Abstract: A stent which is adapted for placement in the vessels of a human body is provided. The stent may be in the form of a thin-walled metal cylinder having a longitudinal axis. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a number of circumferentially relatively rigid portions. The relatively rigid portions are joined to each other by one or more longitudinals which extend in a substantially longitudinal direction. At least a portion of at least one of the longitudinals has an undulating shape where a first relatively rigid portion is located at the proximal end of the stent and a second relatively rigid portion is located at the distal end of the stent.

Abstract: A stent in the form of a thin-walled, multi-cellular tubular structure is provided. The tubular structure has a longitudinal axis and the stent includes a plurality of circumferential sets of strut members. Each set of the strut members is longitudinally displaced from each other and connected to each other by longitudinally extending links. Each set of the strut members forms a closed and cylindrical portion of the stent. Further, each set of the strut members includes a plurality of connected curve sections and diagonal sections. The sets of the strut members further include end sets of strut members located at each end of the stent and central sets of strut members located between the end sets of the strut members. The diagonal sections of the end sets of the strut members have a center portion and two ends.

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 radioactive substance absorber is incorporated into an intravascular radiotherapy source ribbon assembly to prevent the migration of radioactive matter throughout the assembly container. The radioactive substance absorber comprises carbon in various forms and configurations. The radioactive substance absorber is positioned in proximity to the source core and absorbs radioactive materials which break free from the source core, thereby containing the radioactive material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stent having improved characteristics of its structural design and improved radiopacity characteristics. Specifically, the present invention is a stent that has circumferential sets of strut members at the ends of the stent and central sets of strut members that are longitudinally placed between the end sets of strut members. Optimal radiopacity is achieved when the end sets of strut members are more radiopaque as compared to the radiopacity of the central sets of strut members. Also disclosed is the concept of adjusting the strut width of the curved sections of the end and central sets of strut members so that equal strain in all curved sections is achieved as the stent is expanded even though the diagonals sections of the end sets of strut members are shorter than the diagonal sections of the central sets of strut members.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter has a relatively stiff and strong proximal cannula made of a material such as for example metal hypotubing. The distal end of the catheter includes an inflatable medical device or balloon, an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen. A transition assembly is positioned between the proximal cannula and the distal end section. This transition assembly has a stiffening member within a transition tube, and provides for a flexible transition between the two components of diverse stiffness, namely the proximal cannula and the flexible distal end portion. A proximal end of the stiffening member may float within a distal end of the proximal cannula, but the stiffening member distal end is affixed to the shaft. The dilatation catheter may have a rapid exchange configuration, and is generally used in conjunction with a guiding catheter.

Abstract: A stent-graft for insertion into a body lumen, such as a blood vessel, is utilized in order to repair such lumen. The stent-graft includes a substantially cylindrical hollow expandable stent comprising a plurality of interconnected struts. The stent has a distal end and a proximal end, and an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one strut of the stent has first and second apertures extending therethrough from the interior surface to the exterior surface. The stent-graft also includes a graft member covering a predetermined portion of least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the stent. In addition, the stent-graft further includes a staple for attaching the graft member to the stent. The staple has a crown and two legs extending therefrom. At least one of the legs of the staple extends through the graft material and through the first aperture. Both of the legs are bent inwardly towards said crown such that they evert back and extend through the second aperture.

Abstract: A integral vascular filter system comprising a guidewire and an integral filter which can be used to capture embolic particulates during medical procedures, while allowing for continuous perfusion of blood, with minimal incremental blood flow turbulence. The vascular filter system addresses the clinical problem of minimizing profile or diameter, so as to enable or facilitate the crossing of a lesion or obstruction in the vessel, while also minimizing incremental blood flow turbulence which may result in thrombus formation.

Abstract: The invention provides an attachment member for anchoring a graft system at a desired location in a vessel of a patient's vascular system. The attachment member comprises a cranial zone having a first radial strength, a caudal zone having a second radial strength, and an intermediate zone having multiple joining longitudinal struts located between and connecting the cranial and caudal zones. The intermediate zone has a third radial strength which is less than the first and second radial strengths, and the cranial and caudal zones are formed from a self-expanding material capable of expanding from a first delivery configuration to a second deployed configuration. The invention also provides an endovascular graft system, a method for deploying an aortic attachment member, and a method for repairing an aneurysm in an aorta.

Abstract: An improved balloon catheter which includes a purge mechanism for purging air from the catheter prior to use. The purge mechanism is sized to allow air to pass through, but highly restricts the flow of liquids. Air remaining in the catheter after purging is allowed to diffuse through the balloon prior to use. The mechanism is especially useful with low-pressure, gas-permeable, compliant balloons.

Abstract: A plurality of expandable and deformable intraluminal vascular grafts are expanded within a blood vessel by an angioplasty balloon associated with a catheter to dilate and expand the lumen of a blood vessel. The grafts may be thin-walled tubular members having a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members, and adjacent grafts are flexibly connected by a single connector member disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members.

Abstract: A stent-graft for insertion into a body vessel of a patient includes a hollow substantially cylindrical radially expandable stent having a body, two open ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The body of the stent is made from a plurality of interconnected struts. The stent-graft further includes a graft member attached to the body of the stent, wherein the graft member has a plurality of substantially longitudinally directed pleats disposed thereon. The graft further includes a plurality of radially oriented pleat interruptions disposed thereon.

Abstract: A therapeutic agent is applied to an internal tissue site of a patient by advancing typically a catheter into the patient to cause a portion of the catheter, typically a catheter balloon, to occupy the internal site. The balloon portion of the catheter carries the therapeutic agent, usually mixed with a controlled release carrier for the agent, typically on an outer surface of the section, to permit release thereof from the catheter balloon at the internal tissue site so that the therapeutic agent is locally applied to the internal tissue site.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device for placement at a predetermined location within a vessel of the human body, and more particularly, relates to a collapsible aneurysm embolization device that is delivered through the lumen of a catheter and exits the catheter at a predetermined position within the vessel to thereby embolize a blood vessel defect, such as an aneurysm.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent delivery system for medical treatment of a patient has a rapid exchange configuration. The system includes a stent, a proximal and distal shaft section, a cartridge for holding the stent compressed until deployment, a stabilizer for holding the stent in position as an outer sheath is retracted, and a flexible tapered introducer tip. The stent is mounted about the distal shaft section and compressed to an initial diameter within the cartridge. The introducer tip is affixed to the distal end of the catheter system. A guidewire may be back-loaded into a distal port at the catheter system distal end. The guidewire extends through a guidewire tube through the location of the stent, and escapes through a proximal guidewire port, which is located at a point intermediate the catheter system proximal and distal ends.

Abstract: An apparatus for stenting a vessel comprises a stent having a lattice of interconnecting elements defining a substantially cylindrical configuration having a first open end and a second open end wherein the lattice is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In one embodiment, the stent includes a plurality of interlocking bridges. In a second embodiment, the stent includes a plurality of interlocking struts. The apparatus further includes a catheter having an inner sleeve and an expandable member on the inner sleeve wherein the expandable member is movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. For either embodiment, the stent is secured to the catheter over the expandable member when the expandable member is in the collapsed state and the stent is in the locked configuration. The stent is separated from the catheter when the expandable member is in the expanded state and the stent is in the open configuration.

Abstract: An emboli extraction catheter and vascular filter system comprising a guidewire, a vascular filter attached near the distal end of the guidewire, and an emboli extraction catheter. The vascular filter has a smaller first diameter for insertion into the lumen of a vessel, and a second larger diameter for expanding to substantially equal the diameter of the lumen and to be placed in generally sealing relationship with the lumen. The emboli extraction catheter is a flexible catheter comprising a hub attached to the proximal end of the catheter. The hub further comprises a sideport and means for maintaining a seal on the guidewire. The emboli extraction catheter can be used to aspirate embolic particulates, so as to avoid their accidental release after they are captured in a vascular filter, and can also be used to empty full vascular filters of embolic particulates which may block distal flow.

Abstract: An improved balloon catheter which comprises an outer catheter body, an inner catheter body, and an inflatable balloon disposed between the inner catheter body and the outer catheter body. The inner catheter body is attached to the outer catheter body at a plurality of regions, or tack junctions, which join the two catheter bodies and thereby prevent any longitudinal shift between the two catheter bodies as the catheter is advanced into a blood vessel. The improved catheter body is sufficiently flexible to navigate through a highly tortuous vasculature.

Abstract: Delivery of rapamycin locally, particularly from intravascular stent, directly from micropores in the stent body or mixed or bound to a polymer coating applied on stent, to inhibit neointimal tissue proliferation and thereby prevent restenosis. This invention also facilitates the performance of the stent in inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: A stent which is adapted for placement in the vessels of a human body is provided. The stent may be in the form of a thin-walled metal cylinder having a longitudinal axis. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a number of circumferentially relatively rigid portions. The relatively rigid portions are joined to each other by one or mor longitudinals which extend in a substantially longitudinal direction. At least a portion of at least one of the longitudinals has an undulating shape where a first relatively rigid portion is located at the proximal end of the stent and a second relatively rigid portion is located at the distal end of the stent.