Abstract: A conveyor belt module includes a laterally-extending protrusion to prevent misorientation of the module during assembly. In a proper orientation, the laterally-extending protrusion extends into a recess of an adjacent conveyor belt module, with clearance between the protrusion and the nadir of the recess. Reversal of the conveyor belt module prevents the conveyor belt module from fitting into a row of modules.

Abstract: Devices, assemblies, systems, and techniques described herein may deliver a pressure wave to structures of a heart, such an aortic valve. For example, a medical assembly may include an expandable member configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable member configured to at least partially define a channel through the expandable member in the expanded configuration and one or more electrodes carried by the expandable member. The one or more electrodes may be configured to transmit an electrical signal through a fluid to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation that generates a pressure wave within the fluid.

Abstract: Devices, assemblies, systems, and techniques described herein may deliver a pressure wave to structures of a heart, such an aortic valve. For example, a medical assembly may include an expandable member configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable member configured to at least partially define a channel through the expandable member in the expanded configuration and one or more electrodes carried by the expandable member. The one or more electrodes may be configured to transmit an electrical signal through a fluid to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation that generates a pressure wave within the fluid.

Abstract: Devices, assemblies, systems, and techniques described herein may deliver a pressure wave to structures of a heart, such an aortic valve. For example, a medical assembly may include an expandable member configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable member configured to at least partially define a channel through the expandable member in the expanded configuration and one or more electrodes carried by the expandable member. The one or more electrodes may be configured to transmit an electrical signal through a fluid to cause the fluid to undergo cavitation that generates a pressure wave within the fluid.

Abstract: A dual cannula apparatus is provided for insertion into the gastrointestinal tract. One end of a first outer cannula is placed within the small intestine providing a guide for advancement of a second inner cannula. The second inner cannula extends beyond the first outer cannula and provides a source of nutritional support and pharmacological therapy. The first outer cannula has a radiopaque tip to facilitate placement thereof under x-ray or fluoroscopic guidance. The first outer cannula can also be provided with a flared end for maintenance with the naris. The second inner cannula includes one or more openings for flow of the nutritional support or pharmacological therapy into the small intestine.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices employing a sol-gel composition coatings that functions as a bioactive material reservoir, and the use of sol-gel composition coatings for improved adhesion of organic and inorganic substrates are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods to create medical devices and medical devices including bioactive composite structures. The methods include using template-assisted electro- or electroless deposition or codeposition methods for providing implantable medical devices coated with bioactive composite structures and also include layering deposited or codeposited metal layers with layers of bioactive materials. In one use, the implantable medical devices of the present invention include stents with bioactive composite structure coatings.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are stents with degradable part and/or sections of the stent. The degradable portions of the disclosed stents can provide increased surface area for a period of time for bioactive material deposition or enhanced radiopacity at various locations along the length of the stent. The stents of the present invention also can stent portions of a vessel that are damaged by stent implantation but do not necessarily require long term stenting by providing degradable end sections on the stents of the present invention.

Abstract: A metallic composite coating, and methods for forming same, for an implantable medical device is disclosed. The composite coating comprises at least one metal or metallic tie layer formed on the surface of the device, followed by an electroless electrochemical cladding of one or more additional layers over the tie layer. One or more therapeutic or biologically active agents are co-deposited with at least one of the electroless electrochemical claddings.