An endovascular system includes inner and outer catheters, a handle system operably coupled one end of the catheters, and a microvalve coupled to the other end of the catheters. The microvalve is constrained in a radially-collapsed closed configuration for advancement within a vessel to a treatment site. The handle system is operable to displace the inner and outer catheters portions relative to each other to move the microvalve between closed and open configurations. An indicator is provided to visually indicate the extent by which the microvalve is opened within the vessel.

A method for increasing or restoring a flow in a body lumen can treat conditions related to a stroke, such as an ischemic stroke, by removing an occlusion from a blood vessel and/or reopen a blood vessel. The method makes use of a device that includes a central wire, a pusher tube, a distal structure, and a proximal structure into the blood vessel, in which the distal structure is closed at its proximal end. A clot or occlusion present in the body lumen such as an artery may be engaged in and/or between the distal and proximal engaging elements. Further, the positions of one or both of the engaging elements and the distance between them can be adjusted to ensure the engagement of the clot or occlusion.

A method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native aortic heart valve region of a patient can include introducing a prosthetic heart valve on a transvascular delivery apparatus into an artery of the patient, advancing the delivery apparatus through an aorta of the patient to the native aortic heart valve region, and releasing the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus can have a shaft with a valve connection portion that is releasably coupled to posts of the prosthetic heart valve. The delivery apparatus can have a delivery sheath positioned around the prosthetic heart valve and the valve connection portion. The releasing the prosthetic valve can include moving the delivery sheath proximally relative to the shaft and the prosthetic heart valve such that the delivery sheath uncovers the prosthetic heart valve and the prosthetic heart valve can self-expand.

An assembly for replacing a native heart valve can have a prosthetic heart valve with an annular metal frame made from shape-memory material and a valve member disposed in an interior of the metal frame. The assembly can have a delivery apparatus with a handle, a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion can be coupled to the handle and the distal end portion can be releasably coupled to the prosthetic heart valve. The delivery apparatus can also have a delivery sheath and a hydraulic power source operatively connected to the delivery sheath. The prosthetic heart valve can be positioned within the delivery sheath in a radially compressed state. The hydraulic power source can be configured to move the delivery sheath longitudinally relative to the valve to allow the valve to self-expand from the radially compressed state to a radially expanded state.

An assembly for transvascular replacement of a native aortic heart valve can have a radially collapsible and self-expandable prosthetic heart valve and a delivery apparatus. The valve can have an annular metal frame made of a shape-memory material with a plurality of posts extending from an end portion of the frame. The delivery apparatus can have a shaft comprising a valve connection portion that is releasably coupled to the posts of the valve. The valve connection portion can have a plurality of discrete radially facing recesses that receive the posts. The delivery apparatus can have a delivery sheath that is positioned around the prosthetic heart valve and the valve connection portion of the shaft to maintain the prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state and maintain the posts within the recesses. The delivery apparatus can cause relative axial motion between the delivery sheath and the valve.

Various implementations of a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty device include a catheter, a filter, and an expandable balloon. The filter is coupled adjacent a distal end of the catheter and is movable between an unexpanded and expanded configuration via a filter activation wire extending through a lumen of the catheter. An anti-stenotic therapeutic agent is disposed on an outer surface of the balloon, and the balloon is disposed on the catheter proximally of the filter. An axial movable sheath is positioned over the balloon and filter during deployment to a target site and is axially retracted away from the filter and balloon prior to treatment of a lesion. At the target site, the exposed filter is expanded via the filter activation wire. Then, the exposed balloon is inflated to dilate and deliver the therapeutic agent to the lesion.

Multi-hooded enarthrodial joint implant has a ceramic articulating cup including a ceramic head-receiving cup having an articular surface upon which a head of a joint can articulate, and which, in general, has a margin generally about a hemisphere more or less and at least two hoods that are marginally extended continuations of superior one-half or so of cup containment of a sufficient magnitude to reduce an overall dimension of socket outlet to less than a hemisphere, which can embrace and contain the head. The head is made of ceramic and has a truncated generally circular cross section, a truncated surface with a feature for attachment of the stem, and an opposing articular surface for articulation against the articular surface of the ceramic head-receiving cup. As an ensemble, the cup is combined with the head, typically with a stem, for a total joint implant.

A mastopexy implant for maintaining the breast in an elevated and aesthetically pleasing position includes a lower pole support comprising end portions which may be affixed to the chest wall or to a previously installed upper suspension strut. The implant is loaded in an insertion device. The insertion device is inserted through a small incision and into a subcutaneous pocket created in an inferior half of the breast. The lower pole support may have various constructs and in one embodiment includes a unitary conformable mesh having a plurality of arm or band members which are attached across the breast parenchyma and to the chest wall.

Methods for delivering a prosthetic valve comprise introducing the prosthetic heart valve into a body of a patient. The prosthetic valve is mounted within a delivery sheath of a delivery apparatus in a radially compressed state. The prosthetic valve is advanced through the body to a delivery location. A motor is actuated to cause the delivery sheath to retract to expose the prosthetic valve and the prosthetic valve expands to a radially expanded state at the delivery location. The methods can also include releasing the prosthetic valve from the delivery apparatus and removing the delivery apparatus from the patient.

A system includes a device having inner and outer catheters, and a filter valve attached to the distal end of the inner and outer catheters. Longitudinal displacement of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter moves the filter valve from a non-deployed configuration to a deployed configuration. The device has a first configuration in which the distal end of the inner catheter is longitudinally advanced by a first distance relative to the distal end of the outer catheter and the filter valve assumes a stretched configuration, and a second configuration in which the distal end of the inner catheter is longitudinally advanced by a second distance relative to the distal end of the outer catheter to cause the filter valve to assume a diameter larger than in the stretched configuration.