A stent made from a material comprising a polymer is disclosed. The stent has a pre-crimp diameter and a wall thickness such that a ratio of the pre-crimp diameter to the wall thickness is between 30 and 60. The stent has a pattern of interconnected elements. The interconnected elements including a plurality of rings connected by links, wherein each ring includes struts and crowns, and the struts are configured to fold at the crowns when the stent is crimped to the balloon.

A method of manufacturing an elongate shaft for delivery of a medical device may include disposing a polymeric sheath having a lumen extending therethrough over a mandrel; sliding a proximal portion of the polymeric sheath into a lumen of a metallic tubular member; placing a polymeric tubular member over the distal portion of the polymeric sheath and a distal portion of the metallic tubular member; fixedly attaching a proximal coupler to a distal end of a longitudinal support filament; inserting a proximal end of the longitudinal support filament between the polymeric sheath and the polymeric tubular member to position the longitudinal support filament alongside the distal portion of the metallic tubular member and a distal portion of the polymeric sheath; and reflowing the polymeric tubular member to secure the longitudinal support filament relative to the polymeric sheath and the metallic tubular member.

A bumper spring assembly having a one piece mandrel including an integral head piece is further configured with a cage assembly retained on the mandrel with a cage nut locked to the mandrel to obviate the need for pins, set screws, and the like, to provide a more robust assembly. In two embodiments the cage nut is locked to the mandrel in a swaging operation. Improved flow of fluids through and around the bumper spring assembly are also provided

Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. The prosthetic valve can comprise an annular frame, leaflets, an inner skirt, and an outer skirt. The outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack that buckles outward radially when the valve is in the expanded configuration and which lies flat when the valve is in the collapsed configuration. In some embodiments, the outer skirt is stiffer in the axial direction of the valve than in the circumferential direction of the valve. In additional embodiments, the outer skirt comprises a self-expandable fabric comprising fibers made of a shape memory material having a shape memory set to enhance the radially outward buckling of the outer skirt. Methods of crimping such valves to a collapsed or partially collapsed configuration are also disclosed.

Stent-grafts for treating thoracic aortic aneurysms and abdominal aortic aneurysms include graft portions having inflatable channels and graft extensions. The graft extensions include an undulating wire stent and porous, but substantially fluid impermeable, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft materials.

A bumper spring assembly having a one piece mandrel including an integral head piece is further configured with a cage assembly retained on the mandrel with a cage nut locked to the mandrel to obviate the need for pins, set screws, and the like, to provide a more robust assembly. In two embodiments the cage nut is locked to the mandrel in a swaging operation. Improved flow of fluids through and around the bumper spring assembly are also provided

A method may be utilized to produce a steering spindle part configured as a hollow shaft and having a connecting portion at its end. At least a part of the connecting portion includes increased wall thickness relative to a portion of the steering spindle part adjoining the connecting portion. The method may involve providing a circular, hollow cylindrical tube with an inner surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction, providing a circular, hollow cylindrical sleeve with an outer surface that is smooth in a circumferential direction, inserting the sleeve into an end portion of the tube, and jointly deforming the end portion of the tube and the sleeve such that a flow of material occurs. This flow may form positively locking elements on the tube and the sleeve that engage into one another in the circumferential direction and generate positive locking in the circumferential direction.

A method for locking an internally threaded end piece such as a head piece, a tail piece, an end or sealing nut to a mandrel for a down hole tool to obviate the need for pins, set screws, and the like, to provide a more robust assembly. In two embodiments the threaded end piece is locked to the mandrel in a swaging operation.

A method of manufacturing an elongate shaft for delivery of a medical device may include disposing a polymeric sheath having a lumen extending therethrough over a mandrel; sliding a proximal portion of the polymeric sheath into a lumen of a metallic tubular member; placing a polymeric tubular member over the distal portion of the polymeric sheath and a distal portion of the metallic tubular member; fixedly attaching a proximal coupler to a distal end of a longitudinal support filament; inserting a proximal end of the longitudinal support filament between the polymeric sheath and the polymeric tubular member to position the longitudinal support filament alongside the distal portion of the metallic tubular member and a distal portion of the polymeric sheath; and reflowing the polymeric tubular member to secure the longitudinal support filament relative to the polymeric sheath and the metallic tubular member.

A method is provided for ensuring and/or checking the quality of a crimping using a crimping machine for crimping a cable with a contact sleeve and using a first optical sensor for detecting and/or recording first image data of the contact sleeve and using an evaluation electronics system. The method includes detecting the first image data of the contact sleeve by the first optical sensor; carrying out, via the evaluation electronics system, a first comparison of the first image data of the first optical sensor with first reference data of a predetermined contact sleeve; checking the first comparison for the presence of a predetermined first criterion; and, if the predetermined first criterion is satisfied, outputting a first signal. The detection of the first image data and the first comparison and the checking for the first criterion and the output of the first signal are carried out before the cable is crimped with the contact sleeve. A crimping machine suitable for carrying out the above method is also provided.