Abstract: A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employing a pusher having a lumen with an opening at the distal end of the pusher. A vascular occlusion device is connected to the distal end of the pusher by a portion that is removeably disposed within the opening. The portion of the occlusion device is forced out of the opening by an expandable reaction chamber, thereby deploying the occlusion device. The expandable reaction chamber, prior to deployment, has multiple chambers separated by a heat-dissolvable membrane. When the membrane is dissolved, components from the chambers react and expand, leading to deployment.

Abstract: A bi-directional steerable guidewire having a deflectable distal tip which comprises a longitudinal hypotube and an interlocking spring coil attached to the distal end of the hypotube and also includes a longitudinally movable deflection member which is attached to the distal end of the spring coil and a tip retaining member which extends from the distal end of the hypotube to the distal end of the spring coil for providing very precise deflection of the distal tip.

Abstract: A steerable guidewire having a deflectable distal tip which comprises a longitudinal hypotube and an interlocking spring coil attached to the distal end of the hypotube and also includes a longitudinally movable deflection member which is attached to the distal end of the spring coil and a tip retaining ribbon which extends from the distal end of the hypotube to the distal end of the spring coil for providing very precise deflection of the distal tip. The distal end of the deflection member has “skived,” or tapered, sides to enhance the flexibility of the guidewire.

Abstract: A system for delivering at least one medical device to a desired location for treatment, and then selectively deploy it in position, includes an improved handle having a first and second independently movable actuator for moving an outer sheath. A locking mechanism may be provided that resists inadvertent or accidental movement or retraction of the stent delivery system components during packaging, sterilization, shipping, storage, handling and preparation of the stent delivery system.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member having a lumen therethrough and being slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. An embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member which is attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. When the embolic device is advanced to the predetermined site within the vessel, the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture to thereby release the embolic device at the treatment site.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member having a lumen therethrough and being slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. A stretch resistant embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member which is attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. The engagement member engages a retaining ring on the embolic device. When the embolic device is advanced to the predetermined site within the vessel, the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture to thereby release the embolic device at the treatment site.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device, such as an embolic coil at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. An embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes a deflectable engagement member attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. When the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture of the engagement member the engagement member deflects to release the embolic device.

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. An embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. A kicker member extends from the distal end of the pusher member and is biased so as to lift the retaining ring off of the engagement member to ensure the release of the embolic device when the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture of the engagement member.

Abstract: A vascular occlusion device deployment system for placing an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system employs a pusher including a gripper located at the distal end of the pusher to releasably retain a vascular occlusion device. The gripper is expanded by an expandable chemical reaction chamber so that the gripper releases the vascular occlusion device, thereby deploying the vascular occlusion device.

Abstract: A vascular occlusion device deployment system for deploying an occlusion device at a preselected site within the vasculature of a patient. The deployment system includes a pusher which has a constrictor located at the distal end portion of the pusher. The constrictor has a channel which receives a portion of the occlusion device. The constrictor has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion wherein the proximal end portion can be moved relative to the distal end portion to reduce the size of the channel. When the channel size is reduced, the constrictor grasps the portion of the occlusion device located within the channel. When it is desired to deploy the coil, the constrictor is moved in the opposite direction to increase the size of the channel and release the coil's grasp of the occlusion device.

Abstract: An expandable stent and delivery system therefor is provided for treating vascular diseases such as partially occluded blood vessels and aneurysms. The delivery system includes proximal, intermediate and distal cylindrical members disposed about an elongated core member. The proximal, intermediate, and distal cylindrical members are spaced apart such that first and second gaps are formed. The expandable stent includes anchor members which are formed by winding a radiopaque coil onto a threaded portion of a strut member of the expandable stent. The expandable stent is mounted on the intermediate cylindrical member with the anchor members disposed within the gaps between the cylindrical members. A deployment catheter is used to compress and constrain the stent about the intermediate cylindrical member to thereby interlock the stent onto the core member.

Abstract: A catheter with proximal and distal ends having a spiral centering device attached near the catheter distal end. The spiral centering device has at least one spiral strut having a proximal end and a distal end. The spiral centering device resiliently tends to center the distal end portion of the catheter, steering the catheter away from the vessel wall during insertion through the vasculature and toward the treatment site. The spiral centering catheter may facilitate access to tortuous anatomy by preventing the distal catheter tip from catching on irregularities in the lumenal surface. If a stent is provided on the catheter, the spiral centering catheter may also facilitate uniform stent expansion by stabilizing the catheter during stent deployment.

Abstract: A method and device used for treating an aneurysm or a vessel of a patient. An embolization element that is adapted to reduce or block the blood flow into the aneurysm or vessel, together with a stent connected to the embolization element, is provided. The embolization element includes an expandible member. The embolization element and the stent are introduced into the vessel leading to and communicating with the aneurysm or vessel. The embolization element is directed into the aneurysm or vessel, with the stent being located in another vessel communicating with the first vessel. In this manner, the stent becomes compressed against the inner wall of the second vessel for anchoring the embolization element. In one form of the invention, the stent comprises a helical coil and the embolization element comprises a collapsible framework.

Abstract: A vascular occlusive device which includes a support structure and a bioactive coating disposed onto the support structure and an outer barrier coating which serves to prevent a reaction between the bioactive agent and bodily fluids until the outer barrier is activated by applying an external agent to the outer barrier.

Abstract: An embolic coil retrieval system for retrieving or repositioning an embolic coil within the vasculature of the human body which is comprised of a very small embolic coil retriever having a jaw member with major and minor teeth which form pockets for grasping an embolic coil when the jaw member is closed.

Abstract: An embolic coil retrieval system for retrieving or repositioning an embolic coil within the vasculature of the human body which is comprised of a very small embolic coil retriever having a jaw member with major and minor teeth which form pockets for grasping an embolic coil when the jaw member is closed.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient has an improved tip design and methods of making the tip. The balloon catheter has a flexible shaft with proximal and distal ends, a hub affixed to the proximal end, and a balloon affixed to the shaft near the distal end. At least a distal portion of the shaft includes a tubular inner body, and the balloon has a distal leg affixed to the inner body. A short, tubular tip member is placed in contact with the distal end of the inner body, and a shrink tube is placed around the point of contact. A wire mandrel is passed through a lumen defined by the inner body and tip member. While the shrink tube is heated, compressing the tip member and inner body, the mandrel is moved. This combination of heat, radial pressure, and mandrel movement causes a blending of the materials of the inner body and the tip member. The resulting joint of the tip member and inner body is both strong and flexible.

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 balloon catheter for use with an endoscope may have a flexible shaft extending between a proximal and distal end, with a hub affixed to the proximal end, and a balloon that has one or more visual markers. An additional optional feature is that the markers(s) may be color-coded.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient, including therapeutic dilatation or deployment of medical devices such as stents or grafts. The balloon catheter has an “over-the-wire configuration, including a proximal hub defining an inflation port and a guidewire port, a flexible shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, a balloon near a distal end of the catheter, and a distal guidewire port. At least a portion of the shaft has an inner tubular body defining at least a portion of the guidewire lumen, surrounded by an outer tubular body defining at least a portion of the inflation lumen. A proximal portion of the inner body is reinforced by a hypotube, which provides much greater column strength and torsional stiffness. A distal end of the hypotube provides a graduated flexibility transition with a distal spiral-cut segment, in which the pitch of the spiral cut pattern decreases to provide increasing flexibility.