Abstract: A system/assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel, comprising a catheter having proximal and distal ends; a stent, inflation expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, such that the delivery diameter is reduced from the deployment diameter for conforming the stent to the catheter, such that the stent, in its delivery diameter, is coaxially mounted on the catheter near the catheter distal end; an expandable inflation means coaxially mounted on the catheter axially within the stent, for expansion of the stent from the delivery diameter to the deployment diameter upon application of fluid deployment pressure to the inflation means; and a securement component coaxially mounted on the catheter, axially within the expandable inflation means, the securement component designed and adapted to provide a securement pressure to the stent in the delivery diameter to maintain the stent in position on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site.

Abstract: A fixed wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes an elongated flexible thin walled metal tube which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A metal core member of smaller outer diameter meter than the metal tube is attached to the distal end of the tube to provide support for and guiding of the balloon section. The proximal end of the balloon is connected either to the distal end of the metal tube or to an intermediate waist tube, with the core extending distally from the metal tube through the balloon. The distal end of the balloon is secured to the core. A vent arrangement is provided to purge the catheter of gases prior to use.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section.

Abstract: A sleeve carrying stent for implantation within a body lumen comprising a radially expandable cylindrical stent component having an inner wall and an outer wall, a plurality of elongated support struts, and a sleeve secured to the ends of the struts, wherein the struts are preferably parallel and may be loosely interlocked with the stent component, and wherein the stent component is able to move longitudinally independent of the struts.

Abstract: An intravascular balloon catheter is disclosed which includes a proximal hypotube shaft segment, a distal polymer shaft segment, a distally-mounted inflatable balloon segment, and a hollow tubular member having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the hypotube shaft segment such that the lumen of the hollow tubular member is in communication with the exterior of the balloon catheter and the distal end of the hollow tubular member is connected to the distal end of the balloon.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section.

Abstract: A thin wall balloon for a balloon catheter is formed by depositing a film (such as polyimide) over a substrate which has an exterior surface configuration corresponding to a desired shape of the balloon in an inflated (or deflated) condition. After the polyimide film is cured, the substrate is removed from within the polyimide film by chemically dissolving the substrate.

Abstract: A delivery system for implantation of a self-expanding stent in a vessel is consists of an elongate flexible catheter for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a vessel. The stent surrounds the flexible catheter near its distal end and is held in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length by a stent retaining and release means. The stent retaining and release means is a single layer sheath retaining sleeve means for retaining the stent in its delivery configuration attached to a slipping sleeve means for releasing the stent to self-expand. A balloon may optionally be used to seat the stent in the vessel after self-expansion. The stent may also optionally be retained by water soluble or swelling bands.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section.

Abstract: A fixed wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes an elongated flexible thin walled metal tube which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A metal core member of smaller outer diameter than the metal tube is attached to the distal end of the tube to provide support for and guiding of the balloon section. The proximal end of the balloon is connected either to the distal end of the metal tube or to an intermediate waist tube, with the core extending distally from the metal tube through the balloon. The distal end of the balloon is secured to the core. A vent arrangement is provided to purge the catheter of gases prior to use.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon dilatation catheter has a stainless steel hypotube catheter shaft, an intermediate sleeve section bonded to the shaft and a distal balloon section connected to the sleeve section. The sleeve section is formed from relatively flexible polymer materials and includes an inner core tube which defines a guide wire lumen extending only through a distal portion of the catheter (including its sleeve and balloon sections) to facilitate fast balloon catheter exchanges. A distal end of the hypotube shaft is crimped laterally and the core tube is nested and bonded within the crimp to provide a proximal outlet for the guide wire lumen. The hypotube shaft provides an inflation lumen for the balloon, with the inflation lumen being continued as an annular inflation lumen through the sleeve section where an outer sleeve is bonded about the core tube and extends from the distal end of the hypotube shaft to the balloon section.

Abstract: The balloon of an angioplasty balloon catheter is prepared for insertion through a patient's cardiovascular system by a series of steps to create three or more folded wings or flaps. The wings are wrapped circumferentially to provide a minimized outer diameter when the balloon is in its deflated state.

Abstract: A low profile catheter for increasing lumen size of a blood vessel includes a catheter shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A guide wire is positioned in the catheter shaft to extend beyond the balloon, and the guide wire defines a keyed portion having a cross-sectional shape which is other than round. A keyed coupling number is carried by the catheter shaft and coupled to the keyed portion of the guide wire to transmit torque from the catheter shaft to the guide wire while permitting relative axial movement between the catheter shaft and the guide wire. Alternately, wound coil springs are mounted to the catheter shaft by a spyder. The coil springs seize the guide wire in response to rotation, but allow longitudinal movement of the guide wire in the absence of rotation.

Abstract: A thin wall balloon for a balloon catheter is formed by depositing a film (such as polyimide) over a substrate which has an exterior surface configuration corresponding to a desired shape of the balloon in an inflated (or deflated) condition. After the polyimide film is cured, the substrate is removed from within the polyimide film by chemically dissolving the substrate.

Abstract: A low profile catheter for increasing lumen size of a blood vessel includes a catheter shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. A guide wire is positioned in the catheter shaft to extend beyond the balloon, and the guide wire defines a keyed portion having a cross-sectional shape which is other than round. A keyed coupling number is carried by the catheter shaft and coupled to the keyed portion of the guide wire to transmit torque from the catheter shaft to the guide wire while permitting relative axial movement between the catheter shaft and the guide wire. Alternately, wound coil springs are mounted to the catheter shaft by a spyder. The coil springs seize the guide wire in response to rotation, but allow longitudinal movement of the guide wire in the absence of rotation.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation catheter construction having an elongated shaft with a guide wire lumen and an inflation lumen therethrough, and a balloon member mounted on its distal end in combination with the inflation lumen where unwanted gases are vented from the balloon interior by first directing the gases proximally and thereafter directing the gases distally. Unwanted gases are directed proximally by a vent lumen which is sized to allow the unwanted gases to escape the balloon member while significantly inhibiting the flow of a purging medium therefrom. Thereafter, the gases are directed distally through the guide wire lumen where the gases are released from a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A dilatation balloon catheter which is capable of being removed from a patient while leaving a guide wire in place has a longitudinal slit extending from its proximal end to a position near its inflatable balloon. The catheter has an inflation lumen for applying fluid to inflate the balloon, and an insertion lumen through which the guide wire passes. The slit communicates with the insertion lumen so that the catheter can be peeled off of the guide wire as the catheter is withdrawn from the patient and the guide wire remains in place in the patient.

Abstract: The balloon of an angioplasty balloon catheter is prepared for insertion through a patient's cardiovascular system by a series of steps to create three or more folded wings or flaps. The wings are wrapped circumferentially to provide a minimized outer diameter when the balloon is in its deflated state.

Abstract: An improved manifold assembly for a dilatation catheter permits precise adjustment of the effective length of inner and outer members of the catheter during assembly to avoid mismatches in length of the inner and outer members and to avoid the internal stress and distortions caused thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus for protection of a distal balloon on a dilatation catheter includes an inner compressible sleeve which fits longitudinally over the balloon, an outer compressible sleeve which fits over the inner sleeve, and a housing arrangement for deforming the sleeves radially inwardly about the balloon. The housing arrangement includes first and second threadably mated members which have longitudinally aligned throughbores for receiving the catheter and sleeves, but which act, when threaded together, to compress the outer sleeve onto the inner sleeve and the balloon.