Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes an expandable tubular body defined by a plurality of struts. In some embodiments, the expandable tubular body includes a bioerodible metal that has at least a first surface region and a second surface region. The first and second surface regions can have different surface oxide compositions. In some embodiments, the first portion has a thermally altered microstructure and the second portion has a wrought microstructure. The thermally altered microstructure can be a cast microstructure comprising dendritic grains. The first portion forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the expandable tubular body. In some embodiments, the expandable tubular body includes iron or a bioerodible iron alloy and at least one surface of the expandable tubular body includes a substantially uniform coating of iron(III) oxide.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a bioerodible portion adapted to erode when exposed to a physiological environment. The bioerodible portion includes an alloy comprising at least 10 weight percent chromium and has an outer surface having a ratio of chromium oxide to chromium metal of less than 5. The bioerodible implantable medical device can be created by implanting metallic ions into an alloy including at least 10 weight percent chromium to define an outer surface of a medical implant, or precursor thereof.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods associated with annuloplasty are described herein. One or more annuloplasty devices include a number of longitudinal filaments moveable between an introductory configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the number of longitudinal filaments are one or more lengths, and a shell, wherein the shell contains the number of longitudinal filaments and a curable polymer to maintain the annuloplasty device in a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A method of using a balloon catheter, comprising the steps of providing a balloon catheter, the balloon catheter comprising a balloon and a plurality of fins, the plurality of fins engaged to the balloon; inserting the balloon catheter into the vasculature; advancing the balloon catheter through the vasculature to a desired location; inflating the balloon when the balloon catheter is at the desired location; deflating the balloon; and directing the blood flow along the balloon thereby aiding rewrap.

Abstract: A medical device such as a catheter, stent or balloon, is formed by depositing a radiation curable composition on a form made of ice or wax. The deposited composition may be cured by irradiation, suitably with UV light. Complex structures can be built up if the deposition or curing is achieved imagewise. Compositions which photocure to polyester, polyamide or polyimide may be employed. A particular structure is a balloon for a rapid exchange catheter which has a guide wire lumen passing through the balloon cone walls.

Abstract: A surgical device for use in a minimally invasive procedure to treat urinary incontinence can include a dilator coupled to a curved needle at one end and a sling at the opposite end. Urinary incontinence can be treated minimally invasively. One treatment includes positioning the sling on an anterior portion of the urethra to provide proper coaptation to the urethra.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to medical imaging systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for estimating the size and position of a stent or other medical device within a patient. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, configured to be inserted into a vessel of a patient, an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the elongated tubular member, and a console electrically coupled to the imaging device, wherein the console includes a computer-usable medium, electrically coupled to the imaging device, having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process including generating an image of the vessel, and overlay one or more shapes onto the image to provide a visual approximation of the size and position of a medical device to be applied within the patient.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon and catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit. The catheter (10) includes shaft (12) and a dilatation balloon (24) at the distal end of the shaft. The balloon is inflated via a central lumen (14) in the shaft for delivery of a fluid inflation media. The balloon is fabricated from a combination of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), preferably an engineering thermoplastic elastomer (ETE), with a non-compliant structural polymeric material. The combination may be a blend of the non-compliant structural polymer and the TPE. Alternatively, the combination may be a layered balloon having, for example, a non-compliant structural polymer inner layer and a soft, abrasion resistant, elastomeric outer layer. Methods for fabricating the balloon from the combination of a TPE and a non-compliant structural polymer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A stent-graft or prosthesis (10) with enhanced flexibility, in particular enhanced bending flexibility, includes a radially distensible stent (24) and at least one continuously uninterrupted ePTFE tubular graft or covering (18) having a node and fibril structure. The tubular stent (24) includes opposed open ends (12?, 14?) and a stent wall structure (26) having opposed exterior (28) and luminal surfaces (30). The ePTFE covering (18) is securably disposed to at least one of the stent surfaces (28, 30). The ePTFE graft or covering (18) includes a tubular wall (16) that is continuously uninterrupted and desirably substantially free of slits, apertures and folds. The ePTFE graft (18) further includes a first region (20) and a second region (22), where the first region (20) has a different bending flexibility from the second region (22).

Abstract: A stent in a non-expanded state has a first and second expansion column, each consisting of a plurality of expansion strut pairs. An expansion strut pair includes a first expansion strut, a second expansion strut and a joining strut that couples the first and second expansion struts at one end. Expansion strut pairs include expansion strut pair first and second corners formed where the joining strut couples the first and second expansion struts. A connecting strut column, formed of a plurality of connecting struts couples the first and second expansion columns. Connecting struts include a proximal section, a distal section and an intermediate section. The proximal section is coupled to the corner of an expansion strut pair of the first expansion column, and the distal section is coupled to the joining strut of an expansion strut pair of the second expansion column intermediate the expansion strut pair first corner and the expansion strut pair second corner.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongate shaft including a plurality of apertures disposed along at least a length of the shaft to facilitate bending. The catheter includes an inflatable balloon, wherein a subset of the plurality of apertures provides fluid communication from an inflation lumen to the inflatable balloon.

Abstract: Elongate medical devices such as guidewires can be formed from a core wire and a preformed distal cap that is configured to fit over a distal end of the core wire. The distal cap can be attached using a variety of techniques. In particular, the distal cap can be attached to the core wire using laser welding.

Abstract: A stent comprises a tubular framework having an outer surface and an inner surface and a plurality of interconnected struts. An outer covering of PTFE extends along at least a portion of the outer surface of the expandable framework and an inner covering of PTFE extends along at least a portion of the inner surface of the expandable framework. At least a portion of the inner and outer coverings are contiguous with one another. The stent further comprises at least one radiopaque marker disposed between the inner covering and the outer covering.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for manufacturing medical devices. An example manufacturing method includes providing a metallic tubular member having a inner surface with a metal oxide layer disposed thereon, mechanically scoring and/or removing a portion of the metal oxide layer to create a bonding zone along the inner surface, and soldering an additional metallic structural element to the bonding zone.

Abstract: A stent is designed to be placed within a patient's ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient's kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and defines a lumen extending therethrough. A first end portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and is adapted to assume a retaining configuration when placed substantially within the kidney. A second end portion extends from another end of the elongated portion and flares outward when placed substantially within the bladder to maintain position. The second end portion allows fluids to flow through the lumen and into the bladder and is collapsible to prevent fluid from passing from the bladder to the kidney.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel apparatus for use in medical procedures relating to tubular body fluid conduits. According to a first aspect of the invention, a connector apparatus is provided for use in making an anastomotic connection between first and second tubular fluid conduits in a patient. The connector apparatus comprises: (a) a locking member, which further comprises one or more electroactive polymer actuators that switch the locking member between a locking state and a release state; and (b) a connector body that is configured to permit flow of bodily fluid between the first and second tubular fluid conduits. The connector body has a first portion configured for insertion into an axial end of the first tubular fluid conduit and a second portion configured for insertion through a sidewall of the second tubular fluid conduit.

Abstract: An access needle suitable for use in percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy procedures. In one embodiment, the access needle includes a stylet assembly, a safety sheath assembly and a cannula assembly. The stylet assembly includes a stylet and a stylet hub. The stylet has a proximal end and a sharpened distal end, the proximal end of the stylet being mounted within the stylet hub. The safety shield assembly includes a sheath and a shuttle. The sheath, which has a blunt distal end, coaxially surrounds the stylet. The proximal end of the sheath is fixed to the shuttle, the shuttle being movable between a first position in which the sharpened distal end of the stylet is exposed and a second position in which the sharpened distal end of the stylet is shielded by the blunt distal end of the sheath. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a cannula hub, the cannula hub being fixed to the proximal end of the cannula.

Abstract: A sacrificial anode stent system comprises a stent having at least one sacrificial anode portion and a vaso-occlusive device. The vaso-occlusive device has at least one portion with a potential different from that of the sacrificial anode portion of the stent.

Abstract: A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands, wherein adjacent serpentine bands are connected by at least one connector strut. A serpentine band may comprise alternating straight struts and s-shaped struts. Connector struts may comprise first connector struts and second connector struts, wherein the first connector struts are nonparallel to the second connector struts.

Abstract: A stent may comprise a plurality of serpentine bands connected by connector struts. The stent may further comprise a side branch cell having a plurality of outwardly deployable petals. Each serpentine band may have an approximate longitudinal axis. A portion of the serpentine bands may be flared in the unexpanded state, wherein a portion of the axis of each flared band is oriented helically about a portion of the stent. The bands may reorient during stent expansion, whereafter the axis of each band is oriented in a circumferential direction.