According to various aspects and embodiments, a growth adaptive expandable stent is provided. The expandable stent includes a stent structure having a cylindrical shape that is self-expanding in a radial direction and includes a plurality of cylindrical rings disposed along a longitudinal axis of the stent structure. The stent structure is configured to exert a continuous outward radial force over time when implanted such that a diameter of the stent structure expands from a first value to a second value that is at least about 1.5 times the first value.

Ophthalmic devices having elastic electrodes are disclosed herein. An example ophthalmic device may be an intraocular lens that includes a support structure, two optical windows, two immiscible fluids, and an elastic electrode. The support structure may have an inner surface defining an aperture with first and second optical windows disposed on opposite sides of the support structure and spanning the aperture. The two immiscible liquids may be disposed in a cavity formed by the aperture and the first and second optical windows, and the elastic electrode may be disposed on the inner surface. The elastic electrode may be formed from an elastic metal alloy having a minimum yield strain of 0.25%.

Systems and methods for the manufacture of an hourglass shaped stent-graft assembly comprising an hourglass shaped stent, graft layers, and an assembly mandrel having an hourglass shaped mandrel portion. Hourglass shaped stent may have superelastic and self-expanding properties. Hourglass shaped stent may be encapsulated using hourglass shaped mandrel assembly coupled to a dilatation mandrel used for depositing graft layers upon hourglass shaped mandrel assembly. Hourglass shaped mandrel assembly may have removably coupled conical portions. The stent-graft assembly may be compressed and heated to form a monolithic layer of biocompatible material. Encapsulated hourglass shaped stents may be used to treat subjects suffering from heart failure by implanting the encapsulated stent securely in the atrial septum to allow blood flow from the left atrium to the right atrium when blood pressure in the left atrium exceeds that on the right atrium. The encapsulated stents may also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

A filter device insertable into a biological lumen includes a shaft portion and an elastically deformable portion interlocked with the shaft portion, the deformable portion having a plurality of wires braided in a mesh shape. The wires include wires of a first type, each having a diameter d. A sum of d.sup.3 of all of the wires is 0.08 to 0.25 mm.sup.3.

Systems, devices, and methods for treating a diseased native valve in a patient, the system comprising a compressible and expandable frame structure and an anchor. The anchor comprises a wire having a free end and is configured to be fully advanced from an atrial side of a native valve in a patient into a ventricle of the heart and anchor the frame structure to the native valve when the frame structure is in the expanded configuration adjacent the native valve.

The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to an assembly including a single multibranch stent device. The single multibranch stent device includes a main body, a proximal coupling extending radially from the main body, and a distal coupling extending radially from the main body. The main body, the proximal coupling, and the distal coupling are permanently coupled to one another and the single multibranch stent device is a single piece. By forming the single multibranch stent device as a single piece, the single multibranch stent device can be deployed in a single deployment thus simplifying the deployment procedure.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent extending in a longitudinal direction and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent includes a plurality of struts forming cells and a plurality of commissure attachment features spaced apart in an annular direction of the stent and extending in a medial direction of the stent. A valve assembly is secured to the commissure attachment features, the valve assembly including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each of the leaflets having a free edge and being capable of alternating between an open position and a closed position. A method of manufacturing the prosthetic heart valve is also provided.

A stented valve having at least one leaflet made of pericardium or other material having a relatively thin profile at the annulus. The leaflets are attached via chords to a stent frame, where the chords are positioned to mimic the native valve anatomy and functionality. In particular, the valves of one exemplary embodiment of the invention are sized to replace a mitral valve and therefore the chords are arranged to prevent prolapse of the leaflets into the atrium. The stented valve has a relatively short height at its annulus due to the positioning of the chords. In addition, the stented valve is capable of being crimped to a small enough size that it can be delivered to the implantation site via transcatheter delivery systems and methods.

A bifunctional expandable stent delivery assembly having a bifunctional expandable stent, a breakable cover, and a balloon. The bifunctional expandable stent has a balloon-expandable body portion and a self-expandable trumpet portion. The breakable cover fits over only the self-expandable trumpet portion and prevents self-expansion. The balloon is used to expand the balloon-expandable portion, which breaks the breakable cover and allows the self-expandable trumpet portion to self-expand. A method of stenting a patient using the bifunctional expandable stent delivery assembly is also provided.

Systems and methods are provided and adapted to engage and pull (e.g., pull up) or reposition urethral support tissue, such as the portion of the perineal membrane above or below the urethra. The perineal membrane intersects the urethra and vagina at the midurethra or distal location and can thus be stabilized or controlled in a manner that helps restore continence.