Abstract: The invention relates to a radiopaque catheter tip and catheter assembly having radiopaque elements associated with a catheter. The preferred materials for the radiopaque elements are made of a 90% platinum and 10% nickel composite structure or a 90% platinum and 10% iridium composite structure.

Abstract: A braided, branching implantable device, such as a stent, a graft, or a composite stent-graft, for deployment in a lumen, the device comprising a body that branches into a plurality of legs. At least a first leg portion of each leg comprises a discrete plurality of continuous strands braided together and at least a first body portion of the body comprises at least one of said continuous strands from each discrete plurality of continuous strands braided together. Processes for fabricating the device and a method for using the device are also claimed. One fabrication process comprises braiding a first plurality of continuous strands to individually form at least a portion of a first leg; braiding at least a second plurality of continuous strands to individually form at least a portion of a second leg; and braiding at least one strand from each of the first plurality of continuous strands and the second plurality of continuous strands together to form at least a portion of the body.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a braided birfurcated stent involves the use of two or more braiding machines. In this process, a first discrete plurality of filaments are braided to form a first leg, and a second discrete plurality of filaments are braided to form a second leg. Either the same braiding machine may be used or two different braiding machines may be used. The process also involves braiding the first plurality of filaments and the second plurality of filaments together to form the body using yet another braiding machine. Either the legs or body may be braided first.

Abstract: A bifurcated, braided stent has a body that branches into a plurality of legs and is adapted for deployment in a lumen. At least a portion of each leg of the stent comprises a discrete plurality of continuous filaments braided together, and at least a portion of the body comprises one or more of the continuous filaments from each of the legs braided together. The stent can be used for treating a diseased bifurcated lumen of a human being by deploying the stent therein. The stent can be constructed by a process comprising braiding each plurality of filaments to form the leg sections, and braiding one or more filaments from each plurality of filaments together to form the body. The process may be performed by creating the legs first and then the body, or vice versa. The stent may be constructed on a mandrel using a braiding machine.

Abstract: A bifurcated, braided stent has a body that branches into a plurality of legs and is adapted for deployment in a lumen. At least a portion of each leg of the stent comprises a discrete plurality of continuous filaments braided together, and at least a portion of the body comprises one or more of the continuous filaments from each of the legs braided together. The stent can be used for treating a diseased bifurcated lumen of a human being by deploying the stent therein. The stent can be constructed by a process comprising braiding each plurality of filaments to form the leg sections, and braiding one or more filaments from each plurality of filaments together to form the body. The process may be performed by creating the legs first and then the body, or vice versa. The stent may be constructed on a mandrel using a braiding machine.

Abstract: A stent comprising a plurality of continuous filaments braided together, at least one filament comprising a tapered filament having at least one first region having a first, relatively-larger cross-sectional area and at least one second region having a second, relatively-smaller cross-sectional area. The stent itself may have a tapered diameter, such as from one end to the other.

Abstract: A method and stent for treating a lumen, the stent comprising a plurality of continuous filaments braided together, at least one filament comprising a tapered filament having at least one first region having a first, relatively-larger cross-sectional area and at least one second region having a second, relatively-smaller cross-sectional area. The stent itself may have a tapered diameter, such as from one end to the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiopaque catheter tip and catheter assembly having radiopaque elements associated with a catheter. The preferred materials for the radiopaque elements are made of a 90% platinum and 10% nickel composite structure or a 90% platinum and 10% iridium composite structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiopaque catheter tip and catheter assembly having radiopaque elements associated with a catheter. The preferred materials for the radiopaque elements are made of a 90% platinum and 10% nickel composite structure or a 90% platinum and 10% iridium composite structure.