Abstract: Catheter-based devices for enhancing the local delivery of drugs, pharmaceuticals, plasmids, genes, and other agents into the wall tissues of tubular compartments of the living body. One catheter device provides an electrical driving force that can increase the rate of migration of drugs and other therapeutic agents out of a polymer matrix into body tissues and cells using iontophoresis only. Another device uses iontophoresis only, electroporation only, or combined iontophoresis and electroporation. In the latter device, the two procedures may be applied sequentially in any order without removing or repositioning the catheter.

Abstract: A stent delivery system having a stent the girth of which expands upon longitudinal compression, a pair of telescoping tubes where the inner tube has a greater length than the outer tube, and the stent surrounds the inner tube, a distal deployment strut fixedly connected at one end to the inner tube, and at the other end non-fixedly connected to the stent, a proximal deployment strut fixedly connected at one end to the outer tube, and at the other end non-fixedly connected to the stent, and an anchoring barb at the distal end of the stent.

Abstract: An anti-embolism stocking used to inhibit the development of thrombophlebitis. The present invention is directed to a system and method for applying compressive forces to parts of the body to stimulate fluid flow through the parts of the body. In particular the present invention relates to a stocking that is capable of being placed on a portion of the body and then having a stimulus applied thereto to stimulate blood flow within the region of the body upon which the stocking is placed. The stocking includes polymer materials which, when a selected stimulus is applied thereto, causes constriction of the polymer, thereby causing the compressive forces. The stocking may be designed such that the compressive forces may be generated sequentially along the length of the stocking to gradually stimulate fluid flow, such as blood, to and from the preselected body portion.