C. R. Bard, Inc.

Jenavalve Technology Gmbh

Angiomed Gmbh & Co. Medizintechnik Kg

Martin Schlun

Achim Zipse

Andreas Block

Michael J Girard

Thilo Wack

Pauline Weise

Pauline Palmer Geb Weise

Pauline Palmer

The present invention relates to a radially collapsible frame () for a prosthetic valve, the frame () comprising an outflow end region () at a proximal end of the frame () and an inflow end region () at a distal end of the frame (), opposite to the outflow end region (). The frame () further includes at least two radially spaced commissure attachment regions″) and a cell structure (), composed of a plurality of lattice cells being arranged radially around a flow axis of the frame () and connecting the at least two commissure attachment regions (″). Finally, at least one anchoring/positioning arch (″) is provided, wherein said at least one anchoring/positioning arch (″) radially overlaps the cell structure () at least partially. In order to form the inventive frame from as a single piece, the invention further relates to a method comprising bending the at least one anchoring/positioning arch (″) towards the cell structure () of the frame ().

Radially collapsible frame for a prosthetic valve and method for manufacturing such a frame

The present invention relates to a radially collapsible frame () for a prosthetic valve, the frame () comprising an outflow end region () at a proximal end of the frame () and an inflow end region () at a distal end of the frame (), opposite to the outflow end region (). The frame () further includes at least two radially spaced commissure attachment regions (&#x2033;) and a cell structure (), composed of a plurality of lattice cells being arranged radially around a flow axis of the frame () and connecting the at least two commissure attachment regions (&#x2033;). Finally, at least one anchoring/positioning arch (&#x2033;) is provided, wherein said at least one anchoring/positioning arch (&#x2033;) radially overlaps the cell structure () at least partially. In order to form the inventive frame from as a single piece, the invention further relates to a method comprising bending the at least one anchoring/positioning arch (&#x2033;) towards the cell structure () of the frame ().

A tubular prosthesis having at least two helical loops or discrete loops, linked by a bridge, includes at least two regular struts connected by a regular inflection point forming a regular gap between the regular struts and at least two stagger struts connected by a stagger inflection point forming a stagger gap wherein the regular gap has a size different from the stagger gap.

Bend-capable tubular prosthesis

Pushing a self-expanding stent from one of its ends, during release of the stent at a stenting site in a bodily lumen, by proximal withdrawal of a surrounding sheath, can impose unacceptably high stresses on parts of the strut network of the stent. For location of stents in a bodily lumen, it is customary to equip the end annulus of a stent with radiopaque markers. The present invention involves arranging the markers so that they share with non-marker portions of the end annulus the stresses imposed in the stent by the end pushing, whereby the high stresses are shared more equally by all the struts of the stent in the end annulus.

Self-expansible stent with radiopaque markers and method of making such a stent

A tubular prosthesis having a succession of turns around a longitudinal axis includes connectors between adjacent turns distributed around the circumference of the prosthesis. Each turn includes struts interspersed by inflection zones located at the axial ends of each turn such that, when the prosthesis expands radially, gaps open up between adjacent struts of each of the turn. The inflection zones are distributed regularly around the circumference so that the gaps are substantially the same size as each other around the circumference of the turn. The prosthesis may include a turn that exhibits a stagger zone within which the gap between adjacent struts is of an individual size different from that common to the other gaps of that turn. The inflection zones in that turn that lie circumferentially next to the stagger zone are displaced out of facing relationship with corresponding zones of inflection in the adjacent turn.

Preferred embodiments of an implantable medical device with a high degree of flexibility is shown and described. One aspect includes an implantable stent having an intermediate portion with a helical winding and first and second end portions. The implantable stent further includes a coupling portion with a helical winding, and bridges joining struts of defining the helical windings. The stent also includes a paddle providing a bridge joining the ends or the helical windings. Another aspect relates to a radially self-expansible stent with a plurality of radiopaque markers attached to it. The markers are shaped and located at the stent end such that the compressive stress exerted on the end annulus of the stent during release of the stent is shared between the markers and the inflection zones that do not carry a marker.

Helical implant having different ends

Stent exhibiting a succession of turns around the axis, adjacent turns being connected by connector portions distributed around the circumference of the prosthesis, each of the turns being made up of struts that extend the length of the turn and are interspersed by inflection zones located at the axial ends of each of the turns. When the prosthesis expands radially, gaps open up between adjacent struts of each of the turns, the inflection zones being distributed regularly around the circumference so that the gaps are substantially the same size as each other around the circumference of the turn, characterized in that at least every second turn exhibits a stagger zone within which the said gap between adjacent said struts is of an individual size different from that common to the other gaps of that second turn.

A method of making a stent-graft includes providing a self-expanding stent having a collapsed configuration with a first diameter and an expanded configuration with a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the stent including a polymeric coating on at least an inner surface, disposing a graft on a mandrel having a third diameter greater than the second diameter, and contacting an outer surface of the graft with the coated inner surface of the stent, the stent applying a compressive force to the graft.

Stent-graft covering process

A self-expanding stent comprising a series of zig-zag stenting rings (A, B, C, D, E, F, D, D) spaced along the axis and with adjacent said rings connected by connecting links () spaced around the circumference of the rings, the links () between any two axially adjacent rings A, B being circumferentially staggered relative to the links () between the rings B and C, each ring being constituted by a succession of alternating struts () with points of inflection (&#x2033;) therebetween. The points of inflection at one end of at least one of the rings are staggered in their location along the longitudinal axis whereby, with axial withdrawal of a surrounding sheath at a stenting site, to deploy the self-expanding stent, the individual points of inflection at said one ring end escape from the sheath sequentially, with continued withdrawal of the sheath, rather than simultaneously.

Growing community of inventors

Herxheim Bei Landau/Pfalz, Germany

Martin Schlun