Abstract: A radiation device is used in a body lumen for treatment. The radiation device is formed of a sheath to be disposed in the body lumen, and an elongated radiation member. The sheath includes a guide wire passageway to allow a guide wire to pass therethrough, and a sheath passageway extending throughout a substantial portion thereof. The radiation member includes an outer member having a shield portion at a front part thereof, and an inner member slidably situated in the outer member and having a radiation portion at a front part thereof. When the radiation device is used, the sheath is introduced into a body lumen by sliding over the guide wire preliminary placed in the body lumen. Then, the radiation member is inserted into the sheath passageway in a condition such that the radiation portion is located inside the shielding portion. When radiation is required, the radiation portion is disposed outside the shield portion.

Abstract: An expandable reinforcing member or stent of the invention is used inside a body lumen, especially, in patient's artery for opening and holding a lesion or stenosis with a branch. The expandable reinforcing member is formed of at least two hollow mesh portions situated away from each other along an axial direction of the reinforcing member, and a connecting portion situated between the two hollow mesh porions for connecting the same. The connecting portion has a plurality of tortuous lines to define hollow areas therein, and a marker. Each hollow area is greater than a mesh size of the hollow mesh portions, and the marker is formed in one of the tortuous lines. Thus, a position of the connecting portion is realized at a time of installation of the reinforcing member. After the expandable reinforcing member is expanded, the reinforcing member can be slightly moved to relocate the position.

Abstract: An expandable stent is formed of a plurality of rows of circularly arranged annular members situated side by side in one direction, and connecting rods for connecting the annular members together. The annular members in one row is formed substantially independently, preferably spaced apart from each other. The stent is delivered in a compressed condition in a hole, such as blood vessel, and the compressed stent is substantially fully returned to the original shape when the compressed condition is removed. The stent withstand a high compression force.

Abstract: An expandable reinforcing member with different mesh patterns of the invention is used inside a body lumen, especially, in patient's artery for opening and holding a lesion or stenosis. The stent of the invention includes at least one large mesh portion, and a small mesh portion connected to the large mesh portion. The small mesh portion has a mesh size smaller than that of the large mesh portion. When the stent is delivered into the artery, the small mesh portion is positioned at the lesion or the stenosis, and the large mesh portion is positioned at healthy tissues of the artery. Therefore, the small mesh portion has enough strength to open and hold the lesion or stenosis in the artery, and the large mesh portion does not hurt the healthy tissues of the artery.

Abstract: A catheter with a locking device is formed of a catheter and a locking device attached to a proximal end of the catheter. The locking device is formed of a cylindrical portion fixed to the proximal end of the catheter and having a dent at one side thereof, and a movable ring rotatably attached to the cylindrical portion and having a slit. The movable ring is rotatable to open and close the dent, so that when a portion of the catheter is placed in the dent through the slit, the movable ring is rotated to close the dent to securely hold the portion of the catheter in the slot. Accordingly, the catheter can be locked in the looped condition.

Abstract: A stent for the reinforcement of a blood vessel which comprises a plurality of circularly arranged elongated struts inclined in the same direction relative to an imaginary line on the outer surface of the circularly dimensioned stent. The struts include joint members for joining adjacent elongated struts within the same circular row in a continuous manner. Connector members are formed to the joint members and include a verticle, relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent, portion to which oppositely extending end portions connect to adjacent rows of the joint members of the circumferentially arranged joint members of the elongated members so that the connectors provide flexibility along the longitudinal axis and reduce longitudinal movement of the stent when the stent is expanded.