Abstract: A catheter device having, in coaxial arrangement, an insertion catheter, a dilation catheter and an occlusion catheter. By means of the occlusion catheter a vessel carrying body fluid is closed off in the direction of flow following a stricture. By means of the dilation catheter, the stricture is treated by dilation. The occlusion catheter positioned beyond the stricture prevents an embolism due to detached particles flowing off. After treatment of the stenosis, vessel fluid together with any detached particles is removed by suction and washed out through the insertion catheter.

Abstract: The balloon dilatation catheter has a first lumen extending along the entire length of a shaft, which lumen is connected to a pump and, at the distal end of the catheter, to the inside of the balloon. Through this lumen there also passes a support wire connected firmly to the catheter. The shaft has an additional lumen which opens outwards via an opening behind the proximal end of the balloon. A controllable guide wire can be introduced into this lumen via an attachment piece. Similarly, a measuring apparatus or an apparatus for introducing a contrast medium or drug can be connected to this additional lumen. The catheter is particularly suitable for treating strictures in an arterial ramification.

Abstract: A catheter with a radially self-expanding cylindrical vascular support made of a permeable mesh of crossed stiff fibers is disclosed. The catheter has a tubular outer catheter shaft and an inner catheter to which the vascular support is fixed. The tubular outer catheter shaft is axially movable with respect to the inner catheter.

Abstract: A balloon catheter with a shaft having a balloon located proximate a distal end thereof, with the shaft having a lumen through which a balloon is supplied and a lumen through which a guide wire is passed. The shaft consists of a proximal area and a distal area, with the shaft being made of a stiffer material in the proximal shaft area than in the distal shaft area. In one embodiment of the proximal shaft area, the supply lumen and the guide lumen are coaxially disposed. In one embodiment of the distal shaft area, the supply lumen and the guide lumen are biaxially disposed. An /utlet opening for the guide wire is disposed in the shaft in the proximal area of the catheter wherein a guide wire passing through the opening can be advanced into the guide lumen and towards the balloon for passage through the distal end.

Abstract: A catheter system for mechanical dilatation of coronary arterial stenoses includes a balloon dilatation catheter, a guide wire and a guide catheter. The balloon dilatation catheter has, for the perfusion of vessel fluid during dilatation, side openings arranged both distal and proximal of the balloon and connected to one another via a lumen extending within the balloon. The internal lumen configuration of the balloon dilatation catheter permits the catheter system to be utilized as either a "monorail"-type or an "over-the-wire" system.

Abstract: The dilatation catheter has a shaft which consists of two separately produced shaft portions. Both portions have a first lumen for a guide wire and a second lumen for a pressure liquid. The two portions overlap at a connection point and are preferably welded to one another at this point. The proximal portion consists of two coaxial tube portions and the distal portion consists of an extruded two-lumen tube piece. The proximal portion is stiffer than the distal portion, which permits an optimal adaptation to a non-straight course of a blood vessel. The dilatation catheter according to the invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of arterial occlusions, which are situated in or downstream of a vessel curve.

Abstract: An angioplasty balloon catheter wherein the balloon thereof has connected to its wall a plurality of laser light guides which are inlaid in the balloon wall so that the distal ends of the light guides can be moved radially outwardly and inwardly by changing pressure within the balloon.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter intended in particular for treatment of strictures in the carotid artery has at its front end a dilatation balloon, which is inserted in the folded state into the carotid artery and is inflated in order to widen the stricture. In front of the dilatation balloon a sealing balloon is arranged which serves to seal off the carotid artery downstream of the stricture, in order thereby to prevent a migration of any stricture material which may become detached during treatment, and thus to avoid the risk of an embolism. Between the dilatation balloon and the sealing balloon there is a draw-off and inlet opening through which, after widening and with the sealing balloon inflated, detached stricture material can be drawn off or washed away.

Abstract: A method for using stent which is a hollow, cylindrical structure made of a synthetic substance which becomes plastic and malleable in a temperature range from 45.degree. to 75.degree. Celsius. The stent is brought to the desired site, for example a stenosed section of an artery, by means of a heatable balloon catheter. The stent is heated at the site to be treated and whilst in the plastic state is expanded through dilatation of a balloon. After being cooled to body temperature the expanded stent retains the form achieved. The body fluids bring about complete biodegradation of the implanted stent.

Abstract: The probe is provided at its distal end with an olive-shaped tip which is solidly joined to a shaft. The shaft is provided with a wire made of stainless steel as well as a spring. The maximum diameter of the tip is preferably approx. 1 mm. The guide catheter is suitable especially for recanalization of coronary and completely obstructed occlusions. The probe is preferably applied together with a baloon catheter itself known.

Abstract: A catheter for treating an obstructed blood vessel comprises an elongated tubular body having an internal lumen, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and includes an inflatable dilatation element on the distal portion thereof. The dilatation element is in communication with the lumen and is adapted to be inflatable and deflatable by the application of a suitable therapeutic tissue dissolving fluid pressurized within the lumen. The dilatation element includes a wall having microporus openings adapted to be permeable by the fluid applied to inflate the dilatation element. The fluid, which is pumped into the interior space of the dilatation element, under sufficient pressure, presses through the microporus wall directly on and into the adjacnet tissue. The fluid tends to dissolve the tissue, thereby treatment time is considerably shortened and the long-term success of the treatment is improved, since the impairing tissue is not only dislodged but also dissolved from the vessel.

Abstract: An introducer valve has a connecting housing enclosing a generally cylindrical elastomeric valve body having a proximal end, a distal end, a central axis, and a central longitudinal opening. The central opening has a proximal aperture tapering inwardly to the central axis and has a distal aperture tapering inwardly to the central axis, and is adapted to receive an elongated guidewire or catheter element. The valve body has an exterior surface which tapers from the proximal end inwardly and from the distal end inwardly generally parallel with the respective apertures (in a somewhat hourglass configuration). The central opening of the valve body is normally sealed closed, and further surrounds and seals a penetrating catheter which is introduced or changed within the valve. The valve further comprises an elastomeric ring which circumscribes the center of the valve body.