DEVICES WITH DIMENSIONS THAT CAN BE REDUCED AND INCREASED IN VIVO
Devices are provided with an internal dimension that can be reduced and increased in vivo. In one example, an interatrial shunt for placement at an atrial septum of a patient's heart includes a body. The body includes first and second regions coupled in fluid communication by a neck region. The body includes a shape-memory material. The body defines a passageway through the neck region for blood to flow between a first atrium and a second atrium. The first and second regions are superelastic at body temperature, and the neck region is malleable at body temperature. A flow area of the passageway through the neck region may be adjusted in vivo.
1 - 107 . (canceled)
108 . A method of preparing a device, the method comprising:
providing wires having different austenitic finish (Af) temperatures than one another and/or wires having different Af temperatures along the length of the wire; and
using the wires to manufacture the device such that the device has multiple Af temperatures.
109 . The method of claim 108 , wherein the different Af temperatures correspond to different phases of NITINOL.
110 . The method of claim 108 , wherein using the wires to manufacture the device comprises using wire-wrap techniques, wire-mesh techniques, or any suitable combination thereof.
111 - 205 . (canceled)