Abstract: A mechanism for the deployment of a filamentous endovascular device includes a flexible deployment tube having an open proximal end, and a coupling element attached to the proximal end of the endovascular device. The deployment tube includes a distal section terminating in an open distal end, with a lumen defined between the proximal and distal ends. A retention sleeve is fixed around the distal section and includes a distal extension extending a short distance past the distal end of the deployment tube. The endovascular device is attached to the distal end of the deployment tube by fixing the retention sleeve around the coupling element, so that the coupling element is releasably held within the distal extension of the deployment tube. In use, the deployment tube, with the implant attached to its distal end, is passed intravascularly through a microcatheter to a target vascular site until the endovascular device is located within the site.

Abstract: A balloon for a medical device has a structural layer of a highly crystallized PEN polymer material. The PEN polymer material a polyethylene naphthalate homopolymer or a crystallizable copolyester made up of residues of ethylene glycol, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid (NDC) and at least one member of the group (PA) consisting of terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid. The NDC groups make up about 5% or more of the sum of NDC and PA groups in the copolymer. The balloon is characterized by an ability to withstand a hoop stress of at least 35,000 psi without bursting.

Abstract: An intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement for treatment of aneurysms is formed of one or more loops of wire of resilient material formed into a series of transverse loops and longitudinal connecting sections to configure an essentially cylindrical reinforcement device that still allows, if desired, access to the neck of an aneurysm for insertion of embolic coils and the like. The proximal and distal regions of the sinusoidal loops may be more tightly coiled than the intermediate regions of the loops, or may have a larger diameter than the intermediate regions. The intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement device can be provided with an outer covering that can be formed as a fiber, and can be woven, or can be formed as a ribbon wound about the intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement device. The wire of resilient material can also be coated with a hydrophilic material. One or more round or oval intermediate loops extending radially outward may also be provided.

Abstract: The variable stiffness vasoocclusive coil is given variable stiffness along the length of the coil by selectively heat treating certain segments of a primary or secondary coil. The primary coil can be selectively heat treated to form soft or deformable segments along the length of the coil, and can then be shaped into a secondary shape that is set by a heat treatment process. Distal regions of the coil can also be heat treated to make the distal ends of the coil softer, more deformable, or less traumatic.

Abstract: The shape memory polymer stent or intravascular flow modifier is made from a polymer having shape memory properties so as to be self expanding. The stent can be formed as an extruded tube having a truss-like design, and formed from a polymer having shape memory properties, or can be formed as a tube woven from extruded strands of a polymer having shape memory properties. The stent of the invention can be compressed over a mounting portion of a pusher catheter for deployment within the vasculature. The stent can then be inserted into the vasculature and maneuvered into a desired location mounted on the pusher catheter, and heat can be transferred to the stent from the pusher catheter to cause the stent to radially expand and axially retract to deploy the stent in the vasculature, and allow the pusher catheter to be retracted from the vasculature.

Abstract: The three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil has a portion that is three dimensionally box or cubed shaped. The three dimensional box or cubed shaped portion will form a basket for filling the anatomical cavity at the site in the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive device is formed from at least one strand of a flexible material formed to have a first inoperable, substantially linear configuration for insertion into and through a catheter or cannula to a desired portion of the vasculature to be treated, and a second operable, three dimensional configuration for occluding the desired portion of the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive coil may optionally include a portion that is substantially J-shaped or helically shaped, for filling and reinforcing the three dimensional portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to porous or textured embolization devices which are capable of being delivered to the situs of a vascular dysfunction through a delivery device. One embodiment of the embolization device comprises, in general, a resilient material thread having a first relaxed shape and a second stretched shape, wherein the first relaxed shape forms a space-filling body, and wherein the second stretched shape forms a linear body, and one or more surface irregularities formed on the material thread. In one embodiment, the one or more surface irregularities formed on the material thread may provide a porous material thread and encourage tissue in-growth. In another embodiment, the one or more surface irregularities formed on the material thread may provide a textured material thread capable of promoting tissue in-growth.

Abstract: An intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement for treatment of aneurysms is formed of one or more loops of wire of resilient material formed into a series of transverse loops and longitudinal connecting sections to configure an essentially cylindrical reinforcement device that still allows, if desired, access to the neck of an aneurysm for insertion of embolic coils and the like. The proximal and distal regions of the sinusoidal loops may be more tightly coiled than the intermediate regions of the loops, or may have a larger diameter than the intermediate regions. The intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement device can be provided with an outer covering that can be formed as a fiber, and can be woven, or can be formed as a ribbon wound about the intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement device. The wire of resilient material can also be coated with a hydrophilic material. One or more round or oval intermediate loops extending radially outward may also be provided.

Abstract: The three dimensional device is adapted to be inserted into a portion of a vasculature for occluding the portion of the vasculature for use in interventional therapy and vascular surgery. The device is formed from a multi-stranded microcable having a plurality of flexible strands of a shape memory material and at least one radiopaque strand. The device can be bundled by an outer cover to constrain the strands of the micro-cable about a longitudinal axis to produce a composite banded cable. The radiopaque strand can have a core strand with a plurality of intermittently spaced apart enlarged radiopaque portions that may be a plurality of beads of radiopaque material spaced apart and mounted on the core strand, or a plurality of coils intermittently wound about and spaced apart on the core strand.

Abstract: A mechanism for the deployment of an endovascular device having a coupling element attached to its proximal end, includes a deployment tube having a proximal end, a distal section, open distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. A retention sleeve, fixed around the distal section, includes an extension extending past the distal end of the tube. The retention sleeve is fixed around the coupling element, so that the coupling element is releasably held within the extension. In use, the deployment tube, with the implant attached to its distal end, is passed intravascularly until the device is deployed within a target site. A liquid is injected through the lumen so as to push the coupling element out of the retention sleeve by fluid pressure, thereby detaching the endovascular device from the deployment tube.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes a microcoil formed into a minimum energy state secondary configuration comprising a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis, whereby the device, in its minimum energy state configuration, defines multiple axes. In a preferred embodiment, the minimum energy state secondary configuration comprises a plurality of tangentially-interconnected, substantially circular loops defining a plurality of discrete axes. In an alternative embodiment, the minimum energy state secondary configuration defines a wave-form like structure comprising a longitudinal array of laterally-alternating open loops defining a plurality of separate axes. In either embodiment, the device, in its minimum energy state secondary configuration, has a dimension that is substantially larger than the largest dimension of the vascular site in which the device is to be deployed.

Abstract: The composite guidewire includes an elongated, flexible core formed from a nickel titanium alloy, with a distal tapered portion, a reinforcement tube disposed over the proximal region of the core, a primary coil disposed over the tapered distal region of the core, and a coating of a heat shrinkable material. A distal tip is secured to the distal end of the core. The proximal reinforcement member has a distal tapered portion, to provide for a transition in stiffness of the guidewire. The heat shrinkable coating is formed from an elongated tube of polytetrafluoroethylene, and the distal primary coil is formed from one or more nickel titanium alloy strands or wires, one or more platinum wires, or a combination. The distal tip may be formed of platinum or a tantalum filled epoxy.

Abstract: A balloon for a medical device has a structural layer of a highly crystallized PEN polymer material. The PEN polymer material a polyethylene naphthalate homopolymer or a crystallizable copolyester made up of residues of ethylene glycol, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid (NDC) and at least one member of the group (PA) consisting of terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid. The NDC groups make up about 5% or more of the sum of NDC and PA groups in the copolymer. The balloon is characterized by an ability to withstand a hoop stress of at least 35,000 psi without bursting.

Abstract: Balloons for use on medical devices such as catheter balloons are formed from polymer blend products which include a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a crystallizable thermoplastic polymer, especially thermoplastic polyesters such as PET, and a compatabilizer. The compatabilizer may be an ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-methyl acrylate-maleic anhydride terpolymer, an ethylene-methyl-methacrylic acid terpolymer, an acrylic rubber, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer or a mixture of two or more such polymers.

Abstract: The variable stiffness electrically conductive catheter shaft includes one or more electrically conductive members, and at least one coaxial layer of heat shrink polymer disposed over the one or more electrically conductive members of a length shorter than the one or more electrically conductive members, to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the shaft. The variable stiffness electrically conductive catheter shaft preferably includes a plurality of coaxial layers of heat shrink polymer encapsulating the one or more electrically conductive members, extending from the proximal end of the one or more electrically conductive members toward the distal end, the plurality of coaxial layers having different lengths to provide the electrically conductive catheter shaft with varying stiffness over the length of the electrically conductive catheter shaft.

Abstract: An intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement for treatment of aneurysms is formed of one or more loops of wire of resilient material formed into a series of transverse loops and longitudinal connecting sections to configure an essentially cylindrical reinforcement device that still allows, if desired, access to the neck of an aneurysm for insertion of embolic coils and the like. The proximal and distal regions of the sinusoidal loops may be more tightly coiled than the intermediate regions of the loops, or may have a larger diameter than the intermediate regions. The intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement device can be provided with an outer covering that can be formed as a fiber, and can be woven, or can be formed as a ribbon wound about the intravascular flow modifier and vascular reinforcement device. The wire of resilient material can also be coated with a hydrophilic material. One or more round or oval intermediate loops extending radially outward may also be provided.

Abstract: The shape memory segmented detachable coil assembly includes a plurality of hollow, tubular coil segments, and a plurality of connector members, with adjacent coil segments connected together by the connector members. The connector members are currently preferably hollow, tubular connector members that are advantageously detachable from selected portions of the coil segments by application of energy to one or more selected connector members. A heat activation member is used for heating one or more selected connector members to disconnect selected portions of the coil assembly. The heat activation member typically can be advanced axially through or over the coil assembly, and currently preferably comprises a fiber optic, although the heat activation member can also comprise a heat pipe, or a device for generating heat by RF energy or electrical resistance.

Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes a microcoil formed into a minimum energy state secondary configuration comprising a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis, whereby the device, in its minimum energy state configuration, defines multiple axes. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary configuration comprises a plurality of interconnected closed loops defining a plurality of discrete axes. In a second embodiment, the secondary configuration defines a wave-form like structure comprising an array of laterally-alternating open loops defining a plurality of separate axes. In a third embodiment, the secondary configuration forms a series of tangential closed loops, wherein the entire structure subtends a first angle of arc, and wherein each adjacent pair of loops defines a second angle of arc. In a fourth embodiment, the secondary configuration forms a logarithmic spiral.

Abstract: The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil provides for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes adjacent to a distal heating end of an elongated, flexible heat pipe member within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.

Abstract: The coated superelastic stent is formed from a tube of collagen having an inner structure of a micro-cable made of strands of a material exhibiting super-elasticity or shape memory properties, such as nickel-titanium, and includes a strand of radiopaque material, such as platinum or gold, in order to provide a radiopaque marker during interventional therapeutic treatment or vascular surgery. The collagen tube can be loaded with a therapeutic agent for treatment of the desired site in the vasculature.