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 venous anchor device operably coupled by graft material to form an anastomotic connector is provided. The venous anchor device includes a tubular main body having a metal frame structure and including a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including a plurality of barbs thereon wherein said distal end has an outer diameter greater than the proximal end. The venous anchor device is fluidly connected by a graft to form an anastomotic connector.

Tracheal stents may include a plurality of wave form structures each extending radially about the support structure, a plurality of axial loop members extending axially between adjacent wave form structures and a polymeric covering disposed thereover. Tracheal stents may include an expandable metal structure and a plurality of spacer fins extending above an outer surface of the expandable metal structure. The plurality of spacer fins may be formed of a material different than that of the expandable metal structure.

Stents generally can include multiple longitudinal elements each extending over a majority of the length of the stent and each having alternating flexible and rigid segments. The stents can include nodes positioned between the flexible and rigid segments on the longitudinal elements and interconnecting members extending circumferentially to connect adjacent longitudinal elements at the nodes. The longitudinal elements can have a wave pattern and the interconnecting members can have a branch structure connecting peaks from one longitudinal element to troughs of an adjacent longitudinal element. The resulting stent structure can have lateral and longitudinal flexibility needed to navigate and conform to intracranial arteries with the benefits of recapturability and structural integrity of a closed cell design.

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 stent is placed inside an aorta of a subject, the stent comprising one or more electrodes, control circuitry, and a first antenna coupled thereto. A second antenna circumscribes a neck of the subject, such that that at least one turn of wire of the second antenna extends from a first position that is anatomically superior to a left clavicle of the subject to a second position that is anatomically inferior to a jugular notch of the subject and from the second position to a third position that is anatomically superior to a right clavicle of the subject. The second antenna transmits an electrical signal to the first antenna via inductive coupling, and is shaped to have an L-shaped projection in a sagittal plane, with an angle between two legs of the L-shaped projection being 80-160 degrees when placed upon a flat surface. Other applications are also described.

A bioabsorbable composite stent structure, comprising bioabsorbable polymeric ring structures which retain a molecular weight and mechanical strength of a starting substrate and one or more interconnecting struts which extend between and couple adjacent ring structures. The ring structures can have a formed first diameter and being radially compressible to a smaller second diameter and re-expandable to the first diameter. The ring structures can comprise a base polymeric layer. The interconnecting struts can be formed from a polymer blend or co-polymer of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and an elastomeric polymer. The interconnecting struts each can have a width that is less than a circumference of one of the ring structures. The adjacent ring structures can be axially and rotationally movable relative to one another via the interconnecting struts. The interconnecting struts can also be bioabsorbable.

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.

Devices that can be delivered into a vascular system to divert flow are disclosed herein. According to some embodiments, devices are provided for treating aneurysms b diverting flow. An expandable device can comprise, for example, a plurality of strut regions and a plurality of bridge regions. Each of the strut regions may extend circumferentially about the expandable device and include a plurality of struts. Each of the plurality of bridge regions may be attached to and extend between two of the strut regions and comprise a plurality first bridges and second bridges that intersect one another and are movable relative to one another at their intersections.

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.