Abstract: A system for fracturing a frame of a deployed prosthesis with ultrasonic vibration includes a shaft, a tip assembly, an ultrasonic electric generator, and an ultrasonic transducer. The shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The tip assembly is coupled to the distal portion of the shaft. The tip assembly includes a cutting edge. The ultrasonic transducer is electrically coupled to the ultrasonic generator. Ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer is translated to the tip assembly. The cutting edge of the tip assembly is configured to focus the vibration of the tip assembly onto a frame of a deployed prosthesis to fracture the frame of the prosthesis. The ultrasonic transducer may be coupled to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: A system for fracturing a frame of a deployed prosthesis with ultrasonic vibration includes a shaft, a tip assembly, an ultrasonic electric generator, and an ultrasonic transducer. The shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The tip assembly is coupled to the distal portion of the shaft. The tip assembly includes a cutting edge. The ultrasonic transducer is electrically coupled to the ultrasonic generator. Ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer is translated to the tip assembly. The cutting edge of the tip assembly is configured to focus the vibration of the tip assembly onto a frame of a deployed prosthesis to fracture the frame of the prosthesis. The ultrasonic transducer may be coupled to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: A stent includes a hollow wire formed into a stent pattern. The hollow wire includes an outer member, a lumen extending longitudinally within the hollow wire, at least one opening extending from an outer surface of the outer member to the lumen, and a surface area component within the hollow wire. The surface area component increases the amount of surface area available for tissue in-growth within the hollow wire. More than one surface area component may be utilized. Each surface area component may be disposed within the lumen or the at least one opening of the hollow wire. A pharmacologically or biologically active agent may be disposed within the lumen.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrospun prosthetic valve includes utilizing a rotatable and angularly adjustable prosthetic valve mold. The prosthetic valve mold is set to a first angle. The prosthetic valve mold is rotated at a first rotational velocity and a first layer of electrospun fibers is deposited on the prosthetic valve mold. The prosthetic valve mold is stopped and a frame is positioned over the first layer. The prosthetic valve mold is set to a second angle. The prosthetic valve mold is rotated at a second velocity and a second layer of electrospun fibers is deposited on an outer surface of the first layer and an outer surface of the frame.

Abstract: A system for fracturing a frame of a deployed prosthesis with ultrasonic vibration includes a shaft, a tip assembly, an ultrasonic electric generator, and an ultrasonic transducer. The shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The tip assembly is coupled to the distal portion of the shaft. The tip assembly includes a cutting edge. The ultrasonic transducer is electrically coupled to the ultrasonic generator. Ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic transducer is translated to the tip assembly. The cutting edge of the tip assembly is configured to focus the vibration of the tip assembly onto a frame of a deployed prosthesis to fracture the frame of the prosthesis. The ultrasonic transducer may be coupled to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: A stent includes a hollow wire formed into a stent pattern. The hollow wire includes an outer member, a lumen extending longitudinally within the hollow wire, at least one opening extending from an outer surface of the outer member to the lumen, and a surface area component within the hollow wire. The surface area component increases the amount of surface area available for tissue in-growth within the hollow wire. More than one surface area component may be utilized. Each surface area component may be disposed within the lumen or the at least one opening of the hollow wire. A pharmacologically or biologically active agent may be disposed within the lumen.

Abstract: A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes providing composite member having an outer member and a core member disposed within a lumen of the outer member. The composite member is shaped into a pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from the lumen of the outer member without harming the outer member, leaving a hollow tubular member already formed into the desired pattern. The lumen of the outer member is filled with a therapeutic substance.

Abstract: Biodegradable magnesium alloy implantable medical devices are protected to delay onset of corrosion, and thus biodegradability, or to corrode more uniformly. The protection allows for extended effective use of the devices while maintaining biodegradability. Examples of protective coatings include conversion coatings that at least partially remove exposed second phases from a surface of the magnesium alloy and coatings that provide a barrier between water and the surface of the magnesium alloy.

Abstract: A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes providing composite member having an outer member and a core member disposed within a lumen of the outer member. The composite member is shaped into a pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from the lumen of the outer member without harming the outer member, leaving a hollow tubular member already formed into the desired pattern. The lumen of the outer member is filled with a therapeutic substance.

Abstract: A stent includes a wave form that includes a cable including a plurality of strands. The wave form has a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns, with each crown connecting two adjacent struts. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent includes a filler located within the cable. The filler includes a therapeutic substance.

Abstract: A stent including hollow struts is formed on a cylindrical substrate. The struts of the stent are formed by electroforming metal layers of the strut in openings formed in a patterned photoresist material. A first metal layer forming the inner strut material is formed in openings in a first photoresist material. A sacrificial material to form the cavity to make the struts hollow is formed in openings in a second photoresist material. A second metal layer forming the side walls and outer wall of the struts is formed in openings in a third photoresist material and around the sacrificial material. The photoresist materials are removed. The substrate and cavity sacrificial material are removed, leaving hollow struts formed into a stent pattern. The hollow struts may be filled with a therapeutic substance for elution. Openings through the struts to the cavity may be formed during the forming process.

Abstract: Described herein are hydrogen sulfide (H2S) generating polymers and polymer systems suitable for coating or forming medical devices and methods for making and using the same. More specifically, described are H2S generating polymers comprising at least one thioamide group. The H2S generating polymers can provide controlled site-specific release of H2S once implanted at or within the target surgical site by hydrolysis of the thioamide group in physiological media. The H2S generating polymers can be coated onto a medical device, formed into a medical device or combined with one or more other polymers to form a polymer system. Also described are methods of treating restenosis and inflammation and promoting vasodilation utilizing such medical devices.

Abstract: A stent including hollow struts is formed on a cylindrical substrate. The struts of the stent are formed by electroforming metal layers of the strut in openings formed in a patterned photoresist material. A first metal layer forming the inner strut material is formed in openings in a first photoresist material. A sacrificial material to form the cavity to make the struts hollow is formed in openings in a second photoresist material. A second metal layer forming the side walls and outer wall of the struts is formed in openings in a third photoresist material and around the sacrificial material. The photoresist materials are removed. The substrate and cavity sacrificial material are removed, leaving hollow struts formed into a stent pattern. The hollow struts may be filled with a therapeutic substance for elution. Openings through the struts to the cavity may be formed during the forming process.

Abstract: A stent includes a wave form that includes a cable including a plurality of strands. The wave form has a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns, with each crown connecting two adjacent struts. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent includes a filler located within the cable. The filler includes a therapeutic substance.

Abstract: Described herein are hydrogen sulfide (H2S) generating polymers and polymer systems suitable for coating or forming medical devices and methods for making and using the same. More specifically, described are H2S generating polymers comprising at least one thioamide group. The H2S generating polymers can provide controlled site-specific release of H2S once implanted at or within the target surgical site by hydrolysis of the thioamide group in physiological media. The H2S generating polymers can be coated onto a medical device, formed into a medical device or combined with one or more other polymers to form a polymer system. Also described are methods of treating restenosis and inflammation and promoting vasodilation utilizing such medical devices.

Abstract: A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes providing composite member having an outer member and a core member disposed within a lumen of the outer member. The composite member is shaped into a pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from the lumen of the outer member without harming the outer member, leaving a hollow tubular member already formed into the desired pattern. The lumen of the outer member is filled with a therapeutic substance.