A stent that includes a plurality of quill filaments. Each quill filament includes filament material, a surface, and a plurality of quills. Each quill has a tip, a body, and a base where the body extends from the base to the tip. The quill filaments can be interwoven to form the stent or the quill filaments can be engaged to the framework of a stent.

An annuloplasty implant is disclosed comprising first and second supports being adapted to be arranged as a coil in a coiled configuration around an axial direction. The first and second supports are adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets. The first support comprises first retention units fixed in relation to an outer surface of the first support and arranged along at least a first retention portion thereof. The second support comprises second retention units fixed in relation to an outer surface of the second support and arranged along at least a second retention portion thereof. First and second retention portions are curved in the coiled configuration, and the first and second retention units extend from respective first and second retention portions to produce a retention force, in use, at both of said opposite sides. A method of repairing a defective heart valve is also disclosed.

A stent delivery system includes an elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the elongate shaft. A stent is positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft, the stent having a first configuration and a second configuration. A proximal constraining arrangement is engaged with a proximal end of the stent and a distal constraining arrangement is engaged with a distal end of the stent, the distal constraining arrangement including a first distal constraining member engaged with a first distal portion of the stent and a second distal constraining member engaged with a second distal portion of the stent. When the stent is in the first configuration, the proximal restraining assembly and the distal restraining assembly applies an axial mechanical force to the distal constraining member.

An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. The device and method can be used to treat compression fractures. The compression fractures can be in the spine. The device can be deployed by compressing the device longitudinally resulting in radial expansion.

The present invention relates to a biodegradable stent and a shape memory extending method thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, radial force of a biodegradable stent may be largely increased through the shape memory extending method of the biodegradable stent and the number of cracks may be decreased after crimping and stent inflation.

A stent is formed of a shape-memory alloy and is to be inserted and placed inside a three-dimensional model of a biological organ manufactured for training, under a state in which the stent is mounted on a balloon of a balloon catheter. The stent is expandable under a room temperature environment. When heated to a predetermined temperature higher than room temperature, the stent is contracted until an inner diameter of the stent becomes smaller than an outer diameter of the balloon in a contracted state, and returns to an original shape thereof.

A vascular graft includes deformable sleeves that include an electrical component. The electrical component can be variable-resistance or piezoelectric, in embodiments, such that deformation of the sleeves due to pressure changes create or modify an electrical signal. A transponder can then transmit information relating to the pressure inside and outside of the vascular graft.

An apparatus for treating a heart valve in need thereof comprises a valve member, a connecting member, and an anchor member suitable for anchoring the apparatus. The valve member reversibly moves between an open position and a closed position to augment or replace the function of the native valve leaflets, thereby reducing valve regurgitation. Some embodiments include a stent that is positioned in the native heart valve with the valve member disposed therein.

A method of crimping a stent is disclosed. The stent includes a minimum crimped diameter such that in the minimum crimped diameter, a pair of stent rings, between which marker support structures reside, do not make contact with the marker support structures. The crimped profile of the stent of the present invention can be as small as the crimped profile of a same stent but without the maker support structures.

An elongate medical device is provided. The device includes an elongate member defining a lumen through proximal, central, and distal portions. The central portion of the elongate member is defined from a plurality of closely aligned coils that establish the lumen within the central portion. The central portion further comprises a jacket disposed around a majority of an outer circumference of the plurality of coils, the jacket defining opposing first and second longitudinal edges that extend along the length of the central portion, and an elongate gap between opposing first and second longitudinal edges exposing portions of each of the plurality of coils aligned therewith, wherein the elongate gap allows for fluid communication from within or into the lumen through spaces between neighboring coils and through the elongate gap.