A method of using a computer processor for grouping prosthetic valve leaflets of an aggregate of prosthetic valve leaflets is provided. For each leaflet of the aggregate, in response to an image parameter of the leaflet, a leaflet-flexibility value is derived. At least some of the leaflets of the aggregate are designated into leaflet groups, based on similarity between the respective leaflet-flexibility value of each leaflet of the aggregate. For each of the designated leaflet groups, the flexibility value of each leaflet in the designated leaflet group is within the intra-group tolerance with respect to the leaflet-flexibility value of each other leaflet in the designated leaflet group. An indication of the designated leaflet groups is outputted. Other embodiments are also described.

Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.

Some embodiments are directed to methods for serially expanding an artificial heart valve within a pediatric patient. For example, the artificial heart valve can be implanted into the pediatric patient during a first procedure, and then expanded during a second procedure to accommodate for the pediatric patient's growth. Some embodiments include introducing an expander into the implanted valve when the frame is expanded to a first working diameter, and then actuating the expander to expand the frame to a second working diameter greater than the first working diameter, to accommodate for the pediatric patient's growth.

A prosthetic heart valve includes an expandable annular frame having an inflow end, an outflow end, an interior, an exterior, a plurality of openings, and a longitudinal axis; a plurality of commissure supports members outside of the frame; and a plurality of quadrilateral valve leaflets each having a main body having an inflow edge and an outflow edge, and a pair of opposing leaflet tabs extending from opposite sides of the main body, each leaflet tab being paired with an adjacent leaflet tab of an adjacent leaflet, each pair of leaflets tabs extending through a respective opening of the frame and coupled to one of the commissure supports to form a commissure tab assembly, wherein each commissure tab assembly is located on the exterior of the frame and the main body of each leaflet is located on the interior of the frame.

An automated system that can be used for prosthetic heart valve manufacturing or suturing procedures. The system can include a first automated fixture that includes an articulating arm and a target device holder. The system can also include one or more additional automated fixtures, which can be configured as one or more suturing arms that include another articulating arm and a needle holder. The first automated fixture can be configured to rotate a target device held by the holder to allow the one or more additional automated fixtures to perform operations such as form sutures on the target device without intervention of a human operator. The system can include a targeting system configured to provide positioning feedback to the system.

Methods and the resulting structures, like valve devices (e.g. heart or vessel) are provided made by electrospinning single shapes on mandrels with complex surface shapes. These single shapes are then shaped into valves with a plurality of leaflets. Three levels of complexity of shapes are described: 1) conical shapes, 2) a combination of conical and cylindrical shapes, and 3) a conical and/or cylindrical shape which has further complexity by one or more three-dimensional shapes. Heart valves resulting from these complex electrospun shaped mandrels have better mobility dynamics compared to heart valves electrospun on solely cylindrical mandrels.

A stabilized fabric composed of a mesh or a woven fabric is disclosed as are methods of their manufacture, the manufacture of medical devices made using a stabilized fibers and stabilized medical devices are all disclosed. Fabrics can be stabilized by several techniques including: using mechanical, chemical and/or energetic fasteners at warp and weft intersections in the weave; by using various weaving techniques and fibers. Meshes can be stabilized when properly dimensioned and arranged junctions and struts of the necessary properties are used. All of these stabilized fabrics can be made of synthetic polymer materials such as ultrahigh molecular weight PE or PP and expanded PTFE.

Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly having an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium. The encapsulated stents may also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

A method of assembling a prosthetic heart valve includes providing a collapsible and expandable stent having an annulus section and an aortic section. The annulus section has a first diameter in a relaxed condition and a second diameter less than the first diameter in a collapsed condition. A constraint is applied to the stent to constrain the annulus section to a predetermined diameter between the first and second diameters. Applying a cuff and/or a plurality of leaflets to the stent in the constrained condition enables less material to be used. The resultant prosthetic valve is therefore able to be collapsed to a smaller diameter for introduction into a patient.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for crimping implants. The apparatuses in certain embodiments may comprise crimping devices for compressing an implant prior to deployment to a portion of a subject. The crimping devices may apply a hydraulic force radially upon the implant within an implant receiving region to compress the implant.