The invention relates to an expandable insert for use as a vessel support in blood vessels, the insert being able to deform plastically from a nonexpanded state to an expanded state by application of a radial force directed from the inside outward, with at least one tubular, essentially cylindrical main body section, whose circumferential surface is formed by a number of annularly meandering rings, the rings in each case forming a one-piece strand of material with a defined strand length. The insert is particularly stiff with respect to externally acting radial forces because a first group of rings is provided whose strand length essentially corresponds to the circumference of the insert in the expanded state, and a second group of rings is provided whose strand length is greater than the circumference of the insert in the expanded state.

A prosthesis (18) comprising stents (7,8) sutured to a graft (5) comprising a tube of biocompatible material. The stents are attached to the inside surface of the tube and there is at least one fenestration (10) in the tube corresponding to an intersecting artery opening. A further stent (1) extends proximally and may have caudally facing barbs (2). Each fenestration includes one or more radiopaque markers (11) defining a periphery of the fenestration. A release mechanism for the prosthesis includes trigger wires (15,17) stitched into a fold (16) on the material to retain the prosthesis in a partially compressed state during deployment. A delivery device (20) has a sheath (26) to hold the compressed prosthesis during insertion and a top cap (24) to retain the top stent (1).

A bioprosthetic valve graft comprises a valve frame and valve flaps, the latter acting to open or close a valve aperture to directionally control fluid flow through the bioprosthesis. The bioprosthetic valve graft comprises method for suturelessly attaching a biomaterial suturelessly bonded to the A method for securing a biomaterial to a valve frame includes positioning a flexible valve frame defining an open area on a first major surface of a biomaterial sheet having a peripheral edge, wherein positioning serves to approximate the valve frame and the peripheral edge of the biomaterial sheet to form an at least first bonding locus; and suturelessly bonding the biomaterial to the valve frame at the at least first bonding locus. The method avoids the disadvantages associated with conventional sutures and substantially reduces medical complications in implantations.

A heart valve prosthesis and method of implanting the prosthesis are disclosed. A valve is mounted within a support apparatus that is deformable between a first condition and a second condition. The prosthesis has a cross-sectional dimension in the second condition that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the supported valve when in first condition. The prosthesis can be implanted into a patient's heart, such as during a direct vision procedure through a tubular implantation apparatus that maintains the prosthesis in its second condition until discharged from the tubular apparatus.

A mitral annuloplasty and left ventricle restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.