Abstract: A medical sling made from material that is suitably shaped for use in a medical application has sides, portions of which are smoothed to prevent abrasion of surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A stent comprising a plurality of continuous filaments braided together, at least one filament comprising a tapered filament having at least one first region having a first, relatively-larger cross-sectional area and at least one second region having a second, relatively-smaller cross-sectional area. The stent itself may have a tapered diameter, such as from one end to the other. A method for treating a lumen with the stent is also claimed.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as stents, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a medical device includes an alloy having tantalum, tungsten, zirconium and niobium. For example, the alloy can include from about 20% to about 40% by weight of tantalum, from about 0.5% to about 9% by weight of tungsten, and from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of zirconium.

Abstract: A method is provided for modulating the rate of release of a therapeutic agent from a release region, which constitutes at least a portion of an implantable or insertable medical device and which controls the rate at which the therapeutic is released from the medical device. The method comprises: (a) providing a release region that comprises (i) a therapeutic agent and (ii) polymer composition comprising two or more immiscible phases; and (b) modulating the rate of release of the therapeutic agent by changing the volume that is occupied by at least one of the immiscible polymer phases relative to the total volume of the release region that is formed. The release region can be, for example, a carrier layer, which comprises the therapeutic agent, or a barrier layer, which is disposed over a region that contains the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides devices that can be used to deliver a therapeutic agent to a treatment site within the vessel of a patient at increased pressure, while limiting the contact with and pressure placed on the vessel walls. Devices according to the invention include an expandable structure arranged around and on a tube having a lumen. The expandable structure may include a sealing ring that makes contact with the interior surface of a vessel to prevent or decrease fluid flow during delivery of a therapeutic agent. This allows delivery of a therapeutic agent with decreased risk of injury to the treatment site. The invention also provides for large lumen diameters, preventing shearing stress on therapeutic agents such as cell slurries.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a brittle layer, e.g. a ceramic and an underlayer to accommodate dimensional changes as the endoprosthesis is flexed.

Abstract: Steerable catheter that has fluid transfer capability is provided. The catheter includes an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, an operative element carried at the distal end of the shaft, and a medium conveying conduit carried within the elongate shaft, the conduit having a distal end that is affixed relative to the distal end of the elongate shaft, and a proximal end that is configured to move relative to the proximal end of the shaft. In this manner, the proximal end of the medium conveying conduit is allowed to slide relative to the proximal end of the shaft as the distal end of the shaft changes shape, thereby preventing kinking of the conduit.

Abstract: A medical implant can include a bioerodible metal portion and a coating overlying the bioerodible metal portion. The coating can include a therapeutic agent and a polysaccharide matrix reversibly cross-linked with polyvalent metal cations. Upon implantation of the implant within a body, the therapeutic agent is released and the bioerodible metal portion erodes to release polyvalent metal cations capable of re-cross-linking the polysaccharide matrix.

Abstract: An introducer deploys an endoluminal device in a distal location from a proximal location. The introducer comprises a retrograde portion, an anterograde portion axially moveable relative to the retrograde portion, a shaft having a distal tip and an anterograde sheath attached to the distal tip, and anchoring means in at least one of the retrograde portion or the anterograde portion for anchoring the device during deployment from its proximal end to its distal end. An inner sheath may be mounted concentrically over the shaft with the endoluminal device mounted concentrically over the inner sheath. The anchoring device may comprise an inflatable balloon mounted radially inside the retrograde portion, a tether, or an extended portion of the endoluminal device confined by a notch in the interface of two sheaths in the retrograde portion of the introducer, or may comprise a holder in the anterograde portion.

Abstract: An imaging endoscope comprising a shaft having a proximal end adapted to be secured to a handle, and a distal end having a biopsy forceps disposed therein. The biopsy forceps includes one or more end-effector elements that are actuated with a control cable that may be connected to the handle. The endoscope shaft includes a biopsy sample lumen that is configured to receive a biopsy sample obtained from the forceps assembly. A sample collection apparatus is attached to the handle to capture multiple biopsy samples. In some embodiments, the endoscope is a single-use endoscope.

Abstract: A system for delivering an occlusive device includes a delivery wire assembly configured to be slidably inserted into and through the lumen of a delivery catheter, the delivery wire assembly including a delivery wire conduit defining a conduit lumen and having a conduit distal end forming a first cathode of a position detection circuit, a noble wire disposed in the conduit lumen and having a noble wire distal end forming an anode of the position detection circuit, and a core wire disposed in the conduit lumen and having a core wire distal end, the core wire distal end forming a second cathode of the position detection circuit, wherein an occlusive device is detachably coupled to the core wire distal end.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an elongated body member having a distal end and a head extending from the distal end of the elongated body member, with the head comprising a remotely actuatable needle driver and a needle catch. A needle is adapted for receiving a suture and for being driven by the needle driver through a tissue into the needle catch, making a stitch. The instrument further comprises a remotely actuatable implement, such as a push bar, for moving the needle from a first position lodged in the needle catch to a second position dislodged from or able to be readily dislodged from the needle catch. The instrument may be used for placing multiple stitches without removing the instrument from the body. One particularly advantageous embodiment comprises a suturing device adapted for insertion in a body lumen, such as for attaching an endoluminal device to the lumen wall.

Abstract: Methods for determining the size, pathology, and volume of embolic debris captured in an embolic protection filtering device. The methods may include providing an embolic protection filtering device and scanning the filtering device with a computed tomography scanner. The methods may also include analyzing digital images produced during the scanning step.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to coated medical devices, preferably a stent, that has a drug-eluting surface completely or partially coated with a coating that is imprinted with an impression. In particular, the invention is directed to a coated medical device having a coating that comprises biologically active materials, polymers, or a combination thereof. The coating is imprinted with an impression by printing, molding, lithography, or embossing techniques. Preferably, the patterning imprinted on the coating is capable of releasing biologically active materials in different amounts, at different rates, and/or at different time periods. The invention also relates to methods of making and methods of using the coated medical device.

Abstract: A stent comprises a plurality of serpentine circumferential bands, and a plurality of connector columns. Each connector column is located between two adjacent circumferential bands and comprises one or more connector struts. Each connector strut is connected at one end to one serpentine circumferential band and at another end to another serpentine circumferential band. The number of connectors per connector column decreases from the first free end of the stent to the second free end of the stent.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering of a sling assembly and removal of the sleeve at least partially enclosing the sling through a single orifice of incision are disclosed.

Abstract: Some embodiments of an electrode delivery system may be used to deliver a plurality of wired electrodes into one or more chambers of the heart. In particular embodiments, the plurality of wired electrodes may be delivered into a heart chamber through a single guide sheath device. Such a system may be used to deliver one or more wired electrodes to inner wall of the left atrium, the left ventricle, or both.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for an intravascular ultrasound system includes an ultrasound transducer disposed in an image device housing within a lumen of a catheter. The ultrasound transducer transforms applied electrical signals to acoustic signals within a frequency bandwidth centered at an operational frequency and having variable electrical impedances over one or more frequencies within the bandwidth. A distal drive cable is coupled to the imaging device housing. A connector housing couples the distal drive cable to a proximal drive cable. A transducer conductor electrically couples the transducer to a proximal end of the catheter. At least one tuning element is electrically coupled to the transducer conductor. The at least one tuning element matches electrical impedances of the transducer conductor to the ultrasound transducer over at least a subset of frequencies within the frequency bandwidth of the ultrasound transducer.

Abstract: A method for imaging a patient using an intravascular ultrasound imaging system includes inserting a catheter into a target imaging region within patient vasculature. The catheter includes at least one transducer coupled to a control module. A plurality of image frames is generated as the at least one transducer is moved within patient vasculature. The image frames are based on data obtained from a plurality of echo signals reflected from patient tissue in response to a plurality of acoustic signals output from the at least one transducer. Each image frame includes a motion-blur component. A motion-blur-intensity estimate is quantified for each image frame to form a motion-blur-estimation signal that varies over time and that includes periodic local motion blur minima. Temporal variations of the motion-blur components are filtered to reduce variation in the motion-blur-intensity estimate arising from vessel structure variation. Image frames are selected that contain local motion blur minima.

Abstract: A system and method for surgery on a hollow organ comprises a source of a biocompatible gellable fluid in a flowable state and an insertion device for introducing the gellable fluid into a hollow organ of a patient, the gellable fluid transitioning from the flowable state to a gel-like state to form a gel mass within the hollow organ to support a wall of the hollow organ in combination with a state control apparatus for transitioning the gel mass from the gel-like state to the flowable state and a removal device for removing from the hollow organ the gellable fluid in the flowable state.