Abstract: A vascular or cardiovascular medical device for placement at a site in a patient's body and for controlling pH levels at the site in the patient's body includes one or more structural components made of a biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, or alternatively, a coating thereon made of a biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. A buffering agent is provided on or in the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and the buffering agent is dispersed from the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material in response to hydrolysis of the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. Additionally, the vascular or cardiovascular medical device can include a drug that is included with the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. The vascular or cardiovascular medical device can also be a stent or a valve.

Abstract: Devices and methods for their use in percutaneously increasing the aortic valve flow of a stenotic aortic valve are provided. The subject devices include an aortic valve isolation element, a shunt element and an aortic valve flushing element. Also provided are systems and kits that include the subject devices and can be employed in practicing the subject methods. The subject devices, methods, systems and kits find use in treating conditions associated with the presence of stenotic aortic valves.

Abstract: Methods of preparing devices for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a target vessel in a mammal, the devices prepared by such methods, and uses of such devices for delivering a therapeutic agent, such as an antiproliferative agent, to a target vessel.

Abstract: Medical catheters are often coated, fully or partially. The present invention relates to systems and methods for coating some portion or all of a medical catheter or one or more of its components.

Abstract: A reduced deployment force delivery apparatus having an outer sheath with two layers that move relative to one another so as to reduce the deployment force necessary for deploying a stent, stent graft or other intraluminal device.

Abstract: A biocompatible solid-solution alloy may be formed into any number of implantable medical devices. The solid-solution alloy comprises a combination of elements in specific ratios that make it magnetic resonance imaging compatible while retaining the characteristics required for implantable medical devices. The biocompatible solid-solution alloy is a cobalt-chromium alloy having substantially reduced iron, silicon, phosphorus and sulfur content.

Abstract: A medical device for placement at a site in a patient's body and for controlling pH levels at the site in the patient's body includes one or more structural components made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material or, alternatively, one or more structural components having a coating thereon made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. The device also includes a buffering agent and at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material on or in the one or more structural components, or alternatively, on or in the coating on the one or more structural components. The at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material encapsulates the buffering agent and the buffering agent is dispersed from the at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material in response to hydrolysis of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an implant within a lumen or passageway is provided. The apparatus comprises a flexible, hollow outer member having an elongated section that is inserted into and navigated through the lumen of passageway. The implant is mounted within the distal end of the elongated section. An elongated fluid chamber is defined within the outer member between two valves or seals. The valves or seals permit fluid flow in a pre-determined direction during loading of fluid into the chamber, but prevent fluid to exit the chamber during deployment of the implant. A shaft is in contact with the proximal end of the fluid column. During deployment, the shaft is held in a fixed position and the outer member actuated in a proximal direction. The implant exerts compressive forces on the outer member as it is actuated proximally. These forces are transmitted to the fluid column which resists buckling.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a radiographic contrasting agent containing multiple aromatic groups, each of which is substituted with at least three halogen atoms. The radiographic contrasting agent can initiate a polymerization process. The present invention also discloses a radio-opaque polymeric material that comprises a biodegradable polymer having at least one radiographic contrasting moiety covalently attached thereto. The radio-opaque polymeric material provides enhanced contrasting intensity in radiographic imaging. The radio-opaque polymeric material can be applied on at least a portion of one surface of a medical device. The radio-opaque polymeric material can also be used to construct a medical device, a component thereof, or a portion of a component thereof.

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 comprising a proximal and distal anchors formed from a lattice of interconnected elements, and having a substantially cylindrical configuration with first and second open ends and a longitudinal axis extending there between. One or more cantilevered valve struts are attached directly or indirectly to the proximal anchor. The stent based valve also comprises one or more connecting members attached between the proximal and distal anchors. A biocompatible valve assembly is coaxially disposed and attached to the proximal anchor and extends in the longitudinal direction along the one or more connecting members.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a high intensity radiopaque contrast agent is disclosed. The agent may be coated on or incorporated within bulk materials, which may then be subsequently utilized to fabricate a radiopaque medical device. Primary effects through chemistry include higher radiopaque concentrations per unit weight of the radiopaque element or agent. Secondary effects include selective placement of the radiopaque elements which may further enhance the radiopacity of the device with reduced requirements of the radiopaque agent. Such a radiopaque contrast agent may be produced in various forms such as a dendrimer and/or incorporated as the end groups of polymeric chain. In addition one can incorporate biological and/or pharmaceutical agents in combination with the present invention.

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. In addition, these therapeutic drugs, agents and/or compounds may be utilized to promote healing, including the formation of blood clots. Also, the devices may be modified to promote endothelialization. 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 orifice device for delivering a drug includes an inner member having a proximal end and a distal end. A winding is helically wound around the inner member. The winding and the inner member define a first channel for carrying a drug therethrough. An inlet is at the proximal end of the winding and an outlet is at the distal end of the winding.

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing the mineral content of a region of non-intimal vascular tissue are provided. In the subject methods, an isolated local environment that includes the region to be demineralized is produced. The pH of the local environment is then reduced to a subphysiologic level, e.g. by flushing with an acidic dissolution fluid, for a period of time sufficient for the mineral content of the region to be reduced. The devices of the subject invention are characterized by comprising a means for producing an isolated local environment that includes a non-intimal region of vascular tissue. Also provided are kits for practicing the subject methods.

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: An aneurysmal repair system that utilizes a modified apex and delivery device is designed for accurate endoprosthesis delivery and deployment. The modified apex utilizes segments that overlap and hold one another down as well as the fixation barbs attached thereto. The delivery device holds or secures at least one section of the apex and may be easily released by retraction of a hold down member.

Abstract: A method for pre-loading an implant delivery apparatus and for delivering an implant is provided. An implant is mounted within the distal end of an elongated section of a delivery apparatus. After the implant is mounted within the elongated section, fluid is drawn into a chamber within the delivery apparatus that is proximal to the implant. This is accomplished by drawing fluid, such as a biocompatible liquid, into the chamber by applying pressure to a port. The fluid is trapped inside the chamber forming a liquid column. The elongated section is advanced through a lumen or passageway delivering the implant to a desired location. A shaft, which is in communication with the fluid column, is held stationary and the elongated section retracted deploying the implant. As the elongated section is retracted, the implant exerts forces upon the elongated section that are transmitted to the fluid column which resists buckling.

Abstract: Isomers and 42-epimers of rapamycin alkyl ether analogs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof, are immunomodulatory agents and are useful in the treatment of restenosis and immune and autoimmune diseases. Also disclosed are cancer-, fungal growth-, restenosis-, post-transplant tissue rejection- and immune- and autoimmune disease-inhibiting compositions and a method of inhibiting cancer, fungal growth, restenosis, post-transplant tissue rejection, and immune and autoimmune disease in a mammal. One particular preferred application of such isomers and 42-epimers of rapamycin alkyl ether analogs is in medicated devices and local vascular delivery wherein the stability and lipid solubility and subsequently diffusion through tissue and cell membranes are essential to the success of rapamycin containing combination devices.

Abstract: Processes for coating implantable medical devices that improve the stability of therapeutic agents contained within the coating.

Abstract: 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.