Abstract: A stent for delivering a therapeutic dose of the immnuosupressant tacrolimus is disclosed.

Abstract: In a process of fabricating a stent composed primarily of niobium alloyed with a trace amount of zirconium, tantalum, or titanium for hardening, the stent is annealed under vacuum in a substantially oxygen-free environment. The vacuum is preferably maintained at pressure less than 10?4 millibars, oxygen-content less than about 80 parts per million, and the annealing temperature exceeds 400° C. for at least one hour, and is preferably kept in a range from about 1100-1200° C. for several hours. This may be followed by applying a surface layer of oxide, such as iridium oxide, with a thickness of 299-300 nm to the stent.

Abstract: Method and instrumentation for repairing tissue of a heart in a patient's body and implantation of biventricular stimulation. Adult stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are recovered by harvesting from the patient's body from the same site as the implant of the device and in the same procedure simultaneously. The harvested stem cells are then intraluminally applied through the coronary venous circulation. During the time the stem cells are being applied to the targeted tissue downstream, the designated vessel is selectively occluded to increase concentration and pressure of the applied adult stem cells within that vessel. The implantation of a left ventricular stimulating electrode through the coronary sinus is done within the same operative procedure and connected to either a pacemaker capable of biventricular stimulation for resynchronization therapy or biventricular stimulation and additional defibrillation.

Abstract: A method for repairing tissue of a selected organ from among heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, glands, and muscles in a patient's body. Adult stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are recovered by harvesting from the patient's body. The harvested stem cells are then intraluminally applied through a designated natural body vessel. During the time the stem cells are being applied to the targeted tissue downstream, the designated vessel or duct is selectively occluded to increase concentration and pressure of the applied adult stem cells by the vessel.

Abstract: A method for repairing tissue of a selected organ from among heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, glands, and muscles in a patient's body. Adult stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are recovered by harvesting from the patient's body. The harvested stem cells are then intraluminally applied through a designated natural body vessel. During the time the stem cells are being applied to the targeted tissue downstream, the designated vessel or duct is selectively occluded to increase concentration and pressure of the applied adult stem cells by the vessel.

Abstract: A stent is adapted to be implanted in a duct of a human body to maintain an open lumen at the implant site, and to allow viewing body tissue and fluids by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) energy applied external to the body. The stent constitutes a metal scaffold. An electrical circuit resonant at the resonance frequency of the MRI energy is fabricated integral with the scaffold structure of the stent to promote viewing body properties within the lumen of the stent.

Abstract: A stent is adapted to be implanted in a duct of a human body to maintain an open lumen at the implant site, and to allow viewing body tissue and fluids by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) energy applied external to the body. The stent constitutes a metal scaffold. An electrical circuit resonant at the resonance frequency of the MRI energy is fabricated integral with the scaffold structure of the stent to promote viewing body properties within the lumen of the stent.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating data and signals through the Medical Implant Communication Service Band using a repeater or base station in the proximity to an implantable device within a patient is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is capable for early detection and monitoring of congestive heart failure in a patient. Impedance measurements, or other health parameters depending on the type of implantable device or sensor used, are sent using a bi-directional low-power radio operating in the MICS band to a nearby base station which may provide signal processing and analysis. The base station may have an interface to one or more communications networks to connect to a remote location. The system and method of the present invention permits a healthcare professional to monitor an ambulatory patient's condition at a remote location and to program the implanted device.

Abstract: An expandable tubular endoluminal prosthesis for maintaining the patency of a bodily vessel has a plurality of axially spaced serpentine bands. Each serpentine band has a proximal and distal end and a plurality of interconnected struts. Serpentine bands which are adjacent one another are connected one to the other. The prosthesis has a flow path therethrough and is capable of radial outward expansion from a first diameter to a second enlarged diameter. In a cross-section perpendicular to the flowpath, the struts have thicker portions with a narrower portion therebetween and have a greater width than thickness.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating data and signals through the Medical Implant Communication Service Band using a repeater or base station in the proximity to an implantable device within a patient is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is capable for early detection and monitoring of congestive heart failure in a patient. Impedance measurements, or other health parameters depending on the type of implantable device or sensor used, are sent using a bi-directional low-power radio operating in the MICS band to a nearby base station which may provide signal processing and analysis. The base station may have an interface to one or more communications networks to connect to a remote location. The system and method of the present invention permits a healthcare professional to monitor an ambulatory patient's condition at a remote location and to program the implanted device.

Abstract: A vascular or endoluminal stent is adapted for deployment in a vessel or tract of a patient to maintain an open lumen. The stent constitutes a scaffold formed from a single open-ended tube having a multiplicity of through-holes in its wall. The through-holes are defined by a plurality of struts that bound the holes. Each of the struts has an optimized cross-section of oval shape with a long diameter generally aligned with the length or circumference of the tube wall and a short diameter generally aligned with the thickness of the tube wall. The oval shape of the struts provide several advantages including enhancing flexibility of the stent, easing advancement of the stent through a lumen of the vessel or tract for deployment at a target site therein, protecting the balloon of a balloon catheter on which the stent is tightly crimped, and enhancing expansion of the stent during deployment while maintaining its capability to withstand compression in response to recoil of the vessel or tract following deployment.

Abstract: In a process of fabricating a stent composed primarily of niobium alloyed with a trace amount of zirconium, tantalum, or titanium for hardening, the stent is annealed under vacuum in a substantially oxygen-free environment. The vacuum is preferably maintained at pressure less than 10?4 millibars, oxygen-content less than about 80 parts per million, and the annealing temperature exceeds 400° C. for at least one hour, and is preferably kept in a range from about 1100-1200° C. for several hours. This may be followed by applying a surface layer of oxide, such as iridium oxide, with a thickness of 299-300 nm to the stent.

Abstract: In a process of fabricating a stent composed primarily of niobium alloyed with a trace amount of zirconium, tantalum, or titanium for hardening, the stent is annealed under vacuum in a substantially oxygen-free environment. The vacuum is preferably maintained at pressure less than 10?4 millibars, oxygen-content less than about 80 parts per million, and the annealing temperature exceeds 400° C. for at least one hour, and is preferably kept in a range from about 1100–1200° C. for several hours. This may be followed by applying a surface layer of oxide, such as iridium oxide, with a thickness of 299–300 nm to the stent.

Abstract: A stent for delivering a therapeutic dose of the immnuosupressant tacrolimus is disclosed.

Abstract: A stent for delivering a therapeutic dose of the immnuosupressant tacrolimus is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for evaluating the cardio-circulatory and pulmonary condition of a patient, including determining the patient's thoracic impedance based on information solely derived from the electrical energy generated by the patient's own heart.

Abstract: A method is described for repairing tissue of a selected organ from among heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, and glands in a patient's body. In the method, stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are intraluminally applied through a designated natural body vessel or duct leading to a predetermined target site of the tissue of the selected organ to be repaired. The stem cells are delivered into the respective vessel or duct through a catheter having a proximal portion of relatively larger central lumen diameter and outer diameter, and a distal portion of relatively smaller central lumen diameter and outer diameter, the two portions being integral with one another so that stem cells delivered into the central lumen of the proximal portion will flow through and exit the central lumen of the distal portion, the lumen diameter and length of each of the two portions being selected to minimize the pressure drop across the catheter during flow of the stem cells.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating data and signals through the Medical Implant Communication Service Band using a repeater or base station in the proximity to an implantable device within a patient is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is capable for early detection and monitoring of congestive heart failure in a patient. Impedance measurements, or other health parameters depending on the type of implantable device or sensor used, are sent using a bi-directional low-power radio operating in the MICS band to a nearby base station which may provide signal processing and analysis. The base station may have an interface to one or more communications networks to connect to a remote location. The system and method of the present invention permits a healthcare professional to monitor an ambulatory patient's condition at a remote location and to program the implanted device.

Abstract: A method is described for repairing tissue of a selected organ from among heart, brain, liver, pancreas, kidney, glands, and muscles in a patient's body. In the method, adult stem cells that have the capability to repair tissue of the selected organ are recovered by harvesting from the patient's body. The harvested stem cells are then intraluminally applied through a designated natural body vessel or duct leading to a predetermined target site of the tissue of the selected organ to be repaired. During the time the stem cells are being applied to the targeted tissue downstream, the designated vessel or duct is selectively occluded to increase concentration and pressure of the applied adult stem cells at the target site of the organ tissue.

Abstract: A stent is adapted to be implanted in a duct of a human body to maintain an open lumen at the implant site, and to allow viewing body tissue and fluids by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) energy applied external to the body. The stent constitutes a metal scaffold. An electrical circuit resonant at the resonance frequency of the MRI energy is fabricated integral with the scaffold structure of the stent to promote viewing body properties within the lumen of the stent.