Strait Access Technologies Holdings (pty) Limited

Medtronic, Inc.

Kips Bay Medical, Inc.

Neograft Technologies, Inc.

Other

Tevar (pty) Ltd

Vascular Graft Colutions Ltd.

Deon Bezuidenhout

Peter Paul Zilla

Nasser Rafiee

Mark Yeoman

Thomas Franz

Nareak Douk

Michael F Wolf

Hellmut C Bowles

Paul Human

Edward Charles Mudge

Jeremy Douglas Jarman

Kenneth Stuart Park

Braden Sydney Clive Van Breda

Michael Alan Cousins

Heather Madeleine Coombes

Thomas Gerhardt

Peter Rudi Haw

Preyen Agasthian Perumall

Harish Appa

Giuseppe Geldenhuys

Jandré De Villiers

Theresa Yvonne Dower

Jacobus Petrus Theron

Arthur J Coury

Grant Leigh Nelson

Bruce De Jongh

Johan Coetzee

Helmut Bowles

Narenk Douk

Carl Nick Van Zyl

Anel Oostheysen

Lawrence J Higham

David Franklyn Williams

Roman Gottardi

Jean-Pierre Conradie

Gary Steven Rowsell

Michael C Wolf

Travis Foster Henchie

David Gideon Conradie

Braden Van Breda

Mkhokheli Nkube

Fourie Gildenhuys

Edward Charles Teddy Mudge

Claude Visagie

A catheter delivery system () includes: (i) an introducer sheath (); (ii) a catheter () disposed at least partially within the introducer sheath and movable axial along the introducer sheath; (iii) an invaginating tube () sealably secured at or near a first axial end () of the invaginating tube to the introducer sheath at or near a first axial end () of the introducer sheath; (iv) a runner () slidably connected to the catheter; (v) the invaginating tube being sealably secured at or near a second axial end () of the invaginating tube to the runner, such that the runner with inavaginating tube secured thereto is sealably connected to the catheter and movable axially along at least a portion of the catheter; and (vi) means for pressurising the annular space defined between the introducer sheath, the catheter and the invaginating tube.

Delivery system and method of assembling such

An invaginating device includes an inner elongate member and an outer flexible tube with invaginated axial ends. The outer flexible tube is: disposed at a first axial end of the inner elongate member; concentric with the inner elongate member; sized to provide a radial gap there between; sealably connected at the axial ends of the outer flexible tube to the inner elongate member, with the axial spacing between such sealed axial ends being less than the axial length of the outer tube; and extendable to protrude from the first axial end of the inner elongate member and retractable to reduce such protrusion from the first axial end of the inner elongate member. Fluid contained within the radial gap defined between the inner elongate member and the outer flexible tube is either pressurized or a non-compressible fluid. An actuator is: movable relative to the inner elongate member; and engageable with the outer flexible tube to extend the outer flexible tube relative to the first axial end of the inner elongate member.

Invaginating device

The invention provides an inflatable insertion device capable of being percutaneously introduced into a patient's body. The insertion device comprises an inflatable element having a distal end and a proximal end and which is operable between a collapsed condition and an inflated condition by introducing an inflating fluid therein. An elongate member extends internally of the inflatable element from its distal end. The internal member is capable of being withdrawn towards the proximal end of the inflatable element to result in the distal end of the element being withdrawn towards the proximal end internally of the element. The invention further provides a locating device comprising a catheter having a catheter tube fitted with one or more inflatable insertion devices at a distal end thereof.

Inflatable insertion device for percutaneous insertion

A dilatation deviceincludes a supportand at least one inflatable tube. The inflatable tube is wound helically around the support and also defines a series of inflatable zonesalong its length, with successive inflatable zones spaced by an intermediate zonethat is more resistive to radial expansion than the inflatable zones. The inflatable tube further defines a fluid inletfor: introducing fluid to inflate the inflatable zones; and extracting fluid from the inflatable tube to deflate it, with each inflatable zone being in fluid communication with its successive inflatable zones via the intermediate zones. The axial critical buckling load of the inflatable zones is less than the radial critical buckling load of the inflatable zones, to cause the inflatable zones to concertina axially when the inflatable tube is depressurized, thereby causing the intermediate zones to displace towards each other.

Dilation device

A crimping device includes a housing defining a bore and at least three extendable mechanisms angularly equispaced about the axis of the bore. Each of the extendable mechanisms include: (i) a first elongate arm hingedly connected at or near a first axial end of the first arm to the housing; (ii) a second elongate arm hingedly connected at or near a first axial end of the second arm to the housing, wherein: the first axial ends of the first and second arms are displaceable relative to each other; and the first and second arms are hingedly connected at or near their second axial ends to each other. The crimping device further includes means for equi-displacing the first axial ends of coupled first and second arms relative to each other, thereby to configure the crimping device between: (i) a dilated condition in which the second axial ends of the first and second arms are maximally spaced from the bore axis; and (ii) a contracted condition in which the second axial ends of the first and second arms are minimally spaced from the bore axis.

Crimping device

The invention provides a non-occlusive dilation and deployment catheter device which includes a catheter having a distal end configured for entering a patient and a proximal end for manipulating the device. A distender is provided at or near the distal end which is movable between a collapsed configuration which enables introduction and removal thereof to and from an operative site in a vessel or other hollow organ of a patient, and an expanded configuration in which the distender assumes a radially expanded condition and defines a flow path therethrough. The distender includes a substantially tubular, radially expandable frame having a plurality of spaced apertures and at least one inflatable tube threaded through the apertures and shaped to extend in a spiral when inflated. The distender is movable to the expanded configuration by inflating the tube, and movable to the collapsed configuration from the expanded configuration by deflating the tube.

Non-occlusive dilation and deployment catheter device

A valve leaflet connecting device includes: a base; and first and second followers extending from the base. A first arm extends from the first follower in a direction away from the second follower and away from the base to define an acute angle between the first follower and first arm for capturing a first leaflet there between. A second arm extends from the second follower in a direction away from the first follower and away from the base to define an acute angle between the second follower and second arm for capturing a second leaflet there between, The first and second followers are resiliently deformable between: (i) an open condition, in which: the point from which the first arm extends from the first follower; and the point from which the second arm extends from the second follower, are spaced more than 15 mm; and (ii) a closed condition, in which: the point from which the first arm extends from the first follower; and the point from which the second arm extends from the second follower, are spaced less than 5 mm. Deforming means deform the followers towards the closed condition. A positioner extends from the base, between the first and second followers, and a fastener releasably secured to the positioner, includes first and second fastener jaws. The first and second jaws: extend away from the base; and are movable between: (i) a splayed condition in which leaflets may be received between the first and second fastener jaws; and (ii) a securing condition in which the first and second fastener jaws secure the leaflets there between. In use: (i) the first and second followers may be: passed axially through a valve, between first and second valve leaflets; and resiliently deformed by opening and closing of the valve leaflets; (ii) the first arm may capture the first leaflet between the first arm and the first follower, and the second arm may capture the second leaflet between the second arm and the second follower, with the first and second followers disposed between the first and second leaflets; (iii) the deforming means may deform the first and second followers towards the closed condition, thereby moving the first and second leaflets towards each other; (iv) the fastener may receive the first and second leaflets between the fastener jaws when the fastener jaws are in the spayed condition; and (v) moving the fastener jaws towards the securing condition secures the first and second leaflets to each other. Alternatively, the arms and fastener jaws may extend towards the base.

Valve leaflet connecting device

An expandable stent comprises a cylindrical wall made up of lattice members connected to each other, at least one first arm and at least one second arm. The first arm comprises: a first non-linear member that is connected at each of its axial ends to a lattice member at respective first junctions; a second non-linear member connected at each axial end to a lattice member; and at least one bridge member extending between the first member and the second member. The second arm comprises: a first non-linear member that is connected at each of its axial ends to a lattice member; a second non-linear member connected at each axial end to a lattice member; and at least one bridge member extending between the first member and the second member. The second member of the first arm is generally U-shaped, extending from its axial ends towards: (i) a first axial end of the stent; and (ii) towards the bridge of the first arm. The second member of the second arm is generally U-shaped, extending from its axial ends towards: (i) a first axial end of the stent; and (ii) towards the bridge of the second arm. The first arm is disposed at a second axial end of the stent, and the second arm is: (i) axially spaced from the first arm towards the first axial end of the stent; and (ii) axially aligned with the first arm. Furthermore, the first member and the second member of each of the first and second arms are connected to lattice members at their axial ends only. Upon radial expansion of the stent from a radially crimped condition under the influence of an external force, tension in: (i) the bridge of the first arm; and (ii) the bridge member of the second arm, causes the second members of both the first and second arms to protrude radially outwards, respectively.

Expandable stent and methods of crimping and expanding such stent

The invention provides a heart valve leaflet capture device () comprising a cardiac catheter probe having a proximal end for manipulating the device () and a distal end terminating in a transvalve element (). The transvalve element () is configured to pass through a heart valve generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the catheter and includes two or three leaflet gripping elements (). The leaflet gripping elements () are individually movable by operation of an associated actuating mechanism () between a radially retracted position, in which they are withdrawn with respect to the transvalve element (), and a capture position, in which they diverge outwardly at an acute angle from the transvalve element (). In the capture position, each leaflet gripping element () defines a convergent capture zone that is directed towards the edges of a target valve leaflet and in which the target valve leaflet may be captured.

Heart valve leaflet capture device

Partially crosslinked polyurethane polymers comprising diisocyanates and aliphatic hydrocarbon soft segments with a short-chain diol chain extender and a multifunctional amine and/or alcohol crosslinker to provide a polyurethane polymer with useful properties for the production of medical implant devices such as heart valves, are described. The polymers have an unexpected linear elastic region in a range from 5-100% and preferably between 10-35%. In some embodiments the polyurethanes are a thermally convertible gel formulation which may be converted to a liquid formulation by extended heating to render the polymer suitable for solvent processing techniques such as casting, spraying, spinning, etc. The invention also provides for living hinge polyurethane polymers which are thermally modifiable from a gel to a liquid and reaction injection moulded (RIM) polyurethanes with an enhanced flex life.

Polyurethanes

A prosthetic heart valve () which includes a stent () having three leaflets () attached thereto is provided. The stent () is compressible so as to be capable of being introduced into a patient's body through a minimally invasive procedure and has a ring-like body () defining in its height three arch-shaped elements (). Each element () includes an arc () and a pair of haunches () extending from opposite sides thereof, with three commissural posts () formed by the haunches () of adjacent elements (). The leaflets () each have an attachment edge () and a free edge () with a belly () extending therebetween. The leaflets () are movable between a coapted condition, in which the free edges () abut and prevent fluid flow through the valve (), and an open condition, in which fluid flow through the valve () is permitted. The leaflets () are made from a polymeric material and are moulded directly onto the stent () so as to provide for continuous attachment thereof.

Prosthetic heart valve

Stents and methods of using stents are provided. Stents of the invention provide external support structure for a blood vessel segment disposed within, wherein the stents are capable of resilient radial expansion in a manner mimicking the compliance properties of an artery. The stent may be formed of a knitted or braided mesh formed so as to provide the needed compliance properties. A venous graft with the stent and a vein segment disposed within is provided, wherein graft is capable of mimicking the compliance properties of an artery. Methods of selecting stents for downsizing and methods of using the stents of the invention in downsizing and smoothening are provided. Methods of replacing a section of an artery with a venous graft including a stent of the invention are provided. Methods of reducing intimal hyperplasia in implanted vein segment in a venous graft using stents of the invention are provided.

Graft apparatus

An orientation device () for use in mitral valve repair surgery is provided and includes a catheter () catheter insertable percutaneously through the mitral valve into a chamber of a heart. At least one pressure sensor () and two generally arcuate commissural arms () are provided at or near the distal end () of the catheter (). The arms () are deployable from a stowed condition, in which the catheter () can be introduced percutaneously into the heart, to an operative condition in which they extend outwardly in generally opposite directions. Each arm () is shaped to be locatable within a mitral valve commissure and has an indentation () shaped to extend, in use, at least partially about a mitral valve commissure to limit movement of the device () relative to the mitral valve in the axial direction of the catheter ().

Orientation device for use in mitral valve repair

A graft includes a flexible, resilient, generally tubular external support and a blood vessel segment, carried within and having an ablumenal surface in contact with and supported by the tubular support, the graft being capable of resilient radial expansion in a manner mimicking the radial compliance properties of an artery.

Compliant blood vessel graft

Growing community of inventors

Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

Deon Bezuidenhout