Abstract: A balloon angioplasty catheter having a balloon head assembly carried at the distal end of an elongated catheter body. The balloon head assembly includes an inflatable balloon envelope and a perfusion lumen extending through the balloon envelope to provide a blood flow passage during inflation of the balloon envelope. The invention also encompasses embodiments having a collapsible guidewire lumen for increasing perfusion blood flow upon guidewire withdrawal. Also within the scope of the invention is a distally stepped down perfusion catheter, allowing for decreased distal cross section. In another preferred embodiment, the perfusion lumen is inflatable. In yet another embodiment, the guidewire lumen is external to the perfusion lumen.

Abstract: The inventive method requires advancing a three-dimensional imaging balloon catheter to the site of a lesion to be imaged, inflating or molding the balloon to image the lesion, deflating the balloon, withdrawing the catheter from the body lumen and re-inflating the balloon which reassumes its memorized shape. Stress and thermal mapping of the balloon is then done by direct observation or by numerical analysis of the material strain and color of the re-inflated 3D imaging balloon.

Abstract: The inventive method requires advancing a three-dimensional imaging balloon catheter to the site of a lesion to be imaged, inflating or molding the balloon to image the lesion, deflating the balloon, withdrawing the catheter from the body lumen and re-inflating the balloon which reassumes its memorized shape. Stress and thermal mapping of the balloon is then done by direct observation or by numerical analysis of the material strain and color of the re-inflated 3D imaging balloon.

Abstract: The inventive method requires advancing a three-dimensional imaging balloon catheter to the site of a lesion to be imaged, inflating or molding the balloon to image the lesion, deflating the balloon, withdrawing the catheter from the body lumen and re-inflating the balloon which reassumes its memorized shape. Stress and thermal mapping of the balloon is then done by direct observation or by numerical analysis of the material strain and color of the re-inflated 3D imaging balloon.

Abstract: A catheter tube having improved strength and lubricity. The catheter tube can be used advantageously as a guide wire tube for small profile intravascular catheters. The tube can be formed by extruding a mixture of thermoplastic polymeric material, hard particles, lubricating particles, and a lubricant. The lubricant is preferably an external lubricant capable of forming a film over the tube surfaces. One tube is formed of polyamide, molybdenum disulfide particles, PTFE particles, and zinc stearate. Applicants believe the hard disulfide particles and lubricating PTFE particles protrude from the tubular surfaces and are coated with a film of lubricating zinc stearate. The film is believed to reduce the friction and resulting PTFE elongation caused by a guide wire sliding over the PTFE protrusions.

Abstract: A multi-layer catheter tube section providing gradually increasing flexibility. One catheter tube section has a first, inner layer formed of a flexible material and a second, outer layer formed of a stiffer material. The outer layer tapers distally, having decreasing layer thickness with increasing distal position. The decreasing wall thickness provides a decreasing stiffness contribution which imparts increasing flexibility to the catheter portions having a smaller outer layer. The tube sections can be joined end to end to form longer catheter regions having a greater number of gradual flexibility changes.

Abstract: A device and method for retrieving partially deployed balloon expandable stents. The device addresses, inter alia, the problem of retrieving stents that have become dislodged from the desired position about a deploying balloon, leaving a stent that is likely too large to be retracted back into a guide catheter. The device can be used with a guide catheter having a balloon angioplasty catheter inserted within. The invention includes a grasping device at the distal end of a shaft and a mechanism for opening and closing the grasping device. In one embodiment, the grasping device includes a reinforced tube having a bound outer inflatable sleeve and a longitudinal slit. In use, the tube can be slipped over the proximal portion of a balloon catheter shaft extending from a patient, advanced over the shaft, through and distally out of a guide catheter, there inflated to grasp the stent distal end, and retracted proximally into the guide catheter.

Abstract: A medical system is disclosed which includes an over-the-wire type balloon catheter and a guide wire wherein the catheter includes a polymer outer tube, and an inner tube having a metallic proximal portion and a polymer distal portion. An inflatable balloon is connected to the distal ends of the inner tube and the outer tube. The guide wire may be removed from and inserted into the guide wire lumen at either end of the catheter. The catheter may further include a transition member traversing the junction between the proximal and distal portions of the inner tube. The transition member may be in the form of a wire, a coil or a tube, and may be made of cold drawn stainless steel or a superelastic alloy. The metallic proximal portion of the inner tube may have a wall thickness greater than or equal to 0.0020 inches and an outside diameter less than or equal to 0.0255 inches. The catheter may also include a radiopaque marker band swaged onto the inner tube.