Abstract: A temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are absorbed or dispersed in the body.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implantable endoprosthesis having elongate elements including hollow, cavity or porous portions adapted to accumulate by-product from the degradation of the bioabsorbable material and shortening the diffusion distance for water absorption and thereby relatively increasing the degradation of the structure.

Abstract: Method for draining pseudocysts and stent delivery system for use therein. In one embodiment, the system comprises an inner catheter provided with a pair of longitudinal lumens. A guide wire is slidably disposed in one lumen, and a retractable needle is slidably disposed in the other lumen. A self-expandable stent is coaxially mounted around the inner catheter near its distal end, and an outer catheter is coaxially mounted around the inner catheter and the stent, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter and being dimensioned to maintain the stent in a compressed state. In use, an endoscope is intraorally introduced into a patient's stomach, and the distal end of the system is inserted therethrough. The needle is advanced to form perforations in the stomach and pseudocyst. The inner catheter is then inserted through the perforations, and the outer catheter is retracted, allowing the stent to expand and interconnect the stomach and pseudocyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent-graft with a bioabsorbable structure and a permanent graft for luminal support and ‘treatment of arterial fistulas, occlusive disease, and aneurysms. The bioabsorbable structure is formed from braided filaments of materials such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA and the graft is formed from materials such as PET, ePTFE, PCU or PU.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent formed from helically wound and braided filaments of bioabsorbable polymers such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA.

Abstract: Medical devices, for example, implantable devices such as endoprostheses, include a composite material having a polymer.

Abstract: Stent delivery system and method of manufacturing same. In one embodiment, the stent delivery system comprises an inner catheter. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the inner catheter, and an enlarged tip is disposed at the distal end thereof. A stent engaging sleeve coaxially surrounds and is secured to a portion of the inner catheter proximally contiguous to the tip. The stent engaging sleeve is used to frictionally engage a stent mounted thereover in such a way as to prevent the stent, during deployment, from sliding proximally relative to the inner catheter. The system additionally comprises a self-expandable stent of the type comprising a knitted mesh of nitinol wire flexible in both the radial and longitudinal axes. The stent is mounted over the stent engaging sleeve in a longitudinally stretched state and is maintained, until deployment, in the stretched state by a stent restraining sleeve.

Abstract: A method of making a stent includes providing a tubular member having a first layer, the first layer and the tubular member having different compositions, removing a portion of the tubular member, and removing a portion of the first layer from the tubular member.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implantable endoprosthesis having elongate elements including hollow, cavity or porous portions adapted to accumulate by-product from the degradation of the bioabsorbable material and shortening the diffusion distance for water absorption and thereby relatively increasing the degradation of the structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent-graft with a bioabsorbable structure and a permanent graft for luminal support and treatment of arterial fistulas, occlusive disease, and aneurysms. The bioabsorbable structure is formed from braided filaments of materials such as PLA, PLLA, PDLA, and PGA and the graft is formed from materials such as PET, ePTFE, PCU or PU.

Abstract: A temporary bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The bioabsorbable-radiopaque marker is adapted to be disposed on or adjacent an implantable endoprosthesis in a body lumen for a predetermined amount of time until the bioabsorbable and radiopaque materials are absorbed or dispersed in the body.

Abstract: Method for draining pseudocysts and stent delivery system for use therein. In one embodiment, the system comprises an inner catheter provided with a pair of longitudinal lumens. A guide wire is slidably disposed in one lumen, and a retractable needle is slidably disposed in the other lumen. A self-expandable stent is coaxially mounted around the inner catheter near its distal end, and an outer catheter is coaxially mounted around the inner catheter and the stent, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter and being dimensioned to maintain the stent in a compressed state. In use, an endoscope is intraorally introduced into a patient's stomach, and the distal end of the system is inserted therethrough. The needle is advanced to form perforations in the stomach and pseudocyst. The inner catheter is then inserted through the perforations, and the outer catheter is retracted, allowing the stent to expand and interconnect the stomach and pseudocyst.

Abstract: A body insertable tubular stent includes discrete tubular segments in an alternating sequence of segments having high axial stiffness and segments having low axial stiffness. The lower axial stiffness segments are intended for placement along more severely curved regions of the body vessel, to provide a greater degree of stent conformity to the vessel. The more axially flexible segments can be provided by winding a metallic or polymeric strand at a higher pitch along such segments, thus to form a higher braid angle in a braided stent. In such cases the more axially flexible segments also exert a higher radial force when the stent is radially compressed. Alternatively, the stent can consist of multiple interbraided strands, with each strand incorporating a higher number of filaments (at least two) along axially stiff segments, and incorporating a lower number of filaments (at least one) along axially flexible segments.

Abstract: A device for loading a stent into a stent delivery system may comprise a tubular member, a funnel at least partially disposed in the tubular member, and a stent disposed in the tubular member. A distal portion of the funnel may separate a proximal portion of the stent from an inner surface of the tubular member.

Abstract: A process for forming a stent of a polymer material which includes the steps of:

Abstract: Medical stents having valves and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. The valve may be basket-shaped and formed integral to a medical stent to prevent undesirable backflow across the valve. The valve can be formed by converting the braided wires of the stent, by providing elastomeric material onto a mold or fixture to form an elastomeric valve, or by attaching a gasket valve. The valve is normally closed but configured to allow easy opening in response to a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A platinum enhanced radiopaque alloy particularly suitable for manufacture of implantable and/or intravascular medical devices. A stent is one preferred medical device which is a generally tubular structure that is expandable upon implantation in a vessel lumen to maintain flow therethrough. The stent is formed from the alloy which has improved radiopacity relative to present utilized stainless steel alloys. This alloy preferably contains from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. % platinum; from about 11 wt. % to about 18 wt. % chromium; about 5 wt. % to about 12 wt. % nickel and at least about 15 wt. % iron.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a perfusion lumen communicating with a blood vessel, and a magnetically driven impeller disposed in the perfusion lumen to increase blood flow through the catheter and the arteries.

Abstract: Method for draining pseudocysts and stent delivery system for use therein. In one embodiment, the system comprises an inner catheter provided with a pair of longitudinal lumens. A guide wire is slidably disposed in one lumen, and a retractable needle is slidably disposed in the other lumen. A self-expandable stent is coaxially mounted around the inner catheter near its distal end, and an outer catheter is coaxially mounted around the inner catheter and the stent, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter and being dimensioned to maintain the stent in a compressed state. In use, an endoscope is intraorally introduced into a patient's stomach, and the distal end of the system is inserted therethrough. The needle is advanced to form perforations in the stomach and pseudocyst. The inner catheter is then inserted through the perforations, and the outer catheter is retracted, allowing the stent to expand and interconnect the stomach and pseudocyst.

Abstract: Stent delivery system and method of manufacturing same. In one embodiment, the stent delivery system comprises an inner catheter. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the inner catheter, and an enlarged tip is disposed at the distal end thereof. A stent engaging sleeve coaxially surrounds and is secured to a portion of the inner catheter proximally contiguous to the tip. The stent engaging sleeve is used to frictionally engage a stent mounted thereover in such a way as to prevent the stent, during deployment, from sliding proximally relative to the inner catheter. The system additionally comprises a self-expandable stent of the type comprising a knitted mesh of nitinol wire flexible in both the radial and longitudinal axes. The stent is mounted over the stent engaging sleeve in a longitudinally stretched state and is maintained, until deployment, in the stretched state by a stent restraining sleeve.