1. A stent comprising a first end, a second end, and a body wherein said body comprises struts and crowns and wherein each said strut is associated with two said crowns and wherein said first end comprises crowns and said second end comprises crowns and wherein at least one strut is wider than said strut’s corresponding crowns.
2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein said at least one strut has an associated crown that is part of said first end.
3. The stent according to claim 2, further comprising at least one additional strut that is wider than said strut’s corresponding crowns and wherein said at least one additional strut has an associated crown that is part of said second end.
4. The stent according to claim 1, further comprising at least one tab in said crown of said first end, said second end or said body.
5. A stent comprising a first end, a second end, and a body wherein said body comprises struts and crowns and wherein each strut is associated with two crowns and wherein said first end comprises crowns and said second end comprises crowns and wherein at least one of said crowns in said body, said first end or said second end comprises a tab.
6. The stent according to claim 5, wherein said tab extends inwards towards said lengthwise midpoint of said stent.
7. The stent according to claim 5, wherein said tab extends outwards, away from said lengthwise midpoint of said stent.
8. The stent according to claim 5, wherein at least one crown of said first end comprises a tab.
9. The stent according to claim 5, wherein at least every third crown of said first end comprises a tab.
10. The stent according to claim 9, wherein at least every second crown of said first end comprises a tab.
11. The stent according to claim 10, wherein every crown of said first end comprises a tab.
12. The stent according to claim 8, wherein at least every third crown of said second end comprises a tab.
13. The stent according to claim 12, wherein at least every second crown of said second end comprises a tab.
14. The stent according to claim 13, wherein every crown of said second end comprises a tab.
15. A stent comprising a first end, a second end, and a body, wherein said body comprises struts and crowns and wherein each strut is associated with two crowns and wherein said first end comprises crowns and said second end comprises crowns and wherein at least one crown andor its associated strut(s) are more flexible than the majority of said crowns and said struts within said stent.
16. The stent according to claim 14, wherein said at least one more flexible crown andor strut(s) is more flexible than said majority of said crowns and said struts within said stent due to being thinner in a radial direction.
17. The stent according to claim 14, wherein said at least one more flexible crown andor strut(s) is more flexible than said majority of said crowns and said struts within said stent due to being narrower in a circumferential direction.
18. The stent according to claim 14, wherein said at least one more flexible crown andor strut(s) is more flexible than said majority of said crowns and said struts within said stent due to being thinner in a radial direction and narrower in a circumferential direction.
19. The stent according to claim 14, wherein said at least one more flexible crown andor strut(s) is more flexible than said majority of said crowns and said struts within said stent due to being constructed of a softer alloy.
20. The stent according to claim 14, wherein said at least one more flexible crown andor strut(s) is more flexible than said majority of said crowns and said struts within said stent because said more flexible crown andor strut(s) have a greater length than said majority of said crowns and said struts.
21. The stent according to claim 14, further comprising at least one strut in said body that is wider than said strut’s corresponding crowns.
22. The stent according to claim 14, wherein said at least one crown andor its associated strut(s) is a crown within said first end of said stent.
23. The stent according to claim 14, further comprising at least one tab in a crown of said first end, said second end or said body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for assisting in the operation of the natural heart, comprising:
an actuator mechanism configured for positioning at least partially on an outside surface of the heart for deforming the heart;
a structure for securing the actuator mechanism to a natural heart, the structure including a plurality of bolster devices configured for positioning proximate a plurality of points on an inner surface of the heart;
sutures secured to the bolster devices and passing from the bolster devices through the heart wall for being coupled with the actuator mechanism;
the bolster devices anchoring the actuator mechanism to the heart at multiple points along the heart inner surface.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the bolsters are in the form of beans.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the bolster is kidney-shaped.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the bolster is formed of an elastomeric material.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein the bolster is coated with a porous material.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a tension element configured to couple with the sutures and set the tension of a suture secured to the bolster device.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the tension element includes a clip configured to hold the suture at the desired tension.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the structure for securing the actuator mechanism includes buttons positioned proximate the outer surface of the heart, the sutures spanning between the bolster devices and the buttons.
9. A system for securing an actuator mechanism to an outer surface of a natural heart wherein the actuator mechanism assists in the operation of the natural heart, the system comprising:
a plurality of bolster devices configured for positioning proximate a plurality of points on an inner surface of the heart;
sutures secured to the bolster devices and passing from the bolster devices through the heart wall for being coupled with the actuator mechanism;
the bolster devices anchoring the actuator mechanism to the heart at multiple points along the heart inner surface.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the bolsters are in the form of beans.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the bolster is formed of an elastomeric material.
12. The system of claim 9 further comprising buttons positioned proximate the outer surface of the heart, the sutures spanning between the bolster devices and the buttons.
13. A system for mechanically spanning an inner wall of a natural heart to assist in the operation of the heart comprising:
a plurality of strands configured for being positioned across the heart inner wall;
a bolster configured for sliding with respect to a strand from an outer wall of the heart to an inner wall, the bolster including a wall engagement portion which opens inside the heart to engage the heart inner wall and secure the bolster.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the wall engagement portion includes a balloon structure.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the wall engagement portion includes a flexible disc that is operable to collapse when the bolster is moved from the outer heart wall to the inner heart wall and to open inside the heart.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein the strands are tubular.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising cores positionable in the tubular strands to stiffen the strands.
18. A system for assisting in the operation of the natural heart, comprising:
an actuator mechanism configured for positioning at least partially on an outside surface of the heart wherein the actuator mechanism assists in the operation of the natural heart;
a structure for securing the actuator mechanism to a natural heart, the structure including:
a plurality of strands configured for being positioned across a heart inner wall;
a plurality of bolster devices, each configured for sliding with respect to a strand from an outer wall of the heart to an inner wall, the bolster devices including a wall engagement portion that opens inside the heart to engage the heart inner wall and secure the bolster device;
sutures secured to the bolster devices and passing from the bolster devices through the heart wall for being coupled with the actuator mechanism;
the bolster devices anchoring the actuator mechanism to the heart at multiple points along the heart inner surface.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the wall engagement portion includes a balloon structure.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein the wall engagement portion includes a flexible disc that is operable to collapse when the bolster device is moved from the outer heart wall to the inner heart wall and to open inside the heart.
21. The system of claim 18 wherein the strands are tubular.
22. The system of claim 21 further comprising cores positionable in the tubular strands to stiffen the strands.
23. The system of claim 18 wherein the bolster devices are fixed to the strands.
24. An actuator mechanism configured for positioning at least partially on an outside surface of the heart for deforming the heart to assist in the operation of the natural heart, the actuator mechanism comprising:
a jacket configured to be secured to an outer surface of the heart;
the jacket including:
an inner adhesion layer configured for being coupled with an outer surface of the heart;
an outer operating layer separably coupled with the inner adhesion layer.
25. The actuator mechanism of claim 24 further comprising hook and loop fasteners positioned between the inner adhesion layer and outer operating layer.
26. The actuator mechanism of claim 24 further comprising a low strength adhesive positioned between the inner adhesion layer and outer operating layer.
27. The actuator mechanism of claim 24 wherein the inner adhesion layer and the outer operating layer are different colors.
28. The actuator mechanism of claim 24 further comprising a metallic layer between the inner adhesion layer and the outer operating layer.