Abstract: Prosthesis delivery devices and methods are provided that enable precise control of prosthesis position during deployment. The catheter for delivering a prosthesis to a treatment site in a body lumen typically carries one or more self-expanding tubular prostheses within a sheath. A radially expandable control member is positionable within the prostheses and has an expanded shape which engages an inner surface of the prostheses to urge the prostheses outwardly against the sheath. The radially expandable control member therefore controls axial position of the prostheses during deployment. Thus one or more prostheses may be deployed at a treatment site precisely. When multiple prostheses are deployed, excessive spacing or overlap between adjacent prostheses is minimized. The prostheses of the present invention are often deployed in stenotic lesions in peripheral arteries as well as coronary arteries and other body lumens.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stent delivery provide for dilatation at a treatment site as well as stent delivery, using the same stent delivery apparatus. Apparatus generally include a catheter having at least one expandable member, at least one stent positionable thereon, and a sheath disposed over the expandable member and the stent. Some embodiments include separate expandable members for dilatation of a lesion and for stent expansion, while other embodiments use the same expandable member for both. In some embodiments a stent includes multiple separable stent segments. In various embodiments, self-expanding stents may be used. Methods involve positioning a stent delivery device at a treatment site, expanding an expandable member to dilate at least a portion of a lesion at the treatment site, and expanding (or allowing to expand) a stent at the treatment site.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: A catheter configured to carry one or more stents and having an inflatable balloon for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter is characterized in having a positioner for moving the one or more stents relative to the balloon from a first position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a second position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. Also disclosed is a method for deploying a stent at a desired location in the vascular system.

Abstract: A catheter configured to carry one or more stents and having an inflatable balloon for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter is characterized in having a positioner for moving the one or more stents relative to the balloon torn a first position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a second position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. Also disclosed is a method for deploying a stent at a desired location in the vascular system.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include a flexible catheter shaft, an expandable member, a tubular prosthesis selectively movable in an axial direction over the expandable member, and a stop member disposed on the catheter shaft near the distal end of the catheter shaft for stopping the prosthesis at a deployment position on the expandable member. A variety of different stop members are provided according to various embodiments, such as stop members disposed outside the expandable member, stop members disposed inside the expandable member, movable stop members, and the like. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering stents to bifurcated vessels involve delivering a first stent in a main branch of a vessel using a stent delivery catheter and delivering a second stent in a side branch of the vessel, without removing the stent delivery catheter from the patient. In various embodiments, multiple stents may be placed in either or both of the main and side branches. In some embodiments, stents in main and side branches are separate and do not touch, while in other embodiments a side branch stent may extend through a sidewall opening in a main branch stent. Stent length may optionally be adjusted in situ, and some embodiments provide for predilatation of one or more lesions.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discreet stent structures. Stent structures may be balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sights. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having both a pusher rod for advancing the stents relative to a sheath and a reciprocatable delivery catheter for implanting the stents.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discrete stent structures, or continuous coiled or mesh stent structures. Stent structures may be a balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sites. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having a deployment mechanism for deploying one or more stents of selectable length into the vessel.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are expanded using an evertible braided prosthesis. The braided prosthesis is delivered to the blood vessel in a radially collapsed configuration. A leading edge of the braided prosthesis is then everted so that it expands as it is advanced through the blood vessel. Optionally, the prosthesis can be provided with a biologically active substance in order to inhibit hyperplasia or have other desired biological effects.

Abstract: Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering prosthetic segments to a body lumen, utilize a device having an elongated flexible member including proximal and distal ends, a plurality of prosthetic segments releasably arranged axially along the elongated flexible member near the distal end and an outer sheath slidably disposed over at least a portion of the prosthetic segments. The apparatus further includes a separator disposed on the outer sheath and adapted to engage the prosthetic segments. The separator is also adapted to be retracted proximally over the prosthetic segments and advanced distally to separate a proximal group of the prosthetic segments from a distal group of the prosthetic segments which are to be deployed in the body lumen.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for operating and controlling an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. A handle member includes an elongated body and an actuator knob that rotates around the longitudinal axis of the body. Rotational movement of the actuator knob is translated to rotational movement of one or more lead screws by a system of gears, rollers, or combinations of gears and rollers. Each of one or more axially moveable members is positioned on a lead screw and attached to a portion of the catheter shaft in order to provide the ability to advance or retract the portion of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are expanded using an evertible braided prosthesis. The braided prosthesis is delivered to the blood vessel in a radially collapsed configuration. A leading edge of the braided prosthesis is then everted so that it expands as it is advanced through the blood vessel. Optionally, the prosthesis can be provided with a biologically active substance in order to inhibit hyperplasia or have other desired biological effects.

Abstract: Metallic stents are treated with a gaseous species in a plasma state under conditions causing the species to polymerize and to be deposited in polymerized form on the metallic stent surface prior to the application of a drug-polymer mixture, which is done by conventional non-plasma deposition methods. The drug-polymer mixture once applied forms a coating on the stent surface that releases the drug in a time-release manner and gradually erodes, leaving only the underlying plasma-deposited polymer. In certain cases, the plasma-deposited polymer itself erodes or dissolves into the physiological medium over an extended period of time, leaving only the metallic stent. While the various polymers and drug remain on the stent, the plasma-deposited polymer enhances the adhesion of the drug-polymer anchor coating and maintains the coating intact upon exposure to the mechanical stresses encountered during stent deployment.

Abstract: Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.

Abstract: A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.

Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using multiple, discreet stent structures. Stent structures may be balloon expandable or self-expanding and are delivered by a delivery catheter which is repositioned to spaced-apart delivery sights. By coating the stents with particular biologically active substances, hyperplasia within and between the implanted stents can be inhibited. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a catheter body having both a pusher rod for advancing the stents relative to a sheath and a reciprocatable delivery catheter for implanting the stents.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.