A balloon comprising: a center portion having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and a length between the proximal end and the distal end. The center portion comprises: a first nominal diameter and a first radial modulus at the proximal end; a second nominal diameter and a second radial modulus at the distal end; further wherein, the first nominal diameter is equal to the second nominal diameter, such that, when the balloon is inflated to a nominal pressure, the center portion has a constant diameter over the length; and further wherein, the first radial modulus is smaller than the second radial modulus, such that, when the balloon is inflated above a nominal pressure, the center portion adopts a tapered shape in which the proximal end has a first stretched diameter and the distal end has a second stretched diameter, the first stretched diameter being larger than the second stretched diameter.

A stent-graft assembly is provided for a variety of medical treatments. The stent-graft assembly includes a stent disposed to and attached between an inner layer of graft material and an outer layer of graft material. One of both of the graft layers includes one or more of a depression, dimple or detent that increases the localized surface area of the graft in one or more portions of the stent otherwise susceptible to graft stretching in the absence of the depression, dimple or detent. There is also described a method of forming dimples in selective locations on one or port graft layers in one or more locations relative to a portion of the stent where a portion of the graft may be susceptible to stretching or tearing during crimping or loading operations.

A stent includes a main body having a plurality of rings that form a helix. Each of the plurality of rings includes a plurality of skewed v-shaped elements that each have a first leg and a second leg that is longer than the first leg. The stent further includes a first end ring and a second end ring positioned to an opposite side of the main body from the first end ring. Each of the plurality of rings of the main body is angled with respect to the first end ring and the second end ring. The stent further includes a first transitional region for connecting the first end ring to the main body, and a second transitional region for connecting the second end ring to the main body.

A heart-treatment system (100) includes a first tissue anchor (30) and a second tissue anchor (140), which includes a stent (158), which includes (a) a plurality of struts (160) arranged as a tubular stent body (161) and (b) a locking frame (184). One or more tethers (32) couple together the first and the second tissue anchors (30, 140). A longitudinal portion (180) of the one or more tethers (32) passes through one or more openings (182) of the locking frame (184) so as to form a tether loop (186). The system (100) is arranged such that enlargement of the tether loop (186) by pulling on the tether loop (186) applies tension between the first and the second tissue anchors (30, 140). Other embodiments are also described.

Flared stents are disclosed, and apparatus and methods for delivering such stents into a bifurcation between a main vessel and a branch vessel. The stent includes a first tubular portion a second flaring portion that may be flared radially outwardly to contact the ostium. The stent may include variable mechanical properties along its length. The stent may be delivered using a catheter including proximal and distal ends, the stent overlying first and second balloons on the distal end. During use, the catheter is advanced through an ostium into the branch to place the stent within the branch. The first balloon is expanded to flare the stent to contact a wall of the ostium, thereby causing the stent to migrate partially into the ostium. The second balloon is expanded to fully expand the stent within the ostium and branch.

A cylindrical indwelling medical device is formed by connecting a plurality of struts in a circumferential direction of the device in such a way to share a rib in an axial direction in neighboring struts to form annular or spiral columns of struts and connecting the columns of struts in the axial direction via links. Each strut has at least one set of strut pieces providing a bistable structure for supporting a load from reducing a diameter of the indwelling medical device and portions for inducing snap-through buckling deformation. load is in a direction preventing reverse snap-through buckling deformation to hold an expanded diameter state of the device. After the indwelling medical device with its diameter reduced has been introduced into a luminal organ and has expanded its diameter to indwell there, the device can resist sufficiently against the reduction in diameter, thus maintaining the expanded diameter state of the device.

This invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. A Y-shaped member is comprised of a U-shaped member and a link having a curved portion and a straight portion to improve the flexibility and thereby improve the fatigue performance of the Y-link junction.

A stent includes expandable rings formed from a plurality of interconnected struts. A plurality of bridges couple adjacent rings together. The bridges are connected to adjacent rings at first and second connection points, and a first brace element is disposed therebetween. The first connection point is circumferentially offset relative to the second connection point so that the bridge is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stent. The first brace element of one bridge engages an adjacent bridge or a brace element of the adjacent bridge when the corresponding adjacent rings are in the contracted configuration thereby providing additional support and rigidity to the stent to lessen buckling of the stent during loading onto a delivery catheter or during deployment therefrom.

Stents that are adapted to be balloon expanded and include adjacent supports connected by connecting portions. The configurations, materials, and/or dimensions of at least one of the supports and connection portions allows the stents to be expanded to a greater extent, and optionally with reduced foreshortening.

The present invention relates to a degradable vascular stent capable of avoiding late restenosis, comprising a base region formed by a polylactic acid based polymer; at least one storage region in which an active agent is stored; and an outer layer of a drug sustained release coating covered on the base region and/or the storage region. Before the mass of the polylactic acid based polymer is decreased by 10-20%, the active agent is retained in structural units of the polylactic acid based polymer. After the mass of the polylactic acid based polymer is decreased by 10-20%, the active agent is released from the storage region. The base region provides a supporting capacity for ensuring patency of blood vessels; the drug sustained release coating is used for drug release in an early stage; and the active agent only works in late degradation of the stent to avoid late restenosis.