Examples of a stent are provided with interlocking joints removably coupling adjacent axial stent segments. Mating elements forming the interlocking joints maintain engagement when the stent is in the radially compressed configuration, for example, during tracking of the stent to a treatment site of a body vessel, and become disengaged during radial expansion of the stent. When disengaged, the disconnected the axial stent segments remain discrete stent structures separated from one another along the point of treatment.

Disclosed are systems and methods relating to an implant configured for reshaping a mitral valve. The implant comprises a plurality of struts with anchors for tissue engagement. The implant is compressible to a first, reduced diameter for transluminal or transapical navigation and delivery to the left atrium of a heart. The implant may then expand to a second, enlarged diameter to embed its anchors to the tissue surrounding and/or including the mitral valve. The size and/or shape of the implant may then be adjusted, pulling mitral annulus tissue radially inwardly, and restrained in the adjusted configuration to improve mitral valve function.

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

A scaffold is formed by several segments joined or connected to each other by only at least one coupling. The coupling decouples the segments in the axial direction over a finite distance of axial displacement. The scaffold when implanted in a peripheral vessel reduces loading on rings of a segment due to the decoupling of the segments in the axial direction over the finite distance.

Embodiments are directed in part to endovascular prostheses and methods of deploying same. Embodiments may be directed more specifically to stent grafts and methods of positioning and deploying such devices within the body of a patient.

Excessive dilation of the annulus of a mitral valve may lead to regurgitation of blood during ventricular contraction. This regurgitation may lead to a reduction in cardiac output. Disclosed are systems and methods relating to an implant configured for reshaping a mitral valve. The implant comprises a plurality of struts with anchors for tissue engagement. The implant is compressible to a first, reduced diameter for transluminal navigation and delivery to the left atrium of a heart. The implant may then expand to a second, enlarged diameter to embed its anchors to the tissue surrounding and/or including the mitral valve. The implant may then contract to a third, intermediate diameter, pulling the tissue radially inwardly, thereby reducing the mitral valve and lessening any of the associated symptoms including mitral regurgitation.

A scaffold is formed by several segments joined or connected to each other by only at least one coupling. The coupling decouples the segments in the axial direction over a finite distance of axial displacement. The scaffold when implanted in a peripheral vessel reduces loading on rings of a segment due to the decoupling of the segments in the axial direction over the finite distance.

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

Methods for securing strand ends of devices configured for insertion into an anatomical structure, and the resulting devices.

A stent delivery assembly includes a delivery balloon having a balloon surface with microbristles extending therefrom, wherein at least a portion of the microbristles has a length within a range of 0.8 through 1.2 mm. Another stent delivery assembly includes a delivery balloon having a balloon surface with microbristles extending therefrom and a stent disposed around the delivery balloon, wherein the stent has interconnected struts with a strut thickness and the delivery balloon has a balloon surface with microbristles extending therefrom, wherein at least a portion of the microbristles has a length that is greater than the strut thickness. The balloon surface may form a monolithic structure with the microbristles. The microbristles may be made of a stiffer material than the balloon surface.