An introduction arrangement for a fenestrated or branched stent graft (13) intended for deployment into the lumen of a vessel having a blind vessel extending from it. The introducer (1) has a distal end intended to remain outside a patient in use and a proximal end with a nose cone dilator (11) and an arrangement to retain the branched stent graft distally of the nose cone dilator. A sheath (15) on the introducer extends over the branched stent graft to the nose cone dilator. An indwelling catheter (21) extends from the distal end of the introducer and enters the fenestration or side arm and through to the nose cone dilator, the indwelling catheter has a guide wire (29) extending through it. The guide wire can be extended beyond the nose cone dilator in use before the sheath is withdrawn from the branched stent graft so that it can be snared from the contra-lateral artery.

Exemplary embodiments of apparatuses and methods of providing an endovascular′dock within a blood vessel are provided. An apparatus for vascular surgery can be provided, having an external tubular graft capable of expansion and configured to be placed within a sheath in an unexpended state, a first tubular structure provided internally within the external tubular graft and configured for placement of a graft therein, and a second tubular structure provided internally within the external tubular graft and configured for placement of a graft therein. Stent grafts can be provided along each tubular structure to a corresponding blood vessel such that blood flow is provided to the blood vessel from the apparatus within the stent grafts to each blood vessel, blocking the blood flow directly from the aneurysm.

Thin-film mesh for medical devices, including stent and scaffold devices, and related methods are provided. Micropatterned thin-film mesh, such as thin-film Nitinol (TFN) mesh, may be fabricated via sputter deposition on a micropatterned wafer. The thin-film mesh may include slits to be expanded into pores, and the expanded thin-film mesh used as a cover for a stent device. The stent device may include two stent modules that may be implanted at a bifurcated aneurysm such that one module passes through a medial surface of the other module. The thin-film mesh may include pores with complex, fractal, or fractal-like shapes. The thin-film mesh may be used as a scaffold for a scaffold device. The thin-film scaffold may be placed in a solution including structural protein such as fibrin, seeded with cells, and placed in the body to replace or repair tissue.

An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a graft having a tubular body comprising proximal and distal ends, inner and outer surfaces, and partially and fully deployed states. A temporary channel is disposed external to the outer surface of the graft in the partially deployed state. The temporary channel begins at one of the proximal and distal ends of the graft, and extends along only a portion of a longitudinal length of the graft. The temporary channel is removed when the graft is in a fully deployed state.

A first endoluminal prosthesis coupled to an inner catheter and a dilator tip is delivered to the body vessel via a guidewire and a delivery sheath in a conventional manner. After deployment of the first endoluminal prosthesis at the target site, the dilator and catheter are retracted from the body, leaving the delivery sheath in place. A second endoluminal prosthesis is housed within a peel-away sheath without a catheter or dilator tip, and is mated to the delivery sheath outside the patient. The second prosthesis is advanced from the peel-away sheath into the delivery sheath without the use of a dilator tip or catheter. As the second prosthesis is advanced into the delivery sheath from the peel-away sheath, the peel-away sheath is peeled away. The second prosthesis is advanced through the delivery sheath and delivered into an overlapping engagement with the first prosthesis.

A self expanding stent (10) formed from a resilient wire. The resilient wire comprises a zig zag form including an odd number of struts (12) such as seven struts and a bend (14) between each strut. There is first loop (18) of the resilient wire at the terminal end of a first strut and a second loop (18) of the resilient wire at the terminal end of a last strut. The stent as formed is substantially planar but in use is formed into a substantially cylindrical form (20) by being stitched onto a tubular body of a biocompatible graft material with at least the first strut and the last strut overlapping.

The invention primarily relates to fastening and stabilizing tissues, implants, and/or bondable materials, such as the fastening of a tissue and/or implant to a bondable material, the fastening of an implant to tissue, and/or the fastening of an implant to another implant. This may involve using an energy source to bond and/or mechanically to stabilize a tissue, an implant, a bondable material, and/or other biocompatible material. The invention may also relate to the use of an energy source to remove and/or install an implant and/or bondable material or to facilitate solidification and/or polymerization of bondable material.

Assemblies are provided comprising a stent and a sensor positioned on and/or in the stent. Within certain aspects the sensors are wireless sensors, and include for example one or more fluid pressure sensors, contact sensors, position sensors, accelerometers, pulse pressure sensors, blood volume sensors, blood flow sensors, blood chemistry sensors, blood metabolic sensors, mechanical stress sensors and/or temperature sensors. Within certain aspects these stents may be utilized to assist in stent placement, monitor stent function, identify complications of stent treatment, monitor physiologic parameters and/or medically image a body passageway, e.g., a vascular lumen.

Tubular prosthesis for deployment in a human body passageway comprises a tubular member adapted for placement in a passageway in a human body and a tube. The tubular member has a tubular wall, first and second end openings, and a side opening formed in the tubular wall between the first and second end openings. The tube has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the tube is disposed in the tubular member and has an opening arranged relative to the side opening such that an elongated element (e.g., a guidewire) can be passed through the tube and out from the side opening in the tubular wall where it can enter a branch passageway. The tube can be releasably secured to the tubular member in such as manner that it can be detached from the tubular member and withdrawn after the elongated element is passed through the side opening and placed in a desired position.

A heart valve assembly includes an inner frame comprising a graft covering housing a prosthetic heart valve, wherein the graft covering extends around the prosthetic heart valve for providing sealing to the heart valve, an outer frame formed from a metallic material and defining a gridded configuration, and being secured to the graft covering by a plurality of stitches, and a sealing material positioned externally to the outer frame for providing sealing between the outer frame and a patient's anatomical wall to prevent paravalvular leaks. The sealing material includes a plurality of radially extending fibers that extend outwardly of the outer frame. The graft covering is made of polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or a polymer.