Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon, and a balloon catheter formed thereby, in which a layer of a catheter balloon is formed by decreasing the inner diameter of a first end section of a polymeric tube, so that the tube has a reduced diameter first end section with an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of a central section of the tube. The reduced diameter first end section of the tube is bonded to a catheter shaft to form at least a portion of a skirt section of the balloon, and the skirt section has an improved high rupture pressure.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a reduced slippage lubricious coating, and a method of performing a medical procedure such as a balloon dilatation procedure in a patient's blood vessel. The second coating (i.e., the balloon coating) is lubricious to facilitate movement of the catheter in the patient's body lumen, yet has sufficiently low lubricity such that the slippage of the inflated balloon from a desired site within the blood vessel is reduced compared to a balloon coated with the first lubricious coating.

Abstract: A method for coating an implantable medical device, comprising dissolving a polymer in a solvent mixture which includes co-solvents having low viscosity, low surface energy or low dielectric constant.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition is provided including a polysaccharide or a cationic peptide dissolved in an organic substance. The polysaccharide can be heparin or a derivative of heparin. The cationic peptide can be L-arginine, oligo-L-arginine or poly-L-arginine. The organic substance can be formamide. A method of coating an implantable medical device is also provided, comprising applying the therapeutic composition to the device and allowing the organic substance to evaporate. The device can be a stent.

Abstract: A system for enabling the insertion and removal of an embolic protection device, for capturing and retaining embolic debris which may be created during the performance of a therapeutic interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a blood vessel. The system, in an embodiment thereof, enables the device to be compressed for insertion thereof through a patient's vasculature so as to cross the stenosis in a low profile, and to enable release of compression thereof for expansion and deployment of the device at a location distal to the interventional procedure site.

Abstract: A stent for implantation in a body lumen for protecting from rupture a fibrous cap in order to treat vulnerable plaque. One embodiment of the stent includes inclined planar rings joined by interconnecting links. The planar rings are inclined relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending the length of the stent. The inclined planar rings provide vessel support yet require lower balloon pressures to deploy and exert lower radial stresses so that when appositioned with vulnerable plaque are less likely to rupture the fibrous cap.

Abstract: A composition and a method for increasing the permeability of membrane junctions or cell membranes for delivery of a drug to target tissues are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods and devices for local drug delivery.

Abstract: A membrane that reduces the rate at which a therapeutic substance is released from an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a thickened wall portion extending along at least a portion of the working length section of the balloon in a noninflated configuration. The balloon has a first layer formed of a first polymeric material and a second layer formed of a second, different polymeric material, the second layer having a wall thickness which is greater along the central working length section than the wall thickness of the second layer along a section proximal and/or a section distal to the central working length of the balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, the first layer is formed of a porous material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and the second layer of the balloon is formed of an elastomeric polymer. The balloon catheter has a highly flexible distal section and a relatively high strength, low profile balloon, due to the balloon configuration of the invention.

Abstract: Polycationic peptide coatings for implantable medical devices and methods of making the same are described. The methods include applying an emulsion on the device, the emulsion including a polymer and a polycationic peptide. Other methods include incorporation of the polycationic peptide in microspheres and liposomes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to treat vulnerable plaque. In one embodiment, the apparatus has an elongated catheter body adapted for insertion in a body lumen, with a drug delivery device attached near a distal portion of the elongated body. The drug delivery device is configured to deliver a biologically active agent to stabilize a vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of using the compositions to achieve a therapeutic effect are provided.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft formed of a polymeric tubular member with at least a section having a lubricious inner layer defining the guidewire lumen, a coiled support member at least partially embedded in the lubricious inner layer, and an outer layer on an outer surface of at least a distal portion of the lubricious inner layer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the coil supported polymeric tubular member forms an inner tubular member of a balloon catheter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving blood flow to an ischemic region (e.g., myocardial ischemia) a patient is provided. An ultrasonic transducer is positioned proximate to the ischemic region. Ultrasonic energy is applied at a frequency at or above 1 MHz to create one or more thermal lesions in the ischemic region of the myocardium. The thermal lesions can have a gradient of sizes. The ultrasound transducer can have a curved shape so that ultrasound energy emitted by the transducer converges to a site within the myocardium, to create a thermal lesion without injuring the epicardium or endocardium.

Abstract: An expandable intraluminal stent having a strut pattern made from a plurality of triangular cells is disclosed. Each triangular cell is formed from at least two V struts of different magnitudes aligned in phase and joined at opposite ends forming two opposed vertices of the triangle. A series of triangular cells are joined at the vertices to form a ring. The series of triangular cells may be arranged to form peaks in the ring, peaks and valleys in the ring, or a combination thereof. A plurality of the rings are aligned coaxially and joined by connecting elements to form a tubular shape. Use of the double V strut formation in the rings increases vessel wall coverage, reduces gap sizes, and does not impair the compressability of the stent for a small profile for delivery.

Abstract: Medical devices are made from a self-stiffening composite including a base material, a polymerizer and a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The medical devices have an initial configuration in which the polymerizer and activator are separated from each other and an activated configuration in which the polymerizer and activator are brought into contact with each other. Polymerization is triggered when the polymerizer and activator are contacted together, forming a polymer that stiffens the medical device. The medical device may thus be flexible in the initial configuration so it can be easily advanced through tortuous passageways during delivery to a body lumen and further have sufficient radial strength in the activated configuration to hold open the body lumen after implantation.

Abstract: L-arginine conjugated to a polymeric matrix is disclosed. The matrix can be used as, for example, a coating for an implantable medical device such as a stent.

Abstract: The invention is an elongate intracorporeal member having a polymer jacket secured to a high strength shaft with the polymer jacket having an outer layer of polymeric material and an inner layer formed of polymeric adhesive. In one embodiment, a balloon catheter has a proximal high strength tubular section with a polymer jacket having an polymeric outer layer and an adhesive polymer inner layer. In another embodiment, a guidewire has an elongate core with polymer jacket disposed about at least a portion of the elongate core, wherein the polymer jacket comprises a polymeric outer layer an inner layer of polymeric adhesive disposed between and bonding the outer layer to the elongate core.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for applying a coating to an implantable device. The implantable device can include depots formed in the outer surface thereof to receive the coating. The coating can include a polymer and a solvent applicable to the surface of the implantable device including the depots. The application of the composition is performed under a pressure, which can reduce the surface tension and/or molecular adhesion force of the composition. The reduced surface tension and/or adhesion force allows gas bubbles within the depots to be removed while the composition is being driven into the depots.

Abstract: A composition for coating an implantable prosthesis, such as a stent is disclosed. A method of forming the composition is also disclosed.