Heart valve prosthesis are disclosed that include a frame or support structure having an inflow portion, a valve-retaining tubular or central portion and a pair of support arms. The inflow portion radially extends from a first end of the valve-retaining tubular portion and the pair of support arms are circumferentially spaced apart and radially extend from an opposing second end of the valve-retaining tubular portion.

Described herein are flexible implantable occluding devices that can, for example, navigate the tortuous vessels of the neurovasculature. The occluding devices can also conform to the shape of the tortuous vessels of the vasculature. In some embodiments, the occluding devices can direct blood flow within a vessel away from an aneurysm or limit blood flow to the aneurysm. Some embodiments describe methods and apparatus for adjusting, along a length of the device, the porosity of the occluding device. In some embodiments, the occluding devices allows adequate blood flow to be provided to adjacent structures such that those structures, whether they are branch vessels or oxygen-demanding tissues, are not deprived of the necessary blood flow.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly attached to the stent. The stent has a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end adapted to reside adjacent the aortic annulus of a patient. The proximal end of the stent is oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

A prosthetic heart valve for functionally replacing a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible support structure with leaflets and anchors mounted to the support structure. The support structure also includes an inflow end and an outflow end. The anchors include a radially outwardly extending first anchor proximate to the inflow end and a radially outwardly extending second anchor proximate to the outflow end. The first anchor includes a first configuration and the second anchor includes a second configuration where the first configuration is different than the second configuration. The previously implanted prosthetic heart valve serves as a platform for securement of the prosthetic heart valve to the patient's native tissue.

A catheter that includes storage for an embolic protection device in an accessible, out-of-the-way location within the advancing catheter.

A method of manufacture for a vaginal insert. The vaginal insert may have a core, a cover, and a removal element. In various embodiments, the cover can be conformed to the vaginal insert.

An inferior vena cava filter (340) for use in the inferior vena cava (4) to capture thrombus (8) passing through the inferior vena cava (4) towards the heart and lungs to prevent pulmonary embolism comprises a proximal support hoop (302), a distal support hoop (312) and a plurality of support struts (303) extending between the proximal support hoop (302) and the distal support hoop (312). The filter (340) also comprises a plurality of capture arms (121) which are movable from a capturing configuration to an open configuration. The capture arms (121) are biased towards the open configuration. A biodegradable suture holds the capture arms (121) in the capturing configuration.

A distal protection device for use in a body lumen includes a functional element, which may be a filter or an occlusive element. The device includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member carried by the first elongate member, and the functional element carried by the second elongate member. Motion of the first elongate member can be independent of the motion of the functional element.

A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve comprises a replacement valve supported on an expandable prosthesis frame. If desired, one or more expandable anchors may be used. The prosthesis frame, which entirely supports the valve annulus, valve leaflets, and valve commissure points, is configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable to contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the assembly is properly positioned. Portions of the prosthesis frame may expand to a preset diameter to maintain coaptivity of the replacement valve and to prevent occlusion of the coronary ostia. The prosthesis frame is compressible about a catheter, and restrained from expanding by an outer sheath. The catheter may be inserted inside a lumen within the body, such as the femoral artery, and delivered to a desired location, such as the heart. When the outer sheath is retracted, the prosthesis frame expands to an expanded position such that the valve and prosthesis frame expand at the implantation site and the anchor engages the lumen wall. The prosthesis frame has a non-cylindrical configuration with a preset maximum expansion diameter region about the valve opening to maintain the preferred valve geometry. The prosthesis frame may also have other regions having a preset maximum expansion diameter to avoid blockage of adjacent structures such as the coronary ostia.

Methods of using a medical device having catheter with one or more expandable constricting/occluding members for preventing distal embolization during extracranial or intracranial carotid procedures or vertebral artery procedures by augmenting collateral cerebral circulation by coarctation of the aorta to enhance reversal of blood flow in an internal carotid artery, an external carotid artery, and/or a common carotid artery are disclosed. An interventional catheter can also be advanced into a right cerebral artery and a procedure performed on a lesion in the right cerebral artery.