Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter body, a balloon at a distal end of the catheter body, and a guidewire tube within the balloon and separate from the catheter body. A catheter may be introduced over a guidewire by passing the guidewire through a guidewire lumen in the guidewire tube. No guidewire lumen is provided within the catheter body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stent for use in a bifurcated body lumen having a main branch and a side branch. The stent comprises a radially expandable generally tubular stent body having proximal and distal opposing ends with a body wall having a surface extending therebetween. The surface has a geometrical configuration defining a first pattern, and the first pattern has first pattern struts and connectors arranged in a predetermined configuration. The stent also comprises a branch portion comprised of a second pattern, wherein the branch portion is at least partially detachable from the stent body.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for placing stent systems at vascular bifurcations. The systems include a main branch stent having a side opening, optionally including a side structure, with radiopaque fluoroscopic markers about the periphery of the opening. The stent system further includes a side branch stent having radiopaque markers near at least end thereof. The main branch stent is positioned in the main blood vessel lumen using the markers for proper positioning. After deploying the main branch stent, the side branch stent is positioned through an opening within the side branch. Using the markers on both the main branch stent and the side branch stent, proper alignment and positioning of the two stents relative to each other may be achieved.

Abstract: Bifurcated stent includes a main stent body and a crown adapted to deploy it laterally into a branch vessel from the main stent body. A therapeutic agent or other material is coated on at least a portion of the crown of the stent, usually over the base of the crown adjacent to the main stent body. The main stent body is either free from coating or is coated in a different manner than is the crown portion of the stent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stent for use in a bifurcated body lumen having a main branch and a side branch. The stent comprises a radially expandable generally tubular stent body having proximal and distal opposing ends with a body wall having a surface extending therebetween. The surface has a geometrical configuration defining a first pattern, and the first pattern has first pattern struts and connectors arranged in a predetermined configuration. The stent also comprises a branch portion comprised of a second pattern, wherein the branch portion is at least partially detachable from the stent body.

Abstract: An assembly for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a skylight, a roof or a wall including at least two linked control members positioned across the defined region mounted for generally parallel linked movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position. The control members have a plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas arranged so that the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the control members are aligned when the members are in the closed position and the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member when the panels are in the open position. A motorized motion unit may be used for producing relative movement between the control members. The assembly is particularly well-adapted to be used with a series of adjacent dual panel glazing units where assemblies associated with each adjacent dual panel glazing unit are linked to and controlled by a single motion control device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stent for use in a bifurcated body lumen having a main branch and a side branch. The stent comprises a radially expandable generally tubular stent body having proximal and distal opposing ends with a body wall having a surface extending therebetween. The surface has a geometrical configuration defining a first pattern, and the first pattern has first pattern struts and connectors arranged in a predetermined configuration. The stent also comprises a branch portion comprised of a second pattern, wherein the branch portion is at least partially detachable from the stent body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stent for use in a bifurcated body lumen having a main branch and a side branch. The stent comprises a radially expandable generally tubular stent body having proximal and distal opposing ends with a body wall having a surface extending therebetween. The surface has a geometrical configuration defining a first pattern, and the first pattern has first pattern struts and connectors arranged in a predetermined configuration. The stent also comprises a branch portion comprised of a second pattern, wherein the branch portion is at least partially detachable from the stent body.

Abstract: Systems for aligning and deploying side branch stents comprise a catheter having a side branch sensor at or near a distal end thereof. Methods comprises rotating and axially transitioning the catheter until the sensor is brought into alignment with an opening to the side branch vessel.

Abstract: This invention is a system of transparent or translucent panel units that permit selective transmission of light and solar radiation or glare across the system and can be adjusted and controlled according to a user's varying needs using light-controlling members mounted for rotation about their longitudinal axes. The system can illuminate the interior space by reflected sunlight, conducting both light from the brightest part of the sky and low-angle sunlight efficiently into the interior space, and also shading or deflecting the intense light found when the sun is at high elevation. Alternatively, the amount of a selected portion of the radiation spectrum passed through the system can be set at will, and can be amplified to allow increased light passage and transmission.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter body, a balloon at a distal end of the catheter body, and a guidewire tube within the balloon and separate from the catheter body. A catheter may be introduced over a guidewire by passing the guidewire through a guidewire lumen in the guidewire tube. No guidewire lumen is provided within the catheter body.

Abstract: Angioplasty and other dilatation devices are provided with scoring elements which incorporate a drug to be delivered to a body lumen, typically a blood vessel. The scoring elements have drugs and other active substances coated over a portion thereof or incorporated within internal structure of the element so that the drug is released into the luminal wall closely associated diseased regions of the body lumen as the scoring structure is radially expanded into the wall.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering luminal prostheses comprises a catheter body having an expandable member near a distal end. The prosthesis has a side hole, and a guidewire extends beneath a proximal portion of the prosthesis and over the exterior of the expandable member. A distal end of the guidewire is retracted proximally from the closest point on the side opening to reduce possible interference with catheter advancement.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for placement of a stent in a bifurcation or ostial lesion. The stent comprises a main body and a flaring portion. The main body is designed to expand and support a main vessel while the flaring portion deploys at least partially in response to expansion of the main body and is designed to open into and support a side branch or bifurcation ostium area. The stent may also comprise a therapeutic agent which can be delivered to a blood vessel.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter body, a balloon at a distal end of the catheter body, and a guidewire tube within the balloon and separate from the catheter body. A catheter may be introduced over a guidewire by passing the guidewire through a guidewire lumen in the guidewire tube. No guidewire lumen is provided within the catheter body.

Abstract: The balloon catheter comprises a radially expansible, polymeric balloon having one or more permanent helical fold lines so that the balloon can be spirally folded upon delivery of the catheter to or removal from a vessel. A scoring structure may be carried over the balloon in between the folds to score a stenosed region in a blood vessel. Fabrication devices and methods for spirally folding the balloon are also disclosed.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter body, a balloon at a distal end of the catheter body, and a guidewire tube within the balloon and separate from the catheter body. A catheter may be introduced over a guidewire by passing the guidewire through a guidewire lumen in the guidewire tube. No guidewire lumen is provided within the catheter body.

Abstract: An angioplasty catheter comprises a catheter body having a balloon or other radially expandable shell at its distal end. A non-axial external structure is carried over the shell and scores a stenosed region in a blood vessel when the balloon is inflated therein. The catheter has an attachment structure disposed between the catheter body and the balloon to accommodate foreshortening and rotation of the external structure as the balloon is expanded. The external structure may be part of a helical cage structure which floats over the balloon.

Abstract: An interface structure is provided over a catheter having an inflatable balloon or other expansible structure for deploying or manipulating a stent. The interface structure is typically a cage having a plurality of helical interface elements which are disposed between the balloon and the stent during the expansion or manipulation. Use of the interface structure promotes uniform expansion and deformation of the stent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a stent for use in a bifurcated body lumen having a main branch and a side branch. The stent comprises a radially expandable generally tubular stent body having proximal and distal opposing ends with a body wall having a surface extending therebetween. The surface has a geometrical configuration defining a first pattern, and the first pattern has first pattern struts and connectors arranged in a predetermined configuration. The stent also comprises a branch portion comprised of a second pattern, wherein the branch portion is at least partially detachable from the stent body.