Abstract: The invention relates to a balloon catheter featuring—at least on portions of the outward-turned surface of the dilatable area—hair-like extensions, with the average diameter D, the average length L, and the average center-to-center distance P of the hair-like extensions to each other being selected such that a drug on the balloon surface covered with hair-like extensions can essentially be secured by means of capillary forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drug-coated balloon catheter and to a method for producing the same. The balloon of the catheter includes (i) a main membrane, and (ii) an asymmetrical polymer membrane which is applied to an outside of the main membrane and into which at least one pharmaceutical active ingredient is introduced.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, for example a stent, having a basic mesh composed of an at least predominantly biodegradable material, and a coating provided on the biodegradable material is proposed. For better control of the degradation the basic mesh is essentially completely covered by a coating which contains parylene, preferably at least predominantly parylene, particularly preferably parylene C or parylene N, and the basic mesh is essentially completely covered by the coating, whereby the thickness of the coating is between approximately 0.1 ?m and approximately 10 ?m, preferably between approximately 0.4 ?m and approximately 7 ?m, particularly preferably between approximately 1 ?m and approximately 5 ?m. Also proposed is a method for manufacturing such an endoprosthesis.

Abstract: A medical implant comprising a composite material which is composed of reinforcement fibers made of a magnesium-containing, bio-corrosive alloy, another bio-corrosive alloy containing a main component that is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Fe, and Y, or a non-biodegradable fiber material, embedded in a matrix made of crystalline magnesium or magnesium alloys.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body containing metallic material, preferably iron. For controlling the degradation of the implant the method includes the following steps: (a) providing a first part of the implant body; and (b) performing heat treatment which alters the carbon content and/or the boron content and/or the nitrogen content in the structure of a near-surface boundary layer in the first part of the implant body in such a way that strain on the lattice or a lattice transformation, optionally following a subsequent mechanical load, is achieved in the near-surface boundary layer. Such an implant is also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns an endovascular implant comprising a biodegradable material and having a tubular main body which is open at the ends and which is dilatable from an unexpanded condition into an expanded condition. The implant is so designed that when the implant in the expanded condition is subjected to a radially acting compression pressure in the range of between 5 and 30 kPa (0.05-0.3 bar) a cross-sectional area of the implant is reduced to 70% or less of the original cross-sectional area, or an internal volume of the implant is reduced to 70% or less of the original internal volume.

Abstract: An implant made in total or in parts of a biodegradable magnesium alloy consisting of Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight, Nd: 1.5-4.5% by weight, Gd: 0-4.0% by weight, Dy: 0-4.0% by weight, Er: 0-4.0% by weight, Zr: 0.1-1.0% by weight, Li: 0-0.2% by weight, Al: 0-0.3% by weight, under the condition that a) a total content of Er, Gd and Dy is in the range of 0.5-4.0% by weight and b) a total content of Nd, Er, Gd and Dy is in the range of 2.0-5.5% by weight, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities up to a total of 0.3% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, with a body containing metallic material, preferably iron. The method includes the following steps to control degradation of the implant: (i) providing the body of the implant; and (ii) tribochemically treating at least part of the body surface by means of beam particles. An implant produced in this way is also described.

Abstract: Implant in the form of an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a tubular body containing metallic material, optionally iron, whereby in at least a portion of the implant body the following are present in the structure of a near-surface boundary layer in comparison to the respective concentration in the remaining structure: an increased carbon content in a concentration of approximately 0.5% by weight to approximately 2% by weight; or an increased carbon and nitrogen content, wherein a concentration of carbon is approximately 0.5% by weight to approximately 7% by weight, and a concentration of nitrogen is approximately 0.5% by weight to approximately 17% by weight.

Abstract: A marker alloy foreign implant made of a biodegradable metallic material and having the composition MgxYbyMz wherein x is equal to 10-60 atomic percent; y is equal to 40-90 atomic percent; z is equal to 0-10 atomic percent; M is one or more element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Zn, Au, Ga, Pd, Pt, Al, Sn, Ca, Nd, Ba, Si, and Ge; and wherein x, y, and z, together, and including contaminants caused by production, result in 100 atomic percent.

Abstract: The present invention proposes an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body, comprising at least one at least largely biodegradable metallic material, in particular magnesium or a magnesium alloy. To improve the degradation behavior, the implant has a first layer on at least a portion of its body surface, said layer containing a hydrogen-binding material, preferably palladium. Furthermore, methods for producing such an implant are given.

Abstract: An implant for releasing an active substance into a vessel through which a body medium flows. The implant release an active substance into a vessel through which a body medium flows downstream from the location of the implant. A base of a biodegradable material is a carrier of the active substance to be released. The body medium flows past the implant and the active substance is release. The implant is configured so that the active substance does not contact a vessel wall at the location of implant.

Abstract: A catheter having a balloon (10) which has at least one wing (12) in the undilated state, the balloon having at least one fold element (11, 11?, 31, 32, 41, 42) running essentially in the longitudinal direction for each wing (12), such that in folding the balloon (10), the fold element is arranged in an area of the wing (12) with a minimum in the bending radius, said area running in the longitudinal direction. Also disclosed is a system for introducing an intraluminal endoprosthesis, preferably a stent, into a body cavity consisting of an intraluminal endoprosthesis and a catheter having the balloon as described. Further, disclosed are methods of producing such a catheter and such a system.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy having Y, Zn, Ca, Mn, Ag, Ce, Zr, or Si. The alloy is distinguished in that, in the event of suitable treatment, the alloy is convertible into a very fine-grained microstructure, in particular, having grain sizes less than 20 ?m. The alloy components are not or are hardly toxicologically relevant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery system for a medical device and a method for operating a delivery system for a medical device, in particular a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner shaft enclosing an inner lumen and an outer shaft surrounding the inner shaft in at least some areas and enclosing an intermediate lumen. One or more openings are provided in the inner shaft establishing a fluid connection between the inner lumen and the intermediate lumen.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stationary state of polymer crystallinity of an active substance charged polylactide matrix for a stent, comprising the steps of: preparing the active substance charged polylactide matrix containing (a) a polylactide in amorphous or semicrystalline modification or with amorphous domains, and (b) at least one active substance on a surface or in a cavity of the stent communicating with the surface; and heating of the active substance charged polylactide matrix to a temperature ranging from TG-20° C. to TS-10° C., where TG represents a glass transition temperature and TS a melting temperature of the crystallites of the polylactide.

Abstract: A stent made of a material having a low strength and having a main body circumscribing a cylindrical shape and radially expandable from a contracted starting position into a dilated support position, comprising a) a plurality of support segments disposed around the circumference and arrayed on one another in the axial direction each segment being formed by a strut meandering in its coarse structure in its contracted starting position and having alternately opposing meandering curves expandable into the support position made of flexible material; b) a plurality of axial connectors connecting between zenith points of at least a part of the meandering curves in the axial-parallel direction of the support segments; (c) a plurality of x-ray marker projections, and d) at least one stabilizer for stabilizing the strut coarse structure in its contracted starting position against radial expansion and being automatically detachable upon radial expansion.

Abstract: A device for use as an endoprosthesis, having a base body (1, 1?), comprising a metallic material, and a function element (3, 3?) that is attached to the base body and has a different metallic material composition in comparison with the material of the base body (1, 1?). To reduce direct metal contact between the base body (1,1?) and the function element (3, 3?), a first layer (5, 5?) is introduced into the borderline area (9, 9?) between the base body (1, 1?) and the function element (3, 3?), extending to the surface, wherein the first layer is produced by plasma-chemical treatment in an aqueous solution containing phosphate ions, or comprises magnesium stearate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stent with in particular a coated basic body made of an implant material the use of lithium salts as a coating material or a component of an implant material for stents and the use of lithium salts in a method for restenosis prevention. The inventive stent having a basic body made of an implant material is characterized in that (i) the basic body has a coating which comprises or consists of a lithium salt, and/or (ii) the implant material is biocorrodible and the basic body contains a lithium salt.

Abstract: An implant made in total or in parts of a biodegradable magnesium alloy consisting of Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight, Nd: 1.5-4.5% by weight, Gd: 0-4.0% by weight, Dy: 0-4.0% by weight, Er: 0-4.0% by weight, Zr: 0.1-1.0% by weight, Li: 0-0.2% by weight, Al: 0-0.3% by weight, under the condition that a) a total content of Er, Gd and Dy is in the range of 0.5-4.0% by weight and b) a total content of Nd, Er, Gd and Dy is in the range of 2.0-5.5% by weight, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities up to a total of 0.3% by weight.