Abstract: A drug and drug delivery system may be utilized in the treatment of vascular disease. A local delivery system is coated with rapamycin or other suitable drug, agent or compound and delivered intraluminally for the treatment and prevention of neointimal hyperplasia following percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography. The local delivery of the drugs or agents provides for increased effectiveness and lower systemic toxicity.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent delivery apparatus having a sheath comprising a hard and lubricious coating for the safe, effective and accurate deployment of self-expanding stents. The sheath comprises an inner layer of pyrolytic carbon or other similar substance which prevents the stent from becoming embedded. The inner layer is also lubricious. This combination of properties allows for easier deployment and reduced profile.

Abstract: The present device has increased longitudinal flexibility in a stent by having some curved sections of each circumferential set of strut members being unconnected to the curved sections of the adjacent circumferential set of strut members with the other curved sections being connected by highly flexible, undulating longitudinal connecting links. The present device prevents flaring of the unconnected strut members by having a shorter longitudinal length for the unconnected strut members, and may have generally shorter longitudinal lengths for all the strut members in the circumferential sets of strut members at the stent ends to reduce the tendency for end flaring of the stent. Finally, the stent demonstrates that the flexible longitudinal connecting links of the curved sections of the sets of strut members are connected at a point that is close to the line where the diagonal sections join the curved sections, thus further reducing the propensity for end flaring.

Abstract: Methods of preparing intravascular stents with a polymeric coating containing macrocyclic lactone (such as rapamycin or its analogs), stents and stent graphs with such coatings, and methods of treating a coronary artery with such devices. The macrocyclic lactone-based polymeric coating facilitates the performance of such devices in inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: Methods of preparing intravascular stents with a polymeric coating containing macrocyclic lactone (such as rapamycin or its analogs), stents and stent graphs with such coatings, and methods of treating a coronary artery with such devices. The macrocyclic lactone-based polymeric coating facilitates the performance of such devices in inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: A bi-directional steerable guidewire having a deflectable distal tip which comprises a longitudinal hypotube and a 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: Local drug delivery medical devices are utilized to deliver therapeutic dosages of drugs, agents or compounds directly to the site where needed. The local drug delivery medical devices utilize various materials and coating methodologies to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. The medical devices may be coated with any number of biocompatible materials. Therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may be mixed with the biocompatible materials and affixed to at least a portion of the medical device. These therapeutic drugs, agents or compounds may also further reduce a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism. Various materials and coating methodologies may be utilized to maintain the drugs, agents or compounds on the medical device until delivered and positioned.

Abstract: An endovascular graft system used to repair aneurysms in arteries which bifurcate such as the aorta which bifurcates at the aortoiliac junction. The graft system includes two legs, each defining a lumen. Each leg comprises an aortic stent, a graft component and an iliac stent. The graft component is affixed at one end to the aortic stent and at the other end to the iliac stent. Each leg of the graft system is preferably a mirror image of the other with the exception of the aortic stents. The graft component of each leg includes a means for allowing in situ adjustment of the length of the leg to accommodate the different sizes required for different patients.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an orifice mechanism includes the steps of providing a mandrel having a length and helically wrapping a winding around at least a portion of the length of the mandrel. The mandrel and the winding define a first channel for carrying a drug therethrough. An inlet is at one end of the winding and an outlet is at the other end of the winding.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of stent placement which comprises first guiding a guidewire through the vasculature. Second, a balloon catheter which contains two guidewire lumens is strung along the guidewire into position at the bifurcation. The distal opening of the second guidewire lumen abuts the proximal end of the bifurcation. Thereafter, a second guidewire is strung through the first balloon catheter and out the distal opening of the second guidewire lumen. Thus, resident in the second bifurcation leg is the second guidewire. Then, a second standard stent delivery balloon catheter is guided along the second guidewire to a position within the bifurcation. Typically, expansion of both stents can be done one right after the other after proper placement of the first and second balloons.

Abstract: A long term oxygen therapy system having an oxygen supply directly linked with a patient's lung or lungs may be utilized to more efficiently treat hypoxia caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The system includes an oxygen source, one or more valves and fluid carrying conduits. The fluid carrying conduits link the oxygen source to diseased sites within the patient's lungs.

Abstract: A stent is made flexible along its length. The stent initially starts as a metal sheet. It is rolled in its central region to a specified wall thickness. Thereafter, the stent is photochemically etched to produce the desired cell pattern of the design of the stent. Then, the stent is folded and the metal is joined to give rise to a stent with multiple wall thickness. For instance, larger wall thicknesses at the end of the stent versus smaller wall thicknesses at its center. Various other possible manufacturing methods are useful with respect to this stent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device, and in particular, to a stent-based valve. The valve includes a radially expandable structural frame including an anchor structure having a first and a second open end, a connecting member having a first and a second end, and a cantilever valve strut having a first and a second end. The first end of the connecting member is attached to the second end of the anchor structure. The first end of the cantilever valve strut is cooperatively associated with the second end of the connecting member. The prosthetic valve further includes a biocompatible membrane assembly having a substantially tubular configuration disposed longitudinally about at least a portion of the connecting member. The membrane assembly has a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The first end of the membrane assembly is attached along the second end of the cantilever valve strut.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent that has flexible connecting links that have a strut width as measured in a direction that is generally along the surface of the stent that is smaller than the wall thickness of the stent as measured in a radial direction from the stent's longitudinal axis. The strut width for a coronary stent should be less than 0.10 mm to provide good flexibility while the wall thickness should be greater than 0.10 mm to provide good stent radiopacity. Ideally the ratio of the width to the thickness should be less than 1.0 and preferably less than 0.08 mm and the nominal wall thickness would typically be 0.12 mm. The combination of thin strut width and thick wall thickness will allow the flexible link to easily lengthen and shorten for increased stent flexibility while making the link relatively stiff with respect to bulging inward into the lumen of the stent. This stiffness enhances the ability of the link to push outward against plaque in a coronary artery after the stent is deployed.

Abstract: A stent design is disclosed which has a flexible connector which has flexible arcs and flexible struts aligned similarly to the radial arcs and radial struts, such that the alignment of the flexible connector within the stent decreases the likelihood of the stent's catching on a non-smooth surface.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a stent provides a folded strut section that provides both structural rigidity and reduction in foreshortening of the stent mechanism. A flexible section provides flexibility for delivery of the stent mechanism. In a second embodiment, flexible section columns are angled with respect to each other, and to the longitudinal axis of the stent. These relatively flexible sections are oppositely phased in order to negate any torsion along their length. In yet another embodiment, the flexible connector can take on an undulating shape (like an “N”), but such that the longitudinal axis of the connector is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stent. Finally, a new method is disclosed for making stents. The method consists of performing a standard photochemical machining process of cutting, cleaning and coating the tube with a photoresist.

Abstract: A medical device for placing a very small embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel comprising a positioning catheter having a distal tip for retaining a headpiece with an attached embolic coil such that when the catheter is pressurized with a fluid the distal tip of the catheter expands outwardly to release the headpiece and coil at the preselected position.

Abstract: A removable, low profile, vascular filter system for capture and retrieval of emboli while allowing continuous perfusion of blood, comprising a guidewire having proximal and distal markers, a filter delivery and deployment system, having an outer member and an inner member, and a filter removably attached near the distal end of the inner member. The filter comprises proximal and distal basket sleeves which position the filter between the proximal and distal markers on the guidewire, after the guidewire is in position past the vessel occlusion. The guidewire placement prior to filter delivery may facilitate access to the interventional site, especially through tortuous anatomy. Also, retrievability of the filter from the wire may avoid loss of guidewire position, which may occur following removal of filters permanently attached to guidewires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retrievable medical filter which can be placed in a blood vessel or other body passage. The filter has improved structural features for enhancing its performance, including deployment, filtration and position stability at the desired site, as well as retrievability. The filter may preferably have a hook structure that provides multiple retrieval surfaces, or may be provided with anchors for removably retaining the filter in position. A filter may be designed with one end being customized for retrieval and the other end being customized for position retention, in which case a cartridge may be provided to ensure proper orientation of the filter during delivery.