Abstract: Guidewire comprising an elongated core element manufactured from a martensitic alloy that is heat-treated to render a fully hardened core throughout its cross sectional area. The core has a constant taper or step-down decreasing cross sectional area in a direction towards the distal end which is fully hardened throughout its longitudinal length. A single coil, or two coils are carried by and secured to said core element near the distal end.

Abstract: Disclosed herewithin is a method of fabricating a stent which involves processing a tubular member whereby no connection points to join the edges of a flat pattern are necessary. The method includes the steps of a) removing contaminates from a tubular member, b) coating the outside surface of the tubular member with a photo-sensitive resist material, c) placing the tubular member in an apparatus designed to simultaneously rotate the tubular member while passing a specially configured photographic frame negative between a UV light source and the tubular member, thereby exposing a specified pattern of UV light to the resist coated tubular member, d) exposing the outside surface of the tubular member to a photoresist developer for a specified period of time, e) rinsing the excess developer and uncured resist from the outside surface of the tubular member, f) treating the tubular member with a electro-chemical process to remove uncovered metal.

Abstract: A hand held vibrating device which imparts a combination of transverse and longitudinal vibrations to a guide wire, to assist in advancing the guide wire through a blood vessel and through a stenosis in a blood vessel. The vibrating device contains a motor which drives a set of gears, rotating an eccentric pin. The rotation of the eccentric pin is translated to pivoting of an oscillating arm by the essentially longitudinal movement of a connector bar. The oscillating arm is attached to the guide wire by a releasable collet. Pivoting of the collet by the oscillating arm results in the introduction of a combination of transverse and longitudinal motion to the guide wire.

Abstract: An expandable endarterectomy cutting tool for use in incising plaque at a stenosis in an artery of a patient includes a guide wire, an over-the-wire catheter, and a camming mechanism which is attached near the distal end of the guide wire. The cam mechanism is formed with a plurality of ramps which incline outwardly from the guide wire in a distal direction along the guide wire. A plurality of tethers each have one end attached to the catheter and their other end slidably mounted on one of the ramps in the camming mechanism. A cutting blade is attached to each tether near the end of the tether in the ramp so that as the guide wire is pulled in a proximal direction relative to the catheter, the blades are pushed by the tether up their respective ramp to be radially extended from the cam mechanism. On the other hand, pushing the guide wire in a distal direction relative to the catheter will draw each extended blade back down its respective ramp to retract the blades.