A conformable covering comprises an outer portion with rigidity to resist movement on the cornea and an inner portion to contact the cornea and provide an environment for epithelial regeneration. The inner portion of the covering can be configured in many ways so as to conform at least partially to an ablated stromal surface so as to correct vision. The conformable inner portion may have at least some rigidity so as to smooth the epithelium such that the epithelium regenerates rapidly and is guided with the covering so as to form a smooth layer for vision. The inner portion may comprise an amount of rigidity within a range from about 1×10−4 Pa*m3 to about 5×10−4 Pa*m3 so as to deflect and conform at least partially to the ablated cornea and smooth an inner portion of the ablation with an amount of pressure when deflected.

Provided is a stent pusher assembly for positioning a ureteral stent, the stent pusher assembly having an inner and outer stent pusher. The stent pusher assembly positions the ureteral stent in a patient's kidney and bladder without a bladder fixing portion of the stent entering a ureteral passage-way, thereby minimizing irritation to the patient.

An endovascular self-curving stent-graft (20) includes a self-curving longitudinal portion (22), which is curved so as to define an innermost curve (26) and an outermost curve (28), when the stent-graft (20) is unconstrained in a radially-expanded state. The stent-graft (20) includes a plurality of circumferential strut members (30); a compression-generation spring (40), which (a) is in an elongated configuration when the stent-graft (20) is in a radially-compressed state, and (b) overlaps respective first portions (44) of at least two of the circumferential strut members (30); and an anti-buckling spring (50), which overlaps respective second portions (54) of at least two of the circumferential strut members (30). The anti-buckling spring (50) and the compression-generation spring (40) are together configured to curve the self-curving longitudinal portion (22) when the stent-graft (20) is unconstrained in the radially-expanded state, such that a lesser length of the self-curving longitudinal portion (22), measured along the innermost curve (26), is less than 80% of a greater length of the self-curving longitudinal portion (22), measured along the outermost curve (28).

Apparatus is provided, comprising a ring, comprising a plurality of struts arranged in a pattern of alternating peaks and troughs, each strut having a first end-portion and a second end-portion, each peak defined by convergence of adjacent first end-portions disposed at an angle with respect to each other, and each trough defined by convergence of adjacent second end-portions. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of anchors. Each anchor has a longitudinal axis, is configured to be driven along the longitudinal axis into tissue of the heart, and is coupled to the ring at a respective trough in a manner that facilitates (i) movement of the anchor along the longitudinal axis with respect to the trough, and (ii) deflection of the longitudinal axis with respect to the trough.

The present disclosure describes endoluminal devices, such as stents and stent grafts capable of being bent smoothly, with various benefits resulting therefrom.

A stent includes an elongated tubular member formed from at least one filament, the elongated tubular member including a first segment in which the at least one filament is knitted into a first knitted pattern providing the first segment with a first performance characteristic and a second segment in which the at least one filament is knitted into a second knitted pattern providing the second segment with a second performance characteristic different from the first performance characteristic. Either the first knitted pattern or the second knitted pattern includes a plurality of anti-migration loops that extend radially outwardly from the elongated tubular member.

A transcatheter valve prosthesis includes a stent and a prosthetic valve. The stent is mechanically or balloon expandable. The stent has an inflow portion and an outflow portion. The inflow portion includes a plurality of side openings defined by a plurality of crowns and a plurality of struts. The outflow portion has three circumferentially spaced apart commissure posts. The prosthetic valve is disposed within and secured to at least the outflow portion of the stent. The prosthetic valve is configured to block blood flow in one direction to regulate blood flow through a central lumen of the stent. The commissure posts are configured to flex or bend flex radially inwardly to reduce stresses observed during valve loading and thereby improve or increase tissue durability of the prosthetic valve.

A stent includes an elongated tubular member expandable from a radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration, the elongate tubular member including a first plurality of filaments extending in a first helical direction and a second plurality of filaments extending in a second helical direction, the first plurality of filaments extending in the first helical direction and the second plurality of filaments extending in the second helical direction overlapping to form a plurality of cells arranged in rows extending circumferentially about the elongated tubular member. At least some of the cells within one or more rows are adapted to provide increased flexibility to the stent.

A minimally-invasive annuloplasty ring for implant at a mitral annulus. The annuloplasty ring has an inner core member with a C-shaped plan view that generally defines an oval with a major axis and a minor axis, and is symmetric about the minor axis. A posterior portion of the core member bisected by the minor axis has a thicker radial dimension than a pair of free end regions terminating on an anterior side of the core member. The radial thickness smoothly transitions between the posterior portion and the end regions. The inner core member may be covered with a fabric, and is a superelastic metal so that it can be straightened out and delivered through an access tube. The curvatures and thicknesses around the core member are selected so that the strain experienced when straightened does not exceed 7-8%.

A prosthetic heart valve may include an expandable stent, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent, and a plurality of leaflets disposed within an interior region of the stent and attached to at least one of the cuff or the stent. The stent may have a plurality of cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent. The leaflets together may have a coapted position occluding the interior region of the stent and an open position in which the interior region is not occluded. Each leaflet may include a primary leaflet material, as well as features that reinforce specific regions of the leaflet.