The present disclosure relates generally to stents and methods for managing passage of material through a body lumen. In some embodiments, a medical stent may include a stent body defined by a hollow tubular elongate structure extending along a central axis, the stent body including a first portion and a second portion. The medical stent may further include a control region between the first and second portions, wherein in a first configuration the hollow tubular elongate structure of the control region is in a closed, twisted configuration, and wherein in a second configuration the hollow tubular elongate structure of the control region is in an open, expanded configuration.

A method is provided that includes implanting a first tissue-engaging element in a first portion of tissue in a vicinity of a heart valve. A second tissue-engaging element, which is connected to a third tissue-engaging element by a longitudinal sub-member, is implanted in a second portion of tissue of an annulus, and the third tissue-engaging element is implanted in a third portion of tissue of the annulus. A fourth tissue-engaging element is implanted in a portion of a blood vessel that is in contact with an atrium. While the longitudinal sub-member engages the longitudinal member at a junction therebetween, at least a first leaflet of the heart valve is drawn toward at least a second leaflet of the heart valve by adjusting a distance between the portion of the blood vessel and the first portion of tissue in the vicinity of the heart valve. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of reducing tricuspid valve regurgitation is provided, including implanting first, second, and third tissue anchors at respective different first, second, and third implantation sites in cardiac tissue in the vicinity of the tricuspid valve of the patient. The geometry of the tricuspid valve is altered by drawing the leaflets of the tricuspid valve toward one another by applying tension between the first, the second, and the third tissue anchors by rotating a spool that (a) winds therewithin respective portions of first, second, and third longitudinal members coupled to the first, the second, and the third tissue anchors, respectively, and (b) is suspended along the first, the second, and the third longitudinal members hovering over the tricuspid valve away from the annulus of the tricuspid valve. Other embodiments are also described.

An endoprosthesis has an expanded state and a contracted state, the endoprosthesis includes a stent having an inner surface defining a lumen, having an outer surface, and defining a plurality of apertures through the outer surface, wherein the apertures are arranged in a micropattern; and a coating (e.g., polymeric coating) attached to the outer surface of the stent. The coating includes a base and a tissue engagement portion including a second surface facing outwardly from the stent, the tissue engagement portion including a structure that defines a plurality of holes extending inwardly from the second surface toward the base. The holes are arranged in a micropattern. When the endoprosthesis is expanded to the expanded state in a lumen defined by a vessel wall, the structure applies a force that may reduce stent migration by creating an interlock between the vessel wall and the endoprosthesis.

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 tubular prosthetic device for implantation into a body lumen includes a first part including a tubular lumen and a second part including an attachment member. The second part is secured to the first part via various configurations, where the device is capable of being reduced to a diameter less than the diameter of traditional devices, for ease of use during implantation. Methods of using the device are also provided.

A medical implant including an expandable framework configured to shift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the expandable framework comprising a plurality of interconnected struts defining a plurality of cells; and an occlusive element connected to the expandable framework and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The expandable framework may include a plurality of securement members projecting from the plurality of interconnected struts. One of the inner surface or the outer surface of the occlusive element may be in contact with the plurality of interconnected struts, and the other of the inner surface and the outer surface not in contact with the plurality of interconnected struts may lie against an opposing surface of each of the plurality of securement members. A tip portion of the plurality of securement members may not extend radially outward of the plurality of interconnected struts.

Devices and methods are disclosed for managing and/or treating body tissues obstructing a hollow body lumen, such as the prostatic lobe tissues obstructing the urethra. A scaffolding may be provided with opposing tissue-engaging portions and at least one expansion member configured to transition between a compressed configuration having a reduced distance between the tissue-engaging portions and a deployed configuration having an increased distance between the tissue-engaging portions.

An implantable device for the treatment of hydrocephalus using a stent having a peripheral wall and an interior passageway and wherein a plurality of microneedles project outwardly from the peripheral and each needle includes a microneedle passageway from an aperture adjacent a distal end of the microneedle to a proximal end of the microneedle adjacent the peripheral wall. A corresponding plurality of one-way microvalves is positioned at the proximal ends of the microneedle and wherein the microneedle passageway is in fluid communication with the interior passageway whenever the one-way microvalve is open. When the stent is implanted in the superior sagittal sinus with the distal end of the plurality of microneedles positioned within the subarachnoid space and at least one of the plurality of microvalves is open, the stent permits cerebrospinal fluid to pass from the subarachnoid space to the superior sagittal sinus.

A low profile implant, system and method of deployment includes a frame comprising an elongate body having ends that overlap to form an annular configuration of the frame. A circumference of the frame may be modified by varying an extent of the overlap between the ends of the elongate body. The elongate structure may extend through a sleeve of a number of respective anchor housings of the implant along a first axis, and anchors may be deployed through bores in the anchor housings along a second axis to secure the anchor housings to tissue. The implant may be deployed about and anchored to a valve annulus, and the circumference of the frame, and associated anchored tissue, may be adjusted to reconfigure the valve annulus.