The present invention relates to a process for deploying a folded stent or stent-graft in a lumen. The stent or stent graft is maintained in the folded configuration by a slip line that is attached to the folded stent or stent-graft, along a longitudinal fold edge. The folded stent or stent-graft is inserted into a lumen and the slip line is axially moved along a longitudinal line to allow the folded stent or stent-graft to expand to its enlarged, deployed configuration.

Procedures for introducing stents and stent-grafts

This is a surgical device usually delivered through an intravascular catheter. It may be used in several ways. It may, for instance, be used to open a clear passageway adjacent thrombus to allow both blood and medication to bypass the clot. It may be used to pierce and to remove thrombus. These thrombus are often found in tortuous vasculature. The device includes several sections. The device has a core element, typically a core wire. Placed around the distal end of the core element is a collapsible but preferably self expanding proximal cage assembly and a distal filter, preferably a self-expanding cage assembly or other filter component. The various portions of those components are preferably radio-opaque. The proximal end of the proximal cage is typically is affixed to an actuator in such a way as to allow expansion of the cage after deployment. The proximal cage assembly may be used for collecting emboli or for displacing them to allow blood flow to resume, either with or without concurrent clot-dissolving drug treatment. The distal sector, whether a self-expanding cage or fan, is placed distally of the thrombus to collect portions of the thrombus which may loosen during the treatment or removal procedure.

Mechanical clot treatment device with distal filter

This invention is a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a foldable stent or stent-graft which may be percutaneously delivered with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via surgical techniques or using other suitable techniques. The expandable stent structure utilizes at least one torsional member having an undulating shape which is helically deployed to form the generally cylindrical shape used as the stent. The helical winding desirably is aligned to allow those undulating shapes in adjacent turns of the helix to be in phase. The adjacent undulating shapes may be held in phased relationship using a flexible linkage, often made of a polymeric material. The stent may be flared on at least one of its ends to promote smooth blood flow at that flare and to assure that the stent will remain in the chosen position within the body. The stent's configuration allows it to be folded or collapsed to a very small diameter prior to deployment without changing the length of the stent. The stent may be expanded with the use of an installation device such as a balloon but preferably is used as a self-expandable device.

Self-expandable helical intravascular stent and stent-graft

An improved guiding member for use within a body lumen having a unique combination of superelastic characteristics. The superelastic alloy material has a composition consisting of about 30% to about 52% (atomic) titanium, and about 38% to 52% nickel and may have one or more elements selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, platinum, palladium, vanadium, copper, zirconium, hafnium and niobium. The alloy material is subjected to thermomechanical processing which includes a final cold working of about 10 to about 75% and then a heat treatment at a temperature between about 450° and about 600° C. and preferably about 475° to about 550° C. Before the heat treatment the cold worked alloy material is preferably subjected to mechanical straightening. The alloy material is preferably subjected to stresses equal to about 5 to about 50% of the room temperature ultimate yield stress of the material during the thermal treatment. The guiding member using such improved material exhibits a stress-induced austenite-to-martensite phase transformation at an exceptionally high constant yield strength of over 90 ksi for solid members and over 70 ksi for tubular members with a broad recoverable strain of at least about 4% during the phase transformation. An essentially whip free product is obtained.

Superelastic guiding member

A vaso-occlusive coil comprises a primary helically wound coil which may then be wound into a secondary shape. A stretch-resisting member extends through the lumen formed, which stretch-resisting member is fixedly attached, directly or indirectly, to the coil in at least two locations. The stretch-resisting member is preferably somewhat loose within the interior of the lumen so to prevent the coil from collapsing, binding, and therefore stiffening during passage of turns through the human body. This stretch-resisting member is for the primary stretching of the coil during movement of that coil, e.g., by retrieval of repositioning after deployment. The device may have a self-forming secondary shape made from a pre-formed primary linear helically wound coil. The device is typically introduced into the body through a catheter. The device is passed axially through the catheter sheath and assumes its secondary form upon exiting the catheter.

Stretch resistant vaso-occlusive coils

An alloy capable of having the property of heat recoverability imparted thereto comprising 49.1 to 50.2 atomic percent of titanium, 2.1 to 4.7 atomic percent of iron and the remainder nickel.

Choi Jei Youl

Papers

Heat recoverable alloy

Sich in der Hitze erholende Leigierung

Alliage pouvant reprendre sa forme a la chaleur