Abstract: An apparatus including an expandable body; at least one delivery cannula coupled to an exterior portion of the expandable body; a needle having a protuberance thereon disposed in a lumen of the at least one delivery cannula; a stop disposed in the lumen of the at least one delivery cannula at a position distal to the protuberance on the needle. A method including positioning a catheter assembly including at least one needle delivery device disposed in an at least one delivery cannula, the at least one delivery cannula having an exit end; modifying the shape of the catheter assembly to modify the orientation of the exit end of the at least one delivery cannula at a region of interest; and advancing the at least one needle delivery device beyond the exit end of the at least one delivery cannula according to a controlled orientation.

Abstract: A process for crimping stents includes a multi-stage process producing a desired stent retention and crimped profile in a reduced amount of time. The process achieves results by utilizing particular combinations of heat and pressure during the crimping process, which was found to produce the desired results.

Abstract: Engraftment of therapeutic cells and agents to a target site in an organism is enhanced by mechanical, chemical and biological methods and systems.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart having a faulty heart valve is disclosed. The medical device comprises a ligature including a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member is used. The ligature is percutaneously deployable into a patient with a faulty heart valve wherein the first anchoring member to anchor to a first tissue area of the heart and the second anchoring member to anchor to a second tissue area of the heart.

Abstract: An intravascular stent having a prefabricated, patterned polymeric sleeve for controlled release of therapeutic drugs and for delivery of the therapeutic drugs in localized drug therapy in a blood vessel is disclosed. The polymeric sleeve is attached to at least a portion of an outside surface area of the stent structure. Alternatively, a plurality of individual microfilament strands are longitudinally attached to an outer surface of a stent structure in a spaced apart orientation and loaded with at least one therapeutic drug for the release thereof at a treatment site. The stent has a high degree of flexibility in the longitudinal direction, yet has adequate vessel wall coverage and radial strength sufficient to hold open an artery or other body lumen. Methods for making the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polymer coating for medical devices based on a polyolefin derivative. A variety of polymers are described to make coatings for medical devices, particularly, for drug delivery stents. The polymers include homo-, co-, and terpolymers having at least one olefin-derived unit and at least one unit derived from vinyl alcohol, allyl alcohol and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed having a modified surface. A method of making the modification is also disclosed. The modification includes depositing a substance within the surface of the device and forming a film layer on the surface of the device. The substance can include carbon and the film layer can be a polymeric layer, such as a plasma polymerized organic film layer.

Abstract: A stent of variable surface area as determined by stent struts. The stent can have a variable surface area per unit length which accommodates a therapeutic agent. A patterned distribution of therapeutic agent can be provided throughout the stent. The stent can have an increased level of therapeutic agent near an end of the stent. A decreased level of therapeutic agent can be provided near an end of one embodiment of a stent. Indentations can be provided at the surface of the stent with therapeutic agent disposed therein. The stent can be cut with struts of variable thickness to provide the variable stent surface area.

Abstract: A sleeve is positioned over a radially-expandable rod assembly and a stent is positioned over the sleeve. A mandrel is inserted into the rod assembly to thereby press the sleeve against the inner surface of the stent and expand the stent. A coating (such as a solvent, a polymer and/or a therapeutic substance) is then applied to the outer (abluminal) surfaces of the stent, by spraying, for example. The sleeve advantageously prevents the coating material from being applied to inner (luminal) surfaces of the stent and also allows the coating material to be efficiently applied to the abluminal surfaces.

Abstract: Methods and devices relating to polymer blend/bioceramic composite implantable medical devices are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein is a medical device that includes RGD attached to the device via a spacer compound.

Abstract: A polymer for a medical device, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described. The polymer can be derived from n-butyl methacrylate and can have a degree of an elongation at failure from about 20% to about 500%.

Abstract: A coating and drying apparatus for the application of a coating substance to a stent and drying the stent is provided. The apparatus can include a cartridge. The cartridge can comprise a core, a plurality of stent mandrels, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The core can extend outwards from a circumference of the core. Each stent mandrel can be capable of supporting a stent. The first clutch can be coupled to the core and capable of being removeably coupled to a first shaft such that rotation of the first shaft enables rotation of the core. The second clutch can be coupled to the plurality of stent mandrels and capable of being removeably coupled to a second shaft such that rotation of the second shaft enables rotation of the stent mandrels.

Abstract: A coating for a stent and methods for coating a stent are provided. The coating may be used for the sustained delivery of an active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.

Abstract: Provided herein are a method, which comprises implanting in a patient an implantable device comprising a coating that includes a PEGylated hyaluronic acid and a PEGylated non-hyaluronic acid biocompatible polymer and the methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the electrostatic application of a coating substance is provided.

Abstract: Coatings for implantable medical devices comprising non-fouling moieties or polymers chemically bonded to the surface of the device via chelating structures, and methods of fabricating the coatings are disclosed.

Abstract: A method including combining a cellular component with a viability enhancer material wherein the combination will inhibit an interaction between the cellular component and a delivery device; and delivering the cellular component through the delivery device. An apparatus including a delivery cannula having dimensions suitable for percutaneous delivery and a lumen therethrough, wherein a portion of a luminal surface of the cannula includes a coating that is amenable to a cellular component delivered through the delivery cannula. A method including percutaneously introducing a delivery cannula into a blood vessel; advancing a distal portion of the delivery cannula to a treatment site; and delivering a cellular component through a lumen of the delivery cannula, wherein a portion of a luminal surface of the cannula includes a coating that is amenable to a cellular component delivered through the delivery cannula.

Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.