Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Paul J Fordenbacher

Charles L Euteneuer

Brian J Brown

Anthony Ciro Vrba

Paul H Burmeister

Stephen A Petersen

Michael J Girard

Gregory Alan Boldenow

Yi-Ren Woo

Avrom M Brendzel

Michael J Shoup

James E Cox

Tanya Shipkowitz

A Tanya Shipkowitz

A new multiple component stent arrangement which allows for initial self-expansion and subsequent deformation to a final enlarged size.

Tissue supporting devices

A new multiple component stent arrangement which allows for initial self-expansion and subsequent deformation to a final enlarged size. These tissue supporting devices are generally cylindrical or tubular. They have at least one component which is deformable, by an external force, to maintain further expansion.

Mechanical heart valve prostheses are disclosed that inherently reduce the probability of thrombus formation by minimizing blood flow disturbance, high shear stress, and stagnation. The pivot configuration includes a recess, preferably in the housing, that has a profile which promotes smooth blood flow.

Mechanical heart valve prosthesis

A bi-leaflet prosthetic heart valve, comprising an annular body having an upstream edge, a downstream edge and a passageway therebetween includes first and second leaflets pivotally mounted in the annular body. Each leaflet has an upstream edge, a downstream edge and a leaflet length therebetween. First and second pivot axes associated respectively with the first and second leaflets are provided and each leaflet rotates about its respective pivot axes between an open position allowing blood flow through the passageway of the annular body and a closed position blocking blood flow. The valve is configured such that the leaflets have an angle in the naturally open position of more than about 85&deg;.

Leaflet positioning for a mechanical heart valve

The present invention provides a lumen support device, or a stent, used to open or expand a body lumen. The stent incorporates elongated parallel stent components with circumferential members, fingers, which weave into paired slots of an adjacent stent component. This weave-like interlocking configuration enables the stent to expand radially without yielding or plastically deforming the material of which the stent is fabricated. The weave-like mechanism allows for uniform, smooth expansion without change in longitudinal dimensions of the complete assembly. Once assembled, the plurality of parallel elongated stent components form a cylindrical configuration. The invention provides a stent able to support body lumens and adapt to curves or irregularities in body lumens without losing its formation or its longitudinal dimensions. It is designed to permit flexing both radially and longitudinally to conform to the curved body of the applicable lumen. The device is delivered using a percutaneous transluminal catheter device which may incorporate an inflatable balloon, self-expanding material or both to expand the stent.

Expandable stent using sliding members

A balloon angioplasty catheter having a balloon head assembly carried at the distal end of an elongated catheter body. The balloon head assembly includes an inflatable balloon envelope and a perfusion lumen extending through the balloon envelope to provide a blood flow passage during inflation of the balloon envelope. In a preferred embodiment, the perfusion lumen is formed by a helical member having spaced coils encapsulated with a flexible material. A discharge lumen is formed by a projecting tip, the tip being integrally formed with the balloon envelope. Discharge orifices are provided through the tip sidewall. In a preferred embodiment, the side discharge orifices are elongated in the general direction of perfusion flow through the balloon head. The invention also encompasses means for facilitating discharge of perfused blood through the discharge orifices. This is accomplished by valving perfusate flow through the discharge lumen.

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Paul J Fordenbacher