Abstract: A device for retrieving foreign bodies, such as a vaso-occlusive coil or other articles, from within vessels such as those of the cardiovascular system. Two small snare coils are joined at their distal ends to form a loop. The proximal ends of the loops are attached to one or more elongated actuator members. The loop size is adjusted by manipulation of one or more of the proximal ends of the elongated actuator members. This retrieval device may be used to ensnare and either reposition or remove foreign bodies located within a vessel lumen.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of vasoocclusion devices. More particularly, it relates to a vasoocclusion coil which may be segmented, onto which a fibrous, woven or braided, tubular covering or element is attached.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for creating an endovascular occlusion by the formation of thrombi in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations, and arteriovenous fistulas. In particular, the invention is an assembly for electrolytically severing a portion of the endovascular device such as a coil via the use of electrolysis. The vasoocclusive device is introduced through a catheter and is intended to remain at the desired thrombus formation site. The invention further includes a method for the introduction of the device and its electrolytic separation.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device. In particular, it is a catheter suitable for treating a tissue target within the body, which target is accessible through the vascular system. Central to the invention is the use of a multi-component distal section having an interior stiffener and an exterior tubing member.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical instrument and specifically is a catheter for treating a target site by delivering a controlled amount of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent (the target site being accessible by a tortuous path through the vasculature), the perfusion tip assembly on first catheter, and a process of using that catheter to deliver fluids to the selected vascular site.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device. In particular, it is a catheter suitable for treating a tissue target within the body, which target is accessible through the vascular system. Central to the invention is the use of stiffener ribbons, typically metallic, wound within the catheter body in such a way as to create a catheter having controllable stiffness.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new technique for preparing metal devices such as guidewires for the subsequent attachment of hydrophilic coatings. The invention also relates to guidewires and other devices made according to that method.In one embodiment of the method of this invention, a hydrocarbon residue undercoat is applied to a metal guidewire core by plasma deposition. A photoactive hydrophilic polymer is then deposited on the hydrocarbon residue coating and activated by ultraviolet light. The hydrocarbon residue coating acts as a tie layer between the hydrophilic polymer and the metal guidewire core apparently by providing C--C bonds for the covalent linking of the coating material to the tie layer. The resulting article of this invention is a guidewire having the maneuverability of a metal guidewire and the biocompatibility of a lubricious, hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: This invention is a single-lumen balloon catheter and assembly having a variable stiffness shaft that allows for greater guidewire trackability and proximal pushability than previous designs. The catheter has an elongate tubular body that is made of inner and outer coaxial tubes, the inner tube being made of proximal and distal sections, the proximal section being stiffer than the distal section and the distal section being stiffer than the outer tube.

Abstract: This invention is a microballoon tipped catheter. The catheter has a shaft which is of varying flexibility with the most flexible portion towards the distal tip. The balloon, located near the distal tip of the catheter, is typically of an elastic material, is quite flexible in its own right when deflated, and is quite small. The catheter shaft has a main lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end so to allow the use of a guidewire in placing the catheter's distal tip in remote regions of the vasculature and for delivery of drugs, diagnostics, and other biologics to those regions. The catheter shaft has a wall that desirably is of a multilayer construction. The wall preferably includes an independent lumen, which may be formed from a small diameter tubing that is placed between layers of the wall, for the inflation and deflation of the microballoon. The inflation lumen proceeds from the proximal end of the catheter and terminates near the distal end of the catheter but within the microballoon.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for endovascular occlusion through the formation of thrombi in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations, and arteriovenous fistulas. In particular, it deals with a sacrificial link between an endovascular device which is introduced to and is intended to remain at the desired thrombus formation site and the device used to introduce the device. The invention further includes a method for introduction of the device and its electrolytic separation.

Abstract: This invention is a vasoocclusive device. More particularly, it is a tubular vasoocclusion braid woven from at least radiopaque fibers. The braid may also be partially woven from radiolucent fibers. Optionally, the device may contain a fibrous center or wick in its interior. The device may be continuous or segmented and a fibrous covering or element may be attached.

Abstract: An extendable guidewire assembly comprising: a guidewire having a tapered proximal end; an extension wire having a tapered distal end; and a polymeric tubular sleeve reinforced with a helical coil that is fixedly attached about the tapered distal end of the extension wire such that the tapered distal end of the extension wire extends partly through the sleeve lumen, said lumen having a diameter that is smaller than the untapered diameter of the guidewire and wherein said lumen expands radially when the sleeve is under axial compression and contracts radially when the sleeve is under axial tension.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical device. It is a guidewire for use in a catheter and is used for accessing a targeted site within a system of lumen within a patient's body. The guidewire may be of a high elasticity metal alloy, preferably a Ni-Ti alloy, having specified physical parameters, and is especially useful for accessing peripheral or soft tissue targets. The "necked" guidewire tip also forms a specific parameter of the invention.

Abstract: A device for retrieving foreign bodies, such as a vasoocclusive coil or elements, from within vessels such as those of the cardiovascular system includes a tubular member and a flexible wire that extends axially through the tubular member with its distal end extending out the distal end of the tubular member and looped back and affixed to the distal end of the tubular member to form a loop whose size may be adjusted by axial movement of the wire relative to the tubular member and which may be used to ensnare the foreign bodies and remove them from the vessel.

Abstract: This invention is in the field of vasoocclusion devices. More particularly, it relates to a vasoocclusion coil which may be segmented, onto which a fibrous, woven or braided, tubular covering or element is attached.

Abstract: The catheter with atraumatic drug delivery tip can be sued to access remote tortuous blood vessels and to deliver defined doses of medication over a desired length of the accesses vessel. The guidewire of the catheter helps guiding the catheter to a desired location and can be used to control release of medication in axial as well as in radial direction inside the vessel. The catheter is designed with sections of different flexibility.

Abstract: This invention is an intraluminal stent or graft suited for the noninvasive treatment of aneurysms, diseased blood vessels, and other bodily lumen. The stent is made up of polymeric tubing which is helically and tightly wound to produce a column having an open lumen from one end to the other. At the stent's distal end, the tubing is sealed. At the stent's proximal end, the stent is adapted to allow the introduction of fluid suitable for inflating the stent at the chosen vascular site. The stent coils adhere to each other or to one or more sizing strips which may be straight or helical in configuration, or the stent may be constructed to use both methodologies.

Abstract: A catheter for use in combination with a guide wire for placement within a tortuous, small vessel and delivery of fluid at a target site is disclosed. The catheter comprises an elongate tubular body with a perforated flexible tip located at the distal end of the elongate tubular body.

Abstract: An artery, vein, aneurysm, vascular malformation or arterial fistula is occluded through endovascular occlusion by the endovascular insertion of a platinum wire and/or tip into the vascular cavity. The vascular cavity is packed with the tip to obstruct blood flow or access of blood in the cavity such that the blood clots in the cavity and an occlusion if formed. The tip may be elongate and flexible so that it packs the cavity by being folded upon itself a multiple number of times, or may pack the cavity by virtue of a filamentary or fuzzy structure of the tip. The tip is then separated from the wire mechanically or by electrolytic separation of the tip from the wire. The wire and the microcatheter are thereafter removed leaving the tip embedded in the thrombus formed within the vascular cavity. Movement of wire in the microcatheter is more easily tracked by providing a radioopaque proximal marker on the microcatheter and a corresponding indicator marker on the wire.

Abstract: This invention is a surgical instrument and specifically is a device for delivering an embolic coil to a selected site within a vessel in a human body via use of a catheter. In particular, the device involves an embolic coil having an enlarged member, such as a ball attached thereto which coil is released by forcing the enlarged member through an aperture in a socket situated on the distal end of a pusher assembly.