Abstract: A balloon catheter having a perfusion lumen communicating with a blood vessel, and a magnetically driven impeller disposed in the perfusion lumen to increase blood flow through the catheter and the arteries.

Abstract: A coating and method for implantable open lattice metallic stent prostheses are disclosed. The coating includes a relatively thin layer of biostable elastomeric material containing an amount of biologically active material, particularly heparin, dispersed in the coating in combination with a non-thrombogenic surface. In one embodiment, the surface is provided with sites of high electronegativity species by coating with fluorosilicone which aid in controlling elution, particularly the initial release rate, and reduced thrombogenic activity. Other non-thrombogenic outer layers for heparin such as covalently bound polyethylene glycol (PEG) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device comprising an organic polymer substrate material having a coating thereon, the coating comprising an interpenetrating network of two different hydrogel polymers, one of which is a polyurethane/polyurea hydrogel polymer, the polyurethane/polyurea hydrogel polymer being linked to the substrate material by covalent urea linkages.

Abstract: A coating and method for a coating an implantable device or prostheses are disclosed. The coating includes an undercoat of polymeric material containing an amount of biologically active material, particularly heparin, dispersed therein. The coating further includes a topcoat which covers less than the entire surface of the undercoat and wherein the topcoat comprises a polymeric material substantially free of pores and porosigens. The polymeric material of the topcoat can be a biostable, biocompatible material which provides long term non-thrombogenicity to the device portion during and after release of the biologically active material.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel coating compositions, and materials composed of a polymeric plastic or rubber substrate or a metal substrate with a coating of a slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel thereon, such that the coating composition tenaciously adheres to the substrate, are disclosed. The coating compositions and coated materials are non-toxic and biocompatible, and are ideally suited for use on medical devices, particularly, catheters, catheter balloons and stents. The coating compositions, coated materials and coated devices demonstrate low coefficients of friction in contact with body fluids, especially blood, as well as a high degree of wear permanence over prolonged use of the device. The hydrogel coating compositions are capable of being dried to facilitate storage of the devices to which they have been applied, and can be instantly reactivated for later use by exposure to water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a procedure as well as a device for introducing an endoprosthesis into the distal end of a catheter by means of which the endoprosthesis is introduced into a vessel for implantation therein and is released to undergo self expansion by moving the tip of a catheter axially relative to the distal end of an outer catheter. An embodiment of the proposed device comprises a hollow cylindrical housing designed to receive the endoprosthesis, a piston axially displaceable therein which can be brought into engagement with the endoprosthesis, and a nose section arranged at one end of the housing, said nose section being provided with a recess tapering in the direction of an opening, and by means of said recess the endoprosthesis supplied by the piston may be introduced, with compressed diameter and in elongated form, into the distal end of the catheter replaceably arranged on the nose section.

Abstract: A generally flat packaging tray for containing an elongated catheter device in an ordered coiled arrangement includes a recessed channel system formed within and including a plurality of spaced generally parallel, level, generally linear channel sections of two different depths joined by a plurality of arcuate channel sections some of which are inclined between the two depths and configured to contain catheter devices of a variety of lengths and french sizes nested therein in a coiled arrangement has an integral retention system of gently curved minor cantilever segments formed in the channel system that cooperate with inherent natural coil resisting resilience in a catheter shaft to benignly retain the catheter in the channel system.

Abstract: A dilation catheter having a first shaft section, a second shaft section attached to the first shaft section, and an inflatable balloon attached to the second shaft section. A fluid pathway is defined through the catheter for inflation of the balloon. A guide wire lumen is provided in the second shaft section that can extend between the distal end of the balloon and a point distal of the first shaft section. A stiffening member is provided within the second shaft section of the dilation catheter to provide additional stiffness to the second shaft section. In a preferred embodiment, the stiffening member is attached at the distal end of the first shaft section to occlude the hollow passage of the first shaft section. In this embodiment, the first shaft section further includes a fluid port that is proximal of the stiffening member and that extends between the hollow passage of the first shaft section and the exterior of the first shaft section.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a body vessel with a radioactive source includes an elongated tubular catheter and an axially flexible support structure on a distal end of the catheter. The catheter has proximal and distal ends, and a lumen for receiving a radioactive source. The support structure is formed from a plurality of filaments which are helically wound and interwoven in a braided configuration and has a plurality of alternately spaced unconstricted and constricted regions. The unconstricted regions are radially compressible and self-expandable from a positioning diameter when the device is in a positioning state to a vessel-engaging, treatment diameter which is greater than the positioning diameter when the device is in the treatment state. The constricted regions are engaged with the catheter and concentric with the unconstricted regions.

Abstract: A porous, tubular synthetic prosthesis, prosthesis precursor, and methods of producing the same are provided. Specifically the method involves co-spraying both a water soluble and water insoluble fibrous component onto a mold to form the prosthesis precursor. The water soluble fibrous component may then be at least partially removed so as to provide a porous, tubular synthetic prosthesis.

Abstract: A delivery system for procuring implantation of an expandable stent in a bodily lumen of interest is disclosed including a fluid-operated moving cylinder sleeve for retaining the stent in place during delivery and retracting to release a stent at the implantation site.

Abstract: The invention is directed to medical devices having a drug-releasing coating and methods for making such coated devices. The coating permits timed or prolonged pharmacological activity on the surface of medical devices through a reservoir concept. Specifically, the coating comprises at least two layers: an outer layer containing at least one drug-ionic surfactant complex overlying a reservoir layer containing a polymer and the drug which is substantially free of an ionic surfactant. Upon exposure to body tissue of a medical device covered with such coating, the ionically bound drug in the outer layer is released into body fluid or tissue. Following release of such bound drug, the ionic surfactant binding sites in the outer layer are left vacant.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter having an elongated tubular body with a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen extending therebetween. The tubular body is formed with polymeric materials, preferably containing no radiopaque filler, and metallic reinforcing braiding configured to provide the catheter with radiopaque properties and/or kink resistance.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel coating compositions, and materials composed of a polymeric plastic or rubber substrate or a metal substrate with a coating of a slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel thereon, such that the coating composition tenaciously adheres to the substrate, are disclosed. The coating compositions and coated materials are non-toxic and biocompatible, and are ideally suited for use on medical devices, particularly, catheters, catheter balloons and stents. The coating compositions, coated materials and coated devices demonstrate low coefficients of friction in contact with body fluids, especially blood, as well as a high degree of wear permanence over prolonged use of the device. The hydrogel coating compositions are capable of being dried to facilitate storage of the devices to which they have been applied, and can be instantly reactivated for later use by exposure to water.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel coating compositions, and materials composed of a polymeric plastic or rubber substrate or a metal substrate with a coating of a slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel thereon, such that the coating composition tenaciously adheres to the substrate, are disclosed. The coating compositions and coated materials are non-toxic and biocompatible, and are ideally suited for use on medical devices, particularly, catheters, catheter balloons and stents. The coating compositions, coated materials and coated devices demonstrate low coefficients of friction in contact with body fluids, especially blood, as well as a high degree of wear permanence over prolonged use of the device. The hydrogel coating compositions are capable of being dried to facilitate storage of the devices to which they have been applied, and can be instantly reactivated for later use by exposure to water.

Abstract: A body implantable stent is formed of a plurality of strands arranged in two sets of coaxial helices, wound in opposite directions to form multiple crossings. At selected crossings, the adjacent strands are welded to one another, while at the remaining crossings the strands are free for limited movement relative to one another. The welds are formed in patterns that preferably enhance radial strength and rigidity, while having a minimal impact on axial bending flexibility. Preferred weld patterns in this regard include rings or circumferential rows, and helices, particularly with a steeper pitch than that of the strands. Stent fabrication preferably involves resistance welding at the crossings, and use of a tool to reuniformly compress the stent around and against the distal end region of a balloon catheter used later to deliver the stent to a treatment site.

Abstract: A prothesis for transluminal implantation consists of a flexible tubular interbraided structure of metal or polymeric monofilaments, and polymeric multifilament yarns. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed to reduce its diameter through axial elongation. The monofilaments and multifilament yarns are arranged in axially spaced apart helices, concentric on a common central axis of the prosthesis. The monofilaments are selectively shaped before their interbraiding with the multifilament yarns, either by an age-hardening or other heat-setting stage, or a cold-working stage that controllably plastically deforms the strands. The shaped structural strands cooperate to impart to the prosthesis its nominal shape and resilience. The textile strands cooperate to provide a sheeting that occupies interstices between adjacent structural strands, to reduce permeability and thereby enhance the utility of the prosthesis as a vascular graft.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel coating compositions, and materials composed of a polymeric plastic or rubber substrate or a metal substrate with a coating of a slippery, hydrophilic polyurethane hydrogel thereon, such that the coating composition tenaciously adheres to the substrate, are disclosed. The coating compositions and coated materials are non-toxic and biocompatible, and are ideally suited for use on medical devices, particularly, catheters, catheter balloons and stents. The coating compositions, coated materials and coated devices demonstrate low coefficients of friction in contact with body fluids, especially blood, as well as a high degree of wear permanence over prolonged use of the device. The hydrogel coating compositions are capable of being dried to facilitate storage of the devices to which they have been applied, and can be instantly reactivated for later use by exposure to water.

Abstract: A prosthetic stent with a tubular wall having local inwardly or outwardly formed elevations. Stents having such elevations have a higher mechanical stability if bend according to the curvature of the body vessels to be supported or repaired. Also a method for manufacturing a stent with such elevations is described.

Abstract: A tubular, radially self-expanding stent includes a latticework of interbraided, helically wound resilient structural strands. An axial control member is secured to the tubular latticework at axially spaced apart proximal and distal coupling locations. At the proximal location, the control member is coupled slidably, to permit an adjustment of the axial distance between the coupling locations, thus to selectively adjust the radius profile of the latticework between the two locations. To set a desired radius profile, the control member either is crimped near the proximal location or fixed within a self-locking connector. The control members, preferably monofilament strands, can be elastic or substantially inextensible. Two or more control members can be used if desired. In an alternative embodiment, recovery metal control members are fixed at their opposite ends to the latticework, then plastically deformed by elongation to axially elongate and radially reduce the latticework.