having a balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes using protective polymer sheaths or sheets during crimping, and resetting the sheaths or sheets during the crimping to avoid or minimize interference between the polymer material and scaffold struts as the scaffold is reduced in size. Balloon pressure is adjusted when the polymer material is reset.

A design capable of both mechanical thrombectomy and stenting for treating occlusions in the cerebral vasculature provides for a three-catheter setup. The first outer catheter has the largest diameter and can serve as a guide catheter while also being a sheath for the other catheters. The second deployment catheter can be configured for the aspiration of occlusions and can include a stepped or recessed section proximal of the distal tip that can act as a housing for a braided expandable stent. The outer diameter of this stepped section can be lined with an inflation device on top of which the braided stent sits. Internal to the second deployment catheter is a microcatheter which can deliver mechanical thrombectomy devices to the target site to retrieve an occlusion in the vessel, after which the stent can be expanded and implanted in the vessel.