A multi-element, vascular stent may be used to maintain or enhance patency of a blood vessel. The stent may be used in peripheral blood vessels, which may be long and/or tortuous. By using multiple, separate stent elements that are balloon expandable, the multi-element stent may be stronger than a traditional self-expanding stent but may also be more flexible, due to its multiple-element configuration, than a traditional balloon-expandable stent. The distance between stent elements may be based on characteristics of the stent and the target vessel location such that the stent elements do not touch one another during skeletal movement. Thus, the multi-element, vascular stent described herein may be particularly advantageous for treating long lesions in tortuous peripheral blood vessels.

A method, system, or apparatus for stent delivery. Delivering one or more stents with a delivery tool that can include a kinetic transfer of energy to deliver one or more stents. The stents can include a modifiable stent that can change its overall shape and/or dimensions based on pre-configured design parameters. A coil stent that can engage with a vessel that surrounds the modifiable stent forming a dual stent configuration. The coil stent can also include anchor points that allow it to engage with a second vessel securing the first vessel and the second vessel together to aid in the healing process.

A tray assembly may include a bottom portion having a bottom wall and first, second, third, and fourth side walls each extending upward from the bottom wall, and a top portion having a top wall and first, second, third, and fourth sides. The top portion is configured to releasably engage the bottom portion. The bottom portion includes at least one notch formed in an upper edge of the first side wall, the at least one notch being configured to receive an elongate shaft of an implant delivery device. A kit for preparing a replacement heart valve implant for delivery may include the tray assembly, at least one rinsing bowl, and a loading tools kit for attaching the replacement heart valve implant to the implant delivery device.

A crimper includes a first arm that includes a first crimper die that defines a first tapered channel. The crimper also includes a second arm coupled to the first arm at a pivot connection. The second arm includes a second crimper die that defines a second tapered channel. The pivot connection enables the first arm and the second arm to rotate about the pivot connection from an open state to a closed state. The first arm and second arm rotate at an angle relative to one another to allow loading of the expandable medical device into the first tapered channel or the second tapered channel and to allow positioning of the expandable medical device relative to a delivery device. When transitioning, the first tapered channel and the second tapered channel form a chamber that is configured to crimp the expandable medical device from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.

A delivery system for implantable medical device and control handle thereof are provided. Also provided is an implantable medical device and securing method, loading method, and releasing method therefor. The delivery system includes a balloon catheter; a sheath in sliding fit over the balloon catheter and for covering the implantable medical device; an adjustment string for releasably securing the implantable medical device over the balloon catheter, one end of the adjustment string is capable of being fixed to the balloon catheter, and the other end is capable of passing through the implantable medical device and has an eyelet; and a locking wire having relative locked and unlocked states. In the locked state, the locking wire passes through the eyelet to restrain the implantable medical device, and in the unlocked state, the locking wire disengages from the eyelet to release the implantable medical device.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for crimping prosthetic implants onto a delivery apparatus are disclosed. In some examples, a support body for a prosthetic heart valve can comprise a first portion comprising an alignment device configured to couple with a crimping device, and a second portion comprising a support surface that tapers from a wider end disposed adjacent the first portion to a narrower end, where the support surface is configured to receive the prosthetic heart valve thereon and hold one or more leaflets of the prosthetic heart valve in an open position. The support body can further comprise a central channel extending through the first portion and the second portion, the central channel configured to receive a delivery apparatus for the prosthetic heart valve therethrough.

A stent assembly system and a stent assembly method are provided. The stent assembly system includes a stent and an assembly instrument; the assembly instrument is configured to assemble and deliver the stent, and includes a sheath core tube, an outer sheath tube, and an assembly part; the outer sheath tube slidably surrounds the sheath core tube in an axial direction; an accommodating cavity for accommodating the stent is formed between the inner wall of the outer sheath tube and the outer wall of the sheath core tube; the assembly part has a fixed end and a free end opposite to the fixed end, and the fixed end is connected to the sheath core tube; and when the stent is crimped radially on the sheath core tube, the free end is hooked to the stent to limit the stent.

An alignment tool for loading a stent includes a plurality of arms each having a shaft with an engagement region moveable between a first, angled configuration relative to the shaft, and a second, straight configuration, with each engagement region having an inner surface shaped to mate with a stent holder. The alignment tool further includes a lock ring having a lumen configured to receive the plurality of arms, with the lock ring configured to slide over the arms between a first retracted position in which the engagement region of each arm is exposed and allowed to bias into the angled configuration, and a second locked position in which the lock ring extends over at least a portion of the engagement regions and compresses the engagement regions into the straight configuration. The alignment tool may also include a spring configured to bias the lock ring in the locked position.

An implantable prosthetic valve includes a radially collapsible and expandable annular frame having three commissure attachment posts and four rows of circumferential struts. The rows include a first row, a second row downstream of the first row, a third row downstream of the second row, and a fourth row downstream of the third row and defining an outflow end of the frame. Each row of circumferential struts includes angled struts arranged in a zig-zag pattern. A leaflet structure includes three leaflets forming three commissures, each commissure being connected to one of the commissure attachment posts only at locations along the commissure attachment posts between a first plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame and intersects crowns of the third row of struts and a second plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and intersects crowns of the fourth row of struts.

A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.