Abstract: A method for delivering a drug to the site of an intravascular occlusion. A guidewire having a balloon at one end is advanced across the occlusion using a guide catheter, and the balloon is inflated distal to the occlusion to occlude the blood vessel. An aspiration catheter is then inserted into the vessel with its tip less than about 5 mm from the surface of the balloon, and a drug is delivered which flows distal to proximal to treat the occlusion.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. Wire having enhanced radiopacity is included in the filter to provide visualization under fluoroscopy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously treating a tumor or cancerous growth with both hyperthermia and X-ray radiation using brachytherapy. The device includes a needle-like introducer serving as a microwave antenna. Microwaves are emitted from the introducer to increase the temperature of cancerous body tissue. The introducer is an inner conductor of a coaxial cable. The introducer contains a hollow core which houses an X-ray emitter. The X-ray emitter is connected to a high voltage miniature cable which extends from the X-ray emitter to a high voltage power source. The X-ray emitter emits ionizing radiation to irradiate cancerous tissue. A cooling system is included to control the temperature of the introducer. Temperature sensors placed around the periphery of the tumor monitor the temperature of the treated tissue.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an endovascular support device comprises providing a generally tubular member of an implantable material having a first, generally cylindrical outer surface and a second, generally cylindrical inner surface. At least a portion of the outer and inner surfaces of the tubular member are shaped in such a way to form a plurality of generally circular edgeless ring regions. Adjacent ring regions are connected together by one of a plurality of connecting regions. Openings are produced in the connecting regions in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and the generally tubular member is longitudinally expanded to form the support device.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for delivering a self-expanding stent. The device has an inner shaft and an outer shaft moveable with respect to the inner shaft. The self expanding stent is received on the inner shaft adjacent its distal end. A tapered tip is located on the inner shaft distal end and it forms a smooth transition from the delivery device to the guide wire extending therethrough. A handle allows the practitioner to deploy the stent single handedly. The stent may have its segments in a first radial configuration for deliver of the stent or the stent may have a plurality of segments in a first radial configuration and a plurality of second segments in a second radial position.

Abstract: Aspiration catheters suitable for use in the treatment of an occlusion in a blood vessel are disclosed. These catheters are especially useful in the removal of occlusions from saphenous vein grafts, the coronary and carotid arteries, arteries above the aortic arch and even smaller vessels. The catheters of the present invention are provided in either over-the-wire or in single operator form. Radiopaque markers are preferably incorporated into distal ends of the catheters to facilitate their positioning within the body. The catheters are provided with varying flexibility along the length of the shaft, such that they are soft and flexible enough to be navigated through the vasculature of a patient without causing damage, but are stiff enough to sustain the axial push required to position the catheter properly and to sustain the aspiration pressures.

Abstract: Coatings are provided in which biopolymers may be covalently linked to a substrate. Such biopolymers include those that impart thromboresistance and/or biocompatibility to the substrate, which may be a medical device. Coatings disclosed herein include those that permit coating of a medical device in a single layer, including coatings that permit applying the single layer without a primer. Suitable biopolymers include heparin complexes, and linkage may be provided by a silane having isocyanate functionality.

Abstract: An endovascular support device for treatment of chronic restenosis or other vascular narrowing is disclosed together with a method of manufacture and a method for delivering a plurality of such devices to an affected area of a vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the endovascular support device comprises a unitary wire-like structure configured to form a plurality of upper and lower peaks which may be compressed for delivery to an affected area of a coronary or peripheral vessel in a human, and then expanded to maintain a passageway through the vessel.

Abstract: An irritant or polymer is dispensed to the inner surface area of an aneurysm to exert a contractile force on the inner surface area of the aneurysm, thereby shrinking the aneurysm. As a result, the artery wall at the aneurysm site is strengthened, the risk of rupture is decreased, and at least a partial cure for the expansion of the arterial wall at the aneurysm site is provided.

Abstract: A structure and method for deploying an eyelet in a membrane, where the eyelet includes: a waist section; a first anchor section coupled to and flared from the waist section; and a second anchor section coupled to and flared from the waist section. The eyelet is deployed such that the waist section is located within a membrane opening of the membrane thus keeping the membrane opening open. Further, the membrane is sandwiched between the first and second anchor sections thus anchoring the eyelet to the membrane.

Abstract: A filter is deployed adjacent an occlusion in a vessel. A device including a stent and a sheath is advanced to the occlusion, the sheath is retracted to deploy the stent, and the stent is post dilated by a balloon of the device. The sheath is advanced through the deployed stent and over the balloon and over the filter. Since the balloon and the filter are enclosed within the sheath, any possibility of the balloon and/or the filter catching on the stent during retraction is eliminated.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a full-length inflation shaft and a guidewire shaft for fast catheter and guidewire exchange. The proximal portions of the inflation shaft and the guidewire shaft are detached from one another. The detached proximal shaft portions transition within a conversion portion of the catheter shaft and become coaxial within a distal portion of the catheter shaft. The proximal portion of the guidewire shaft may contain a continuous, longitudinally extending slot that acts as a guide member or guidewire track. Alternatively, the proximal portion of the guidewire shaft maybe removable from the catheter at a conversion joint via a snap-fit connection. Both embodiments allow for catheter exchange without removing the guidewire from a body lumen, or allow guidewire exchange without removing the catheter from the body lumen.

Abstract: Universal modular stented graft assemblies are assembled, on site, and often in a patient's parent artery, from at least two components; a first component and a second component. The first and second components each include a window, or fenestration. The second component couples with the first component by fitting at least partially in the first component to form the universal modular stent graft assembly with an adjustable collateral opening. As the first and second components are assembled, the first and second components are adjusted relative to each other so that the first and second component windows overlap to form a collateral opening whose size is selectable, depending on the overlap, with the desired position and dimensions in the universal modular stent graft assembly.

Abstract: A process for producing a low-profile, high-strength dilatation catheter balloon is disclosed. The process comprises forming a tubular extrudate and quenching said extrudate in a cryogenic fluid. The quenched extrudate has morphology of a largely disordered material. The crystallinity in the extrudate is no more than 15%. The crystallinity of the extrudate is measured using X-ray crystallography or DSC. The extrudate is further processed in a mold in which the extrudate is longitudinally and radially stretched. The stretched extrudate is finally attached as a balloon to the distal end of a catheter.

Abstract: An x-ray emitting system and method for administering a predetermined x-ray dose rate are provided. The system includes an x-ray emitter, a controller operably connected to the x-ray emitter, a current sensor operably connected to the controller, and a voltage sensor operably connected to the controller. The controller determines an actual dose rate based on a received current sensor signal and a received voltage sensor signal and adjusts a supplied voltage to allow the actual dose rate to match a predetermined dose rate. The method of operating a device for emitting x-rays includes: applying a voltage from a voltage source to the device, measuring current and voltage within the device, determining an actual dose rate based on the measured current and voltage, comparing a desired dose rate to the actual dose rate, adjusting the applied voltage, and matching the actual dose rate to the desired dose rate.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of a stenosis or an occlusion in a blood vessel in which an occlusive device is first delivered and activated at a site distal to the occlusion to at least partially occlude the vessel. A therapy catheter is then introduced to treat the occlusion and a debris removal device is delivered to aspirate debris from the vessel. The present invention eliminates the need for a separate irrigation catheter and irrigation fluid which allows the procedure to be performed quickly and efficiently, and is especially useful in the removal of occlusion from saphenous vein grafts, the coronary and carotid arteries, arteries above the aortic arch and vessels of similar size and pressure.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes an inflation shaft and an elongated guidewire shaft. A relatively short, distal portion of the guidewire shaft is attached to, or enveloped within, a distal portion of the inflation shaft. A proximal portion of the guidewire shaft is detached from and independent of a proximal portion of the inflation shaft. The detached portion of the guidewire shaft contains perforations at pre-determined points along its length that define removable segments thereof. The removable segments remain attached to the guidewire shaft under normal conditions, but may be torn away from the guidewire shaft to provide access to a guidewire within a guidewire lumen thereof.

Abstract: A catheter and guide wire exchange system including a catheter having a guide wire lumen with a guide way extending along the length of a stiffened proximal shaft portion, and a guide member slidably disposed about the proximal shaft for directing a guide wire into or out of the guide way and the guide wire lumen. The guide member may be slid along the proximal shaft portion and the guide wire in zipper-like fashion so that the guide wire is contained within the guide wire lumen distal to the guide member and with the guide wire and catheter being separated proximal of the guide member.

Abstract: A catheter for emitting radiation is disclosed, comprising a catheter shaft and an x-ray unit attached to the distal end of the catheter shaft. The x-ray unit comprises an anode and a cathode coupled to an insulator to define a vacuum chamber. The cathode is preferably a field emission cathode of graphite or graphite coated with titanium carbide, for example. The anode is preferably tungsten and the insulator is preferably pyrolytic boron nitride. The x-ray unit is preferably coupled to a voltage source through a coaxial cable. The anode is preferably a heavy metal such as tungsten. The cathode may also be a ferroelectric material. The x-ray unit can have a diameter less than about 4 mm and a length less than about 15 mm. Methods of use of the catheter are also disclosed. The catheter of the present invention can be used to irradiate the site of an angioplasty procedure to prevent restenosis. It can also be used to treat other conditions in any vessel, lumen or cavity of the body.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a one-piece shaft and a guidewire track for use of a guidewire that runs along an outer surface of the one-piece shaft adjacent to a longitudinal central axis of the one-piece shaft. The one-piece shaft has an inflation lumen formed therein. The one-piece shaft is formed to include a substantially C-shaped cross section, which has two endpoints and forms the guidewire track. The dimensions of the wall thicknesses between the inflation lumen and the guidewire track may be varied to help maintain the guidewire track and the gap between the endpoints of the C-shaped cross section such that a guidewire is maintained on the guidewire track and does not traverse the gap. In addition, a reinforcement may be included in the single lumen shaft to maintain the integrity of the guidewire track.