An implant delivery catheter enables permanent modification of the implant length in the vicinity of the treatment site prior to radial expansion thereof. The implant is releasable carried between inner and outer tubular members of the delivery catheter which, upon repositioning relative to one another using an actuator mechanism, impart any of tensile, compressile or torquing forces to the implant causing permanent modification of the implant length. In one embodiment, the circumference of the implant is substantially similar both before and after modification of the implant length. In another embodiment, the implant includes a plurality of strut sections interconnected by bridges which are capable of the deformation along the longitudinal axis of the implant.

The present invention relates to an implantable endoluminal graft. The implantable endoluminal graft is comprised of a microporous thin-film metal covering having a plurality of openings and a structural support element underlying and physically attached to the microporous thin-film metal covering, the microporous thin-film metal covering having shape memory properties.

A flow reducing implant for reducing blood flow in a blood vessel having a cross sectional dimension, the flow reducing implant comprising a hollow element adapted for placement in the blood vessel defining a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage comprising at least two sections, one with a larger diameter and one with a smaller diameter, wherein said smaller diameter is smaller than a cross section of the blood vessel. A plurality of tabs anchor, generally parallel to the blood vessel wall, are provided in some embodiments of the invention.

A medical device such as a stent or medical balloon is functionalised prior to coating with a bioactive material, specifically by carboxylic acidification of the contact surface or surfaces of the medical device. The preferred process involves washing a stent or other medical device in a washing solution which may be sodium hydroxide, soaking in a carboxylic acid solution, rinsing in water to remove excess carboxylic acid, allowing to dry before applying a bioactive agent layer. It has been found that washing after functionalisation removes excess carboxylic acid and enhances the retention of bioactive agent on the contact surface or surfaces of the medical device leading to a more uniform and consistent layer of bioactive agent.

An intraluminal prosthesis includes a stent architecture having a series of stent elements repeating along a circumferential axis. One series of stent elements includes v-shaped stent elements having at least four different orientations, and V-shaped stent elements connecting adjacent v-shaped stent elements. One series of stent elements includes R-shaped stent elements having at least four different orientations, and U-shaped stent elements having at least two different orientations, the U-shaped stent elements connecting adjacent R-shaped stent elements. Adjacent series of stent elements can be connected by connectors. Portions of the stent elements may narrow in width along a length thereof. The stent architecture may include radiopaque element receiving members. The stent architecture may be formed by machining a metal or polymer tube. The intraluminal prosthesis may include one or more graft layers.

An intravascular stent includes cut-outs forming segmented patterns of the stent construction at the same time form the elongated lines of the main segment situated around the longitudinal stent axis and are connected via U-shaped connecting elements. This creates around the longitudinal axis of the stent a geometric pattern resembling a meander of gentle edges, and the two curves in the shape of a the letter V with rounded edges. The stent also includes an oval plate form a connecting segment to connect with the connecting elements of the elongated lines of the main segment, wherein every next main segment is a mirror reflection of the previous segment and in that the curves of the connecting element shaped like the letter V with rounded edges are a mutual mirror reflection in relation to the oval plate of the connecting segment. The stents can include a covering of various drugs.

A tubular medical instrument which can be easily ejected from a transfer device and accurately placed in a case the tubular medical instrument is released from the transfer device and placed at an affected area is provided. A tubular medical instrument includes ends portions, and a central portion, wherein each of the end portions is a region including one axial end of the tubular medical instrument and having a length of 10% with respect to an axial length L.sub.1 of the tubular medical instrument, the central portion is a region including an axial center of the tubular medical instrument and having a length of 10% with respect to the axial length L1 of the tubular medical instrument, and a ratio (difference V/difference W) is 3 or more.

A method of designing or selecting an implantable medical device comprises the steps of: i) obtaining a plurality of measured data points of a characteristic of an anatomical feature of an individual; ii) using said data points to construct a surrogate model of said characteristic, the surrogate model being constructed by interpolating or regressing measured data points of the characteristic, and using said surrogate model to obtain predicted values of said characteristic at a plurality of locations; iii) using said predicted values to determine or select at least one value of a design parameter of the implantable medical device. There is further disclosed a method of monitoring or diagnosing a disease or disorder.

An intraluminal prosthesis includes a stent architecture having a series of stent elements repeating along a circumferential axis. One series of stent elements includes v-shaped stent elements having at least four different orientations, and V-shaped stent elements connecting adjacent v-shaped stent elements. One series of stent elements includes R-shaped stent elements having at least four different orientations, and U-shaped stent elements having at least two different orientations, the U-shaped stent elements connecting adjacent R-shaped stent elements. Adjacent series of stent elements can be connected by connectors. Portions of the stent elements may narrow in width along a length thereof. The stent architecture may include radiopaque element receiving members. The stent architecture may be formed by machining a metal or polymer tube. The intraluminal prosthesis may include one or more graft layers.