Abstract: A Ti—Ni—Nb alloy device is provided which is a shape memory device excellent in response characteristics. The Ti—Ni—Nb alloy device is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb alloy which finishes transformation at a temperature lower than 10° C. after start of reverse transformation.

Abstract: To provide a stent which holds various performances such as deliverability, prevention of restenosis, flexible shape conformability, and so on and is therefore adaptable not only to a bile duct but also to a blood vessel system such as a tortuous coronary artery substantially without causing restenosis. A stent with an autonomic function is made of a Ti—Ni based shape memory alloy and has a maximum expanding force at a center portion in its lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A stent having a generally tubular body formed of ring units formed of a plurality of cells each and expandable in the radial direction, wherein each ring unit is constituted of cells connected to one another above and below, arranged to surround the center line of the stent, the ring units are arranged in the axial direction of the stent, and are connected with connector portions, each connector portion is formed of curved portions each having an arch and a generally linear portion continued thereto, 3 to 8 cells are arranged in the axial direction per 10 mm of the length of the stent, and the ratio of the length of the cell in the axial direction and the length of the connector portion is determined such that on the basis that when the length of the cell is 100, that of the connector portion 50 to 100, thereby securing flexibility and radial sustaining force.

Abstract: A balloon expandable superelastic stent is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb (the content of Nb being at least 3 at %) shape memory alloy. A shape recovery temperature of the stent is lower than a living body temperature in an unloaded state after shape memory treatment. The shape recovery temperature exceeds the living body temperature after the stent is mounted to a catheter and released from the catheter in a living body.

Abstract: A stent includes a plurality of first portions arranged in a longitudinal direction, and second portions each disposed between the adjacent first portions. Each of the first portions is expandable and contractible in a radial direction, and each of the second portions allows a whole of the stent to curve in the longitudinal direction. When the first portion is expanded in the radial direction, the longitudinal length of the first portion is decreased, but spacing between the adjacent first portions is increased.

Abstract: To provide a Ti—Ni—Nb alloy device which is a shape memory device excellent in response characteristics. The Ti—Ni—Nb alloy device is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb alloy which finishes transformation at a temperature lower than 10° C. after start of reverse transformation.

Abstract: To provide a stent which holds various performances such as deliverability, prevention of restenosis, flexible shape conformability, and so on and is therefore adaptable not only to a bile duct but also to a blood vessel system such as a tortuous coronary artery substantially without causing restenosis. A stent with an autonomic function is made of a Ti—Ni based shape memory alloy and has a maximum expanding force at a center portion in its lengthwise direction.

Abstract: A drug-releasable medical device contains a controlled drug-release composition comprising 100 parts by weight of an organic polymeric material which is soluble in an organic solvent and insoluble in water, 5 to 60 parts by weight of a lipid-soluble, low molecular weight release auxiliary agent and 1 to 70 parts by weight of a drug. When the composition is applied on a stent, a catheter, an organ replacement medical device, an artificial organ or the like in the form of coating or the like, the medical device is provided with a drug release function. Argatroban or sarpogrelate hydrochloride or both of them are gradually released from the surface of a stent for treating coronary artery stenosis, for example. In order to exhibit a sustained-release function for a desired period of time, the drug to be gradually released is carried in a polymeric material coated on a surface of a metal forming the stent or in a porous stent substrate.

Abstract: A balloon expandable superelastic stent is made of a Ti—Ni—Nb (the content of Nb being at least 3 at %) shape memory alloy. A shape recovery temperature of the stent is lower than a living body temperature in an unloaded state after shape memory treatment. The shape recovery temperature exceeds the living body temperature after the stent is mounted to a catheter and released from the catheter in a living body.

Abstract: A stent (1) having a generally tubular body formed of ring units formed of a plurality of cells each and being expandable in the radius direction thereof from inside, wherein each ring unit (4) is constituted of the plurality of cells (6) connected to one another above and below and arranged so as to surround the center line (C1) of the stent forming said tubular body, the ring units are arranged in the axial direction of the stent, ring units are connected through at least one site with connector portions (5), each connector portion is formed of curved portions (8) having at least 2 arches and a generally linear portion (7) continued thereto and therefrom, 3 to 8 cells are arranged in the axial direction of the stent per 10 mm of the length of the stent, and the ratio of the length (6L) of the cell in the axial direction of the stent and the length (5L) of the connector portion in the axial direction of the stent is determined such that on the basis that when the length of the cell in the axial direction of