Abstract: Methods and devices for applying hemodynamic patterns to human/animal cells in culture are described. Hemodynamic flow patterns are measured directly from the human circulation and translated to a motor that controls the rotation of a cone. The cone is submerged in fluid (i.e., cell culture media) and brought into close proximity to the cells. Rotation of the cone creates time-varying shear stresses. This model closely mimics the physiological hemodynamic forces imparted on endothelial cells in vivo. A TRANSWELL coculture dish (i.e., a coculture dish comprising an artificial porous membrane) may be incorporated, permitting two, three, or more different cell types to be physically separated within the culture dish environment. In-flow and out-flow tubing may be used to supply media, drugs, etc. separately and independently to both the inner and outer chambers. The physical separation of the cell types permits each cell type to be separately isolated for analysis.

Abstract: A method and related system for providing therapy to a treatment site, such as stenosis or other vasculature disease, at one or more locations of a subject, such as the vasculature. The method includes: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site; infusing microbubbles into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from the ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic energy may be adapted for: imaging the treatment site, translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site and/or rupturing the microbubbles.

Abstract: Amidine analogs that can inhibit the activity of sphingosine kinase 1 and sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK1 & SphK2) are provided. The compounds can prevent angiogenesis in tumor cells.

Abstract: A method and related system for providing therapy to a treatment site, such as stenosis or other vasculature disease, at one or more locations of a subject, such as the vasculature. The method includes: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site; infusing microbubbles into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from the ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic energy may be adapted for: imaging the treatment site, translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site and/or rupturing the microbubbles.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to in vitro methods for mimicking in vivo pathological or physiologic conditions. The methods comprise applying shear forces to a cell type or cell type plated on a surface within a cell culture container. Methods for testing drugs or compounds in such systems are also described.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents are described. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy to create the pores of the porous layer. The porous layer may be adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. The medical device may be a vascular stent having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation.

Abstract: A catheter system including an elongate tubular member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending through at least a portion of a length of the elongate tubular member. The distal end portion of the elongate member is dimensioned and adapted to advance to or in proximity to a treatment site of a subject. A microbubble device is in fluid communication with the lumen. The microbubble device includes at least one input port for receiving a flow of material into the device and an output port configured to output microbubbles from the microbubble device. A second tubular member is in fluid communication with one of the at least one input ports. A pressure fitting arrangement is adapted to maintain a seal between the second tubular member and the input port.

Abstract: Amidine analogs that can inhibit the activity of sphingosine kinase 1 and sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK1 & SphK2) are provided. The compounds can prevent angiogenesis in tumor cells.

Abstract: Methods and devices for applying hemodynamic patterns to human/animal cells in culture are described. Hemodynamic flow patterns are measured directly from the human circulation and translated to a motor that controls the rotation of a cone. The cone is submerged in fluid (i.e., cell culture media) and brought into close proximity to the cells. Rotation of the cone creates time-varying shear stresses. This model closely mimics the physiological hemodynamic forces imparted on endothelial cells in vivo. A TRANSWELL coculture dish (i.e., a coculture dish comprising an artificial porous membrane) may be incorporated, permitting two, three, or more different cell types to be physically separated within the culture dish environment. In-flow and out-flow tubing may be used to supply media, drugs, etc. separately and independently to both the inner and outer chambers. The physical separation of the cell types permits each cell type to be separately isolated for analysis.

Abstract: A method and related system for providing therapy to a treatment site, such as stenosis or other vasculature disease, at one or more locations of a subject, such as the vasculature. The method includes: advancing an ultrasound catheter to or in proximity to the subject's treatment site; infusing microbubbles into or proximal to the treatment site; and delivering ultrasonic energy from the ultrasound catheter. The ultrasonic energy may be adapted for: imaging the treatment site, translating the microbubbles into or in the vicinity of the treatment site and/or rupturing the microbubbles.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Methods and devices for applying hemodynamic patterns to human/animal cells in culture are described. Hemodynamic flow patterns are measured directly from the human circulation and translated to a motor that controls the rotation of a cone. The cone is submerged in fluid (i.e., cell culture media) and brought into close proximity to the cells. Rotation of the cone creates time-varying shear stresses. This model closely mimics the physiological hemodynamic forces imparted on endothelial cells in vivo. A TRANSWELL coculture dish (i.e., a coculture dish comprising an artificial porous membrane) may be incorporated, permitting two, three, or more different cell types to be physically separated within the culture dish environment. In-flow and out-flow tubing may be used to supply media, drugs, etc. separately and independently to both the inner and outer chambers. The physical separation of the cell types permits each cell type to be separately isolated for analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents.

Abstract: An in vitro biomechanical model used to applied hemodynamic (i.e., blood flow) patterns modeled after the human circulation to human/animal cells in culture. This model replicates hemodynamic flow patterns that are measured directly from the human circulation using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging and translated to the motor that controls the rotation of the cone. The cone is submerged in fluid (i.e., cell culture media) and brought into close proximity to the surface of the cells that are grown on the plate surface. The rotation of the cone transduces momentum on the fluid and creates time-varying shear stresses on the plate or cellular surface. This model most closely mimics the physiological hemodynamic forces imparted on endothelial cells (cell lining blood vessels) in vivo and overcomes previous flow devices limited in applying more simplified nonphysiological flow patterns. Another aspect of this invention is directed to incorporate a transwell co-cultured dish.