Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a vulnerable plaque treatment catheter arrangement for the treatment of a lipid pool at a site of vulnerable plaque within an artery. The catheter arrangement includes an elongated, hollow, flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an elongated, flexible, steerable, lipid-enterable needle arranged within the shaft. The needle has at least one lumen therethrough in communication with a treatment source, to permit the rendering of the lipid pool into an innocuous entity.

Abstract: Left ventricular conduits and related methods are disclosed for achieving bypass of a partially or completely occluded coronary artery. More broadly, conduits for allowing communication of bodily fluids from one portion of a patient's body to another and related methods are disclosed, including conduits for forming a blood flow path from a chamber of the heart to a vessel or from one vessel to another. In other embodiments, the conduits achieve a coronary artery bypass by allowing blood communication between the left ventricle and the coronary artery or between a proximal portion of the coronary artery and a distal portion of the coronary artery. The conduits may be placed completely through the heart wall or extend only partially therein. Conduits may take on a variety of configurations for allowing the control of blood flow therethrough, including curved or tapered shapes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around a stenosis or occlusion in a coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium to provide a passage for blood to flow from a heart chamber to a coronary artery, at a site distal to the blockage or stenosis in the coronary artery. The conduit has a one-way valve positioned therein to prevent the backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.

Abstract: A vulnerable plaque treatment catheter arrangement for the analysis and treatment of the lipid pool of a vulnerable plaque in a coronary artery is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a flexible, elongated, hollow sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, the sheath being arranged for insertion into a coronary artery. A first energy emitter and receiver device is arranged in an annular array in the distal end of the sheath. An energy generator source and an energy control unit is arranged in communication with the first device to provide both diagnosis and treatment to vulnerable plaque within a coronary artery.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents or conduits and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a vulnerable plaque treatment catheter arrangement for the treatment of a lipid pool at a site of vulnerable plaque within an artery. The catheter arrangement includes an elongated, hollow, flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an elongated, flexible, steerable, lipid-enterable needle arranged within the shaft. The needle has at least one lumen therethrough in communication with a treatment source, to permit the rendering of the lipid pool into an innocuous entity.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a stent barrier assembly deliverable into a coronary artery for the segregating and sheilding of the vulnerable plaque in the artery wall from the bloodstream, comprising a compressible stent arranged on the distal end of a catheter. A fluid-impermeable, compressible stent cover is arranged about the stent to provide a barrier to plaque and lipid pool within the artery.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal to the occlusion or stenosis. The conduit has a section of blood vessel attached to its interior lumen which preferably includes at least one naturally occurring one-way valve positioned therein. The valve prevents the backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents or conduits and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: A conduit is provided to provide a bypass around a blockage in the coronary artery. The conduit is adapted to be positioned in the myocardium or heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a chamber of the heart such as the left ventricle and the coronary artery, distal to the blockage. The stent is self-expanding or uses a balloon to expand the stent in the heart wall. Various attachment means are provided to anchor the stent and prevent its migration.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents or conduits and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conduit that provides a bypass around an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery. The conduit is a tube adapted to be positioned in the heart wall to provide a passage for blood to flow between a heart chamber and a coronary artery, at a site distal to the occlusion or stenosis. The conduit has a section of blood vessel attached to its interior lumen which preferably includes at least one naturally occurring one-way valve positioned therein. The valve prevents the backflow of blood from the coronary artery into the heart chamber.

Abstract: A needle device for the delivery of medicaments, insuflation or other medical devices, having a reciprocable needle sensitive to lack of resistance, whereupon such needle retracts, permitting a cannula therewith to provide access to the penetrated body.

Abstract: Described herein are various methods and apparatuses for delivering stents and other devices into the myocardium of a patient. One preferred stent delivery system provides access to the insertion site in the myocardium by advancing a delivery catheter through a blockage in a coronary artery, or around the blockage through a coronary vein or through a channel or tunnel formed around the blockage. In one embodiment, once the distal end of the delivery catheter is adjacent the myocardium, an angled bend is created in the catheter by actuating expandable steering guides mounted to the catheter which cooperate with the walls of the blood vessel to cause the catheter to turn. Then, a guidewire is advanced through the delivery catheter and into the myocardium. In another embodiment, a tip-deflecting pull wire extends from the distal end of the delivery catheter which may be actuated to turn towards and then inserted into the myocardium.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an embolectomy catheter for the removal of an embolus within a vessel of a patient, including a catheter shaft having a distal end with a diametrically adjustable hinged compartment thereat. The catheter shaft has a proximal end with a handle attached thereon. A longitudinally displaceable cannula is connected to the distal end of the catheter shaft and to a slidable tab in the handle, to permit controlled adjustment of the diametric size of the hinged compartment arranged adjacent the distal end of the catheter when the slidable tab is moved relative to the handle, to allow a physician to open the compartment to any desired size relative to a patient's vessel. The compartment may then be pulled through the vessel via a pull on the handle, to collect any embolus therewithin.

Abstract: A needle device for the delivery of medicaments, insuflation or other medical devices, having a reciprocable needle sensitive to lack of resistance, whereupon such needle retracts, permitting a cannula therewith to provide access to the penetrated body.