A joining arrangement between a main tube (3) and a side arm (5) in a side arm stent graft (1). The side arm (5) is stitched into an aperture (11) in the main tube and is in fluid communication with it. The aperture is triangular, elliptical or rectangular and the side arm is cut off at an angle to leave an end portion having a circumferential length equal to the circumference of the aperture. The side arm can also include a connection socket (76) comprising a first resilient ring (79) around the arm at its end, a second resilient ring (80) spaced apart along the arm from the first ring and a zig zag resilient stent (82) between the first and second rings. The zig-zag resilient stent can be a compression stent. Both the main tube and the side arm are formed from seamless tubular biocompatible graft material.

A system for reshaping a valve annulus includes an elongate template having a length along a longitudinal axis and at least one concavity in a generally lateral direction along said length. The pre-shaped template is positioned against at least a region of an inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus, and at least one anchor on the template is advanced into a lateral wall of the valve annulus to reposition at least one segment of the region of the inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus into said concavity. In this way, a peripheral length of the valve annulus can be foreshortened and/or reshaped to improve coaption of the valve leaflets and/or to eliminate or decrease regurgitation of a valve.

The present invention includes an embolic protection device comprising a catheter having a self-expanding embolic filter that is disposed around the catheter proximal to a distal portion, wherein the embolic filter comprises a frame, and the frame defines an opening of the embolic filter that faces the distal end of the catheter; a deployment mechanism that is disposed around at least a portion of the catheter, wherein the deployment mechanism is longitudinally movable with respect to the catheter, the deployment mechanism is configured to contain the embolic filter in a collapsed configuration, and the embolic filter is configured to self-expand upon the longitudinal retraction of the deployment mechanism; and a wire coupled to the frame for expanding the size or diameter of the embolic filter opening.

Multi-filter endolumenal methods and systems for filtering fluids within the body. In some embodiments a multi-filter blood filtering system captures and removes particulates dislodge or generated during a surgical procedure and circulating in a patient's vasculature. In some embodiments a dual filter system protects the cerebral vasculature during a cardiac valve repair or replacement procedure.

Disclosed is a novel filter and delivery means. The device described within will not interfere with standard practice and tools used during standard surgical procedures and tools such as cannulas, clamps or dissection instruments including valve replacement sizing gages or other surgical procedures where the patient must be put on a heart-lung machine cross-clamping the aorta.

An intra-aortic device comprising a filter and a frame defining the shape of the filter, wherein the frame is intrinsically curved in a superior direction by a proximal superior bend and/or a distal superior bend, whereupon installation in an aorta, the M frame flattens.

The present technology relates to devices for treating arteries. In several embodiments, for example, the present technology comprises an expandable structure configured to be intravascularly positioned within a lumen of the artery at a treatment site, where the artery has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape at the treatment site prior to deployment of the expandable structure therein. When the expandable structure is in an expanded state and positioned in apposition with the arterial wall at the treatment site under diastolic pressure, the expandable structure may force the artery into a non-circular cross-sectional shape. A cross-sectional area of the artery in the non-circular cross-sectional shape may be less than a cross-sectional area of the artery in the substantially circular cross-sectional shape.

Replacing a defective atrioventricular heart valve, in particular a tricuspid valve, may include stent devices, prosthetic heart valves, delivery systems, and corresponding methods, which provide an improved fixation without distortion of the native anatomy. A stent device for a prosthetic heart valve has an axially extending mesh-shaped body, configured to fit an orifice and defining an inner channel as a passageway from a proximal to a distal end. At least three outer support arms extend from the distal end of the body towards the proximal end. Each support arm has a distal end first support region and a proximal end second support region. The second support region extends radially outwards in the deployed state. Each support arm has a flexible region between the first and second support regions, which is formed as an axially tapered section of the support arm and/or each support arm is tapered towards the proximal end.

Anchoring or docking devices configured to be positioned at a native valve of a human heart and to provide structural support for docking a prosthetic valve therein. The docking devices can have coiled structures that define an inner space in which the prosthetic valve can be held. The docking devices can have enlarged end regions with circular or non-circular shapes, for example, to facilitate implantation of the docking device or to better hold the docking device in position once deployed. The docking devices can be laser-cut tubes with locking wires to assist in better maintaining a shape of the docking device. The docking devices can include various features to promote friction, such as frictional cover layers. Such docking devices can have ends configured to more securely attach the cover layers to cores of the docking devices.

A catheter device is disclosed comprising; an elongate sheath (503) with a lumen and a distal end for positioning at a heart valve (6), an embolic protection device (200) for temporarily positioning in the aortic arch for deflection of embolic debris from the ascending aorta to the descending aorta, said embolic protection device is connectable to a transluminal delivery unit (130) extending proximally from a connection point (131), and having: a frame with a periphery, a blood permeable unit within said periphery for preventing embolic particles from passing therethrough with a blood flow downstream an aortic valve into side vessels of said aortic arch to the brain of a patient, and at least one tissue apposition sustaining unit (300, 350) extending from said catheter, into said aortic arch, and being attached to said embolic protection device at a sustaining point (502), for application of a stabilization force offset to said connection point at said embolic protection device, such as at said periphery, and for providing said stabilization force towards an inner wall of said aortic arch, away from said heart, and in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of said periphery, when said catheter device is positioned in said aortic arch, such that tissue apposition of said periphery to an inner wall of said aortic arch is supported by said force for improving stability and peripheral sealing. In addition related methods are disclosed.