Abstract: A superelastic strand used for windings in a golf ball or as strings for a racquet of the type used for racquet sports. The strand is made with at least one fiber of a superelastic material which may be wound into a cable incorporating other fibers of polymeric or superelastic materials. The superelastic material used in the strand can be a nickel-titanium alloy which is heat treated to provide superelastic qualities.

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.

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: 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 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 superelasticity 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.

Abstract: The variable stiffness optical fiber shaft includes a optical fiber, and at least one coaxial layer of heat shrink polymer disposed over the optical fiber of a length shorter than the optical fiber, to provide variations in stiffness along the length of the shaft. The variable stiffness optical fiber shaft preferably includes a plurality of coaxial layers of heat shrink polymer encapsulating the optical fiber, extending from the proximal end of the optical fiber toward the distal end, the plurality of coaxial layers having different lengths to provide said optical fiber shaft with varying stiffness over the length of the optical fiber shaft. The plurality of coaxial layers can be arranged in successive progressively shorter coaxial layers, and can be formed of heat shrink polymeric material, such as polyethylene, PTFE, PEEK, PET or PPS.

Abstract: The intravascular delivery system includes an elongated, flexible heat pipe pusher member, a therapeutic device to be placed within the vasculature of a patient, and a shape memory collar detachably mounting the therapeutic device for placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature. The shape memory collar is disposed either the therapeutic device or the flexible heat pipe pusher member and connects the therapeutic device and the heat pipe pusher member. In a presently preferred embodiment, the shape memory collar is made of nickel titanium alloy.

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: The three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil has a distal portion that is three dimensionally shaped, and a proximal portion that is linear or helically shaped. The distal three dimensional portion will form a basket for filling the anatomical cavity at the site in the vasculature to be treated, while the proximal portion will fill and reinforce the basket. The vasoocclusive device is formed from at least one strand of a flexible material formed to have an 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.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to emplacable devices for interventional therapeutic treatment or vascular surgery, and more particularly concerns a stranded micro-cable with enhanced radiopacity that can be used to fabricate a vascular device, a stent, a guidewire or the like. The micro-cable is 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 micro-cable can be used to form occluding coils which can be used in devices to restrict, reinforce, or to occlude areas of small diameter vasculature such as an aneurysm or malformation in an artery or vein in the brain.

Abstract: The vasoocclusive apparatus can be used in a method of interventional therapy and vascular surgery by inserting the apparatus into a portion of a vasculature, for treatment of a body vessel such as an aneurysm in conjunction with a secondary vasoocclusive device to be placed within the vessel. The vasoocclusive apparatus includes a plurality of strut members connected together at a central hub that extend from a collapsed position to an expanded configuration to cross the neck of the aneurysm, dividing the neck into smaller openings, allowing the deployment of the secondary vasoocclusive device within the aneurysm but preventing migration of the secondary vasoocclusive device from the aneurysm. The strut members can be made from a twisted cable of strands of a superelastic material, such as a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, with at least one radiopaque strand.

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 PTFE, 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: 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 flexible strands in a multi-stranded micro-cable of the device can be helically wound, or can be configured as parallel, longitudinal strands, and can also be formed to have a secondary, three dimensional therapeutic configuration, such as helical, conical, spherical, or other geometric shapes. The strands can be made of a shape memory nickel titanium alloy, that is highly flexible at a temperature appropriate for introduction into the body via a catheter, and that after placement will take on the therapeutic shape.

Abstract: The vasoocclusive coil has a primary coil configuration with a helical loop at at least one end. The terminal helical loop can have a J-shaped configuration, preferably with a loop diameter of about 2 mm. The coil is preferably provided with helical loops at both ends, with helical loop at the proximal and distal ends of the coil acting as an anchor to prevent the coil from coming free from the location being treated and escaping into the vasculature. In a presently preferred embodiment both ends of the coil have a J-shape. In another presently preferred aspect, the vasoocclusive coil includes one or more loops intermediate the ends of the coil. The device is formed from a multi-stranded micro-cable having a plurality of flexible strands of a shape memory material and at least one radiopaque strand.

Abstract: A medical catheter (10) having a balloon (3) adapted to be folded into a predetermined configuration. The catheter comprises a flexible inflation member (2) with a balloon (3) disposed on the inflation member (2). The balloon has a flexible wall defining an inflation chamber and the inflation chamber is in fluid flow relation with an inflation lumen in the inflation member. The balloon (3) is adapted for inflation from a folded configuration to an inflated, expanded configuration and back to the folded configuration. An array of longitudinally and circumferentially arranged ribs (6) is disposed in said wall (3a). The ribs (6) are either more stiff or less stiff than the wall (3a) whereby upon evacuation of inflation fluid from the balloon (3) either portions of the wall between the ribs will collapse between the ribs or the ribs will collapse within the wall.