A method of using a self-adjusting stent assembly includes estimating body lumen diameter(s) associated with a portion of a body lumen in which a stent assembly will be placed; determining, based on the estimated diameter(s), target expanded stent diameter(s) of the stent assembly which is to be placed in the portion of the body lumen; selecting the stent assembly for stenting the portion of the body lumen, wherein the stent assembly is configured to: expand from an initial to expanded diameters within a range of expanded diameters; wherein the range of expanded diameters is from about 9 mm to about 5.5 mm; and wherein the target expanded stent diameter(s) is/are within the range of expanded diameters; and apply a chronic radial force to a wall that forms the portion of the lumen, wherein the radial force is less than about 0.33 N/mm; and implanting the stent assembly in the portion of the body lumen.

A heart valve prosthesis includes a heart valve encircled by a base body in a peripheral direction to hold the heart valve. The heart valve is fastened to the base body and arranged in its interior. An inner skirt is arranged in the interior and is fastened to an inner surface of the base body. An outer skirt is arranged on the outer surface of the base body. The inner and outer skirts form a receptacle to accept and collect blood during diastole.

A prosthetic heart valve for implantation at a native heart valve includes a multi-part frame. The multi-part frame includes a cylindrical main body and a ventricular anchor component surrounding the main body. The main body includes a plurality of struts arranged in a lattice pattern. The ventricular anchor component is attached to the main body only at an outflow end of the main body and extends toward an inflow end of the main body. The prosthetic valve further includes a valve structure having three leaflets made from pericardium. The multi-part frame is radially compressible for delivery within a sheath of a delivery catheter and is self-expandable for deployment within an annulus of the native valve. The main body and the ventricular anchor component are formed separately and are attached by a locking mechanism for reducing strain between the main body and the ventricular anchor component.

Post deployment radial force recovery of biodegradable scaffolds are described where a high molecular weight polymer may be formed into a high molecular weight scaffold by solution casting into a tubular substrate such that the scaffold retains its mechanical properties through processing. The tubular substrate is laser cut and subsequently crimped onto a catheter for deployment into a body lumen. The polymeric scaffold may retain its mechanical properties and result in increased radial strength post-deployment in a saline environment, e.g., within a body lumen. This scaffold enhancement may be attributable at least in part to entanglement of high molecular weight polymer chains as one factor that effects radial force recovery and also to the design or geometry of the scaffold as another factor that effects radial force recovery after deployment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an implantable assembly for a native heart valve that includes a prosthetic heart valve and a braided support structure. The prosthetic valve includes a frame and prosthetic leaflets. The braided support structure has an inner braided layer and an outer braided layer. The outer braided layer is disposed over the inner braided layer. The outer braided layer is less porous to blood than the inner braided layer. The braided support structure defines a plurality of arms that are angularly spaced around the prosthetic heart valve such that each arm extends radially outwardly from the prosthetic heart valve. Other embodiments are also described.

An expandable prosthetic valve is implantable within a native mitral valve by terminal ends of ventricular anchors of the prosthetic valve moving outwardly from a constrained delivery position of the ventricular anchors, while the ventricular anchors are positioned within the atrium. Then, a portion of the expandable prosthetic valve containing the ventricular anchors is advanced through the native mitral valve into the ventricle. Terminal ends of atrial anchors of the prosthetic valve move outwardly relative to a portion of an annular valve body of the prosthetic valve while the atrial anchors are at least partially positioned within the atrium. Next, the annular valve body is radially expanded while the ventricular anchors are in the ventricle and the atrial anchors are in the atrium, thereby anchoring native heart valve tissue between the atrial anchors and ventricular anchors. Other embodiments are also described.

A system for implanting an interbody device between adjacent vertebrae comprises an interbody device having a plurality of lobes extending outwardly from a longitudinal rib, and having a relaxed shape approximating the shape of the disc being replaced. An insertion guide has a bore therein from a proximal end to a distal end thereof to accept the interbody device in an unrelaxed shape. The distal end is shaped for insertion into an intervertebral space. The insertion rod may be positioned within the bore of the insertion guide whereby the interbody device is positioned within the intervertebral space by advancing the insertion rod into the insertion guide.

An implant and method for repairing and/or replacing functionality of a native mitral valve are in various embodiments configured to reduce or eliminate mitral regurgitation and residual mitral valve leakage. A coiled anchor can be used to implant a prosthetic valve in a native mitral valve of a heart. The coiled anchor can include a plurality of ventricular turns and one or more atrial turns. The coiled anchor is configured to be implanted at the native mitral valve with the plurality of ventricular turns positioned in a left ventricle of the heart and around valve leaflets of the native mitral valve. The plurality of ventricular turns are configured such that when a radially outward pressure is applied to at least one of the plurality of ventricular turns, the coiled anchor is biased such that a first diameter of a first turn of the plurality of ventricular turns is expanded and a second diameter of a second turn of the plurality of ventricular turns is reduced.

A delivery system and method for implanting a stent graft includes a flexible sheath that defines loops distributed longitudinally and wherein substantial alignment of the loops along a longitudinal axis of a guidewire catheter radially constrict the flexible sheath. The flexible sheath defines longitudinal edges that at least partially form a seem when the openings are aligned, whereby, upon alignment, the flexible sheath defines at least one fenestration in the luminal configuration of the flexible sheath. A ligature extends through the openings of the flexible sheath and causes the openings to be substantially aligned, thereby constraining the flexible sheath. The ligature is proximally retractable from the openings to thereby release the flexible sheath from a radially constricted configuration.

Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valve devices having synthetic leaflets that are configured to promote and encourage tissue ingrowth thereon and/or therein. The leaflets are coupled to a leaflet frame to form a prosthetic valve suitable for use in biological anatomy.