Abstract: Drug-delivery stents capable of providing release of two or more drugs such as everolimus and estradiol are provided. The stents can be used for treating a disease such as restenosis and vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: A method of treating vulnerable plaque comprising intentionally damaging or rupturing the vulnerable plaque using a wingless balloon which is inflated from a wingless unexpanded diameter to a limited expanded diameter. This process produces significant increase in ECM synthesis at the site of the damage or rupture. As a result, the method strengthens the vulnerable plaque while minimizing or avoiding damage to the surrounding wall of the body lumen or damaging a stable plaque mistakenly believed to be a vulnerable plaque. The method of the invention is particularly useful in treating a fibroatheroma type of vulnerable plaque. In one embodiment, the balloon is self-limiting such that it expands compliantly at initial inflation pressures, and above nominal pressure it expands noncompliantly. In an alternative embodiment, the balloon is inflated using a diameter-limiting device, such as a device which limits the inflation pressure or the volume of inflation fluid in the balloon.

Abstract: A therapeutic intravascular device and method for performing thermal and laser Doppler velocimetry measurements. In one embodiment, the therapeutic intravascular device includes an elongated member having first and second optical fibers longitudinally disposed therethrough, the first optical fiber for performing a laser Doppler velocity measurement of a fluid within a body lumen, the second optical fiber for performing a temperature measurement within the body lumen.

Abstract: An intravascular device for locating a coronary sinus of a patient's heart and method of using the same. In one embodiment, the intravascular device includes an elongated member having at least one lumen and at least one optical fiber coupled to the elongated member. The optical fiber has a distal end configured to contact with a blood flow within the patient's heart and a proximal end coupled to a laser Doppler velocimetry system for performing a plurality of laser Doppler velocity measurements of the blood flow within the heart to locate the coronary sinus of the heart. Incorporating LDV technology into an intravascular device such as a catheter or a guidewire system provides diagnostic information of the physiologic environment of the lesion before, during, or after a therapeutic procedure.