Abstract: A stent-graft assembly is provided for a variety of medical treatments. The stent-graft assembly includes a stent disposed to and attached between an inner layer of graft material and an outer layer of graft material. One of both of the graft layers includes one or more of a depression, dimple or detent that increases the localized surface area of the graft in one or more portions of the stent otherwise susceptible to graft stretching in the absence of the depression, dimple or detent. There is also described a method of forming dimples in selective locations on one or port graft layers in one or more locations relative to a portion of the stent where a portion of the graft may be susceptible to stretching or tearing during crimping or loading operations.

Abstract: A near net shape medical device is described that is formed from a metal alloy mixture containing NiTiHf using additive manufacturing techniques. The medical device is aged to a desired ultimate tensile strength (UTS), presence of H-phase precipitate with an Af below body temperature.

Abstract: There are super elastic NiTi materials for use as medical components, especially implantable medical components, and methods of fabricating such components to have desired R-phase characteristics in-vivo. Additionally, there are methods of processing a TiNi material to produce an implantable medical component by cold or warm working the TiNi material at least 15%; aging the cold or warm worked TiNi material under stress at between 300-700° C.; and further aging the TiNi material below 300° C. to produce desired R-phase characteristics. Additionally, there are methods of processing a TiNi material to produce a medical component by processing the TiNi material to produce a medical component that has a stress free M*s below a normal body temperature. Additionally, a TiNi material is used to produce a super elastic medical component from a tube, a sheet, a wire or a strip to have a stress free M*s below a normal body temperature.

Abstract: Devices comprising a component which has an open porous structure composed of an alloy of nickel and titanium or a mixture of nickel and titanium. The devices can be implanted in a mammalian body and provide desired interaction with protein, blood, ions, bone cells, and tissue. The devices are particularly useful for providing a substrate for the ingrowth of bone. In the open pore structure, preferably more than 95% of the pores having a size of 50-1000 ?m, particularly 50-600 ?m, with a pore size standard deviation of 250 ?m or less, particularly of 150 ?m or less, and an average porosity by volume of 40-80%. When the device is implanted adjacent to a cancellous bone, the porous component preferably has a modulus of 0.1-1.2 GPa. When the device is implanted adjacent to cortical bone, the porous component preferably has a modulus of 16 to 24 GPa. The devices are also useful for filtering a liquid.

Abstract: A near net shape medical device is described that is formed from a metal alloy mixture containing NiTiHf using additive manufacturing techniques. The medical device is aged to a desired ultimate tensile strength (UTS), presence of H-phase precipitate with an Af below body temperature.

Abstract: A stent-graft assembly is provided for a variety of medical treatments. The stent-graft assembly includes a stent disposed to and attached between an inner layer of graft material and an outer layer of graft material. One of both of the graft layers includes one or more of a depression, dimple or detent that increases the localized surface area of the graft in one or more portions of the stent otherwise susceptible to graft stretching in the absence of the depression, dimple or detent. There is also described a method of forming dimples in selective locations on one or port graft layers in one or more locations relative to a portion of the stent where a portion of the graft may be susceptible to stretching or tearing during crimping or loading operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a oral extended release dosage form comprising a plurality of granules of an effective amount of a pharmaceutically active compound, at least one amino acid, and an intragranular polymer in which the granule is dispersed within a hydrophilic extragranular polymer matrix which is more rapidly hydrating than the intragranular polymer. The amino acid is selected for hydropathy characteristics depending on solubility characteristics of the active compound.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to expandable intraluminal medical devices for use within a body passageway or duct, and more particularly to an optimized stent having asymmetrical strut and loop members. In one embodiment of the invention the stent includes one or more members each having at least one component. The component has non-uniform cross-sections to achieve near-uniform stress distribution along the component when the component undergoes deformation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a oral extended release dosage form comprising a plurality of granules of an effective amount of a pharmaceutically active compound, at least one amino acid, and an intragranular polymer in which the granule is dispersed within a hydrophilic extragranular polymer matrix which is more rapidly hydrating than the intragranular polymer. The amino acid is selected for hydropathy characteristics depending on solubility characteristics of the active compound.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a oral extended release dosage form comprising a plurality of granules of an effective amount of a pharmaceutically active compound, at least one amino acid, and an intragranular polymer in which the granule is dispersed within a hydrophilic extragranular polymer matrix which is more rapidly hydrating than the intragranular polymer. The amino acid is selected for hydropathy characteristics depending on solubility characteristics of the active compound.

Abstract: Accordingly, it is a object of the invention to create a stent which comprises structurally strong radial rings which are connected by structurally weak connectors. These connectors then separate within the body so that they are able to cause the stent to be emplaced exclusively at selected points within the lumen with a clear separation made between each of these radial rings.

Abstract: A stent or other intraluminal medical device having markers formed from housings integral with the stent and marker inserts having a higher radiopacity than the stent provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. The housings are formed integral to the stent and the marker inserts are made from a material close in the galvanic series to the stent material and sized to substantially minimize the effect of galvanic corrosion. The housings are also shaped to minimize their impact on the overall profile of the stent. The stent or other intraluminal medical device may also be fabricated from an alloy having a higher radiopacity without sacrificing any properties of the base alloy forming the stent or other intraluminal medical device.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tableted oral extended release dosage form comprising a plurality of granules of an effective amount of a pharmaceutically active compound, at least one amino acid, and an intragranular polymer in which the granule is dispersed within a hydrophilic extragranular polymer matrix which is more rapidly hydrating than the intragranular polymer. The amino acid is selected for hydropathy characteristics depending on solubility characteristics of the active compound.

Abstract: A stent having marker tabs formed from a micro-alloyed combination of materials provides for more precise placement and post-procedural visualization in a vessel, by increasing the radiopacity of the stent under X-ray fluoroscopy. A unique micro-alloying process is utilized to form the tabs, comprising a first alloy and a second alloy, wherein one of these alloys is radiopaque. This substantially eliminates the possibility of galvanic action between the tab and the stent. This process is also applicable to other medical devices.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a stent for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The stent is a tubular member having front and back open ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The tubular member has a first smaller diameter for insertion into a patient and navigation through the vessels, and a second larger diameter for deployment into the target area of a vessel. The tubular member is made from a plurality of adjacent hoops extending between the front and back ends. The hoops include a plurality of longitudinal struts and a plurality of loops connecting adjacent struts. The stent further includes a plurality of bridges having loop to bridge connections which connect adjacent hoops to one another. The bridge to loop connection points are separated angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis. The bridges have one end attached to a loop, another end attached to a loop on an adjacent hoop.

Abstract: A stent assembly comprises a stent whose configuration can change between a transversely compressed state for delivery into a lumen in a human or animal body, and a relaxed state in which in use the stent contacts the lumen to support it. The stent is positioned in a delivery device and constrained by it in its transversely compressed state. The delivery device comprises a tubular member formed from a shape memory alloy and can be fitted to or within a catheter for delivery of the stent through a lumen.

Abstract: A stent for use in a lumen in a human or animal body, has a generally tubular body formed from a shape memory alloy which has been treated so that it exhibits enhanced elastic properties with a point of inflection in the stress-strain curve on loading, enabling the body to be deformed inwardly to a transversely compressed configuration for insertion into the lumen and then revert towards its initial configuration, into contact with and to support the lumen. The shape memory alloy comprises nickel, titanium and from about 3 at. % to about 20 at. %, based on the weight of the total weight of the alloy composition, of a ternary element selected from the group consisting of niobium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten and gold. The ratio of the stress on loading to the stress on unloading at the respective inflection points on the loading and unloading curves is at least about 2.5:1, and the difference between the stresses on loading and unloading at the inflection points at least about 250 MPa.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus including an outer sheath, made from an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends. The apparatus further includes a self-expanding stent located within the distal end of the sheath along a load area. The stent makes frictional contact with the inner layer of said sheath. Lastly, the apparatus includes a readily removable member or keeper, which is disposed along the outer sheath along at least a portion of the load area. The member has sufficient rigidity to prevent the outer sheath from expanding along the load area prior to delivery of the stent.