Side-chain crystallizable (SCC) polymers are useful in various medical applications. In certain applications, heavy atom containing side-chain crystallizable polymers (HACSCCP's) are particularly useful. An example of a HACSCCP is a polymer that comprises a main chain, a plurality of crystallizable side chains, and a plurality of heavy atoms attached to the polymer. In certain configurations, the heavy atoms are present in an amount that is effective to render the polymer radiopaque. A polymeric material that includes an HACSCCP may be fabricated into a medical device useful for at least partially occluding a body cavity. For example, such a medical device may be an embolotherapy product. A polymeric material that includes a SCC polymer may also be fabricated into other medical devices, such as stents.

A medical device comprises a substrate (10) defining a major surface (9) defining a plane, including a plurality of first struts (14) along a first direction interconnected with a plurality of second struts (12) extending along a second direction not parallel with the first direction, wherein widths (11) of the second struts as measured along the major surface are larger than thicknesses of the second struts as measured perpendicular to the major surface such that when the substrate is stretched in the first direction, intermediate sections (15) of the second struts (12) rotate relative to the first struts (14) and the intermediate sections of the second struts bend out of the plane of the major surface. The medical device is operable to extend and/or retract elements suitable for a particular purpose. The elements are extended and/or retracted in response to a stress applied by way of stretching and/or retracting the device, among other methods. The elements may remain extended and/or retracted or may recoil back to an initial position upon the removal of the force. In various embodiments, the elements are used to treat or deliver treatment to a target site within a body.

A self-closing device for implantation within a patient's body includes base material including an inner surface area for securing the base material to a tissue structure, and a plurality of support elements surrounding or embedded in the base material. The support elements are separable to accommodate creating an opening through the base material for receiving one or more instruments through the base material, and biased to return towards a relaxed state for self-closing the opening after removing the one or more instruments. The device may be provided as a patch, cuff, or integrally attached to a tubular graft or in various shapes.

A self-closing device for implantation within a patient's body includes base material including an inner surface area for securing the base material to a tissue structure, and a plurality of support elements surrounding or embedded in the base material. The support elements are separable to accommodate creating an opening through the base material for receiving one or more instruments through the base material, and biased to return towards a relaxed state for self-closing the opening after removing the one or more instruments. The device may be provided as a patch, cuff, or integrally attached to a tubular graft or in various shapes.

A stent with a common connection interface, and a method and platform used to create a stent with a common connection interface is described. A common connection interface used to connect a stent to a pusher is described.

Methods for restoring blood flow in occluded blood vessels using an apparatus having a self-expandable distal segment that is pre-formed to assume a superimposed structure in an unconstrained condition but can be made to take on a volume-reduced form making it possible to introduce it with a microcatheter and a push wire arranged at the proximal end, with the distal segment in its superimposed structure assuming the form of a longitudinally open tube and having a mesh structure of interconnected strings or filaments or struts. In a preferred embodiment, the distal segment has a tapering structure at its proximal end where the strings or filaments or struts converge at a connection point.

A method of connecting an expansion ring to at least one end of a braided implant, the method including positioning the braided implant about a tube; everting an end portion of the braided implant over a first end of the tube; assembling an expansion ring to the braided implant, the expansion ring being a multi-leaved expansion ring comprising clips terminating with an open-ended coupling opening, wherein the openings are pushed over a set of intersecting wires of the braided implant at respective circumferential locations on or adjacent the first end of the tube; closing the openings over the set of intersecting wire; trimming ends of the braided implant; and reversing eversion of the braided implant thereby positioning the expansion ring internal to the braided implant.

A method of connecting an expansion ring to at least one end of a braided implant, the method including positioning the braided implant about a tube; everting an end portion of the braided implant over a first end of the tube; assembling an expansion ring to the braided implant, the expansion ring being a multi-leaved expansion ring comprising clips terminating with an open-ended coupling opening, wherein the openings are pushed over a set of intersecting wires of the braided implant at respective circumferential locations on or adjacent the first end of the tube; closing the openings over the set of intersecting wire; trimming ends of the braided implant; and reversing eversion of the braided implant thereby positioning the expansion ring internal to the braided implant.

A medical device is operable to extend and/or retract elements suitable for a particular purpose. The elements are extended and/or retracted in response to a stress applied by way of stretching and/or retracting the device, among other methods. The elements may remain extended and/or retracted or may recoil back to an initial position upon the removal of the force. In various embodiments, the elements are used to treat or deliver treatment to a target site within a body.

A stent with a common connection interface, and a method and platform used to create a stent with a common connection interface is described. A common connection interface used to connect a stent to a pusher is described.