Abstract: An improvement in drug-eluting stents, and method of their making are disclosed. The surface of a metal stent is roughened to have a surface roughness of at least about 20 ?in (0.5 ?m) and a surface roughness range of between about 300-700 ?in (7.5-17.5 ?m). The roughened stent surface is covered with a polymer-free coating of a limus drug, to a coating thickness greater than the range of surface roughness of the roughened stent surface.

Abstract: A radially expandable, endovascular stent designed for placement at a site of vascular injury, for inhibiting restenosis at the site, a method of using, and a method of making the stent. The stent includes a radially expandable body formed of one or more metallic filaments where at least one surface of the filaments has a roughened or abraded surface. The stent may include a therapeutic agent on the abraded surface.

Abstract: 42-O-alkoxyalkyl derivatives of rapamycin having biological activity are described. Compositions and delivery devices comprising the 42-O-alkoxyalkyl rapamycin derivatives are also disclosed.

Abstract: An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a period of at least 4 weeks, a restenosis-inhibiting amount of a monocyclic triene immunosuppressive compound having an alkyl group substituent at carbon position 40 in the compound. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-dl-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40-90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1-5 microns.

Abstract: An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a period of at least 4 weeks, a restenosis-inhibiting amount of the macrocyclic triene immunosuppressive compound everolimus. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-dl-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40-90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1-5 microns.

Abstract: An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases a restenosis-inhibiting amount of an active compound. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-dl-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40-90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1-5 microns.

Abstract: An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a period of at least 4 weeks, a restenosis-inhibiting amount of a macrocyclic triene immunosuppressive compound having an alkyl group substituent at carbon position 40 in the compound. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-dl-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40-90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1-5 microns.

Abstract: An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filamant body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a period of at least 4 weeks, a restenosis-inhibiting amount of a monocyclic triene immunosuppressive compound having an alkyl group substituent at carbon position 40 in the compound. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-dl-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40-90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1-5 microns.

Abstract: A stent having an expandable stent body with a generally tubular shape comprises a series of support surfaces upon which a polymer stent coating has been applied. One or more bioactive agents are disposed within the coating. The coating is applied by evaporating solvent from a solution which has been applied to the stent surfaces from a pressurized reservoir or positive displacement pumping means attached to a delivery tube. The delivery tube's longitudinal or X-Y-Z position along the body of the stent, the rotation of the stent along its longitudinal axis, and the delivery rate are coordinated by a programmable controller to deposit precise and repeatable amounts of polymer and agent on the stent surfaces. Preferably, an anti-restenosis agent consisting of a potent analogue or derivative of tranilast are disposed in a bioerodable stent coating, comprising poly(lactic acid), or, alternatively, in a biodurable stent coating comprising EVA.

Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided for mounting on a patient's forearm or other suitable body location, which incorporates an admixture reservoir and a closed blood sampling cavity in a single housing, the functional elements of which are firmly mounted and easily accessible to the caregiver. The blood sampling cavity is preferably accessed by a blunt cannula, which is readily retained in the sampling cavity by virtue of the cavity's secured position and elevated location on the sampling device housing during the sampling procedure, without the need for a cannula locking device.

Abstract: A physiological pressure transducer is disclosed which can be adapted for multiple uses and which employs a low cost semiconductor strain gauge sensor. The transducer is connected to a fluid-filled catheter/manometer system for measuring pressures inside a living body in areas of medical interest such as the heart, brain, uterus, or the vascular system. The catheter is coupled to the pressure transducer through a unique, disposable dome containing a shaped, compliant isolation media which is in intimate contact with the transducer diaphragm. The complete assembly is adapted for use with standard catheter flushing solutions and flush devices. An improved method of drawing blood samples by using the features of the assembly is also described.

Abstract: A balloon catheter device for treating an obstructing material within a vascular conduit or other body passageway. The device comprises an elongate catheter body extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A high compliance balloon and a spaced apart angioplasty balloon are coaxially disposed along the distal end. The catheter device includes a plurality of longitudinal lumens which extend along the catheter body from the proximal end. At least one of the lumens has a cross section which is non circular and is configured, in conjunction with the other lumens to provide a maximum total lumen cross sectional area within a minimum diameter catheter body.

Abstract: A physiological pressure transducer is disclosed which can be adapted for multiple uses and which employs a low cost semiconductor strain gauge sensor. The transducer is connected to a fluid-filled catheter/manometer system for measuring pressures inside a living body in areas of medical interest such as the heart, brain, uterus, or the vascular system. The catheter is coupled to the pressure transducer through a unique, disposable dome containing a compliant isolation media which is in intimate contact with the transducer diaphragm. The complete assembly is adapted for use with standard catheter flushing solutions and flush devices. An improved method of drawing blood samples by using the features of the assembly is also described.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring fluid concentrations or the temperature of body. A fiber-optic catheter having a fluorometric sensor attached at a distal end is excited by a light source outside the body. The sensor fluoresces with an intensity or with a lifetime related to the concentration of the fluid or the temperature. The catheter has one light pipe for exciting the sensor and a second light pipe for generating a reference signal to calibrate signals from the fluorometric sensor. One embodiment has two sensors that fluoresce with different intensities and lifetimes to simultaneously give information about both the temperature and the fluid concentration.

Abstract: A biological monitoring probe carrier incorporating a spiral retaining coil is easily put in place by a drive wrench passing through a guide channel with a longitudinal slot. Said channel holds the probe carrier near its distal end and holds a monitor cable alongside a shaft of the drive wrench which includes means for engaging the probe carrier to turn and advance it for the purpose of securing to tissue the retaining coil embedded in the distal end of the carrier. The proximal end of the wrench shaft includes a manipulating means for advancing the wrench a predetermined distance once the guide channel is placed against the tissue. The drive wrench is then withdrawn and the cable may then be released as the guide channel is withdrawn by allowing the cable to slip freely through the slot without need for disconnecting the monitor apparatus from the proximal end of the monitor cable.