Abstract: Embodiments include methods of identifying a personalized cardiovascular device based on patient-specific geometrical information, the method comprising acquiring a geometric model of at least a portion of a patient's vascular system; obtaining one or more geometric quantities of one or more blood vessels of the geometric model of the patient's vascular system; determining the presence or absence of a pathology characteristic at a location in the geometric model of the patient's vascular system; generating an objective function defined by a plurality of device variables and a plurality of hemodynamic and solid mechanics characteristics; and optimizing the objective function using computational fluid dynamics and structural mechanics analysis to identify a plurality of device variables that result in desired hemodynamic and solid mechanics characteristics.

Abstract: A medical device, method and system of treating the lumenal system of a patient are provided. The medical device includes a tissue plicator adapted and configured to form a plication of tissue proximate a target region of a patient. The medical device further includes a retainer applicator operatively associated with the tissue plicator. The retainer applicator is adapted and configured to apply a retainer to the plication to maintain the plication after the medical device is removed from the patient. In accordance with a further aspect, the tissue plicator may plicate tissue by mechanically clamping the tissue and/or may plicate the tissue at least in part by applying suction thereto. The system can be used to plicate tissue proximate the mitral valve of a patient. The plication can be formed temporarily or permanently.

Abstract: A method of producing a vascular lesion in an animal that resembles atherosclerosic lesions in humans. The method includes introducing cholesterol enriched with LDL or cholesterol enriched with LDL and monocytes, macrophages, leukocytes, smooth muscle cells or platelets into a proliferative lesion created by standard methods, to promote atherosclerosis.

Abstract: Compounds that specifically inhibit or reduce leukocyte adhesion or function are useful to enhance vascular healing and lessen restenosis of blood vessels after revascularization, via angioplasty or bypass surgery, of diseased coronary, peripheral and cerebral arteries, and lessen stenosis or restenosis of surgically-placed bypass grafts and transplanted organs. Examples of these compounds are those which block cell surface integrins or their ligands, for example, the leukocyte integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18, &agr;M&bgr;2). As demonstrated by the examples, both superficial and deep injury was significantly reduced with treatment using an antibody to Mac-1 compared to both saline controls and IgG controls. After balloon angioplasty (superficial injury) neointimal area was reduced nearly 70%. The ratio of intimal:medial area, which is customarily used in balloon-injured experimental arteries to normalize for small normal variations in arterial size from one animal to another, was reduced over 75%.

Abstract: An endoluminal device slippage sensor system including an electrically conductive endoluminal device and a catheter assembly to which the device is coupled for deployment into a lumen. First, second and third electrodes are associated with the catheter assembly, each respectively in direct electrical contact with a proximal, a middle and a distal portion of the device. A potential source generates a potential between the first and second electrodes and between the second and third electrodes. The potential between the electrodes is varied in accordance with a change of position of the device along the axis of the catheter assembly during deployment in which the proximal or distal portion of the device is disconnected from the first or third electrode, respectively.