A transcatheter heart valve includes a paravalvular seal that is configured for transfemoral delivery. The valve includes an outer frame and the seal is formed from a plurality of outwardly extending fibers.

An endoprosthesis having a length, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis is disclosed herein, where the endoprosthesis is expandable from a compact, delivery configuration to an enlarged, deployed configuration. The endoprosthesis includes a plurality of rows of stent elements along the length of the endoprosthesis, where the plurality of rows include a first row and a second row located adjacent to the first row. The first row of stent elements has a first plurality of alternating apices, and the second row of stent elements has a second plurality of alternating apices. The first and second pluralities of alternating apices define a spaced apart, interlocking arrangement. The endoprosthesis also includes a discontinuous web of material comprising a plurality of web elements spaced from one another and interconnecting the first and second pluralities of alternating apices. The plurality of web elements are arranged along a first, common circumference such that the plurality of web elements restrict torsion and axial compression of the endoprosthesis between the first and second rows of stent elements when the endoprosthesis is in the enlarged, deployed configuration.

A method of making a delivery system for a prosthesis includes providing a catheter shaft, sliding a plurality of rings over the catheter shaft, each of the rings having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the catheter shaft, fixing a pull wire to each of the plurality of rings at a common circumferential location of the catheter shaft, and coupling a sheath to the pull wire, the sheath positioned over the prosthesis at a distal end of the catheter shaft. Fixing the pull wire to each of the plurality of rings can include wrapping a heat shrink film around each of the plurality of rings and the pull wire, and heating the heat shrink material.

A method of making a delivery system for a prosthesis includes providing a catheter shaft, sliding a plurality of rings over the catheter shaft, each of the rings having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the catheter shaft, fixing a pull wire to each of the plurality of rings at a common circumferential location of the catheter shaft, and coupling a sheath to the pull wire, the sheath positioned over the prosthesis at a distal end of the catheter shaft. Fixing the pull wire to each of the plurality of rings can include wrapping a heat shrink film around each of the plurality of rings and the pull wire, and heating the heat shrink material.

A stent graft, including multiple wavy rings. The stent graft includes, in a circumferential direction, a region A and a region B connected to the region A. Each wavy ring includes a first wavy section located in the region A, and a second wavy section located in the region B. The wave included angle of the first wavy section is about 70°-120°; the ratio of the wave height of the first wavy section to the spacing between adjacent first wavy sections is 1/4-3; the wave included angle of the second wavy section is 30°-60°, the ratio of the wave height of the second wavy section to the spacing between adjacent second wavy sections is 1/4-3/2, and the ratio of the wave height of the first wavy section to the wave height of the second wavy section is greater than or equal to 1/3 and less than 1.

Apparatus for progressively dilating the lumen of a narrow natural vessel such as an iliac artery and implanting a tubular device enabling access through the dilated lumen to conduct subsequent procedures via the dilated lumen, includes an inflatable integrated balloon locatable at least partially within the tubular device, the tubular device having a length L1 providing a self-expanding tubular body having at least a portion including stents, so that when the integrated balloon is removed the dilated lumen of the natural vessel remains dilated and supported by the tubular device.

A stent design reduces the likelihood of contact among structural members when the stent diameter is reduced before insertion into the body. In one approach, an undulating link has a J-shaped profile or has an angled portion on one side at the peak of the link, in order to reduce contact during crimping. The stent may also include structural features that improve such aspects as flexibility, the coatibility of a drug coating onto the stent, flare reduction, stent retention within the body and/or reduction of the minimum diameter of the stent during crimping.

A stent design reduces the likelihood of contact among structural members when the stent diameter is reduced before insertion into the body. In one approach, an undulating link has a J-shaped profile or has an angled portion on one side at the peak of the link, in order to reduce contact during crimping. The stent may also include structural features that improve such aspects as flexibility, the coatibility of a drug coating onto the stent, flare reduction, stent retention within the body and/or reduction of the minimum diameter of the stent during crimping.

The present disclosure relates to an endoluminal prosthesis, such as a stent graft that includes one or more fenestrations to accommodate endovascular disease, such as an aneurysm in cases where one or more side branches is involved. In one aspect, the prosthesis includes fenestrations that are pivotable to accommodate the dynamic geometry of the aortic branches.

An introduction arrangement for a fenestrated or branched stent graft (13) intended for deployment into the lumen of a vessel having a blind vessel extending from it. The introducer (1) has a distal end intended to remain outside a patient in use and a proximal end with a nose cone dilator (11) and an arrangement to retain the branched stent graft distally of the nose cone dilator. A sheath (15) on the introducer extends over the branched stent graft to the nose cone dilator. An indwelling catheter (21) extends from the distal end of the introducer and enters the fenestration or side arm and through to the nose cone dilator, the indwelling catheter has a guide wire (29) extending through it. The guide wire can be extended beyond the nose cone dilator in use before the sheath is withdrawn from the branched stent graft so that it can be snared from the contra-lateral artery.