An intraluminal stent includes pluralities of first and second wire segments made from a soft malleable alloy formed into a cylindrical structure. Each of the wire segments is defined by a series of sinusoidal bends formed over the length of each segment, with the initial unformed length of each second wire segment being larger than that of each first wire segment. Each of the first and second wire segments include the same number of sinusoidal bends with the amplitude of the of the sinusoidal bends of the second wire segments being larger than that of the sinusoidal bends of the first wire segments. Adjacent wire segments are conjoined by welds at apices of each sinusoidal bend to form the cylindrical or tubular structure. The first wire segments can form a center portion of the stent and the second wire segments can be provided at either or both ends of the stent, enabling minimized axial shrinkage when the stent is radially expanded from an initial to an expanded diameter and in which the second wire segment at the terminal end of the stent is caused to outwardly flare significantly relative to the remainder of a radially expanded stent.

Described here are delivery devices for delivering one or more implants to the body, and methods of using. The delivery devices may deliver implants to a variety of locations within the body, for a number of different uses. In some variations, the delivery devices have a cannula with one or more curved sections. In some variations, a pusher may be used to release one or more implants from the cannula. In some variations, one or more of the released implants may be a self-expanding device. Methods of delivering implants to one or more sinus cavities are also described here.

Described here are delivery devices for delivering one or more implants to the body, and methods of using. The delivery devices may deliver implants to a variety of locations within the body, for a number of different uses. In some variations, the delivery devices have a cannula with one or more curved sections. In some variations, a pusher may be used to release one or more implants from the cannula. In some variations, one or more of the released implants may be a self-expanding device. Methods of delivering implants to one or more sinus cavities are also described here.

A drive assembly for a catheter procedure includes a body configured to receive a percutaneous device where the body has a first end and a second end. A distal pinch is configured to releasably engage the percutaneous device. A proximal pinch is positioned on the first end of the body and is configured to releasably engage the percutaneous device. A linear drive mechanism is coupled to the body and configured to move the body and the proximal pinch between a first position and a second position to cause linear movement of the percutaneous device along a longitudinal axis of the percutaneous device. A rotational drive mechanism is coupled to the second end of the body and is configured to rotate the body and the proximal pinch to cause the percutaneous device to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the percutaneous device.

There is described an endovascular prosthesis delivery device. The subject endovascular prosthesis delivery device comprises a combination of a delivery frame element and a hub insert element that are secured to one another by a first retention element. At a distal portion of the delivery frame element, there is a prosthesis attachment zone for coupling to an endovascular prosthesis. When it is desired to deploy the endovascular prosthesis, the first retention element is broken in a manner to allow relative movement between the hub insert element and the delivery frame element. A pull wire assembly is secured with respect to the hub insert element and comprises a pull wire which is coupled to the endovascular prosthesis in the prosthesis attachment zone of the delivery frame element. Once the first retention element is broken by the physician (this is done when the endovascular prosthesis is in the correct position for deployment), the physician can then retract the hub insert which has the effect of retracting pull wire from the prosthesis attachment zone of the delivery frame element. The endovascular prosthesis and the endovascular prosthesis delivery device are now detached from one another and the latter may be withdrawn from the patient.

A stent graft for treating an arterial aneurysm includes a ligature traversing at least a portion of struts of stents, the ligature having ends that, when linked, at least partially constrict a radial dimension of the stents. The ends of the ligature can be linked by a wire in a stent graft delivery system that threads anchor loops longitudinally spanning ends of the ligature to maintain the stent in a radially constricted position during delivery to the aneurysm. The stent graft can be implanted at the aneurysm by retracting the wire from the linked ends of the ligature and from the anchor loops, thereby releasing the associated stent from the radially constricted position.

A stent graft for treating an arterial aneurysm includes a ligature traversing at least a portion of struts of stents, the ligature having ends that, when linked, at least partially constrict a radial dimension of the stents. The ends of the ligature can be linked by a wire in a stent graft delivery system that threads anchor loops longitudinally spanning ends of the ligature to maintain the stent in a radially constricted position during delivery to the aneurysm. The stent graft can be implanted at the aneurysm by retracting the wire from the linked ends of the ligature and from the anchor loops, thereby releasing the associated stent from the radially constricted position.

A method and an assembly for securing a crimped medical device over a deflated balloon of a balloon catheter is provided. The medical device is positioned in its expanded state over the deflated balloon of the balloon catheter, and is then crimped over the deflated balloon. First and second eyelets of first and second strings, respectively, are then threaded through first and second rings, respectively, that are provided on the medical device. Next, a locking wire is advanced through a lumen defined between the sheath and the catheter body to exit the distal end of the sheath, and then advanced through the first and second eyelets and into the distal tip of the balloon catheter. The sheath is then advanced over the crimped medical device to the distal tip to completely cover the crimped medical device.

An introducer sheath system includes a sheath member defining a tubular structure extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the sheath. The system includes a tip portion provided at the distal end of the sheath member. The tip portion defines a tubular structure extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tip portion. The tip portion has a central lumen extending therethrough. The tip portion includes a camming feature formed as a protrusion from the central lumen of the tip portion. The tip portion is movable between a non-expanded configuration when the camming feature is not engaged and an expanded configuration when the camming feature is engaged. When the tip portion is in the non-expanded configuration, a diameter of the distal end of the tip portion is less than a diameter of the proximal end of the tip portion.

A loading device for crimping a prosthetic heart valve without an internal support member includes a cone having a cone body with a tapering diameter and defining a lumen therethrough and a cone base extending radially from the cone body. The cone base may couple to a funnel also having a tapering diameter and defining a lumen therethrough. The cone may be coupled to the funnel such that the lumen of the cone is aligned with the lumen of the funnel along a longitudinal axis of the loading device. The cone body may define a plurality of slots configured to receive the tines extending from the prosthetic heart valve as the valve is pulled through the loading device and compressed from an expanded state to a collapsed state by the tapering diameter of the cone and the funnel to be disposed inside a delivery device.