Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stent includes heating a plurality of wire strands to impart a desired shape to the wire strands, coating each wire strand with a biocompatible polymer in an extruder to produce a plurality of coated wire strands, and interlacing the coated wire strands to form a stent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coating a surface of a stent by contacting the stent with a coating solution containing a coating material, inserting a thread through the lumen of the stent, and producing relative motion between the stent and the thread to substantially remove coating material located within the openings of the stent. Eliminating or minimizing coating material located within the openings preserves the functionality of the stent. The method can be used to apply a primer layer, a polymer, either with or without a therapeutic agent, and/or a top layer on the stent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent for implantation in a body lumen. The stent is formed from stent preforms. Each stent preform includes an elongated metal core, an outer sheath disposed about the core, and caps disposed on the ends of the outer sheath. The outer sheath and caps encapsulate the metal core to prevent the core from directly contacting the body lumen. In an alternative embodiment, an intermediate sleeve is disposed between the core and outer sheath. In another embodiment, a cover or coating may be disposed about the outer sheath.

Abstract: The present invention preferably includes a balloon catheter for use with a guidewire. The catheter has a body with a balloon located thereon, preferably at the distal end. A lumen within the catheter body communicates with the interior of the balloon which can be inflated by known methods with saline solution. A series of sleeve members of predetermined lengths and sizes are coupled to and positioned along the length of the catheter body. One or more of the sleeve members can span the length of the balloon. Each sleeve member has a passageway and both an exit and entry port so that the guidewire can pass therethrough. Instead of a balloon, the catheter can include a device member that forms a chamber which can store medicine until discharged at the desired site within the blood vessel. Apertures or pores on the catheter body allow for the perfusion of blood or the delivery of medicine to the site of the blood vessel. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter is disclosed having an inflation balloon and a catheter shaft with an inflation channel. A first guidewire channel is disposed along the dilatation catheter and has a distal exit at the distal end of the catheter shaft. A second guidewire channel is disposed along the dilatation catheter and has a distal exit attached along the inflation balloon. Guidewires are slideably disposed within the first and second guidewire channels. An oblique ended expandable stent is disposed about the inflation balloon and used to treat bifurcated and sidebranched arteries and ostial lesions.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for use with a guidewire is disclosed. The catheter has a body with a balloon located thereon, preferably at the distal end. A lumen within the catheter body communicates with the interior of the balloon which can be inflated by known methods with saline solution. A series of sleeve members of predetermined lengths and sizes are coupled to and positioned along the length of the catheter body. One or more of the sleeve members can span the length of the balloon. Each sleeve member has a passageway and both an exit and entry port so that the guidewire can pass therethrough. Instead of a balloon, the catheter can include a device member that forms a chamber which can store medicine until discharged at the desired site within the blood vessel. Apertures or pores on the catheter body allow for the perfusion of blood or the delivery of medicine to the site of the blood vessel. A method of operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stent is made from multiple wire strands coated with a biocompatible fluoropolymer. A knitting or braiding machine receives a plurality of the coated wire strands from spools and interlaces them into a tubular stent. The coated wire strand is made of materials such as stainless steel, tungsten, titanium, nickel titanium alloy (NITINOL®) gold or silver. The wire can be heat set prior to coating with the fluoropolymer. The resulting stent is tubular in shape and has a uniform porosity around each interlaced coated wire component.