Abstract: The teachings are directed to a medical device having a drug-retaining coating that at least substantially delays the initial elution of a drug for a time effective at forming a functional endothelium over a surface of the medical device.

Abstract: A unique method and coatings are provided to promote/allow early stage tissue encapsulation/endothelization of medical devices while effectively controlling excessive tissue buildup by eluting antiproliferative therapeutic agent within a body of a patient. The method involves using a therapeutic agent that suppresses excessive extracellular matrix proliferation and allows/promotes thin tissue healing/encapsulation/endothelization of the device. Optimized timing of onset of elution to match onset of excessive extracellular matrix proliferation for maximum effectiveness is achieved by delay barrier with biochemical switch.

Abstract: The present invention involves an expandable element with an outer sticky surface. The expandable element may be in the form of a balloon with deflated and inflated configurations. The expandable element serves to both dilate a lumen in a blood vessel thereby opening it and to exert force upon the sticky surface in order to press it into apposition against a vessel wall. The outer sticky surface may be provided directly upon the expandable element or on a separate outer sheath that conforms to and follows the contours of the expandable element. The sticky surface may take the form of a biochemical composition and/or a mechanically abrasive structure such as microhooks, hairs, mesh netting, etc. Optionally, additional expandable elements may be provided proximal and distal to the main element to occlude blood flow on either side of a lesion in order to better trap emboli for collection.

Abstract: A unique method and coatings are provided for promoting tissue encapsulation of medical devices, especially before antiproliferative drug therapy within a body of a patient in order to prevent excessive restenosis and while avoiding thrombosis (including late stage/stent thrombosis). The method involves delaying the activation of restenosis suppressing (i.e. antiproliferative) drugs in the vicinity of the medical device until a thin layer of geometrically streamlined tissue has deposited itself upon the device. Coatings of one or more layer that provide an aligned scaffolding (i.e. via aligned fibers or aligned grooves) may be used in the method to encourage tissue deposition and/or to delay elution of drug(s) stored beneath or within. The delay phase prior to degradation, erosion, and/or absorption of the coating to release an active drug should last until an optimal amount of controlled restenosis has provided a thin endothelial layer to encapsulate the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a PreStent comprising a sheath and frame designed for preparing a vessel passageway for the subsequent delivery of a stent. The PreStent can be self-expanding or balloon-expandable. Also provided is a supporting system for delivering the PreStent safely. The supporting system includes a delivery catheter, one or more occlusion balloon, optionally one or more dilation balloon, and a retention sheath for the self-expanding type of PreStent. The PreStent of the present invention is flexible for use with a variety of stent and guidewire models such that it can easily be incorporated with existing devices to improve stenting procedures.