Abstract: A stent delivery catheter includes at least an inner and outer body, and a specially shaped balloon affixed near one end of both of the inner and outer bodies. At least the outer body is tubular, and the space between the outer and inner bodies defines an inflation lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon. The balloon is designed to surround and hold a compressed self-expanding stent in a small initial size. An inner portion of the cylindrical balloon extends from where it is affixed to the inner body of the catheter shaft at a point proximal to the stent to a distal leading edge at a point distal to the stent. At this leading edge, the balloon is folded back upon itself, and an outer portion of the balloon extends proximally from the leading edge to a point proximal of the stent where it is affixed to the outer body of the catheter shaft. When the outer body is retracted in the proximal direction, the balloon progressively peels back or everts, to progressively release the stent.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter includes at least an inner and outer body, and a specially shaped balloon affixed near one end of both of the inner and outer bodies. At least the outer body is tubular, and the space between the outer and inner bodies defines an inflation lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon. The balloon is designed to surround and hold a compressed self-expanding stent in a small initial size. An inner portion of the cylindrical balloon extends from where it is affixed to the inner body of the catheter shaft at a point proximal to the stent to a distal leading edge at a point distal to the stent. At this leading edge, the balloon is folded back upon itself, and an outer portion of the balloon extends proximally from the leading edge to a point proximal of the stent where it is affixed to the outer body of the catheter shaft. When the outer body is retracted in the proximal direction, the balloon progressively peels back or everts, to progressively release the stent.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent. The apparatus has an outer sheath which is an elongated tubular member with distal and proximal ends and inside and outside diameters. The outer sheath has an enlarged section adjacent its distal end. The enlarged section has a greater inside and outside diameter than the inside and outside diameter of the sheath proximal to the enlarged section. The apparatus also includes an inner shaft located coaxially within the outer sheath. The shaft has a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft further includes a stop attached thereto which is proximal to the distal end of the sheath. Lastly, the apparatus includes a self-expanding stent located within the enlarged section of the outer sheath and makes frictional contact with the outer sheath. The shaft is disposed coaxially within a lumen of the stent, whereby the stent makes contact with the stop during deployment.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided for delivering a diagnostic fluid to a diagnostic site within the vascular system of a patient comprising an elongated central tube that can be routed into and through a vascular system of a patient, the tube including a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, a flexible sleeve defining a space between the interior surface of the sleeve and an exterior surface of the central tube, the sleeve comprising a sleeve proximal end sealably connected to the exterior circumference of the central tube. The sleeve extends along a length of the central tube from the sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the central tube defining one or more openings that extend through a wall of the central tube so that the interior of the central tube is in fluid communication with the interior of the sleeve.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated tubular body with a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween. The body is made from three layers of extruded plastic which adhere to each other. The body has an inner and outer layer made from a polymer, and a middle layer also made from a polymer. The middle layer is more flexible and has a lower melt temperature than the inner and outer layers. The catheter further includes an integral fuseless distal tip. The distal tip is made from the middle layer and no more than one of the inner and outer layers. The distal tip is softer than portions of the body proximal thereto. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making a fuseless soft tip tubular catheter, of the type described above. The method involves extruding the catheter so as to form the tubular body having the inner, outer and middle layers. Thereafter, at least the distal end of the catheter is heated so as to form a distal tip.

Abstract: A method of making an intravascular balloon catheter that has an elongated shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, as well as a balloon disposed near the distal end of the shaft. The method may include forming an inner shaft by coextruding a flexible plastic tube by bringing a molten outer plastic layer into contact with a molten inner plastic layer, thereby bonding the plastic layers together during the coextrusion process. The inner plastic layer may be more lubricious than the outer plastic layer.

Abstract: The intravascular balloon catheter has an elongated shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, as well as a balloon disposed near the distal end of the shaft. The inflation lumen communicates with and provides pressurized inflation fluid to the interior volume of the balloon, and the guidewire lumen is adapted to slidingly receive a guidewire. The shaft is formed of a length of flexible plastic tube, and the inner surface of the guidewire lumen is lined with an inner plastic layer. The plastic materials of the outer tube and inner layers are different, and they may be chemically bonded to each other.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided for delivering a diagnostic fluid to a diagnostic site within the vascular system of a patient comprising an elongated central tube that can be routed into and through a vascular system of a patient, the tube including a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, a flexible sleeve defining a space between the interior surface of the sleeve and an exterior surface of the central tube, the sleeve comprising a sleeve proximal end sealably connected to the exterior circumference of the central tube. The sleeve extends along a length of the central tube from the sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the central tube defining one or more openings that extend through a wall of the central tube so that the interior of the central tube is in fluid communication with the interior of the sleeve.

Abstract: An elastomeric valve partition is conventionally mounted on a catheter comprising a tubular catheter body. The valve partition defines a central aperture extending inwardly from one of the faces, only partway through the valve partition. The partition also carries a plurality of radial slits extending from the other of the faces only partway through the valve partition and intersecting the central aperture. The central aperture is of a diameter to closely fit a guidewire extending through the valve partition, while the radial slits have a length that is at least double the radius of the central aperture. The slits preferably rotate circumferentially about 5 to 60 degrees as they extend through the valve partition from one face toward the other. A lubricity enhancing additive is present, selected from the group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, titanium dioxide, graphite, polyethylene wax, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter comprises a length of flexible plastic tubing which, in turn, comprises an outer plastic layer and an inner plastic layer. The plastic materials of the outer and inner layers are different, and may be chemically bonded to each other. Advantages in catheter design are achieved.

Abstract: An elastomeric valve partition is conventionally mounted on a catheter comprising a tubular catheter body. The valve partition defines a central aperture extending inwardly from one of the faces, only partway through the valve partition. The partition also carries a plurality of radial slits extending from the other of the faces only partway through the valve partition and intersecting the central aperture. The central aperture is of a diameter to closely fit a guidewire extending through the valve partition, while the radial slits have a length that is at least double the radius of the central aperture. The slits preferably rotate circumferentially about 5 to 60 degrees as they extend through the valve partition from one face toward the other. A lubricity enhancing additive is present, selected from the group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, titanium dioxide, graphite, polyethylene wax, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof.