Abstract: A stent having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface of the stent comprising a tacky biocompatible coating comprising a tacky polymer material and to methods of delivering and deploying a stent using a tacky biocompatible coating comprising a tacky polymer material.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to an endoluminal device comprising a stent and a sleeve. In one embodiment, the endoluminal device is implanted in a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. In some embodiments, the stent has a first region and a second region where the first and second regions provide different levels of radial force. In one embodiment, the first region is made from a plurality of first wires having a first diameter and the second region is made from a plurality of second wires having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. In other embodiments, the endoluminal device has at least one engagement mechanism engaging the stent to the sleeve, the endoluminal device to a body lumen, and any combination thereof. In at least one embodiment, the endoluminal device has a wall with at least one opening therein.

Abstract: A prosthesis including a composite wire forming a mesh, the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion; the mesh having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one of the surfaces is covered with silicone; and a retrieval loop positioned at at least one end of the mesh.

Abstract: A stent delivery device has a handle and a sliding body, the sliding body is slidable with respect to the handle. The handle has a grip and a guide. The sliding body has at least two flange portions extending from the sliding body. The flange portions are offset from one another along the length of the sliding body. The operator can thereby deploy a relatively long stent by first gripping the nearest flange portion and pulling the sliding body toward the handle; subsequently, the operator can reposition his/or finger on the next-nearest flange portion and continue deployment of the stent by pulling the sliding body further toward the handle.

Abstract: A method for making an implantable stent includes the steps of (i) providing a plurality of elongate stent wires; (ii) forming said wires into a hollow tubular structure having opposed first and second open ends; (iii) terminating said wires at the second end; (iv) aligning the wires at the second end into a plurality of mated adjacent wires to define a plurality of abutting regions; (v) welding the mated adjacent wires to one and the other at the abutting regions to define a plurality of welds; and optionally (vi) chemically or electro-chemically removing a portion of the welds. The method may further include the steps of (a) extending at least one of the mated stent wires to provide an extended stent wire; (b) looping the extended stent wire so the extended end abuts a proximal pair of stent wires; and (c) welding the extended and looped wire to the proximal pair of wires.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a visualization system including a small gauge vision catheter that is designed to be standalone or received within an instrument channel of a larger endoscope. The vision catheter has imaging means disposable within an imaging channel, a working channel, and an electromagnetic sensor element insertable into the working channel of the catheter to provide position tracking. The working channel of the catheter also provides access for therapeutic and diagnostic tools.

Abstract: A method for making an implantable stent includes the steps of (i) providing a plurality of elongate stent wires; (ii) forming said wires into a hollow tubular structure having opposed first and second open ends; (iii) terminating said wires at the second end; (iv) aligning the wires at the second end into a plurality of mated adjacent wires to define a plurality of abutting regions; (v) welding the mated adjacent wires to one and the other at the abutting regions to define a plurality of welds; and optionally (vi) chemically or electro-chemically removing a portion of the welds. The method may further include the steps of (a) extending at least one of the mated stent wires to provide an extended stent wire; (b) looping the extended stent wire so the extended end abuts a proximal pair of stent wires; and (c) welding the extended and looped wire to the proximal pair of wires.

Abstract: An implantable stent includes a plurality of elongate wires braided to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall to define an interior surface and an exterior surface and having opposed open first and second ends, wherein the opposed open first and second ends are atraumatic ends. The atraumatic ends of the stent are desirably free of any loose wire ends. The wires include composite wires to enhance visibility of the wires to provide improved external imaging of the wires in the body. The elongate composite wires of the stent may be metallic wires having an outer metallic portion including a first metal, such as nitinol, and an inner metallic core portion including a second metal, which is a radiopaque material, such as gold, barium sulfate, ferritic particles, platinum, platinum-tungsten, palladium, platinum-iridium, rhodium, tantalum or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An implantable stent includes a plurality of elongate wires braided to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall to define an interior surface and an exterior surface and having opposed open first and second ends, wherein the opposed open first and second ends are atraumatic ends The atraumatic ends of the stent are desirably free of any loose wire ends. The wires include composite wires to enhance visibility of the wires to provide improved external imaging of the wires in the body. The elongate composite wires of the stent may be metallic wires having an outer metallic portion including a first metal, such as nitinol, and an inner metallic core portion including a second metal, which is a radiopaque material, such as gold, barium sulfate, ferritic particles, platinum, platinum-tungsten, palladium, platinum-iridium, rhodium, tantalum or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An implantable, radially distensible stent includes a tubular structure having opposed open ends. The wall of the stent is made from a shape memory polymeric material. Grooves may be disposed within an outer surface of stent wall to improve flexibility and drainage of the stent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a covered stent having a sufficiently thick covering to retain a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent. The covering is applied to the entire outer surface of the stent to provide sufficient volume for retention of the therapeutic agent. In certain embodiments, the stent has a plurality of openings that are covered by the covering. The invention is particularly suited for certain applications, such as for the manufacture of non-vascular stents.

Abstract: Methods for assembling a stent delivery system are provided, as well as the stent delivery assemblies and devices formed by such methods. Also provided is a method for loading a stent into a delivery system.

Abstract: An implantable stent includes a plurality of elongate wires braided to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall to define an interior surface and an exterior surface and having opposed open first and second ends, wherein the opposed open first and second ends are atraumatic ends The atraumatic ends of the stent are desirably free of any loose wire ends. The wires include composite wires to enhance visibility of the wires to provide improved external imaging of the wires in the body. The elongate composite wires of the stent may be metallic wires having an outer metallic portion including a first metal, such as nitinol, and an inner metallic core portion including a second metal, which is a radiopaque material, such as gold, barium sulfate, ferritic particles, platinum, platinum-tungsten, palladium, platinum-iridium, rhodium, tantalum or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An implantable stent includes a plurality of elongate wires braided to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall to define an interior surface and an exterior surface and having opposed open first and second ends, wherein the opposed open first and second ends are atraumatic ends The atraumatic ends of the stent are desirably free of any loose wire ends. The wires include composite wires to enhance visibility of the wires to provide improved external imaging of the wires in the body. The elongate composite wires of the stent may be metallic wires having an outer metallic portion including a first metal, such as nitinol, and an inner metallic core portion including a second metal, which is a radiopaque material, such as gold, barium sulfate, ferritic particles, platinum, platinum-tungsten, palladium, platinum-iridium, rhodium, tantalum or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A temporary and retrievable radiopaque marker and discrete radiopaque marker for use on an implantable endoprosthesis. The elongate marker has a proximal end, a distal end, and a thickness. At least a portion of the marker is radiopaque and the marker is removably-attached to the implantable endoprosthesis.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for delivering a stent, including, but not limited to, a self expanding stent, into a body lumen. The apparatus comprises an outer tube having a proximal end and a distal end and sized to hold a stent therein in a radially constricted condition, an inner tube within the outer tube and having a proximal end and a distal end, and a holding element comprising one or more inflatable balloons carried on the inner tube at the location of the loaded stent. The balloon can be inflated prior to the procedure so that the balloon presses against the inner surface of the outer tube trapping the stent in its longitudinal position between the inner and outer tubes. Accordingly, the outer tube can be slid proximally to release the stent or distally to retract the stent back into the delivery device without the stent inadvertently sliding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting a self expanding stent into a delivery device and delivering the stent into a body lumen. The apparatus comprises an outer tube; an inner tube; a capturing element slidably mounted on the inner tube and including a foldable sleeve, a blocking element fixed to the inner tube adapted to block a stent from being inserted into the sleeve proximally of the blocking element and to block the capturing element from becoming situated distally of a predetermined point relative to said inner tube, the capturing element carried on the inner tube so that the distal end of the sleeve can extend beyond the distal end of the outer tube in an unfolded condition and be drawn into the outer tube by the blocking element. A stent having an end inserted into the sleeve is drawn into the outer tube, thereby becoming captured within the outer tube.

Abstract: An implantable stent and stent-graft for treating a patient having a relatively healthy first aorta portion upstream from a renal artery branch, and a diseased aorta portion downstream from the renal artery branch. One embodiment of the device includes a fixation section, a renal artery branch section and a diseased aorta section, all of which can be tubular, radially compressible and self-expandable structures formed from a plurality of filaments which are helically wound in a braided configuration. When the device is implanted and in its expanded state, the fixation section engages the first aorta portion upstream from a renal artery branch to provide substantial anchoring support. The diseased aorta section engages the portion of the aorta downstream from the renal artery branch and extends across the diseased portion of the aorta for purposes of treatment.

Abstract: A polymer stent is disclosed for treating vascular disorders. The stent is formed from a billet having regions with varying plastic strain imposed by drawing the regions through different sized dies at different speeds under different loads. The drawing orients the molecules of the polymer lengthwise along the stent. The stent is placed on a catheter and positioned within the vascular vessel being treated. The stent is expanded radially outwardly by a balloon on the catheter, expansion being facilitated by heat applied to the stent from the balloon. The polymer molecules are oriented circumferentially by the expansion and the mechanical properties of the stent are established. The billet has different compounds, such as medicaments and radiopaque markers distributed throughout the regions. The medicaments are released into the blood stream. The stent may be bio-stable or bio-absorbable.

Abstract: An implantable stent and stent-graft for treating a patient having a relatively healthy first aorta portion upstream from a renal artery branch, and a diseased aorta portion downstream from the renal artery branch. One embodiment of the device includes a fixation section, a renal artery branch section and a diseased aorta section, all of which can be tubular, radially compressible and self-expandable structures formed from a plurality of filaments which are helically wound in a braided configuration. When the device is implanted and in its expanded state, the fixation section engages the first aorta portion upstream from a renal artery branch to provide substantial anchoring support. The diseased aorta section engages the portion of the aorta downstream from the renal artery branch and extends across the diseased portion of the aorta for purposes of treatment.