Abstract: A device suitable for insertion into a body and for delivery of x-ray radiation, comprising a connector, a diamond vacuum housing coupled to a distal portion of the connector, an anode and cathode, disposed within the vacuum housing and arranged to enable the production of x-ray radiation. Also, a device suitable for insertion into a body and for delivery of x-ray radiation including a vacuum housing coupled to a distal portion of a connector where the vacuum housing has a diameter of less than 2.5 mm. A method of fabricating a miniature x-ray emitter by constructing a structure of diamond that defines a vacuum chamber and encases a cathode and an anode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device and a method of use to enable catheter exchange over a conventional length guidewire without the use of a guidewire extension or exchange wire. The catheter device includes an elongated inflation shaft having a longitudinal inflation lumen, an extension shaft having a longitudinal extension lumen coupled in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a balloon member disposed at the distal end of the extension shaft and in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, a guidewire shaft having a longitudinal guidewire lumen which extends from the distal end of the balloon member, through the balloon member and extension shaft, to the proximal end of the extension shaft, and a variable length shaft coupled to the proximal end of the extension shaft. The variable length shaft comprises an elastomeric material which may be stretched from a relaxed state of about 10 centimeters to a fully extended state of about 140 centimeters.

Abstract: An endovascular support assembly, or stent assembly, and a covered endovascular support assembly, or stent-graft assembly, with caps on either or both ends for improved and uniform deployment of the assembly. Additionally, the caps serve to capture the graft material between the caps and the endovascular support device or stent.

Abstract: An expandable braid device attached to a guidewire acts to both house radiation and to expose a stenosis site to such radiation as a function of the braid's collapsed or deployed configuration. The expandable braid device, in a closed configuration, shields a radioactive inner core of the braid as it is advanced to and located at a stenosis site and, in an expanded configuration, exposes the radioactive inner core to the stenosis site in order to irradiate such site.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter used for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The anchor joint of the inner tube and outer tube is permit distal movement of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube while precluding proximal movement of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube. The outer tube is not immovably secured to the inner tube but, rather, may be slidably disposed on the inner tube. The distal end of the outer tube may be tapered to reduced diameter that permits the tapered portion to move longitudinally with respect to the inner tube. The inner tube is provided with an abutment member against which an abutment surface to the outer tube may abut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a syringe device for limiting the pressure of inflation fluid injected into a balloon catheter. The device includes a cylindrical housing having a proximal end and a distal end. A piston is received within and reciprocally movable between the distal end and the proximal end of the housing. A shaft having a proximal end and a distal end is received within an opening at the proximal end of the housing. The distal end of the shaft is coupled to the piston and the proximal end of the shaft is coupled via a slip clutch device to a hand knob. At least a portion of the external surface of the shaft is fitted with a screw thread, which may be selectively engaged with a complementary screw thread fitted either within the opening at the proximal end of the housing or a collar coupled to the housing.

Abstract: A filter for filtering micro-emboli from a patient's blood during an angioplasty procedure is disclosed which comprises a plurality of curved wires connected to a rod between a first connector fixed with respect to the rod and a second connector slidingly mounted on the rod. Two layers of filter material are connected to opposite sides of the wires, and each layer includes perforations which are offset from the perforations in the other layer. When the rod and the wires are disposed within a catheter, the inner wall of the catheter compresses the wires toward the rod and when the rod is extended from the catheter, the wires resume their curved shape and pull the sliding connector along the rod toward the fixed connector.

Abstract: A catheter introducer sheath comprises a polyimide tube manufactured by a dispersion coating process. The inner diameter of the tube is constant over its entire length. The thickness of the tube is 0.005 inches which is an optimal compromise between the size or outer diameter of the sheath and its ability to resist kinking when inserted into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catheter device and method of use for exchanging a catheter having a full-length guidewire lumen over a conventional-length guidewire without the use of a guidewire extension or an exchange wire. The catheter device includes an elongated shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen extending longitudinally throughout its length, and a hydraulic exchange lumen extending from the proximal end of the shaft and terminating proximal the distal end of the shaft, wherein the hydraulic exchange lumen is in fluid communication with the guidewire lumen. A balloon is coupled to the distal section of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. A flow guiding member is disposed within the guiding catheter and functions to redirect the distal flow of pressurized fluid traveling through the hydraulic exchange lumen in a proximal direction through the guidewire lumen.

Abstract: A multilayer high strength balloon for a dilatation catheter is provided. The balloon comprises a plurality of balloon layers, including an inner layer which has a cylindrical midportion, a cone at each end, and necks at the ends of the cones, and at least one additional layer which has the cylindrical midportion and cones. Each layer is formed from a polymeric material, and perhaps an inelastic, biaxially oriented, thermoplastic material. Preferably, one or more of the balloon layers is blow molded and stretched to biaxially orient the material to form a very high strength layer. The layers have differing lengths along the catheter to which the multilayer balloon is coupled. The multilayer balloon resulting from the plurality of balloon layers, of which one or more has been biaxially oriented, is stronger than a single layer balloon of the same finished diameter which has been made from the same material with comparable thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for limiting the pressure of inflation fluid injected into a drug delivery catheter balloon, while permitting continuous and uninterrupted flow of such fluid to the balloon. The apparatus includes an elongated hollow housing having a fluid entrance, a fluid exit and a bore extending therebetween which forms an interconnecting chamber and passageway. A piston and piston shaft assembly is disposed inside the housing and is longitudinally movable within the chamber. The piston and piston shaft assembly is biased against the fluid pressure of the fluid entering the housing by a spring. The piston shaft has a distal end which extends toward the passageway inlet. As the incoming fluid pressure increases and approaches the predetermined maximum pressure level of the apparatus, the piston shaft distal end moves within the chamber against the biasing force of the spring toward a position adjacent the passageway inlet.

Abstract: Endovascular stents capable of being cut from a flat piece of material are described. The endovascular stents may be bioabsorbable, multilayered and may have structural configurations allowing them to maintain low profiles in vivo. Methods of manufacturing endovascular stents and methods of using endovascular stents are also described.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive balloon catheter includes a material that undergoes a visible color change when exposed to the pressures experienced in an angioplasty or a stent placement procedure. By removing the balloon catheter and verifying the color change and the patterns of colors on the balloon, a physician can verify that proper amounts of pressure were applied to all portions of a patient's artery or a stent within a patient's artery.

Abstract: A catheter assembly comprising two elements each having a hub disposed at the proximal end thereof. The hubs are constructed so as to be complementary and rotatably engageable as the result of a plurality of threads disposed on the hubs of the two catheter introducer elements. When the threads of the hubs of the two catheter elements are engaged axial disengagement of the hubs is inhibited. The catheter assembly also comprising a means of securing against accidental rotational disengagement. The size and location of the threads and the rotational securement means permits the catheter assembly to have a lower profile because the distance to the hemostasis gasket is reduced thus permitting easier access to the hemostasis gasket.

Abstract: The catheters in a family thereof in which each of the catheters has substantially the same configuration and adapted to perform the same function, but in which the catheters in the family differ from each other in at least one respect, are provided with radiographically distinguishable indicia by which each of the members of the family can be distinguished from the others by direct observation of its radiographic image.