Abstract: Blood vessels and other body lumens are stented using stent structures comprising a plurality of radially expansible rings where at least some of the rings comprise axially extending elements which interleave with axially extending elements on adjacent unconnected rings. The ring structures may be open cell structures or closed cell structures, and the axially extending elements will typically be formed as part of the open cell or closed cell structure.

Abstract: An implant comprises a structure that may be implanted into tissue and that has a first material property at normal body temperature. The first material property is variable at elevated temperatures above normal body temperature. The implant also has a plurality of particles dispersed in the structure that are adapted to convert incident radiation into heat energy when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation. The particles are in thermal contact with the structure such that exposure of the particles to incident radiation raises the temperature of the structure thereby changing the first material property relative to the first material property at normal body temperature.

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 stent delivery system for delivering a plurality of stent segments to at least one treatment site includes a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of expandable members arranged axially along the catheter shaft near the distal end, a plurality of stent segments, and a selecting mechanism adapted for selecting one or more expandable members for expansion. Each expandable member is expandable independently of at least one other expandable member, and each expandable member has at least one stent segment positioned on it. One or more of the expandable members may be selectively expanded to deploy the one or more stent segments positioned thereon at the treatment site.

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: 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: Stent delivery devices include at least one implantable stent carrier and/or membrane for carrying multiple stents or stent segments over an expandable member. At least a portion of the implantable carrier is expandable by the expandable member to deploy the portion of the carrier and one or more stent segments disposed thereon. A sheath may be retracted to expose and expand a distal portion of the expandable member to expand and deploy a distal portion of the carrier and the stent segment(s) disposed thereon. Stent delivery devices and methods provide enhanced delivery of multiple stents or stent segments by delivering the segments while coupled with one or more implantable carriers and/or membranes that are typically flexible and dividable.

Abstract: Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for controlling and indicating the deployed length of 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. Devices for controlling the length of the interventional element include gear driven actuators, motors, and other mechanisms. Devices for indicating length of an interventional element to the user include sensors, detents, visual displays and other mechanisms providing visual, audible, and tangible indications of length to the user. The control and indication devices preferably work in tandem to enable highly precise adjustment of interventional element length.

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: 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: Custom-length self-expanding stent delivery systems and methods enable precise control of prosthesis position during deployment. The stent delivery systems carry multiple stent segments and include a stent bumper for helping control the axial position of the stent segments during deployment. This enables the deployment of multiple prostheses at a target site with precision and predictability, preventing stent segment recoil and ejection from the delivery device and thus eliminating excessive spacing or overlap between prostheses. In particular embodiments, the prostheses of the invention are deployed in stenotic lesions in coronary or peripheral arteries or in other vascular locations.

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: Devices and methods are provided for controlling and indicating the deployed length of 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. Devices for controlling the length of the interventional element include gear driven actuators, motors, and other mechanisms. Devices for indicating length of an interventional element to the user include sensors, detents, visual displays and other mechanisms providing visual, audible, and tangible indications of length to the user. The control and indication devices preferably work in tandem to enable highly precise adjustment of interventional element length.

Abstract: Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.

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: 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: 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.