Various devices, systems, and methods that can be used in the treatment of obesity and related illnesses are disclosed. In some instances, the cecum of an obese patient is distended to a pathophysiological size for a therapeutically effective period. The distention may be achieved by introduction of an object that is of foreign origin relative to the body of the patient into the cecum of the patient. In some instances, the distention is achieved by a medical device that transitions from an undeployed state, in which the medical device is introduced into the cecum of the patient, to an expanded state in which the medical device distends the cecum by an amount sufficient to trigger a colo-gastric brake in the patient.

An intestinal barrier sleeve release system includes a tubular housing having a first opening at one end and a second opening at the other end. A tubular sleeve to be released is disposed in the housing. A release body connected to the one end of the tubular sleeve is disposed at the first opening of the housing and is made of a material that can be dissolved and absorbed in human intestines. An inner sheath, a middle sheath and an outer sheath are sequentially set and move relative to each other. The inner sheath and the middle sheath are operated to move axially, the release body is disengaged from the housing, and the tubular sleeve moves out of the housing and is released at a specified position of the human intestines.

Methods of delivering a prosthetic aortic heart valve are disclosed. The disclosed methods include loading a prosthetic aortic valve in a collapsed configuration into a delivery sheath so that a selected point on the prosthetic valve is rotationally aligned relative to a long axis of the delivery sheath with a selected radiopaque marker on the delivery sheath, while under fluoroscopic imaging, rotating the delivery sheath about its long axis to align a selected radiopaque marker on the delivery sheath with the selected point on the native aortic valve in a fluoroscopic imaging plane, thereby establishing a desired orientation of the prosthetic aortic valve with respect to the native aortic valve in which the prosthetic valve commissures are rotationally aligned with commissures of the native aortic valve, further advancing the delivery sheath along its long axis until the prosthetic aortic valve is disposed inside the native aortic valve, and deploying the prosthetic aortic valve into an implanted state inside the native aortic valve with the prosthetic aortic valve aligned in the desired orientation with respect to the native aortic valve.

A luminal endoprosthesis assembly (1) at least partially delimits a prosthesis lumen (2), for implantation in an anatomical structure (3) that at least partially defines at least one cavity (4) and includes at least one pathological portion (13). The luminal endoprosthesis (1) has two or more layers (5, 6, 7). At least one layer (5, 6, 7) includes a threadlike element (8) forming an armor (9). The luminal endoprosthesis (1) includes an anchoring portion (10) for anchoring to an anatomical portion (11) of the walls of the cavity (4) of the anatomical structure (3), and a working portion (12) for facing the pathological portion (13) of the anatomical structure (3). The two or more layers (5, 6, 7) are separated from each other in the working portion (12) of the luminal endoprosthesis (1), avoiding connecting elements between one layer (5, 6, 7) and at least one adjacent layer.

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

A system including a self-expanding prosthesis configured to foreshorten during deployment thereof and a delivery device configured to percutaneously deliver the self-expanding prosthesis. The delivery device includes a handle having an actuator thereon, an outer sheath including a proximal end coupled to the handle and a pusher shaft slidingly disposed within the outer sheath. The pusher shaft has a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end configured to releasably couple to the self-expanding prosthesis such that the self-expanding prosthesis axially moves therewith. The inner shaft has a distal portion of the inner shaft that is configured to receive a self-expanding prosthesis thereon. The outer sheath and the pusher shaft are configured to simultaneously move in opposing axial directions via actuation of the actuator on the handle to compensate for the foreshortening of the self-expanding prosthesis during deployment.

A compressible and expandable stent assembly for implantation in a body lumen such as a mitral valve, the stent assembly including at least one stent barrel that is shaped and sized so that it allows for normal operation of adjacent heart structures. One or more stent barrels can be included in the stent assembly, where one or more of the stent barrels can include a cylinder with a tapered edge.

A prosthetic heart valve includes (a) a stent body including a generally tubular annulus region having a tubular wall and a proximal-to-distal axis, the stent body having a radially expanded condition when the stent body is implanted, (b one or more prosthetic valve elements mounted to the stent body and operative to allow blood flow in a distal direction through the annulus region but to substantially block blood flow in a proximal direction through the annulus region, (c) a cuff coupled to the stent body, and (d) one or more biasing elements connected to the stent body and to the cuff, the biasing elements being adapted to bias at least a portion of the cuff outwardly with respect to the stent body.

An anchor for a prosthetic heart valve includes a core, a first cover layer, and a second cover layer. The core includes a plurality of helical turns. One or more outflow turns of the plurality of helical turns has a diameter configured to be disposed on an outflow side of a native valve, and one or more inflow turns of the plurality of helical turns has a diameter configured to be disposed on an inflow side of a native valve. The first cover layer is disposed over and contacts the helical core, and the first cover layer includes a first material. The second cover layer is disposed over and contacts the first cover layer, and the second cover layer includes a second material, which is different than the first material.

A system for reducing regurgitation includes a catheter and a coaptation member disposed along a distal end portion of the catheter, wherein the coaption member is sized to be advanced through a patient’s vasculature in a compressed configuration and wherein the coaptation member is expandable for deployment between leaflets of a native tricuspid valve. The coaptation member includes a frame covered with one or more panels of bioprosthetic tissue or flexible polymer to form a three-sided shape having three convex sides separated by rounded corners. An anchor is coupled to a proximal end portion of the catheter and is shaped for attachment to a vessel wall. After deployment, the anchor secures the position of the coaptation member relative to the native tricuspid valve.