Abstract: The invention is an intraluminal therapy catheter having a least two treatment members disposed near the distal end of the catheter, the members being independently inflatable to perform angioplasty and/or fluid-sourced brachytherapy. A first treatment member is helically mounted about the shaft of the catheter, and forms a helical perfusion channel when inflated into contact with the vessel being treated. In a first embodiment of the invention, the second treatment member is also helically mounted about the catheter shaft and capable of forming a helical perfusion channel when inflated into contact with the vessel. The first and second treatment members are intertwined to form a double helix configuration wherein each member is capable of being inflated to generally fill the helical perfusion channel created by simultaneous inflation of the other member.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter and method for making the same includes a tubular balloon, an elastic sleeve, and a stent. The balloon is mounted around a catheter shaft, and the stent is crimped onto the balloon. The elastic sleeve is positioned between the balloon and the stent, the sleeve extending beyond the ends of the stent where the ends of the sleeve are fixed to the catheter shaft. Sleeve material is gathered and folded over the ends of the stent to retain the stent snugly against the balloon during delivery.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter includes an extendable shaft portion, a tubular balloon mounted thereon, a stent and a pair of elastic retaining caps. The balloon is mounted onto the catheter at a mounted length that is shorter than the formed length of the balloon to generate excess balloon material which is gathered into circumferential folds. The extendable portion of the catheter shaft elongates in response to tension applied by the balloon as the folds open during inflation. Elongation of the catheter shaft drives the retaining caps apart to uncover the ends of the stent.

Abstract: A stent delivery balloon catheter system includes a pair of retainers which are anchored to the catheter to hold the stent against the balloon until the stent is to be deployed. Each retainer is made of filaments which are woven together to form a braided tube shaped structure. Further, each retainer has one end which is anchored to the catheter while the free end of the retainer overlaps a respective end of the stent. Upon inflation of the balloon for deployment of the stent, the balloon also urges against each retainer. This causes the woven tube structure of the retainer to expand, and thereby shorten. As the retainers shorten, they also withdrawn from the stent, and thereby release the stent for deployment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a centering, perfusion catheter balloon. A mold member is formed having an axial aperture. A plurality of axially spaced sets of transverse holes through the mold member. Each set of holes includes one or more holes, with the holes in each succeeding set at a predetermined angle to the holes in the immediate preceding set. A tight fitting sleeve is provided around the mold member. A plastic tube is inserted into the axial hole and the assembly is heated and the tube is internally pressurized to cause the tube to expand the tube into the holes, forming outwardly extending knobs on the tube. The tube is cooled and fluid is evacuated from the tube, causing the tube to draw the knobs into the axial aperture to permit the completed tube to be withdrawn. The tube can then be assembled into a treatment catheter assembly with the knobs maintaining a treatment device centered in the balloon while the knobs allow fluid perfusion along the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus for centering a radiation delivery device at a selected location in a body vessel such as a coronary artery. An elongated catheter is insertable into the body vessel until the catheter head is in the desired position. The catheter has a guidewire lumen, inflation lumen and treatment lumen running lengthwise. The catheter head includes an expandable mechanism for engaging the vessel internal wall with the treatment lumen centered in the vessel. At least one channel is provided extending past the expandable mechanism so that a fluid, such as blood, can perfuse past the catheter head. A radiation delivery device, such as a wire having a radiation source at the distal end can be inserted into the treatment lumen to uniformly irradiate the vessel wall at the selected location.