Abstract: A stent delivery and deployment system for placement of vascular stents having apertures therein for deployment at intersecting blood vessels. The device employs a guide wire having an angled distal end which is threaded into position at the intersection of a first blood vessel and second blood vessel. With the angled portion of the guide wire threaded into the intersecting blood vessel, the stent may be translated along the guide wire to easily position the aperture in line with the intersecting blood vessel.

Abstract: A stent delivery and deployment system for placement of vascular stents having apertures therein for deployment at intersecting blood vessels. The device employs a guide wire having an angled distal end which is threaded into position at the intersection of a first blood vessel and second blood vessel. With the angled portion of the guide wire threaded into the intersecting blood vessel, the stent may be translated along the guide wire to easily position the aperture in line with the intersecting blood vessel.

Abstract: A stent delivery and deployment system for placement of vascular stents. The device employs a guide wire which is threaded into position in a vein or artery of a patient. An elongated stent having a central cavity communicating therethrough also has a passageway formed axially on or integral to, the sidewall defining the central cavity. The passageway has a diameter sufficient in size to slide upon the guide wire to allow the stent to be translated to the desired position in the blood vessel with the guide wire engaged in the passage. Sliding the stent to the proper position is accomplished by insertion of a balloon angioplasty catheter engaged with the stent, or other means to translate the stent on the guide wire, and sliding the stent with the on the engaged guide wire to the desired position. Once so positioned the stent is expanded and engaged in the blood vessel and the catheter may be removed leaving the guide wire in place for subsequent placement of additional stents or removal.

Abstract: An over-the-wire catheter provides substantially shadow-free delivery of radiation to a body lumen by having a treatment region wherein a guidewire tube and a radiation source tube form a parallel double helix configuration. When a radiation source is inserted into the radiation source tube and a guidewire is present in the guidewire tube, no portion of the treatment site will be obscured from all radiation emitted by the radiation source because, within the treatment region, the guidewire and the radiation source are not in a conventional, axially parallel configuration. Optionally, a balloon may be mounted about or adjacent the treatment region of the catheter, the balloon providing centering and/or dilatation functions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for delivery of radiation in vivo. A device includes a seal located proximal to a balloon through which a cavity of the balloon is inflated with a composition including a radioactive compound. The seal includes a passage therethrough which provides the only access to the balloon cavity and terminates at the proximal end of the balloon. The passage through the seal provides fluid communication with an inflation lumen within the medical device lumen, wherein a ratio of an inner diameter of the inflatable member to an inner diameter of the inflation lumen is about 0.5 or greater. In such a construction, inflation and evacuation can be accomplished without contamination of the entire medical device lumen. Thus, substantially all of the solution including the radioactive compound can be evacuated from the balloon cavity after treatment due to the positioning of the passage in the seal.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for delivery of radiation in vivo. A device includes a seal located proximal to a balloon through which a cavity of the balloon is inflated with a composition including a radioactive compound. Preferably, the seal includes a first passage provides access for the inflation tubing through the seal which, at the distal end, terminates at a location within the balloon cavity. A second passage, also included in the seal, provides access for the flushing tubing which, at the distal end, terminates at the proximal end of the balloon. These passages through the seal isolate the radioactive material source from a flushing mechanism. In such a construction, inflation and evacuation can be accomplished without contamination of the entire medical device lumen.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a closed end catheter system comprising a catheter body defining a tool lumen sized to receive an elongated tool. The distal end of the tool lumen has a plug therein. A guidewire lumen extends within the catheter body and is sized to receive a guidewire. The guidewire lumen extends along at least a portion of the length of the tool lumen such that the tool lumen and the guidewire lumen are in a biaxial relationship. The elongated tool has a distal tip and a working portion near the distal tip. Two marker bands are affixed to the catheter body and are separated from each other by a distance of not less than the length of the working portion of the tool. The elongated tool extends longitudially through the tool lumen such that when the distal end of the tool rests against the plug, the working portion of the tool is located between the first and second marker bands.