Abstract: An intravascular catheter such as a dilatation catheter for angioplasty procedures having a removable distal shaft section. The catheter construction allows the original distal shaft section of the catheter to be removed and a replacement distal shaft section to be secured to the proximal section which is useful with angioplasty catheters when the dimensions of the balloon on the original distal shaft section are inappropriate for dilating a particular stenotic region. Such catheter construction is also useful when there is a need to implant a stent into a dilated stenotic region to maintain its patency.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided an intravascular catheter comprising an elongated flexible jacket having opposed proximal and distal ends and a central passageway extending between and interconnecting the ends. A rotating working head is located at the distal end of the jacket. A flexible drive cable extends through the passageway of the jacket, having a driving end operatively connected to the working head for rotating it, and a driven end operatively connected to a high-speed motor. The working head is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve which is further attached to the catheter jacket. The working head is actuated, by a actuator which adjust the a pair of tip portions from an at least initial retracted position with a first effective working diameter to an extended position with a second effective working diameter greater than the first effective diameter. Centrifugal forces generated by rotation of the cable cause the tip portions to assume the greater effective working diameter.

Abstract: An article having a refastenable tape system comprising a flexible substrate having a tear strength, and an adhesive tape member having a peel adhesion value which is greater than the tear strength of the substrate when the tape member is adhered to a first major surface of the substrate. A reinforcement layer composed of a hot melt adhesive is bonded to a second major surface of the substrate located opposite to the first major surface. The reinforcement layer exhibits an elongation-at-break of at least about 100%. The substrate and the reinforcement layer thereby provide a composite tear strength greater than the peel adhesion value of the tape member, and provide a composite elongation-at-break of at least about 100%.