Various examples address support structures (e.g., prosthetic valve support structures or frames) that incorporate a frame that, upon transitioning to a deployed configuration, include a proximal section has increased stiffness, or resistance to deformation in a transverse plane to a longitudinal axis of a device, including resistance to a change in shape, size, or both. Such an increase in transverse deformation resistance may be measured as an increase in radial compressive resistance or an increase in flat plate stiffness, for example, or both. Such increases in transverse deformation resistance may be realized through a reduction in length of the increased stiffness region of the support structure, such as through longitudinal compression of the region following an initial radial expansion of the region.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provide high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold is typically formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

The present disclosure relates to implantable, mechanically expandable prosthetic devices, such as prosthetic heart valves, and to assemblies and methods for facilitating change in diameter of such prosthetic devices.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provide high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold is typically formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

An intraluminal support structure having a delivery configuration that is a crimped open configuration to increase flexibility while maneuvering in the anatomy and having a small scarring signature.

An absorbable stent includes an absorbable matrix. The matrix includes a number of wave-shaped rings connected by connection units and arranged in an axial direction. The wave-shaped ring includes a number of waves arranged in a circumferential direction. A peak, a valley and a support connecting the peak and the valley form the wave. Two adjacent wave-shaped rings and the connection unit form a closed side supporting unit. The matrix has a volume of [4, 40] μm per unit blood vessel area. The absorbable stent has sufficient radial supporting strength for clinical applications. Moreover, the volume of the matrix per unit blood vessel area is less than volumes of existing stents. When the absorbable stent and existing stents are made of the same material, the absorbable stent has a shorter degradation and absorption cycle.

A stent (scaffold) or other luminal prosthesis comprising circumferential structural elements which provides high strength after deployment and allows for scaffold to uncage, and/or allow for scaffold or luminal expansion thereafter. The circumferential scaffold may be formed from degradable material, or may be formed from non-degradable material and will be modified to expand and/or uncage after deployment.

A stent Includes a stent body formed by a strut. The stent body is cylindrically-shaped and extends in an axial direction. The stent body includes a plurality of helical portions and an annular portion. The strut is helically-shaped along the axial direction to form the plurality of helical portions and the strut is annularly-shaped in the circumferential direction to form the annular portion. Each of the plurality of helical portions has a distal end point and a proximal end point. The plurality of helical portions include a first helical portion and a second helical portion adjacent to the first helical portion in the axial direction. The annular portion is disposed between the first and second helical portions in the axial direction. At least one of the distal and proximal end points of the plurality of helical portions is directly connected to the annular portion.

A wire stent assembly that has a first ring defining one end of the stent assembly, a second ring defining the second end of the stent assembly. Each ring is formed of wire. The wire of each ring also has a second section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire stent assembly and perpendicular to the rings. Each of the rings has a loop that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the rings. The stent assembly may form the support structure for a stent graft.

A method for fabricating an embodiment of a medical device comprising the steps of: preparing a biodegradable polymeric structure; coating the biodegradable polymeric structure with a polymeric coat including a pharmacological or biological agent; cutting the structure into patterns configured to allow for crimping of the cut structure and expansion of the cut structure after crimping into a deployed configuration.