Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method of treating an opthalmic disease affecting an eye of a patient comprising forming a covalently-crosslinked hydrogel in situ at a peri-ocular, intra-ocular, or intra-vitreal site for controlled release of a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device comprises one or more support hoops connected near a distal end of a guide wire, each support hoop having an articulation region, and a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop or hoops to form a mouth of the blood permeable sac. The mouth of the sac closes when the apparatus is collapsed for removal to prevent material from escaping from the sac.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method of treating an opthalmic disease affecting an eye of a patient comprising forming a covalently-crosslinked hydrogel in situ at a peri-ocular, intra-ocular, or intra-vitreal site for controlled release of a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sealing a puncture through tissue or otherwise treating a body lumen of a patient. The carrier includes at least one, but not all, of the adherent layer components required to form a tacky or sticky adherent layer on the carrier. The remaining adherent layer precursor(s) are delivered to the carrier in situ to form a sticky and/or tacky adherent layer on the carrier that enhances the attachment and retention of the carrier to tissue surrounding a target treatment location in which the carrier is delivered. The carrier may include hydrogel and/or other porous material, e.g., for releasing one or more agents carried by the carrier at the treatment location.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making freeze dried hydrogel and structures therefrom that may be introduced into a patient's body for medical applications. Precursor components are combined to initiate crosslinking. The combined precursor components are placed in a chilled tray, and allowed to crosslink to a desired level of complete crosslinking before and/or after being placed onto the tray. The partially crosslinked hydrogel is frozen and freeze dried. After freeze drying, the hydrogel is conditioned to substantially complete crosslinking, and formed into one or more structures, e.g., plugs, hemostatic, or other medical devices. For example, the hydrogel may be cut, machined, rolled, folded, compressed, and/or cored into that may be loaded into delivery devices that may be introduced into a body to implant or otherwise deliver the structures into the body, e.g., to seal a puncture or other passage through tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device comprises one or more support hoops connected near a distal end of a guide wire, each support hoop having an articulation region, and a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop or hoops to form a mouth of the blood permeable sac. The mouth of the sac closes when the apparatus is collapsed for removal to prevent material from escaping from the sac.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device comprises one or more support hoops connected near a distal end of a guide wire, each support hoop having an articulation region, and a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop or hoops to form a mouth of the blood permeable sac. The mouth of the sac closes when the apparatus is collapsed for removal to prevent material from escaping from the sac.

Abstract: A method of preparing a fibrinogen rich composition is disclosed. One embodiment of the method involves contacting plasma with a hydrogel capable of increasing in mass upon contact with said plasma; maintaining said contact for a period of time sufficient for said hydrogel to absorb a substantial amount of at least the water from said plasma to produce a swollen hydrogel and a fibrinogen rich phase; and separating said fibrinogen rich phase from said swollen hydrogel; whereby said fibrinogen rich composition is produced.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device comprises one or more support hoops connected near a distal end of a guide wire, each support hoop having an articulation region, and a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop or hoops to form a mouth of the blood permeable sac. The mouth of the sac closes when the apparatus is collapsed for removal to prevent material from escaping from the sac.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device disposed on a guidewire comprises a support hoop disposed from a suspension strut. Alternately, a support hoop having an articulation region may be directly connected to a region proximate the distal end of the guidewire. A blood permeable sac is affixed to the support hoop to form a mouth of the blood permeable sac. The support hoop is disposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the guidewire and is capable of being properly used in a wide range of vessel diameters. The vascular device collapses during removal to prevent material from escaping from the sac. A delivery sheath and introducer sheath for use with the vascular device of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for retrieving a vascular filter from a vessel are provided wherein a retrieval adapter is delivered to a treatment site concurrently along with an interventional device to reduce the number of steps required to remove the vascular filter. The retrieval adapter also reduces the possibility of entangling the vascular filter with a stent disposed within the vessel during removal of the vascular filter. A separate retrieval catheter is also described for use in conjunction with the retrieval adapter.

Abstract: Certain embodiments include a method of improvising radiological outcomes by introducing a filler to between a first tissue location and a second tissue location to increase a distance between the first tissue location and the second tissue location, and administering a dose of radioactivity to at least the first tissue location or the second tissue location. Collagen and hyaluronic acid are examples of fillers. Certain embodiments include a medical device having a biocompatible, biodegradable filler material, wherein the device comprises at least a portion that has a shape that substantially conforms to Denovillier's space between the rectum and prostate. Certain embodiments include a kit, the kit comprising a filler and instructions for placing the filler between a first tissue location and a second tissue location to increase a distance between the first tissue location and the second tissue location.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel such as the ascending aorta, wherein a vascular device comprises a support hoop having an articulation region connected near a distal end of an elongated member, a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop so that the support hoop forms a mouth of the blood permeable sac, a guide wire, and a delivery sheath. The articulation region comprises a reduced thickness region of the support hoop that prevents kinks from forming in the support hoop when the apparatus is contracted to its delivery state, and curved regions that close the mouth of the sac to prevent material escaping from the sac when the apparatus is collapsed for removal.

Abstract: Pharmaceutically acceptable hydrogel polymers of natural, recombinant or synthetic origin, or hybrids thereof, are introduced in a dry, less hydrated, or substantially deswollen state and rehydrate in a physiological environment to undergo a volumetric expansion and to affect sealing, plugging, or augmentation of tissue, defects in tissue, or of organs. The hydrogel polymers may deliver therapeutic entities by controlled release at the site. Methods to form useful devices from such polymers, and to implant the devices are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering a stent into an ostium. The apparatus includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end, and proximal and distal balloons disposed adjacent one another on the distal end. The balloons are expandable independently of one another, and a stent is provided surrounding the balloons. During use, the distal end of the catheter is introduced into a main lumen, and the proximal balloon is inflated to flare a proximal portion of the stent. The distal end is then advanced into the ostium until the flared proximal portion contacts a wall of the main lumen surrounding the ostium. The distal balloon is inflated to expand a distal portion of the stent, e.g., to dilate a lesion within the branch and/or ostium. Thereafter, the balloons are collapsed, and the apparatus is withdrawn, leaving the stent within the ostium.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for retrieving a vascular filter from a vessel are provided wherein a retrieval adapter is delivered to a treatment site concurrently along with an interventional device to reduce the number of steps required to remove the vascular filter. The retrieval adapter also reduces the possibility of entangling the vascular filter with a stent disposed within the vessel during removal of the vascular filter. A separate retrieval catheter is also described for use in conjunction with the retrieval adapter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel and/or performing thrombectomy and embolectomy, wherein a vascular device disposed on a guidewire comprises a support hoop disposed from a suspension strut. Alternately, a support hoop having an articulation region may be directly connected to a region proximate the distal end of the guidewire. A blood permeable sac is affixed to the support hoop to form a mouth of the blood permeable sac. The support hoop is disposed obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis of the guidewire and is capable of being properly used in a wide range of vessel diameters. The vascular device collapses during removal to prevent material from escaping from the sac. A delivery sheath and introducer sheath for use with the vascular device of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention include forming a material in situ by introducing into a space within a patient a water soluble polymer precursor of at least about 10,000 molecular weight solubilized in a flowable aqueous solution. Functional groups on the polymer precursor undergo covalent bonding in situ to form a solid and nonbiodegradable material having a swellability less than about 20% v/v and a Young's modulus of at least about 100 kPa within about 30 seconds to about 30 minutes of initiating a chemical reaction of the functional groups to form the solid material.

Abstract: Vascular embolic filtering systems, as well as methods for using the same, are provided. In general, the subject invention includes a system comprised of a delivery and retrieval sheath adapted for delivering and retrieving multiple embolic filters, wherein the embolic filters are each operatively coupled to a distal region of a filter wire segment and are deployable within a target vessel.