Abstract: A balloon catheter for performing an angioplasty procedure on a lesion in a vessel comprising a flexible elongate catheter shaft having proximal and distal extremities. A balloon is secured to the distal extremity of the catheter shaft and has an outer surface extending between proximal and distal extremities of the balloon. A flexible elongate element is provided which extends over the outer surface of the balloon. The flexible elongate element has proximal and distal extremities which are secured about the catheter shaft in positions spaced longitudinally away from the outer surface of the balloon to permit expansion of the balloon and to cause movement of the flexible elongate element into engagement with the lesion to form a longitudinal channel in the lesion.

Abstract: A dilation catheter having a catheter shaft with an inner lumen for receiving a guidewire and an inflatable balloon member located at the distal portion of the shaft in fluid communication with the inner lumen. The catheter includes a distal seal disposed within the inner lumen of the shaft. The distal seal allows for movement of the guidewire relative to the inner lumen, while also providing for a fluid tight seal around the guidewire, independent of fluid pressure within the lumen, thereby both restricting a patient's blood from passing into the inner lumen and restricting media from the inner lumen from passing into the patient's bloodstream. A valve is located along the catheter shaft and adapted to engage the guidewire and provide for a fluid tight seal around the guidewire when fluid under pressure is applied to the interior of the balloon member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination device comprising two catheters, or a dual catheter assembly, for use in vascular procedures wherein the shaft of the first catheter functions as a guidewire for the second catheter. The dual catheter assembly comprises a first balloon catheter and a second balloon catheter wherein the second balloon catheter is slidably disposed on the shaft of the first balloon. In preferred embodiments, the first catheter is a low profile balloon on a wire catheter and the second catheter is a full size balloon catheter having a plurality of balloons mounted thereon. Optionally, a stent is carried by at least one of the balloons on the second catheter. In more preferred embodiments, the second catheter includes a manifold that may be used to inflate and deflate any combination of the plurality of balloons via a single port.

Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices of aliphatic polyketone polymers and/or polyketone polymer compositions comprising at least one aliphatic polyketone and at least one plasticizer. Also disclosed are polyketone compositions that comprise at least one aliphatic polyketone and at least one plasticizer.

Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices including a composition that includes an aliphatic polyketone and a thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: A guide wire having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic including a core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The distal extremity has a reduced cross sectional area which is more flexible than the proximal extremity. A tip is secured to the distal extremity of the core wire. A sleeve of superelastic material is disposed coaxially on the distal extremity of the core wire. The sleeve is annealed so that it is relatively flexible at a temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. and becomes progressively stiffer as temperature increases. The core wire conducts electrical energy to the superelastic sleeve to supply heat to the sleeve and extends from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the sleeve to cause the sleeve to become stiffer to thereby increase the stiffness of the distal extremity of the guide wire.

Abstract: A method for performing an angioplasty procedure for treating one or more stenoses in a blood vessel and branches thereof of a patient using a low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter which has a flexible elongate tubular member with proximal and distal extremities and a removable inflation device removably secured to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The method comprises the steps of inserting the balloon-on-a-wire catheter into the vessel so that the balloon is disposed in a selected stenosis in the vessel. The removable inflation device is placed on the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member so that it is in communication with the lumen in the flexible elongate tubular member. The balloon is inflated to create an enlarged flow passage through the selected stenosis. The removable inflation device is removed from the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member.

Abstract: A multiple balloon catheter for use in a vessel of a patient and for use with an inflation/deflation device. A flexible elongate tubular member with proximal and distal extremities has a distal balloon mounted on the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. Coaxial inner and outer balloons are mounted on the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member proximal of the distal balloon. The flexible elongate tubular member has balloon inflation lumens therein in communication with the interiors of the distal balloon and the inner and outer coaxial balloons. A manifold is secured to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member in communication with the inflation lumens and is adjusted to be coupled to the inflation/deflation device. Valves are carried by the inflation/deflation manifold for inflating the distal balloon in the inner and outer coaxial balloons one at a time or in unison without removal of the inflation/deflation device from the manifold.

Abstract: A low profile, balloon-on-a-wire catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities. A balloon inflation-deflation lumen extends from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. An inflatable balloon is carried by the distal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The flexible elongate tubular member carries means which establishes communication between the lumen and the interior of the inflatable balloon. A removable inflation device is removably secured to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member for supplying an inflation fluid to the lumen for inflating and deflating the balloon. The removable inflation device forms a high pressure seal with the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The removable inflation device is free of obstructions so that another balloon catheter can be advanced over the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member which serves as a stand-alone guide wire.

Abstract: A guide wire having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic comprising a core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The distal extremity has a reduced cross sectional area which is more flexible than the proximal extremity. A tip secured to the distal extremity of the core wire. A sleeve of superelastic material is disposed coaxially on the distal extremity of the core wire. The sleeve is annealed so that it is relatively flexible at a temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. and becomes progressively stiffer as temperature increases. The core wire conducts electrical energy to the superelastic sleeve to supply heat to the sleeve and extends from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the sleeve to cause the sleeve to become stiffer to thereby increase the stiffness of the distal extremity of the guide wire.