A vascular prosthesis (e.g., stent), and packaging and delivery system to selectively deliver a vascular prosthesis are described. In some embodiments, the vascular prosthesis utilizes a low porosity and high porosity section, and the packaging and delivery system allows the prosthesis to be delivered such that the position of the low porosity and high porosity sections of the prosthesis can vary.

A vascular prosthesis (e.g., stent), and packaging and delivery system to selectively deliver a vascular prosthesis are described. In some embodiments, the vascular prosthesis utilizes a low porosity and high porosity section, and the packaging and delivery system allows the prosthesis to be delivered such that the position of the low porosity and high porosity sections of the prosthesis can vary.

A catheter assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable device releasably attached to the catheter near the distal end; a generally tubular constraining sleeve extending around and compressing the device to an outer peripheral dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery; a tip fixedly secured to the distal end of the catheter; and a bridge member disposed between the tip and the expandable device so as to fill a gap therebetween as the catheter assembly is bent during endoluminal delivery of the expandable device to a treatment site.

A catheter assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable device releasably attached to the catheter near the distal end; a generally tubular constraining sleeve extending around and compressing the device to an outer peripheral dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery; a tip fixedly secured to the distal end of the catheter; and a bridge member disposed between the tip and the expandable device so as to fill a gap therebetween as the catheter assembly is bent during endoluminal delivery of the expandable device to a treatment site.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to stents, valved-stents, and associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery.

A trackable guidewire apparatus and method for use are described. Longitudinally spaced proximal and distal guidewire ends are separated by a guidewire body. A plurality of longitudinally spaced position sensors are configured to provide signals corresponding to a three-dimensional position of at least one position sensor in a coordinate system of an associated tracking system in response to an electromagnetic field/stimulus. At least one retention mechanism is provided for maintaining the medical device in a predetermined retention position longitudinally along the guidewire body. At least one stop structure is provided in a predetermined stop position longitudinally along the guidewire body.

A capsule for a delivery apparatus and associated methods are disclosed. As one example, a capsule can include at least one end portion, arranged at a proximal end or distal end of the capsule, that narrows in diameter from a wider outer diameter of a middle portion of the capsule to a narrower outer diameter at an end of the at least one end portion, the end spaced away from the middle portion, where the at least one end portion is configured to expand to the wider outer diameter in response to a radially outward pressure from the prosthetic medical device during removal of the prosthetic medical device from inside of the capsule.

A system comprising a stent and a stent delivery device configured with a tiny intravascular ultrasound (“IVUS”) transducer on the tip of a delivery catheter which can image the interior of blood vessels. Methods for treating ostial or bifurcated lesions using the system.

A system comprising a stent and a stent delivery device configured with a tiny intravascular ultrasound (“IVUS”) transducer on the tip of a delivery catheter which can image the interior of blood vessels. Methods for treating ostial or bifurcated lesions using the system.

Methods for crimping a stent on an expandable member of a delivery catheter, and devices and methods for treating a bifurcation are disclosed. A method for crimping includes positioning a stent having a first portion and a second portion over the expandable member, and non-uniformly crimping the stent to the expandable member. The method can include routing an elongate shaft under the second portion of the stent and through the side hole so as to be routed external to the first portion. The stent second portion can be crimped so that the elongate shaft can be slidably disposed relative to the stent second portion prior to deployment of the stent.