A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.

A system comprising first, second, and third shape memory polymers (SMPs); wherein (a) the first SMP is a biodegradable open cell foam that includes a first channel; (b) the second SMP includes a second channel and is included in the first channel; (c) the foam is in a first state and is configured to expand to a second state, radially outward from the second foam, in response to thermal stimulus; (d) the third SMP is between the first and second SMPs and includes a stent having a first strut that includes the third SMP and a second strut that includes the third SMP; and (e) each of the first, second, and third SMPs is coupled to a wire.

A stent for treating a physical anomaly. The stent includes a skeletal support structure for expanding in the physical anomaly and a shape memory material coupled to the skeletal support structure.

A system for occluding a physical anomaly. One embodiment comprises a shape memory material body wherein the shape memory material body fits within the physical anomaly occluding the physical anomaly. The shape memory material body has a primary shape for occluding the physical anomaly and a secondary shape for being positioned in the physical anomaly.

A novel shape memory polymer (SMP)-based device for surgical treatment of an intracorporeal defect (e.g., a void or anomaly) such as an intracranial aneurysm or fistula. In at least one non-limiting embodiment, the SMP device is a 3D-printed SMP material sized to specifically fit and thus occlude an intracranial aneurysm (ICA). The SMP device may be delivered to the intracorporeal defect via a catheter having a heating mechanism wherein the SMP device is raised above its glass transition temperature as it is deployed, causing the SMP device to return to its permanent shape after it is deployed into the intracorporeal defect. SMP device delivery systems that include the SMP devices, as well as methods of making and using the devices and systems, are also disclosed.

A biopsy needle has a cylindrical shell outer cannula and a stylet consisting of an inner stylet and outer stylet, both of which are inserted into the cylindrical cannula. The outer stylet has a series of strain relieved slits which provide bending over a deflection region in one direction, and the outer stylet is formed from a material such as a shape memory alloy (SMA) having a superelastic phase. The deflection is generated by an SMA wire spanning a deflection extent and attached to the outer stylet on either side of the deflection extent. The inner stylet, when positioned inside the outer stylet, has one or more actuation fibers which couple optical energy into the SMA wire, causing a deflection of the outer stylet over the deflection extent, with the optical energy provided to the actuation fibers for control of the deflection.

A system for occluding a physical anomaly. One embodiment comprises a shape memory material body wherein the shape memory material body fits within the physical anomaly occluding the physical anomaly. The shape memory material body has a primary shape for occluding the physical anomaly and a secondary shape for being positioned in the physical anomaly.

A system for delivering an implant within a patient is disclosed. The activation of the heater coil causes the degradation, melting or reduction of a component that brings the heater coil into or out of electrical contact with another component, or causes the individual loops of the coil to contact each other, thereby resulting a notable change in resistance in the circuit supplying the heater coil with electricity. A core wire terminates prior to the distal end of the device, allowing for greater flexibility.

A system for delivering an implant within a patient is disclosed. The activation of the heater coil causes the degradation, melting or reduction of a component that brings the heater coil into or out of electrical contact with another component, or causes the individual loops of the coil to contact each other, thereby resulting a notable change in resistance in the circuit supplying the heater coil with electricity. A core wire terminates prior to the distal end of the device, allowing for greater flexibility.

A system for delivering an implant device to a vascular site in a patient a delivery pusher apparatus, an implant device detachably connected to the delivery pusher apparatus by a tether having a distal end connected to a proximal end of the implant device, wherein the tether is substantially non-tensioned when connecting the implant device to the delivery pusher, and an electrical heating element configured coaxially around at least a portion of the tether, wherein heat generated by the heating element severs the tether at a point near the proximal end of the implant device.