Abstract: A method of performing a cryotherapy procedure can include introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at a treatment site inside a patient's body; regulating, during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from a distal balloon portion of the cryotherapy balloon catheter to cause an initial pressure to be maintained inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently high to cause an outer wall of the distal balloon portion to be pressed against body tissue at the treatment site; and regulating, during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portion to cause a) a temperature inside the distal balloon portion to reach a value sufficient to deliver therapeutic levels of cryotherapy to the body tissue, and b) a second-phase pressure to be maintained that is within a threshold value of the initial pressure.

Abstract: An endoscopic needle device comprises a handle and a catheter sheath connected to the handle, wherein the catheter sheath has at least one lumen, for example a needle lumen and a stabilization lumen, extending therethrough. A needle is selectively movable within the needle lumen between a needle retracted position and a needle extended position and a stabilization element is selectively movable within the stabilization lumen between a stabilizer retracted position and a stabilizer extended position. A linking mechanism may operatively connect the needle and the stabilization element so that when the needle is in the needle retracted position the stabilization element is in the stabilizer extended position and when the needle is in the needle extended position the stabilization element is in the stabilizer retracted position.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering a surgical clip to a surgical site within a patient's body to compress body tissue is disclosed. In one embodiment for the system of the present invention, the system includes an endoscopic device that has an endoscope cap disposed on a distal end of the endoscopic device. A surgical clip is removably disposed on an outside surface of the endoscope cap. A deployment device is associated with the surgical clip for deploying the surgical clip from the endoscope cap to the body tissue that is to be compressed. The surgical clip can be a deformable clip that is deployed in a non deformed configuration, and is then deformed so as to apply compression on selected tissue. The surgical clip can be a multi-legged clip, having a plurality of legs that can be locked in a closed position to apply compression to body tissue.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the invention provides medical devices that comprise an elongated drug delivery member, which is adapted to take on a radially expanded configuration upon actuation in vivo.

Abstract: A drug eluting stent comprising a multilayer tubular structure which includes at least one intermediate layer having reservoirs therein for deposition of a drug, the intermediate layer eluting drug in a lateral direction, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: A low profile adaptor for use with a medical catheter. In one embodiment, the adaptor comprises a lower connector portion, an upper connector portion and a valve. The lower connector portion comprises a tubular portion and an annular portion, the annular portion radially surrounding the tubular portion along an intermediate length thereof. A helical thread is formed on the inside surface of the tubular portion. A circular lip projects upwardly a short distance from the top surface of the annular portion. The upper connector portion comprises a tubular section adapted for insertion into the tubular portion of the lower connector portion. An external helical thread is formed on the tubular section of the upper connector portion for mating engagement with the thread on the interior of the tubular portion of the lower connector portion. The upper connector portion also includes an annular base.

Abstract: A medical device, at least a portion of which is formed from a polymer composition including at least one liquid crystal block copolymer having at least one A block and at least one B block wherein the A block is formed of mesogenic repeat units and the B block is a soft block.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which include a substrate, at least one porous reservoir containing at least one therapeutic agent disposed over the substrate, at least one nanoporous layer disposed over the at least one porous reservoir, and at least one plugged aperture, which may be located within the substrate, within the nanoporous layer, or both. According to another aspect of the invention, a method of forming a medical device is provided which includes (a) forming a porous reservoir over a substrate, (b) forming a nanoporous layer over the porous reservoir, (c) forming an aperture within the substrate or the nanoporous layer, (d) filling the porous reservoir with therapeutic agent through the aperture, and (d) plugging the aperture.

Abstract: A method of mounting a transducer to a driveshaft which eliminates the need for a transducer housing, the improved method directly attaches the transducer to a rigid distal tip of a driveshaft which is part of a rotatable imaging core of a catheter assembly. The method contemplates heat treating the distal tip of the driveshaft to make it rigid, machining the distal tip to be dimensioned to hold the transducer, and attaching the transducer to the distal tip by clamping, crimping, or an adhesive.

Abstract: A medical device enables a user to bend it into a shape to suit a specific patient need or to orient efficiently the medical device for use. The medical device includes an elongate member, a mechanism, and an actuator. The mechanism is disposed at the distal portion of the elongate member. The actuator is at least partially disposed within the elongate member and coupled to the mechanism for actuating the mechanism relative to the elongate member. The elongate member is capable of being bent into a shape by the user and of retaining the shape during use. The shape may include multiple bends, in multiple directions, as needed for an application. Thereafter, the elongate member is capable of being bent into a second shape by the user and of maintaining the second shape during use.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of embodiments of the invention are adapted to treat tissue inside a patient's body. Aspects of the invention can be used in a wide variety of applications, but certain embodiments provide minimally invasive alternatives for treating atrial fibrillation by delivering a tissue-damaging agent to selected areas of the heart. One exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a method of treating cardiac arrhythmia. This method includes positioning a distal tissue-contacting portion of a body in surface contact with a tissue surface of cardiac tissue; detecting the surface contact between the tissue-contacting portion and the tissue surface; and thereafter, injecting a tissue-ablating agent into the cardiac tissue through the tissue-contacting portion of the body.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a main catheter branch and a side catheter branch. The main catheter branch includes a main balloon and a side balloon. The side catheter branch includes a transparent portion along at least a portion of a length of the side catheter branch. The transparent portion of the side catheter branch permits viewing of the side balloon through the transparent portion for alignment of the side balloon relative to the side catheter branch. The catheter assembly can further include a stent, wherein the stent includes a lateral branch opening. The transparent portion of the side catheter branch can also provide viewing of the side balloon through the side catheter branch to help align the side balloon with the lateral branch opening.

Abstract: Medical copolymers are provided which comprise (a) a polymer backbone comprising (i) a plurality of —C?C— groups within the polymer backbone, (ii) a plurality of —R9— groups within the polymer backbone, wherein R9 comprises a radical-substituted C2-C10 cyclic or heterocyclic group, or (iii) both a plurality of —C?C— groups and a plurality of —R9— groups within the polymer backbone, (b) a plurality of hydrocarbon-based pendant groups along the polymer backbone that comprise a saturated or unsaturated carbon chain of at least four carbons in length, and (c) a plurality of zwitterionic pendant groups along the polymer backbone that comprise a positively charged quaternary ammonium group and a negatively charged phosphate group. Methods of forming such copolymers, medical products that contain such copolymers, and methods of making such medical products are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biocompatible, hemostatic, cross-linked gelatin composition comprising a biocompatible material comprising cross-linked gelatin and a sufficient amount of wetting agent to permit uniform wetting of the sponge in the presence of an aqueous solution.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a first sheath, a coupling member and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object. The coupling member is movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position and a capture position. In the retracted position, a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath. In the capture position, the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath. The coupling member is also selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position. When the coupling member is attached to the object and the contraction member is directly engaged with the object, a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the object thereby facilitating movement of the object within the body lumen.

Abstract: An intravascular ultrasound imaging system includes an imaging core insertable into a catheter lumen. The imaging core includes at least one transducer disposed at a distal end of a driveshaft. The at least one transducer transmits acoustic signals and transforms received echo signals to electrical signals. The at least one transducer rotates about a longitudinal axis of the catheter and moves longitudinally along a patient blood vessel as the at least one transducer transmits the acoustic signals. A control module is coupled to the imaging core. The control module includes a processor that processes received electrical signals from the at least one transducer. The processor uses the received electrical signals to generate a plurality of cross-sectional images captured along least a portion of the patient blood vessel. A display coupled to the processor concurrently displays at least two of the plurality of cross-sectional images.

Abstract: Disclosed are single-incision surgical procedures for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, kits, and methods. Implants are also disclosed for use in the exemplary procedures. In certain embodiments, soft tissue anchors are used to anchor the surgical implants to obturator membranes of a patient.

Abstract: A method for generating an ultrasound image includes receiving a sequence of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data obtained as an IVUS imager moves through a body lumen; identifying at least one bifurcation of the body lumen from the sequence of IVUS data; determining a bifurcation angle between two branches of the body lumen; and displaying a longitudinal view of the body lumen using the IVUS data and incorporating the bifurcation angle to angularly align portions of the longitudinal view corresponding to the two portions of the body lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods, processes, and systems for delivering therapeutic agent to a medical device. Under some methods, processes, and systems of the invention, particles including a magnetic material and a therapeutic agent may be directed towards a medical device via magnetic attraction. In another embodiment particles including a magnetic material may force a therapeutic agent/solvent solution into porous matrix by using a magnetic attraction. In still another embodiment, a medical device having at least a portion thereof including a magnetic material is used to attract and adhere particles comprising magnetic material and therapeutic agent to a target surface of the medical device, wherein the particles are fused to the target surface.

Abstract: A stent-graft comprising a stent and a graft having a supported portion lining or covering at least a portion of the stent, and an unsupported portion extending proximally beyond the proximal end of the stent. The stent-graft may have a length corresponding to at least a mean standard length from a standard incision point to a distal-most portion of a standard lumen into which the distal end of the stent is adapted to be deployed, with the unsupported portion of the graft extending beyond the mean standard length by an amount equal to at least two, if not three or more, standard deviations of the mean standard length. A method for deploying the stent-graft comprises making an incision in a wall of the lumen, introducing and deploying the stent-graft in the lumen so that the proximal end extends beyond the incision, and attaching the graft to a lumen by anastamosis.