Apparatus and methods are provided for flaring a stent deployed within a branch vessel including an ostium communicating with a main vessel, a first end of the stent extending at least partially from the branch. A catheter is provided that includes a balloon having a reinforced region adjacent an unreinforced region. When the balloon is positioned at a desired location, e.g., within a stent, prosthetic valve, or other tubular prosthesis, the balloon may be inflated to a first pressure causing the reinforced and unreinforced regions to expand substantially simultaneously. Upon inflation of the balloon beyond the first pressure, the reinforced region of the balloon remains at the first diameter and the unreinforced region continues to expand, e.g., to flare one or more ends of the prosthesis.

For deploying a stent at a coronary ostium, an integrated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) ostial stent delivery apparatus can include a balloon catheter and an elongate shaft defining (1) a longitudinal inflation lumen and (2) a longitudinal IVUS lumen. A balloon can be located at and about the distal shaft portion and inflated with the inflation lumen. The shaft further defines a longitudinal guidewire lumen, extending at least through the distal shaft portion underlaying the balloon for at least a length of the balloon along the shaft. The IVUS lumen can include removable IVUS ultrasound imaging transducer with a signal conduit to external processing and display componentry. The imaging can help ensure proper stent location before placement and deployment, or for post-placement and stent deployment confirmation, without requiring removal of the stent delivery device to deploy a separate IVUS imaging probe.

The present invention relates to an endoluminal stent and an endoluminal stent system, with the endoluminal stent being delivered to a site at which it is to be implanted by means of a delivery device comprising a sheath for receiving the endoluminal stent. The endoluminal stent comprises a hollow tube body portion, a connection portion and a flange portion, wherein the tube body portion is connected to one end of the connection portion, the flange portion has a connection end and a suspended end opposite one another, with the connection end being connected to the other end of the connection portion in a turning connection, and the suspended end being suspended, the flange portion comprising a flange section bare wave ring made of an elastic material; the suspended end is located at a distal side of the connection end when the endoluminal stent is in a natural state; the suspended end is located at a proximal side of the connection end when the endoluminal stent is received in the sheath; and after the flange portion is released from the sheath, the flange portion automatically turns over, and the suspended end moves from the proximal side of the connection end to the distal side of the connection end. The endoluminal stent of the present invention can enhance the anchoring force thereof.

A system comprising a stent and a stent delivery device configured with a tiny intravascular ultrasound (“IVUS”) transducer on the tip of a delivery catheter which can image the interior of blood vessels. Methods for treating ostial or bifurcated lesions using the system.

A system for treating a bifurcated vessel that includes a first delivery catheter and a second delivery catheter. The first delivery catheter carries a proximal first stent and a distal second stent. The first delivery catheter also has a first elongate shaft, a proximal first expandable member with the proximal first stent disposed thereover, and a distal second expandable member with the distal second stent disposed thereover. The proximal first expandable member and distal second expandable member are independently expandable of one another. The second delivery catheter carries a third stent. The second delivery catheter also has a second elongate shaft, and a third expandable member with the third stent disposed thereover. The third expandable member is independently expandable of the proximal first expandable member and the distal second expandable member.

Systems and methods for delivering a device for regulating blood pressure between a patient's left atrium and right atrium are provided. The delivery apparatus may include a first catheter, a hub having one or more engagers disposed thereon configured to releasably engage with a first expandable end of the shunt in a contracted delivery state within a lumen of a sheath, and a second catheter extending through a center lumen of the first catheter and the hub, wherein the first catheter, the hub, and the second catheter are independently moveable relative to the sheath. The inventive devices may reduce left atrial pressure and left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and may increase cardiac output, increase ejection fraction, relieve pulmonary congestion, and lower pulmonary artery pressure, among other benefits. The inventive devices may be used, for example, to treat subjects having heart failure, pulmonary congestion, or myocardial infarction, among other pathologies.

A branched and fenestrated prosthesis may include a main tubular graft body including a proximal end opening, a distal end opening, a lumen, and a sidewall. A branch may extend from the sidewall and may include a first end opening, a second end opening, and a lumen. A fenestration may be disposed in the sidewall and positioned distal of the second end opening of the branch. The branched and fenestrated prosthesis may include a plurality of branches and a plurality of fenestrations.

The present disclosure relates to an intravascular stent, preparation method and use thereof, and the intravascular stent comprises a positioning segment and a supporting segment, the positioning segment comprising a plurality of first repeating elements, the supporting segment comprising at least two supporting units and at least one connecting unit, the supporting unit comprising a plurality of second repeating elements, the number of the first repeating elements differing from the number of the second repeating elements, a plane formed by front ends of the plurality of first repeating elements being vertical to or intersecting with the axis of the intravascular stent. The intravascular stent of the present disclosure is particularly suitable for iliac vein, with good supporting effect for iliac vein and less damage to venous wall, and can effectively avoid forming in-stent secondary thrombosis after intravascular stent implantation. Moreover, the intravascular stent of the present disclosure can be well positioned in the iliac vein to improve the accuracy of the release, and it is simple for operation. The vascular stent of the present disclosure has the advantages of simple structure, convenient production and low cost, and thereby has important practical significance and good prospect in clinical application.

A stent includes a high radial/crush force segment and a highly flexible segment. In an aspect, a plurality of first ring struts connected such that each of the plurality of first rings comprises a sinusoidal pattern having a plurality of apices and troughs, each first ring connected to an adjacent first ring by at least one connector. The connector extends from a ring strut of the first ring from a position near an apex of the first ring to a ring strut of the adjacent first rings near an apex of the adjacent ring, and a second stent segment comprises a plurality of second rings connected to one another to form a series of second rings.

An aortic graft assembly includes a tubular component that defines a wall aperture having a proximal end that extends perpendicular to a major longitudinal axis of the tubular aortic component, and a tunnel graft connected to the wall of the tubular aortic component and extending from the wall aperture toward a proximal end of the tubular aortic component. The aortic graft assembly is delivered to a patient through the wall aperture and into interfering relation with the tunnel graft to treat aortic aneurysms.