Abstract: A catheter having an inflatable member formed of a liquid crystal polymeric material. The inflatable member is formed from a blend of a minor amount, preferably less than 10%, of liquid crystal polymer with a major amount of a non-liquid crystal polymer having LCP fibers that are highly oriented in the machine direction. The aspect ratio of the liquid crystal polymeric material fibers is greater than 10, so that the polymer blend has mechanical characteristics similar to a fiber-reinforced composite with improved strength and optimal compliance.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter which has a lubricious catheter shaft formed from a polymeric blend comprising a thermoplastic polymeric component and a lubricious polymeric component. The lubricious polymeric component is immiscible in the thermoplastic polymeric component and exists as elongated fibers having a high aspect ratio. The lubricious component exists as a separate phase of elongated fibers which provide improved lubricity to an extruded catheter shaft formed of the polymeric blend of the invention. The aspect ratio of the lubricious component fibers is about 10 to about 100, and preferably at least about 20. The high aspect ratio of the lubricious component fibers increase the surface area of the lubricious component on the surface of the catheter shaft, and consequently increase the lubricity of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A stent is fabricated utilizing a polymer that is selected for its tendency to degrade from the surface inwardly rather than undergo bulk erosion so as to substantially reduce the risk of large particles becoming detached and being swept downstream. Such polymer is hydrophobic yet has water-labile linkages interconnecting the monomers. Ester or imide bonds are incorporated in the polymer to render the surface degrading materials suitable for use in stent applications. The stent may be coated with such polymer or may be wholly formed therefrom.

Abstract: A stent is fabricated utilizing a polymer that is selected for its tendency to degrade from the surface inwardly rather than undergo bulk erosion so as to substantially reduce the risk of large particles becoming detached and being swept downstream. Such polymer is hydrophobic yet has water-labile linkages interconnecting the monomers. Ester or imide bonds are incorporated in the polymer to render the surface degrading materials suitable for use in stent applications. The stent may be coated with such polymer or may be wholly formed therefrom.

Abstract: A stent is fabricated utilizing a polymer that is selected for its tendency to degrade from the surface inwardly rather than undergo bulk erosion so as to substantially reduce the risk of large particles becoming detached and being swept downstream. Such polymer is hydrophobic yet has water-labile linkages interconnecting the monomers. Ester or imide bonds are incorporated in the polymer to render the surface degrading materials suitable for use in stent applications. The stent may be coated with such polymer or may be wholly formed therefrom.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter capable of both rapid-exchange and over-the-wire modes of operation having a relatively long proximal shaft portion, a relatively short distal section and an intermediate shaft section, which connects the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section. In one embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a guide wire port and a first guide wire lumen which extends throughout both the intermediate and distal shaft section, and a second guide wire lumen which extends throughout the entire catheter shaft. In another embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a y-lumen junction which allows a first guide wire lumen introduced at the intermediate shaft section and a second guide wire lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft throughout the proximal shaft section to merge and communicate with a single distal guide wire lumen which extends from the intermediate shaft section to the distal end of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A system used in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region, which is capable of treating an entire affected area in a blood vessel while preventing adverse effects for healthy tissue. The system includes a catheter which is positionable in a blood vessel at the interventional procedure site. The system further includes an expandable interventional instrument such as an expandable stent which is expandable and which may be deployed in the blood vessel at the interventional procedure site, which includes an unexpanded axial dimension. The system also includes an expandable member such as an expandable balloon, for expanding the expandable stent. The expandable balloon is capable of expanding so as to expand and deploy the expandable stent, and to substantially retain the unexpanded axial dimension of the expandable stent.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for properly implanting a stent in a body lumen generally comprising a catheter having an elongated shaft with an inflatable balloon formed of compliant material and a stent mounted on the working length of the balloon. The balloon material is compliant within the working range of the balloon to provide substantial radial expansion. The wingless radially expansive balloon expands in a uniform manner, thereby producing uniform expansion and implantation of the stent. Another embodiment is directed to a balloon catheter having a semi-compliant balloon formed at least in part of a block copolymer.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter capable of both rapid-exchange and over-the-wire modes of operation having a relatively long proximal shaft portion, a relatively short distal section and an intermediate shaft section, which connects the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section. In one embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a guide wire port and a first guide wire lumen which extends throughout both the intermediate and distal shaft section, and a second guide wire lumen which extends throughout the entire catheter shaft. In another embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a y-lumen junction which allows a first guide wire lumen introduced at the intermediate shaft section and a second guide wire lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft throughout the proximal shaft section to merge and communicate with a single distal guide wire lumen which extends from the intermediate shaft section to the distal end of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having at least part of the shaft thereof formed of a liquid crystal polymeric material. The liquid crystal polymeric material is preferably blended with a non-liquid crystal polymeric material, to form a polymer blend of at least 50 percent by weight liquid crystal polymeric material and the balance being essentially non-liquid crystal polymeric material. A catheter shaft formed from the polymer blend of the invention has improved strength, stiffness, and kink resistance.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for properly implanting a stent in a body lumen generally comprising a catheter having an elongated shaft with an inflatable balloon formed of compliant material and a stent mounted on the working length of the balloon. The balloon material is compliant within the working range of the balloon to provide substantial radial expansion. The wingless radially expansive balloon expands in a uniform manner, thereby producing uniform expansion and implantation of the stent. Another embodiment is directed to a balloon catheter having a semi-compliant balloon formed at least in part of a block copolymer.

Abstract: A catheter having an inflatable member formed of a liquid crystal polymeric material. The inflatable member is formed from a blend of a minor amount, preferably less than 10%, of liquid crystal polymer with a major amount of a non-liquid crystal polymer having LCP fibers that are highly oriented in the machine direction. The aspect ratio of the liquid crystal polymeric material fibers is greater than 10, so that the polymer blend has mechanical characteristics similar to a fiber-reinforced composite with improved strength and optimal compliance.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter capable of both rapid-exchange and over-the-wire modes of operation having a relatively long proximal shaft portion, a relatively short distal section and an intermediate shaft section, which connects the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section. In one embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a guide wire port and a first guide wire lumen which extends throughout both the intermediate and distal shaft section, and a second guide wire lumen which extends throughout the entire catheter shaft. In another embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a y-lumen junction which allows a first guide wire lumen introduced at the intermediate shaft section and a second guide wire lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft throughout the proximal shaft section to merge and communicate with a single distal guide wire lumen which extends from the intermediate shaft section to the distal end of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: A catheter having an inflatable member formed of a liquid crystal polymeric material. The inflatable member is formed from a blend of a minor amount, preferably less than 10%, of liquid crystal polymer with a major amount of a non-liquid crystal polymer having LCP fibers that are highly oriented in the machine direction. The aspect ratio of the liquid crystal polymeric material fibers is greater than 10, so that the polymer blend has mechanical characteristics similar to a fiber-reinforced composite with improved strength and optimal compliance.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter capable of both rapid-exchange and over-the-wire modes of operation having a relatively long proximal shaft portion, a relatively short distal section and an intermediate shaft section, which connects the proximal shaft section and the distal shaft section. In one embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a guide wire port and a first guide wire lumen which extends throughout both the intermediate and distal shaft section, and a second guide wire lumen which extends throughout the entire catheter shaft. In another embodiment, the intermediate shaft section includes a y-lumen junction which allows a first guide wire lumen introduced at the intermediate shaft section and a second guide wire lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter shaft throughout the proximal shaft section to merge and communicate with a single distal guide wire lumen which extends from the intermediate shaft section to the distal end of the catheter shaft.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter which has a lubricious catheter shaft formed from a polymeric blend comprising a thermoplastic polymeric component and a lubricious polymeric component. The lubricious polymeric component is immiscible in the thermoplastic polymeric component and exists as elongated fibers having a high aspect ratio. The lubricious component exists as a separate phase of elongated fibers which provide improved lubricity to an extruded catheter shaft formed of the polymeric blend of the invention. The aspect ratio of the lubricious component fibers is about 10 to about 100, and preferably at least about 20. The high aspect ratio of the lubricious component fibers increase the surface area of the lubricious component on the surface of the catheter shaft, and consequently increase the lubricity of the catheter shaft.