Abstract: This invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. A Y-shaped member is comprised of a U-shaped member and a link having a curved portion and a straight portion to improve the flexibility and thereby improve the fatigue performance of the Y-link junction.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The devices, systems and methods of the invention will find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions, including the abdomen, thorax, cardiovascular system, heart, intestinal tract, stomach, urinary tract, bladder, lung, and other organs, vessels, and tissues. The invention is particularly useful in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations, where the instruments utilized must negotiate long, narrow, and tortuous pathways to the treatment site. In addition, many of the devices and systems of the invention are adapted to be reversible and removable from the patient at any point without interference with or trauma to internal tissues.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The devices, systems and methods of the invention will find use in a variety of therapeutic procedures, including endovascular, minimally-invasive, and open surgical procedures, and can be used in various anatomical regions, including the abdomen, thorax, cardiovascular system, heart, intestinal tract, stomach, urinary tract, bladder, lung, and other organs, vessels, and tissues. The invention is particularly useful in those procedures requiring minimally-invasive or endovascular access to remote tissue locations, where the instruments utilized must negotiate long, narrow, and tortuous pathways to the treatment site. In addition, many of the devices and systems of the invention are adapted to be reversible and removable from the patient at any point without interference with or trauma to internal tissues.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has a solder or weld joint at a distal end thereof. A plurality of dimples are formed on the solder/weld joint to increase the engagement and penetration of fibrous material including chronic total occlusions (CTO).

Abstract: This invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. A Y-shaped member is comprised of a U-shaped member and a link having a curved portion and a straight portion to improve the flexibility and thereby improve the fatigue performance of the Y-link junction.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a multi-segment device, such as an intravascular guide wire. The multi-segment device includes an elongate first portion comprising a first metallic material, an elongate second portion comprising a different metallic material, the first and second elongate portions being directly joined together end to end by a solid-state weld, and a heat affected zone surrounding an interface of the weld where the first and second portions are joined together, wherein the heat affected zone has an average thickness of less than about 0.20 mm.

Abstract: An improvement to devices and methods for suturing tissue in various applications, such as percutaneous closure of arterial and venous puncture sites and the like, providing a self-locking or self-securing suture that does not require manual knot-tying to hold in apposition the tissue of the vessel wall on opposite sides of the puncture.

Abstract: A suturing system including an elongate distal member and an elongate proximal member proximal the elongate distal member, the elongate proximal member having a lumen. A needle deployment actuator extends to the elongate distal member and is configured to initiate proximal movement of a needle toward an opening of the elongate proximal member. A guide is disposed within the elongate proximal member, a perimeter of the guide forming a plurality of needle receiving gaps that, when viewed in cross-section, are circumferentially spaced about the deployment actuator with a portion of the guide disposed between adjacent needle receiving gaps extending outwardly towards a wall of the lumen of the elongate proximal member.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has a solder or weld joint at a distal end thereof. A plurality of dimples are formed on the solder/weld joint to increase the engagement and penetration of fibrous material including chronic total occlusions (CTO).

Abstract: Balloon catheter includes an outer shaft having a hypotube and a monolithic single-layer distal outer member, a balloon in fluid communication with an inflation lumen, and a monolithic inner tubular member having a guidewire lumen defined therethrough. The outer shaft has the inflation lumen defined therethrough. The monolithic single-layer distal outer member is necked to a reduced diameter along an entire length thereof. A proximal end of the monolithic single-layer distal outer member is coupled to the hypotube. A distal section of the hypotube comprises a skive defined by a first angled cut, an axial cut, and a second angled cut. The balloon has a proximal balloon shaft coupled to a distal end of the monolithic single-layer distal outer member. The monolithic inner tubular member extends distally from a proximal port in the monolithic single-layer distal outer member through the balloon to form a tip.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has an inner coil that is radiopaque and an outer coil that is non-radiopaque at the distal end of the guidewire. The radiopaque inner coil is visible under fluoroscopy so that the physician can monitor the location of the distal end of the guidewire during a procedure. The inner coil and the outer coil can be formed from a single wire or a multi-filar wire. The inner coil and the outer coil can have any of the following cross-sections for enhanced torquability: I-beam; vertical rectangular; vertical ellipse; square; peanut shape; vertical hexagonal; horizontal hexagonal; and horizontal ellipse.

Abstract: A suturing system including a sheath, a handle assembly proximal the sheath, an elongate body disposed between the sheath and the handle, a plurality of needles disposed distal the elongate body in a pre-deployed configuration and movable into the elongate body in a deployed configuration, each of the plurality of needles including a needle tip, each needle tip being orientated proximally towards the elongate body in the pre-deployed configuration, and a needle capture assembly disposed between a distal end of the elongate body and the handle, the needle capture assembly including two needle engaging edges longitudinally spaced with respect to each other, with each being configured to interlock with at least one of the plurality of needles.

Abstract: An elongated guidewire for use in angioplasty and related procedures. The guidewire includes a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal section has a plurality of round cross-section segments alternating with a plurality of non-round cross-section segments. The non-round cross-section segments can include a square, rectangle, pentagon, triangle, octagon and polygon.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has an inner coil that is radiopaque and an outer coil that is non-radiopaque at the distal end of the guidewire. The radiopaque inner coil is visible under fluoroscopy so that the physician can monitor the location of the distal end of the guidewire during a procedure. The inner coil and the outer coil can be formed from a single wire or a multi-filar wire. The inner coil and the outer coil can have any of the following cross-sections for enhanced torquability: I-beam; vertical rectangular; vertical ellipse; square; peanut shape; vertical hexagonal; horizontal hexagonal; and horizontal ellipse.

Abstract: A medical device including an elongate member extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, the elongate member having a lumen with a longitudinal axis, a hub portion towards the proximal end of the elongate member and configured for a user to hold and manipulate a position of the elongate member, a base portion including a first groove and a second groove separated by an opening, and two wings disposed towards a distal end of the medical device, the two wings being opposite each other across the longitudinal axis and on opposite sides of the base portion, wherein, the two wings are configured to move in relation to the longitudinal axis and wherein each wing has an elongate slot having a closed first end at a location between the base portion and a peripheral end of the wing.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, and a method for making it from a single length of tubing. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common axis and interconnected by one or more links. A Y-shaped member is comprised of a U-shaped member and a link having a curved portion and a straight portion to improve the flexibility and thereby improve the fatigue performance of the Y-link junction.

Abstract: A device for closing an opening in a body lumen, the device having a first elongate member with a first lumen, a second elongate member distal the first elongate member, and a needle assembly slidably cooperating with the first elongate member to position a plurality of sutures within the lumen of the first elongate member. The needle assembly includes a needle base and a plurality of needle portions extending from the needle base. Slidable movement of the needle assembly in relation to the first elongate member locates the plurality of sutures selectively mounted to the needle assembly within the first lumen.

Abstract: Shapeable guide wire devices and methods for their manufacture. Guide wire devices include an elongate shaft member having a shapeable distal end section that is formed from a linear pseudoelastic nickel-titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy that has linear pseudoelastic behavior without a phase transformation or onset of stress-induced martensite. Linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy, which is distinct from non-linear pseudoelastic (i.e., superelastic) Ni—Ti alloy, is highly durable, corrosion resistant, and has high stiffness. The shapeable distal end section is shapeable by a user to facilitate guiding the guide wire through tortuous anatomy. In addition, linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy is more durable tip material than other shapeable tip materials such as stainless steel.

Abstract: A medical device includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes inflating the delivery balloon during a diameter reduction to improve scaffold retention and maintaining an inflated balloon during the diameter reduction and prior and subsequent dwell periods.

Abstract: A stent having a cobalt-based alloy, wherein the cobalt-based alloy is free of nickel (Ni), the cobalt-based alloy including 10-65 weight % metal member selected from a platinum group metal, a refractory metal, or combinations thereof, 15-25 weight % chromium (Cr), 4-7 weight % molybdenum (Mo), 0-18 weight % iron (Fe), and 22-40 weight % cobalt (Co).