W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Joseph R Armstrong

Edward H Cully

Michael J Vonesh

Mark Y Hansen

William D Montgomery

Wendy J Terry

Jeffrey B Duncan

Mark Joseph Ulm

Eric M Tittelbaugh

Brandon A Lurie

Michael W Franklin

Craig R McMurray

Larry J Kovach

Kyle W Colavito

Nathan L Bennett

Edwin W Field

James D Silverman

Bret J Kilgrow

Keith M Flury

Brandon C Short

Douglas F Pajot

Margaret L Gallegos

Charles J Flynn

Robert L Cleek

Charles F White

Paul Christopher Begovac

Craig T Nordhausen

Byron K Hayes

Marc A Schlaud

Steven Cureton

Brian L Souter

Brian L Johnson

Ryan V Peterson

Craig Mcmurray

Paul C Begovac

Ray V Peterson

The invention relates to a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a stent which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The stent is configured to have a central portion defined by 'open' cells and at least two end portions, defined by “closed” cells, spaced apart and directly connected to the distal and proximal ends of the central portion of the stent. The stent may also optionally have a covering or a lattice with openings.

Stent

The invention relates to medical devices and methods of using them. The devices are prostheses which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The prostheses are configured to have a lattice resistant to dilation and creep, which is defined by a plurality of openings. The prosthesis may also optionally have a stent disposed proximal to the lattice. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite materials exhibit high elongation while substantially retaining the strength properties of the fluoropolymer membrane. In at least one embodiment, the lattice is made of a composite material that includes a least one fluoropolymer membrane including serpentine fibrils and an elastomer. A lattice including a generally tubular member formed of a composite material including a least one fluoropolymer membrane containing serpentine fibrils and an elastomer is also provided.

Lattice

Prosthetic valved conduits are provided that include a leaflet construct coupled between two portions of a conduit. Each leaflet has a free edge and a leaflet attachment edge. The leaflet attachment edge is disposed between a first conduit distal end and a second conduit proximal end that are coaxial therebetween defining a junction.

Prosthetic valved conduit

Pulmonary valve conduit

The invention relates to a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a stent which can be percutaneously deliverable with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via other surgical or other techniques and then expanded. The stent is configured to have a central portion defined by 'open' cells and at least two end portions, defined by 'closed' cells, spaced apart and directly connected to the distal and proximal ends of the central portion of the stent. The stent may also optionally have a covering or a lattice with openings.

The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, and at least one flexible element situated between the endoprosthesis and the covering member. The covering member can extend beyond an end of the endoprosthesis. In operation, as the covering member is removed, the flexible element can guide the covering member over the end of the endoprosthesis to prevent entanglement between the end of the endoprosthesis and the covering member.

Endoprosthesis delivery systems with deployment aids

Valved conduits are provided that include a leaflet construct coupled between two portions of a conduit. Each leaflet has a free edge and a leaflet attachment edge. The leaflet attachment edge is disposed between a first conduit distal end and a second conduit proximal end that are coaxial therebetween defining a junction.

Valved conduit

An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.

Stent having flexibly connected adjacent stent elements

Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets that move asymmetrically in that a leaflet second side region of the leaflet initially moves toward the open position before a leaflet first side region and the leaflet first side region initially moves toward the closed position before the leaflet second side region. In the fully open position, the leaflet first side region opens less than the leaflet second side region. Asymmetric opening and final open position, in synchrony with the other leaflets having the same motion and final open position creates spiral flow exiting the open valve that increases blood flow on the downstream side of the leaflet and thus reduces stagnation of the blood that might lead to thrombus formation. Controlled asymmetric movement of the leaflet reduces closing volume by initiating closure on the leaflet first side region and finishing closures on the leaflet second side region.

Asymmetric opening and closing prosthetic valve leaflet

Growing community of inventors

Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Joseph R Armstrong