Abstract: A method of treating a vascular condition includes inserting at least one locally stiffened guidewire into a vessel, advancing a distal section of the guidewire to a position adjacent a treatment site and providing a stiffening portion of the distal section to a location adjacent the treatment site. The method further includes disposing a delivery catheter over the inserted guidewire, advancing a distal portion of the delivery catheter to the treatment site, the distal portion carrying at least one stent and deploying the stent at the treatment site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing flexibility of joints between areas of plastic materials, and in particular the joint between a catheter shaft and a balloon neck involving welding the overlapping portions to create a joint region and applying a tensile force to the joint region, the force being of sufficient strength to elongate the joint region, thus thinning the joint region.

Abstract: A mold for forming a balloon of a balloon catheter including a body portion defining a body region of a mold cavity and distal and proximal end caps defining tapering regions and neck regions of the mold cavity. During the molding process, the mold cavity is visible from an exterior surface of the body portion, which is transparent or translucent. The distal and proximal end caps are metal and can be precision machined in the tapering and neck regions of the mold cavity in order to achieve more accurate molded balloon dimensions. Also disclosed is a method for making a balloon of a balloon catheter using the mold and a balloon made therefrom.

Abstract: A stent balloon assembly wherein the balloon has been blow molded inside the stent. Segments of the balloon at least partially fill gaps in the stent, even after the assembly is compressed, to retain the stent on the balloon during delivery. The stent balloon assembly may also be mounted on a catheter.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter having an elongated tubular member having a proximal and a distal end. A balloon is positioned at the distal end of the tubular member. A guidewire tubular member extends from a position proximal the balloon through the balloon to a position distal the balloon, the guidewire tubular member has a proximal segment having a first flexibility and a distal segment having a second flexibility. The distal segment is more flexible than the proximal segment. A bond joins the balloon distal end to the proximal segment and the distal segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing flexibility of joints between areas of plastic materials, and in particular the joint between a catheter shaft and a balloon neck involving welding the overlapping portions to create a joint region and applying a tensile force to the joint region, the force being of sufficient strength to elongate the joint region, thus thinning the joint region.

Abstract: A stent balloon assembly wherein the balloon has been blow molded inside the stent. Segments of the balloon at least partially fill gaps in the stent, even after the assembly is compressed, to retain the stent on the balloon during delivery. The stent balloon assembly may also be mounted on a catheter.

Abstract: The present invention is a catheter having an elongated tubular member having a proximal and a distal end. A balloon is positioned at the distal end of the tubular member. A guidewire tubular member extends from a position proximal the balloon through the balloon to a position distal the balloon, the guidewire tubular member has a proximal segment having a first flexibility and a distal segment having a second flexibility. The distal segment is more flexible than the proximal segment. A bond joins the balloon distal end to the proximal segment and the distal segment.