Abstract: A device comprising a reference ring that may be temporarily disposed in abutment with the inferior perimeter surface of a heart valve to aid non-optical visualization of the valve annulus. The reference ring is elastically transformable between a straight delivery configuration and a generally circular or helical deployment configuration. The reference ring may include an inflatable portion that can be temporarily expanded on the inferior side of the valve annulus to deform the valve annulus into a temporary ledge or shelf for apposition with an annuloplasty ring. A system comprising a delivery catheter including a lumen with an exit port, the reference ring being slidably positionable within the lumen and being extendable from the exit port.

Abstract: A device and method for treating cardiac valve regurgitation. The device includes a tubular member including a lumen there through and a locking mechanism and a compression device carried on the tubular member. The compression device is transformable to a compression configuration in response to axial displacement and is locked in the compression configuration by the locking mechanism. The method includes positioning the compression device adjacent a cardiac valve and applying an axial displacement to the compression device to transform the compression device into a compression configuration and locking the compression device in the compression configuration to apply a compressive force to the cardiac valve.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In several embodiments, the guidewire distal to the filter has a fixed tip length. Other embodiments of the invention include a mechanism for damping longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In several embodiments, the guidewire distal to the filter has a fixed tip length. Other embodiments of the invention include a mechanism for damping longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In several embodiments, the guidewire distal to the filter has a fixed tip length. Other embodiments of the invention include a mechanism for damping longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In several embodiments, the guidewire distal to the filter has a fixed tip length. Other embodiments of the invention include a mechanism for damping longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

Abstract: A system and method for implanting pellets into myocardial tissue for treatment of coronary artery restenosis, ischemic heart disease, or cardiac conduction of disturbances. The mechanism of delivery can be transcatheter via chambers of the heart, endoscopic pericardial approach via minimally invasive transthoracic access, or intraoperative pericardial approach during open-chest surgery. Noncardiac tissues can also be treated.

Abstract: A system and method for implanting pellets into myocardial tissue for treatment of coronary artery restenosis, ischemic heart disease, or cardiac conduction of disturbances. The mechanism of delivery can be transcatheter via chambers of the heart, endoscopic pericardial approach via minimally invasive transthoracic access, or intraoperative pericardial approach during open-chest surgery. Noncardiac tissues can also be treated.

Abstract: A system and method for implanting pellets containing local anesthetic agents into tissues of the heart for temporary treatment of angina pectoris. The mechanism of delivery can be transcatheter via chambers of the heart, endoscopic epicardial approach via minimally invasive transthoracic access, or intraoperative epicardial approach during open-chest surgery.

Abstract: A system and method for implanting pellets containing local anesthetic agents into tissues of the heart for temporary treatment of angina pectoris. The mechanism of delivery can be transcatheter via chambers of the heart, endoscopic epicardial approach via minimally invasive transthoracic access, or intraoperative epicardial approach during open-chest surgery.

Abstract: An uncured or partially cured, collagen-based material is delivered to a selected site in a blood vessel and is crosslinked in the blood vessel by laser energy or other suitable energy to form an endovascular stent. The collagen-based material can be delivered to the blood vessel as a coating on an inflatable balloon mounted on the distal end of a catheter. The collagen-based material can also be delivered to the blood vessel in liquid form. The liquid collagen-based material is forced through a porous balloon to form either an imperforate tubular configuration or a tubular mesh configuration. The collagen-based material is preferably crosslinked by laser radiation carried through an optical fiber to a diffusing tip located within the balloon.

Abstract: The catheters in a family thereof in which each of the catheters has substantially the same configuration and adapted to perform the same function, but in which the catheters in the family differ from each other in at least one respect, are provided with radiographically distinguishable indicia by which each of the members of the family can be distinguished from the others by direct observation of its radiographic image.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a mechanism for purging air therefrom having a flexible inflation shaft coaxially disposed over a less flexible inner shaft, and a fitting attached to the proximal end of the inflation shaft and slidably mounted on the inner shaft. The fitting contains a variable high pressure seal and a passive low pressure seal. The fitting may be slid along the inner shaft towards its distal end to collapse the inflation shaft in an accordion manner, thereby reducing the volume that would be occupied by air in the inflation shaft and the balloon. The remaining air is removed with a syringe that may be attached to the fitting. In a second embodiment disclosed, the balloon may be collapsed in an accordion manner along with the inflation shaft, further reducing the volume that would be occupied by air. The low pressure seal of the fitting prevents air from entering the catheter during the purging operation.

Abstract: An intracoronary sheath for use in catheter exchanges has an elongate tubular body with a proximally facing funnel at the proximal end of the sheath. A proximally extending wire for manipulating the sheath is attached to the proximal end of the sheath. The intracoronary sheath is advanced by manipulation of the wire over a first catheter positioned in a guide catheter and extends beyond the distal end of the guide catheter into the patient's vascular system. After the first catheter is removed, a second catheter advanced through a guide catheter is guided by the funnel into the intracoronary sheath and through the vascular system to a desired position in the patient's body. A second embodiment provides for the exchange of a second guidewire for a first guidewire. A first guidewire is positioned within a monorail-type catheter extending into the patient's vascular system.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter, usable in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, is formed so that portions of the catheter both distally and proximally of the balloon have varyinq degrees of radiopacity. A portion of the catheter distally of the balloon presents a dark image under fluoroscopy while a portion located proximally of the balloon displays a moderately radiopaque image under fluoroscopy. The portion of the catheter in the region of the balloon may have a moderate, light or no radiopaque means.

Abstract: A small diameter balloon dilatation catheter having a shaft formed from hypodermic tubing is provided with a detachable luer fitting on its proximal end. The luer fitting may be removed and an extension wire attached to the proximal end of the catheter. A larger diameter catheter then may be advanced over the smaller catheter utilizing the smaller catheter to guide the larger catheter to the stenosis being treated. In another aspect of the invention, a guiding sheath assembly is provided which permits catheter exchanges involving such small diameter catheters having integral guidewires. In one protocol such a catheter may be exchanged for a conventional balloon dilatation catheter with a movable guidewire by removing the dilatation catheter, advancing the sheath over the guidewire, then removing the guidewire and inserting the replacement catheter.

Abstract: A guidewire for use with a catheter has varying radiopacity in its distal end. In one embodiment the guidewire includes a shaft having an outer helical coil attached to the distal region of the shaft, the coil extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft and terminating in a tip weld. A smaller diameter inner helical coil is disposed within the outer coil and is attached at its proximal end to the distal end of the shaft and at its distal end to the tip weld. The inner coil is formed from a highly radiopaque material. The portion of the shaft contained within the outer coil is plated thinly with a highly radiopaque material. When viewed under fluoroscopy, the highly radiopaque coil will define a dark image whereas the more proximal plated portion of the shaft will define a moderately radiopaque image. In other embodiments, the coil at the distal end of the catheter is variously electroplated to provide regions of high radiopacity, moderate radiopacity and relatively no radiopacity.

Abstract: Probe-like catheter has a small diameter and can be steered to and passed through narrow stenoses. The probe has a balloon at its distal end which is collapsible to a low profile to enable it to be passed through the stenosis. The probe may include a distal tip which can hold a preset curve. The probe is sufficiently rigid to enable the transmission of torque to the distal end to permit steering of the probe by controllably rotating the proximal end of the probe.In use, a stenosis which cannot be crossed by a more conventional sized dilatation catheter may permit passage of the dilatation probe.

Abstract: A balloon angioplasty system includes a balloon dilatation catheter having an inflation and deflation lumen for the balloon and a main lumen extending the full length of the catheter to provide fluid communication from the proximal to the distal end of the catheter. A microdilatation probe has a small diameter and can be passed through the main lumen of the dilatation catheter. The microdilatation probe has a balloon at its distal end which is collapsible to enable it to be passed through the main lumen of the dilatation catheter so that it can be projected distally beyond the distal tip of the dilatation catheter. The probe balloon is inflatable to a diameter no smaller than the diameter of the uninflated dilatation catheter.

Abstract: A small diameter balloon dilatation catheter having a shaft formed from hypodermic tubing is provided with a detachable luer fitting on its proximal end. The luer fitting may be removed and an extension wire attached to the proximal end of the catheter. A larger diameter catheter then may be advanced over the smaller catheter utilizing the smaller catheter to guide the larger catheter to the stenosis being treated. In another aspect of the invention, a guiding sheath assembly is provided which permits catheter exchanges involving such small diameter catheters having integral guidewires. In one protocol such a catheter may be exchanged for a conventional balloon dilatation catheter with a movable guidewire by removing the dilatation catheter, advancing the sheath over the guidewire, then removing the guidewire and inserting the replacement catheter.