The invention relates to an endoprosthesis (60), in particular a vascular stent or a heart stent. The endoprosthesis comprises a stent structure (2) with a stent surface (3) and has at least one fiber (1) arranged on the stent surface (3). The stent structure (2), preferably the stent surface (3), comprises an attachment mechanism (4,5,6,7) to directly attach a fiber (1) on the stent.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provide high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold is typically formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

An apparatus for suturing includes an inner strut, a spiral suturing needle, a driving mechanism, a recovery mechanism, a suture-taking-up mechanism, and a suture-feeding mechanism. Grooves are distributed on periphery with respect to an axial direction of the inner strut, a path of the groove is consistent with a path of a metallic stent to be sutured, and a width of the groove matches an outer diameter of the spiral suturing needle; the spiral suturing needle is an elastic retractable structure and a length of the spiral suturing needle without deformation is longer than a length of the path of the groove, and a suturing needle tip is arranged on a head portion of the spiral suturing needle and a suture-piercing hole is arranged on a tail portion of the spiral suturing needle.

A delivery device (1) for an endoprosthesis (2). The endoprosthesis (2) is preferably an endoprosthesis for treating an aneurysm. The delivery device (1) comprises an outer sheath (3) and an inner tube (4). The inner tube (4) is arranged within the outer sheath (3) and at least one restraining tube (5, 30). The restraining tube (5, 30) is for holding the endoprosthesis (2) in a compressed configuration. The restraining tube (5, 30) is arranged between the outer sheath (3) and the inner tube (4). The outer sheath (3), the inner tube (4) and at least one restraining tube (5, 30) are coaxial. The restraining tube (5, 30) includes at least one axial elongation (6) extending from a distal end portion of the restraining tube. The at least one axial elongation (6) is adapted to be laced through portions of the endoprosthesis (2).

A sealing device for use as a vascular implant including a frame, the frame having an inflow edge and an outflow edge relative to axial blood flow within a vessel, wherein at least a partial axial extent of the frame is configured to decrease in axial length when expanded from a radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration. The sealing device also includes a membrane layer coupled to a radially outward surface of the at least partial axial extent of the frame between the inflow edge and the outflow edge of the frame, wherein the membrane layer is coupled to the frame at one or more axially spaced connection points such that at least a portion of the membrane layer projects radially outward relative to the frame when the frame is in the radially-expanded configuration.

A method for implanting a prosthesis centrally within a curved lumen includes loading a prosthesis into a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath in a patient towards the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end of the prosthesis within the curved lumen, and centering the proximal end of the prosthesis and/or the distal end of the sheath within the curved lumen. In a first advancing step, the outer catheter containing the inner sheath is advanced together towards the curved lumen to a location proximal of the curved lumen and, in a second advancing step, the inner sheath containing the prosthesis is advanced into the curved lumen to place at least the proximal end within the curved lumen while the outer catheter substantially remains at the location. After centering, the proximal end of the prosthesis is deployed centered within the curved lumen.

A stent graft having an internal bidirectional branch formed from a tubular segment of graft material. The internal bidirectional branch extends within the lumen of the stent graft and proximally and distally from a lateral opening in the sidewall of the stent graft. The tubular segment from which the stent graft is made is partitioned into first and second sections along a length of the tubular segment to form the internal bidirectional branch. The lateral opening has a length and a width that may be greater than the diameter of the internal bidirectional branch and may be in the shape of a quadrilateral. The internal bidirectional branch and the stent graft are formed from a single piece of graft material.

Systems and methods for deploying a prosthesis in a tissue region in a hollow body organ or blood vessel provide a first prosthesis and a second prosthesis, each having a prosthetic material and a scaffold that supports the prosthetic material. The first prosthesis has a proximal neck region, and the second prosthesis has an end region. The end region is sized and configured to telescopically fit with the proximal neck region to form a composite prosthesis. The systems and methods manipulate a fastener attachment assembly to implant at least one fastener to secure the composite prosthesis in the tissue region.

An aortic graft device (10) is provided with a graft portion (12) integrally fixed to a corrugated trunk portion (14). A fixing ring (16) is provided between the graft and trunk portions. The trunk portion (14) can be averted into the graft portion, leaving the fixing ring (16) at an extremity of the device for suturing purposes. The fixing ring (16) is preferably made from a relatively stiff material such as a compressed foam or rubber like material, which provides a relatively solid component for a surgeon to hold during suturing and which can provide a strong support for sutures.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provide high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold is typically formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.