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.

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.

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.

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 system for reshaping a valve annulus includes an elongate template having a length along a longitudinal axis and at least one concavity in a generally lateral direction along said length. The pre-shaped template is positioned against at least a region of an inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus, and at least one anchor on the template is advanced into a lateral wall of the valve annulus to reposition at least one segment of the region of the inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus into said concavity. In this way, a peripheral length of the valve annulus can be foreshortened and/or reshaped to improve coaption of the valve leaflets and/or to eliminate or decrease regurgitation of a valve.

Methods and devices relate to the use and construction of a vascular stent. A stent assembly includes mesh structure that is at least partially attached to a support or stent structure. The stent structure is formed of one or more struts that collectively form a tubular body sized to fit within a blood vessel. The mesh structure is formed of one or more filaments or sutures that are interwoven or knit to form a structure that is coupled to the stent structure. The mesh structure can at least partially cover or at least be partially covered by the stent structure.

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.

A system for reshaping a valve annulus includes an elongate template having a length along a longitudinal axis and at least one concavity in a generally lateral direction along said length. The pre-shaped template is positioned against at least a region of an inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus, and at least one anchor on the template is advanced into a lateral wall of the valve annulus to reposition at least one segment of the region of the inner peripheral wall of the valve annulus into said concavity. In this way, a peripheral length of the valve annulus can be foreshortened and/or reshaped to improve coaption of the valve leaflets and/or to eliminate or decrease regurgitation of a valve.

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.