Abstract: A medical fixation device having a device attachment portion, a compression bearing portion and a barb portion. The barb portion is separated from a device constraining means by the incorporation of the compression bearing portion.

Abstract: An improved catalytic filter material for use in removing target species found in a fluid stream is provided. The filter material includes water wettable, high temperature staple fibers in the form of porous substrates that are attached to a high temperature fluoropolymer woven scrim. The porous substrates have catalyst particles adhered (e.g., tethered) to the surfaces thereof by a polymer adhesive. Optionally, at least one microporous layer is positioned adjacent to or within the filter material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to medical delivery devices that include a barrel having an inner surface, and in at least one embodiment, the inner surface is hydrophilic. The medical delivery device may further include a stopper may having an elastomeric body, one or more fluoropolymer layers, and two or more ribs laminated to the one or more fluoropolymer layers. In some embodiments, the contact angle of the inner surface of the barrel is less than about 58°. Additionally, the stopper includes a sliding surface that is less than about 2.0 mm. The barrel provides inner surface that in combination with the fluoropolymer laminate or fluoropolymer film achieve high levels of air and liquid impermeability while also maintaining an acceptably low break loose force, low average glide force, and low glide force variation. In some embodiments, the compressibility stopper against the barrel is greater than about 7.9%.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a device for occluding an aperture in a body, for example, a patent foramen ovale (PFO), including a first side adapted to be disposed on one side of the septum and a second side adapted to be disposed on the opposite side of the septum. The device has an elongated, low-profile delivery configuration and a shortened, radially expanded deployment configuration. The first and second sides are adapted to occlude the aperture upon deployment of the device at its intended delivery location. The device also includes a radially expandable center portion. In some embodiments, the center portion includes a plurality of ribs provided by slits in device. The ribs expand radially when the device is deployed. The expandable center portion facilitates the positioning of the device in the aperture. The device can be secured in the deployed configuration using a catch system.

Abstract: A container having a barrier layer is provided. The container may be of thermoplastic and the barrier may inhibit materials from leaching from the thermoplastic material or from extraction of compounds from medicants by the thermoplastic. A process is also described that allows for molding thin barrier layers as container lines and for forming thermoplastic containers with barrier liners.

Abstract: A delivery system for endoluminal delivery of an expandable device comprising a catheter having a proximal end and an opposite distal end configured to support an expandable device, a primary sheath having a delivery position in which the primary sheath constrains the expandable device toward a collapsed configuration suitable for endoluminal delivery, and a handle having an actuator for axially displacing the primary sheath from the delivery position, wherein the handle includes a knob for operating one or more functions of the handle which is initially hidden to prevent use by a user and then revealed as a result of displacement of the primary sheath from delivery position so as to allow subsequent actuation of the knob by the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a medical delivery device that includes a barrel having an inner surface, a plunger rod having a distal end inserted within the barrel, and a stopper attached to the distal end of the plunger rod and contacting at least a portion of the inner surface of the barrel. In at least one embodiment, the inner surface is hydrophilic. The stopper may include an elastomeric body, one or more fluoropolymer layers, and two or more ribs laminated with the one or more fluoropolymer layers. In some embodiments, the contact width between at least one rib having a sealing surface and the portion of the inner surface of the barrel measured at a compressibility of greater than about 7.9% of the stopper is less than about 1.0 mm.

Abstract: Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous polymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer fills substantially all of the pores of the porous polymer membrane.

Abstract: VDF-co-(TFE or TrFE) polymers having a molecular weight of at least about 1,000,000 g/mol and a melt temperature less than about 240° C. The VDF copolymer contains at least about 50 mol % VDF monomer and may include an amount of at least one other monomer. The VDF copolymer may be used to form a membrane that has a node and fibril structure. The membrane has a percent porosity of at least 25%. A VDF-co-(TFE or TrFE) polymer membrane may be formed by lubricating the VDF copolymer, subjecting the lubricated polymer to pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the VDF copolymer to form a preform material, and expanding the preform material at a temperature below the melting temperature of the VDF copolymer. Dense VDF copolymer articles, filled VDF copolymer membranes, and VDF copolymer fibers are also provided.

Abstract: A pre-filled syringe having containing therein at least one therapeutic is provided. The syringe contains a silicone free barrel and an elastomeric syringe stopper that is covered with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene barrier layer. The presence of a barrier layer that is at least partially porous on the outside of the syringe stopper improves the seal between the stopper and syringe barrel and minimizes the sliding force. In some embodiments, the barrel is formed of a glass material such as a borosilicate glass, that is free of silicone or other lubricants.

Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets of a particular shape that improves bending character without requiring a long length valve. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve comprises a leaflet frame, a plurality of leaflets that are coupled to the leaflet frame, where each leaflet has a free edge and a base. The base of each leaflet is truncated in which the leaflet in cross section shows a line in an alpha plane onto the leaflet frame.

Abstract: A catheter for delivery of intraluminal and expandable devices. The catheter is provided with a flexible curved tip distal to the device loaded onto the catheter for delivery to a desired site within a body conduit. The curved distal tip causes the catheter to rotate to a preferred rotational orientation, which may be desirable for any device having asymmetric features, particularly when used in tortuous body conduits.

Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter operable by a single clinician that will neither displace a deployed stent nor cause undue trauma to the vascular lumen or lesion. The retrieval catheter may be sized to accommodate both a guidewire and a balloon wire. The retrieval catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways and will cross a previously deployed stent or stent-graft easily with minimal risk of snagging on the deployed stent or stent graft. The sheath and dilator are adapted to allow a guidewire or balloon wire to pass through the walls of both and to allow the sheath and dilator to move axially with respect to each other.

Abstract: A venting apparatus is disclosed herein. The venting apparatus comprises a substrate, such as a metal substrate or a specialty plastic substrate, having an opening therein and a fluoropolymer membrane, such as ePTFE, disposed over said opening and thermally bonded using a thermoplastic material to said substrate. This allows the fluoropolymer membrane to be directly bonded to the said substrate without using an adhesive layer.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; an expandable device releasably attached to the catheter near the distal end; a generally tubular constraining sleeve extending around and compressing the device to an outer peripheral dimension suitable for endoluminal delivery; a tip fixedly secured to the distal end of the catheter; and a bridge member disposed between the tip and the expandable device so as to fill a gap therebetween as the catheter assembly is bent during endoluminal delivery of the expandable device to a treatment site.

Abstract: A flexible passive capacitance pressure sensor includes a first polymeric substrate and a second polymeric substrate. An elastic dielectric sensing material is positioned between the inner-facing surface of the first polymeric substrate and the inner-facing surface of the second polymeric substrate. A first plurality of wires are positioned on the outer-facing surface of said first polymeric substrate, and a second plurality of wires positioned on the outer-facing surface of said second polymeric substrate. The plurality of wires form a flexible capacitor. With the reduced profile enabled by such a capacitor, the flexible passive capacitance pressure sensor can have a thickness of less than 200 microns.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal device for treating obesity includes a three-dimensional porous structure configurable between a compressed pre-deployment configuration to facilitate delivery and an expanded post-deployment configuration. The porous structure includes a first opening at its proximal end and a larger second opening at its distal end. The porous structure also includes a sleeve coupled to its distal end. Optionally, the device further includes a suture at the proximal end of the wire mesh structure to facilitate retrieval and an anti-migration component positioned at the junction of the porous structure with the sleeve. The porous structure is deployed in a patient's stomach such that the anti-migration component sits proximal to the patient's pylorus and prevents migration of the entirety of the device into and through the pylorus. The sleeve extends through the pylorus, into the duodenum and ends in the duodenum or jejunum.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an intragastric device used to treat obesity that includes a wire mesh structure capable of changing from a compressed pre-deployment shape to an expanded post-deployment shape with a greatly increased volume. The post-deployment shape contains a light weight at the top and a heavier weight at the bottom to ensure proper positioning within the stomach. In the post-deployment shape, the device contains larger spaces in the upper portion and smaller spaces in the lower portion to sequester food and delay gastric emptying. Alternatively, the device can be enveloped by a membrane containing larger holes at the top and smaller holes at the bottom to sequester food and delay gastric emptying. The device has a dynamic weight where the weight of the device in the pre-feeding stage is less than the weight of the device in feeding or post-feeding stage.