Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reducing the outer diameter of the balloon (1) of a balloon catheter in the non-expanded state, wherein at least one restriction element (3) is applied to at least a portion of the balloon (1) of the balloon catheter. In this way, the outer diameter of the balloon (1) is thus reduced and, moreover, its flexibility increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balloon catheter comprising a shaft (2) extending in the longitudinal direction, which has at least a first and a second section (7, 8), with the first section (7) being arranged distal to the second section (8) and being more flexible than the second section (8), with the shaft (2) being provided with a first and a second hose-like tube (10, 11) and a balloon (3) being arranged at the distal end of the first tube (10), said balloon (3) being expandable by pressurization with a fluid led through said first tube (10), and said second tube (11) serving for accommodating a guidewire and terminating distally of said balloon (3) and being provided with an opening at said distal end, wherein both said first and second tubes (10, 11) extend along said first and second sections (7, 8), and both said first and second tubes (10, 11) are more flexible in said first section (7) than in said second section (8), wherein a transition section (9) is arranged between said first and second sections (

Abstract: The invention relates to a balloon catheter (1) to be introduced into the blood vessel system of the human or animal body, said catheter having a longitudinally extending shaft (2), with the balloon catheter (1) comprising a distal portion (A) in which a balloon (3) is arranged that is expandable by the supply of a fluid through a lumen (9) extending through the shaft (2), with the distal tip (8) of the balloon catheter (1) being provided with a coating consisting of a hydrogel (7). The invention provides a balloon catheter (1) capable of easily passing through constricted areas in blood vessels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating the surface of the balloon of a balloon catheter with an active substance, with the balloon being made of an elastic material and being expandable by pressurization with a fluid, with the balloon being designed for expansion at a target site, wherein the coating of the surface of the balloon being applied at a pressure which is lower than the pressure used to expand the balloon at the target location. In this way, due to the generation of shear forces a particularly effective delivery of the active substance from the balloon to the inner wall of the blood vessel or the surrounding tissue is achieved. Furthermore, the invention relates to a relevant balloon as well as a balloon catheter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis is wetted at least partially with a first solution of an active substance, the vascular endoprosthesis is moved in a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the vascular endoprosthesis, and a radially acting mechanical force is applied to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis. The rotational movement has the effect that the solution is carried outward by the centrifugal force, such that no active substance deposits in the interior of the vascular endoprosthesis. The application of a mechanical force to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis then has the effect of creating crystallization nuclei, such that the active substance can crystallize out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating the balloon of a balloon catheter, wherein the surface of the balloon is wetted at least partially with a first solution containing a polysaccharide and the part of the surface of the balloon wetted with the first solution is wetted with a second solution containing an active agent. In this way, the balloon is provided with an active agent layer which is effectively applied to the inner wall of the vessel when the balloon is inflated and moreover results in a delayed long-lasting release of the active agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a catheter (1) having a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an expandable element (2) arranged in the distal segment, it being possible to bring the expandable element (2) from a contracted state into an expanded state by supply of a fluid and there being arranged around the expandable element (2) in the contracted state a removable protector in the form of a tube (5), and the tube (5) being pulled over the expandable element (2) and being guided with the catheter (1) through one or more nozzles (6), stretching the tube (5) and reducing the inner diameter of the tube (5). Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding catheter (1) having a tube (5) pulled over the expandable element (2). The invention provides a catheter (1) having a particularly small cross section in the region of the distal segment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the vascular endoprosthesis is at least partially wetted with a first solution of an active ingredient and the areas of the vascular endoprosthesis at least partially wetted with the first solution of the active ingredient are at least partially wetted with a liquid containing water and/or at least an alcohol. The additional wetting with a liquid containing water/alcohol imparts a different consistency to the active ingredient layer, specifically making it is less transparent and lacquer-like and more chalklike and opaque. It has been found that such an active ingredient layer provides better transfer of the active ingredient to the blood vessels in which the vascular endoprosthesis is implanted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating the balloon of a balloon catheter, wherein the surface of the balloon is at least partially wetted with a first solution of an active ingredient, the part of the surface of the balloon wetted with the first solution of the active ingredient is wetted with a liquid containing water and/or at least one alcohol, and the part of the surface of the balloon wetted with the first solution and the liquid containing water and/or at least one alcohol is wetted with an additional solution that contains a polysaccharide. In this way, the balloon is provided with an active ingredient layer, which during the balloon dilatation is effectively applied to the vessel inner wall due to the embrittlement of the surface and cases a slowed, long lasting release of the active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis is wetted at least partially with a first solution of an active substance, the vascular endoprosthesis is moved in a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the vascular endoprosthesis, and a radially acting mechanical force is applied to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis. The rotational movement has the effect that the solution is carried outward by the centrifugal force, such that no active substance deposits in the interior of the vascular endoprosthesis. The application of a mechanical force to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis then has the effect of creating crystallization nuclei, such that the active substance can crystallize out.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the vascular endoprosthesis is at least partially wetted with a first solution of an active ingredient and the areas of the vascular endoprosthesis at least partially wetted with the first solution of the active ingredient are at least partially wetted with a liquid containing water and/or at least an alcohol. The additional wetting with a liquid containing water/alcohol imparts a different consistency to the active ingredient layer, specifically making it is less transparent and lacquer-like and more chalklike and opaque. It has been found that such an active ingredient layer provides better transfer of the active ingredient to the blood vessels in which the vascular endoprosthesis is implanted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis is wetted at least partially with a first solution of an active substance, the vascular endoprosthesis is moved in a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the vascular endoprosthesis, and a radially acting mechanical force is applied to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis. The rotational movement has the effect that the solution is carried outward by the centrifugal force, such that no active substance deposits in the interior of the vascular endoprosthesis. The application of a mechanical force to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis then has the effect of creating crystallization nuclei, such that the active substance can crystallize out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a catheter (1) having a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an expandable element (2) arranged in the distal segment, it being possible to bring the expandable element (2) from a contracted state into an expanded state by supply of a fluid and there being arranged around the expandable element (2) in the contracted state a removable protector in the form of a tube (5), and the tube (5) being pulled over the expandable element (2) and being guided with the catheter (1) through one or more nozzles (6), stretching the tube (5) and reducing the inner diameter of the tube (5). Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding catheter (1) having a tube (5) pulled over the expandable element (2). The invention provides a catheter (1) having a particularly small cross section in the region of the distal segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balloon catheter comprising an outer tube (1) to which distal end a balloon (2) connects that can be expanded by feeding in a fluid via the outer tube (1), wherein an inner tube (3) extends at least partially through the outer tube (1), said inner tube (3) passing through the balloon (2) and terminating distally of the balloon (2), with the inner tube (3) having a lumen appropriate to accommodate a guidewire (6) and the balloon catheter having a distal (a,b) and a proximal section (c), wherein the proximal section (3) of the outer tube (1) is made of metal and the distal section (a,b) consists of plastic material making the distal section (a,b) more flexible than the proximal section (c), and wherein the distal section (a,b) consists of a first distal section (a) and a second distal section (b), said second distal section (b) being located proximal to the first distal section (a), with the first distal section (a) being made so as to be more flexible than the second distal section (

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a vascular endoprosthesis, wherein the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis is wetted at least partially with a first solution of an active substance, the vascular endoprosthesis is moved in a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the vascular endoprosthesis, and a radially acting mechanical force is applied to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis. The rotational movement has the effect that the solution is carried outward by the centrifugal force, such that no active substance deposits in the interior of the vascular endoprosthesis. The application of a mechanical force to the outside of the vascular endoprosthesis then has the effect of creating crystallization nuclei, such that the active substance can crystallize out.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating the balloon of a balloon catheter, wherein the surface of the balloon is at least partially wetted with a first solution of an active ingredient, the part of the surface of the balloon wetted with the first solution of the active ingredient is wetted with a liquid containing water and/or at least one alcohol, and the part of the surface of the balloon wetted with the first solution and the liquid containing water and/or at least one alcohol is wetted with an additional solution that contains a polysaccharide. In this way, the balloon is provided with an active ingredient layer, which during the balloon dilatation is effectively applied to the vessel inner wall due to the embrittlement of the surface and cases a slowed, long lasting release of the active ingredient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bioactive surface on the balloon (3) of a balloon catheter (1). According to said method, the surface of the balloon (3) is at least partially wetted with a first solution of an active substance (8) and the section of the surface of the balloon (3) wetted with the first solution of an active substance (8) is then wetted with a second, saturated solution of the active substance (28). The invention further relates to a balloon (3) of a balloon catheter (1) the surface of which is at least partially coated with an active substance (11), the coating (11) being homogeneous and brittle in the entire coated region.

Abstract: In a method for producing a bioactive surface on an endoprosthesis or on the balloon of a balloon catheter, the surface of the endoprosthesis or the surface of the balloon is softened. The surface of the endoprosthesis or of the balloon is moistened with a solution of an active ingredient and the solvent is separated from the active ingredient. The solvent can be a water-miscible solvent.

Abstract: A balloon with a bioactive surface is prepared by softening the surface of the balloon. The surface of the balloon is moistened with a solution of an active ingredient and the solvent is separated from the active ingredient. The solvent can be a water-miscible solvent.

Abstract: A method for producing a bioactive surface on an endoprosthesis, or on the balloon (3) of a balloon catheter (1) is described, wherein the surface (15) of the endoprosthesis, or the surface (4) of the balloon (3) is softened. The surface (15) of the endoprosthesis, or the surface (4) of the balloon (3) is moistened with a solution (6) of an active ingredient (7), and the solvent (8) is separated from the active ingredient (7). In addition, a balloon (3) of a balloon catheter (1) is disclosed, which comprises an uncoated surface (4), wherein an unencapsulated active ingredient (7) is embedded at least partially into the material of the surface (4). Furthermore, a balloon catheter (1) is described, which comprises a balloon (3) according to the invention. In addition, an endoprosthesis, particularly a polymer stent is described, which comprises an uncoated surface (15), wherein an active ingredient (7) is embedded at least partially into the material of the surface (15).