The present invention relates to shape memory materials and to a method for controlling shape change in shape memory materials. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a system for forming complex shapes from shape memory materials and to shape memory materials having complex shapes.

An apparatus is disclosed including: a cannula having a shape closely matched to the anatomy of the right ventricle of the human heart, where the cannula has an outflow port configured to be located proximal the pulmonary artery and an inflow port located proximal the inferior vena cava. In some embodiments, the cannula is a close fit to the anatomy of at least 90%, 95%, or more of the population.

An intravascular Doppler ultrasonic device comprises a tip region forming a fraction of a catheter body at a distal end thereof and carrying an ultrasound probe. The tip region is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. An actuator is provided in the tip region, which is configured to receive actuation drive power provided through the catheter body and to exert to the tip region a bending moment of a controllable amount. An actuation controller is configured to control actuation drive power delivery to the actuator so as to control the amount of the bending moment. A Doppler spectrum analysis unit is configured to receive Doppler spectrum data and to determine from it a Doppler signal quality measure indicative of a signal quality of the Doppler spectrum. The actuation controller is configured to determine the actuation drive power in dependence on the determined Doppler signal quality measure.

One variation includes a method including using a reversible dry adhesive system to reversibly couple a first substrate to a second substrate. One variation includes a method including using a reversible dry adhesive system to reversibly couple a first substrate to a second substrate during building or reconfiguring a product.

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.

Thin-film mesh for medical devices, including stent and scaffold devices, and related methods are provided. Micropatterned thin-film mesh, such as thin-film Nitinol (TFN) mesh, may be fabricated via sputter deposition on a micropatterned wafer. The thin-film mesh may include slits to be expanded into pores, and the expanded thin-film mesh used as a cover for a stent device. The stent device may include two stent modules that may be implanted at a bifurcated aneurysm such that one module passes through a medial surface of the other module. The thin-film mesh may include pores with complex, fractal, or fractal-like shapes. The thin-film mesh may be used as a scaffold for a scaffold device. The thin-film scaffold may be placed in a solution including structural protein such as fibrin, seeded with cells, and placed in the body to replace or repair tissue.

Shape memory materials (SMM) are formed as coil-shaped vascular occlusion devices upon deployment. Shape memory polymer (SMP) materials are tailored through formulation for specific mechanical behavior of the coils. Concurrent coil diameter changes enhance the relative change in stiffness along the length of the coil. Interconnecting structures (104a/b) are formed on ends of elongated members (102a) in the pre-deployment shape for multiple coil insertion capability within an introducer. Channels (206) are formed in pre-deployment shape, elongate members (202) that allow access for injection of imaging contrast agent or concurrent placement of instruments. A single SMM occlusive device (300) transforms into multiple, smaller diameter coils (302b) in the deployed state to generate a complex occlusive structure. A SMM occlusive device (400) has a collapsed fabric (404) component attached to and extending along a sidewall during storage and insertion, and then deploys as a coil (402b) to form a single- or multiple-layer occlusive fabric surface within a center of the coil (402b).

The present disclosure relates to a shape memory polymer material containing at least one two dimensional region having a first amount of stored stress in a first direction and a second amount of stored stress higher than the first amount of stored stress in a second direction, wherein the two dimensional region is capable of changing shape in only one of the first or second directions.

The present invention relates to the field of implants. In particular, the present invention relates to an implant for tissue reconstruction which comprises a scaffold structure that includes a void system for the generation of prevascularized connective tissue with void spaces for cell and/or tissue transplantation. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing such an implant, to the internal architecture of such an implant, to a removal tool for mechanical removal of space-occupying structures from such an implant, to a kit comprising such an implant and such a removal tool, to a removal device for the removal of superparamagnetic or ferromagnetic space-occupying structures from such an implant, as well as to a guiding device for providing feedback to a surgeon during the procedure of introducing transplantation cells into the void spaces generated upon removal of space-occupying structures from such an implant.

Provided is a super elastic alloy for biological use having a high biocompatibility, good processability and super elasticity, said super elastic alloy being a super elastic zirconium alloy for biological use comprising 27-54 mol % inclusive of titanium, 5-9 mol % inclusive of niobium which is a β phase-stabilizing element capable of stabilizing the β phase of zirconium, and 1-4 mol % inclusive in total of tin and/or aluminum which are ω phase-suppressing elements capable of suppressing the ω phase of zirconium, with the balance consisting of zirconium and inevitable impurities.