Abstract: The long nose manipulatable catheter includes a main lumen, a wire lumen with a push-pull wire therethrough, and a flexible joint region. The catheter section includes a control including a handle and a wire control member engaging the push-pull wire for manipulating the flexible joint region. The push-pull wire may be tapered, having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a smaller diameter distal portion. A coil may be placed around the smaller diameter to prevent buckling of the smaller diameter portion. A strapping coil may also disposed around the outside of the catheter, and an outer covering may be disposed around the strapping coil. An outer covering of a mesh may also be disposed around the distal tip of the catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for removable of undesired material from body lumens. The apparatus may be used for fragmenting or removing a thrombus or occlusion from a blood vessel. The apparatus includes first shape segments and second shape segments connected to form a coiled member. A longitudinally extending tether is positioned inside the first shape segments and outside the second shape segments along the length of the coil. Applying a proximal force on the tether produces a change in the shape of at least a portion of the coil from a first generally linear configuration to a second complex three dimensional shape. A method of using the apparatus to engage and remove, or fragment, the thrombus or occlusion is disclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus for deployment of an intravascular therapeutic device, includes an elongated, flexible pusher member and a therapeutic device connected to a severable portion of a first connector member mounted to the flexible pusher member with an elongated second connector member connected to the therapeutic device. The first connector member or second connector member may be capable of being broken by heat, and a heat source is provided for heating and breaking the first connector member or the second connector member to release the therapeutic device.

Abstract: A long nose manipulatable catheter is described herein. The catheter generally comprises a flexible joint region defining a main lumen and an adjacent wire lumen. The wire lumen has an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region and a push/pull wire can be pushed or pulled through the wire lumen. The catheter assembly may also comprise at least one radio-opaque marker band for securing the push/pull wire. The joint region has a predetermined length sized to affect a flexure of the joint and is generally located at the distal end of the catheter. The joint region itself may be varied to extend distally from where the braid terminates, or it may extend to encompass a portion of the braid. By varying a length of the joint region, the amount of curvature and flexure of the joint region can be controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for removable of undesired material from body lumens. The apparatus may be used for fragmenting or removing a thrombus or occlusion from a blood vessel. The apparatus includes first shape segments and second shape segments connected to form a coiled member. A longitudinally extending tether is positioned inside the first shape segments and outside the second shape segments along the length of the coil. Applying a proximal force on the tether produces a change in the shape of at least a portion of the coil from a first generally linear configuration to a second complex three dimensional shape. A method of using the apparatus to engage and remove, or fragment, the thrombus or occlusion is disclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus for deployment of an intravascular therapeutic device, includes an elongated, flexible pusher member and a therapeutic device connected to a severable portion of a first connector member mounted to the flexible pusher member with an elongated second connector member connected to the therapeutic device. The first connector member or second connector member may be capable of being broken by heat, and a heat source is provided for heating and breaking the first connector member or the second connector member to release the therapeutic device.

Abstract: The apparatus for deployment of an intravascular therapeutic device, includes an elongated, flexible pusher member and a therapeutic device connected to a severable portion of a first connector member mounted to the flexible pusher member with an elongated second connector member connected to the therapeutic device. The first connector member or second connector member may be capable of being broken by heat, and a heat source is provided for heating and breaking the first connector member or the second connector member to release the therapeutic device.

Abstract: The winding mandrel includes a pair of generally rounded-cube shaped or orthogonally flat-sided spherical main bodies connected together and having a plurality of cylindrical posts for forming vasoocclusive coils. The main bodies are connected together by a transition post, and the posts of the two main bodies are typically offset. A front end post and back end post are disposed on the front and rear ends of the mandrel. A short winding post member may be added between the connections of the two main bodies to provide additional winding posts.

Abstract: A long nose manipulatable catheter is described herein. The catheter generally comprises a flexible joint region defining a main lumen and an adjacent wire lumen. The wire lumen has an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region and a push/pull wire can be pushed or pulled through the wire lumen. The catheter assembly may also comprise at least one radio-opaque marker band for securing the push/pull wire. The joint region has a predetermined length sized to affect a flexure of the joint and is generally located at the distal end of the catheter. The joint region itself may be varied to extend distally from where the braid terminates, or it may extend to encompass a portion of the braid. By varying a length of the joint region, the amount of curvature and flexure of the joint region can be controlled.

Abstract: The intravascular stent is formed from a composite wire includes an inner core of radiopaque metal, a polymer layer coaxially disposed about the inner core, and an outer metal layer coaxially disposed about the polymer layer. The intermediary polymer layer acts as a barrier material between the inner core and the outer sheath, so that the inner core and outer sheath may be made of dissimilar metallic layers, and the intermediary polymer layer will prevent a galvanic reaction between the inner core and the peripheral metal layer. The intravascular stent has ends flared radially outwardly to prevent radially and longitudinally inward deformation of the ends of the stent when the stent is disposed in a desired location in a patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A flexible metal wire coil is formed with a twisted coil pattern, by forming a primary coil on a special mandrel formed from two or more strands of material twisted helically about a longitudinal axis to have a helical shape. The primary coil wire is wound around the mandrel to give the primary coil a twisted shape corresponding to the helical shape of the mandrel.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature includes a surface with a plurality of voids or pores therein, and a therapeutic or bioactive material disposed within the plurality of voids or pores. The therapeutic or bioactive material within the plurality of voids or pores operates to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature when the microcoil is introduced into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: The improved guidewire introducer and shaping tool includes a polymer inner layer and a metal outer layer. A polymer luer hub is provided on a polymer tubing shaft so that the internal taper of the hub has a smooth transition to the inner diameter of the polymer tubing shaft. A metal outer layer is provided over the outer surface of the polymer layer and can be rigidly attached to the hub to provide support and stiffness to the polymer layer.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature. The stretch resistant member may be formed from a therapeutic and/or bioactive non-metallic material to enhance the therapeutic properties of the vasoocclusive coil.

Abstract: The balloon catheter comprises a plastic tubing, a balloon fused to one end portion of said tubing, and the balloon being made of a polymer and on of a carbon nano-tube material, a nano-clay material or a nano-ceramic fiber material.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature includes a surface with a plurality of voids or pores therein, and a therapeutic or bioactive material disposed within the plurality of voids or pores. The therapeutic or bioactive material within the plurality of voids or pores operates to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature when the microcoil is introduced into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature includes a surface with a plurality of voids or pores therein, and a therapeutic or bioactive material disposed within the plurality of voids or pores. The therapeutic or bioactive material within the plurality of voids or pores operates to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature when the microcoil is introduced into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: A vasoocclusive microcoil for therapeutic treatment of a patient's vasculature includes a surface with a plurality of voids or pores therein, and a therapeutic or bioactive material disposed within the plurality of voids or pores. The therapeutic or bioactive material within the plurality of voids or pores operates to accelerate a healing process in the patient's vasculature when the microcoil is introduced into the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: The device is formed from a multi-stranded micro-cable having a plurality of flexible strands of a shape memory material and at least one radiopaque strand. The strands can be made of a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, that is highly flexible at a temperature appropriate for introduction into the body via a catheter, and that after placement will take on the therapeutic shape. The radiopaque strand can have a core strand with a plurality of intermittently spaced apart enlarged radiopaque portions that may be a plurality of beads of radiopaque material spaced apart and mounted on the core strand, or a plurality of coils intermittently wound about and spaced apart on the core strand. A polyhedral occlusive device is also provided, adapted to be inserted into a portion of a vasculature for occluding a portion of the vasculature, for use in interventional therapy and vascular surgery.

Abstract: The three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil has a portion that is three dimensionally box or cubed shaped. The three dimensional box or cubed shaped portion will form a basket for filling the anatomical cavity at the site in the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive device is formed from at least one strand of a flexible material formed to have a first inoperable, substantially linear configuration for insertion into and through a catheter or cannula to a desired portion of the vasculature to be treated, and a second operable, three dimensional configuration for occluding the desired portion of the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive coil may optionally include a portion that is substantially J-shaped or helically shaped, for filling and reinforcing the three dimensional portion.