The invention includes an expandable stent having a tubular shape when expanded, the shape including a portion t where the stent radius grows with stent length so that the growth in the portion is constant conductance growth or near-constant conductance growth. The invention includes sheaths that will encase the stent to restrict the growth of the stent to the desired expanded shape. The invention also includes expandable stent balloons that expand the stent to the desired shape configuration with constant or near constant conductance portion. The balloons can include a similar sheath or sleeve to restrict the balloon's growth to the desired shape. The stent radius growth can be piecewise, and is not necessarily 4.sup.th order growth, but can be such that r.sup.n/l is a constant in the portion, where n>4.

Devices and methods for treating a sinus venosus atrial septal defect. A treatment device may have a tubular shape and may be configured to be arranged to provide a conduit between an upper right pulmonary vein (PV) and a left atrium (LA). The device may have a proximal portion comprising a flexible mesh configured to anchor within the LA, a distal portion comprising a flexible mesh configured to anchor within the target PV, and a central portion having a plurality of elongate parallel bars. A method for treating a sinus venosus atrial septal defect may include percutaneously advancing the device through the femoral vein and inferior vena cava (IVC), and into the right atrium (RA). The method may include creating a trans-septal opening, passing the device through the opening into the LA, and toward the upper right PV to treat the defect.

Disclosed herein is an assembly including a balloon catheter as an inner catheter for the delivery of a self-expanding stent. The delivery assembly may lack a separate pusher structure. A method of using a single assembly to delivery a self-expanding stent and provide a post-dilatation step is also described herein.

An interventional catheter is adapted for treating a blood vessel. In an embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate shaft sized for insertion in a blood vessel and a stent positioned on a distal region of the elongate shaft. An expandable dilation member is coupled to a distal region of the elongate shaft. The expandable dilation member is adapted to expand outward. A stent containment member is positioned over the elongate shaft and the stent to contain the stent in a collapsed state.

A method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve annulus while a patient's heart is beating is disclosed. The method includes accessing the left ventricle through an intercostal incision and forming a puncture in the left ventricle. A guidewire is advanced into the left ventricle and through the native aortic valve. An introducer is passed over the guidewire and into the left ventricle. A valve delivery device is advanced over the guidewire and through the introducer until a prosthetic heart valve positioned thereon is located within the native aortic valve. The prosthetic heart valve is then radially expanded within the aortic valve annulus for replacing the function of the native aortic valve.

An expandable sheath is disclosed herein, which has a first polymeric layer and a braided layer positioned radially outward of the first polymeric layer. The braided layer includes a plurality of filaments braided together. The expandable sheaths further include a resilient elastic layer positioned radially outward of the braided layer. The elastic layer is configured to apply radial force to the braided layer and the first polymeric layer. The expandable sheath further includes a second polymeric layer positioned radially outward of the elastic layer and bonded to the first polymeric layer such that the braided layer and the elastic layer are encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. Methods of making and using the devices disclosed herein are also disclosed, as are crimping devices that may be used in methods of making the devices disclosed herein.

A prosthetic heart valve and delivery device for delivering the prosthetic heart valve to a target implantation site, which reduce contact between the prosthetic heart valve and a delivery sheath through which the delivery device is advanced to the target implantation site, is disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve may comprise a frame including a first end with a plurality of apices spaced apart from one another around a circumference of the first end and a cover element covering the plurality of apices. The cover element may include a cushioning element or a bio-resorbable element.

Described herein are delivery devices and methods for deploying expandable implants into elongate tubular organs. The delivery devices may be configured to advance implants such as self-expanding springs within the tubular organ and release the springs at a target location where they expand and apply force to the wall of the tubular organ to lengthen the tubular organ. Delivery of the expandable implants for the treatment of small bowel syndrome is also described.

Provided is a balloon with multiple small segments (balloons) fused to each other along the shaft of the balloon. Each segment has a different pressure profile. Each segment has a separate outlet (slot) used for its inflation with the required pressure according to the tightness and calcification of the lesion of the arterial wall. Each segment can be inflated with different pressures and the apposition of the overlying stent can be confirmed without the need for another non compliant balloon which carry many complications and add extra cost.

A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve includes advancing a distal end portion of a catheter shaft through a patient's vasculature. The distal end portion of the catheter shaft includes an expansion device. A prosthetic heart valve is mounted on the expansion device with the expansion device and the prosthetic heart valve in a compressed configuration. The method further includes positioning the distal end portion of the catheter shaft and the prosthetic heart valve to an implantation location, and expanding the prosthetic heart valve and the expansion device from the compressed configuration to an expanded configuration. The expansion device includes an inner expandable member and a plurality of outer expandable members. The outer expandable members are distributed such that there are gaps providing perfusion passageways between the expansion device and the prosthetic heart valve when the expansion device is in the expanded configuration.