Abstract: A medical catheter device is disclosed that comprises a tubular shaft member, a soft tip member, and a wire guide lumen extending longitudinally within the tubular shaft member and the soft tip member. The wire guide lumen is offset relative to the centerline within the soft tip member. By offsetting the inner diameter of the soft tip member in such a way as to not change the outward profile of the catheter, the soft tip will have improved tracking across existing stents and eccentric lesions.

Abstract: A prosthesis may include a tubular frame comprising rings which are concentric along an axis of the tubular frame. The rings may have a serpentine shape with apexes in a longitudinal direction such that the rings are configured to move between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration. A first ring of the rings can include a first apex that includes a first anchoring member extending radially outward and a first crossbar extending radially inward. The first ring can further include a second apex that neighbors the first apex. The first crossbar can extend toward the second apex and extend radially inward further than the second apex. When in the compressed configuration, the first crossbar can engage the second apex such that the first anchoring member is moved radially inward.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system may include a prosthesis that includes a first end portion being radially movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration. The first end portion may comprise a shape memory material having a transition temperature less than a body temperature such that the first end portion has an expanded configuration at a temperature above the transition temperature and a compressed configuration at a temperature below the transition temperature. The prosthesis may also include a second end portion being radially movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion.

Abstract: An intraluminal scoring system for expanding an opening within an intraluminal passage includes a balloon catheter which is positioned alongside plaque lining a wall of the intraluminal passage. A wire is positioned between the balloon and the plaque so that the inflation of the balloon restricts the wire between the balloon and the plaque. After the balloon is inflated, a mechanical vibration is induced in the proximal end of the wire by a lithotripter actuator. The vibration travels through the wire to the distal portion, causing the wire to impact the plaque lining the wall of the passage causing scoring, compression, or fragmentation of the plaque.

Abstract: A tipless balloon catheter includes an elongate tubular body defining an inflation lumen and having proximal and distal ends. A balloon has a proximal neck mounted on the distal end of the elongate tubular body and a distal neck including a distal tip having a distal opening therethrough. The distal opening is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen and an interior of the balloon. A stiffening member extends between the distal end of the elongate tubular body and the distal neck of the balloon. The tipless balloon catheter has a wire guide path defined by the elongate tubular body, the interior of the balloon, and the distal opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low profile lumen free balloon catheter and a system for advancing the lumen free balloon from a build wire to a wire guide. The low profile balloon lacks an internal wire guide cannula between the catheter shaft and the soft tip. A releasable engagement is provided to connect/disconnect the build wire to/from the wire guide. A soft tip seals around the wire guide following advancement of the balloon catheter over the wire guide.

Abstract: Catheter balloons (10) for delivering a bioactive (260) to a body vessel in a greater amount and/or more quickly are provided, as well as related methods of treatment. The catheter balloon may include a dual balloon assembly at the distal portion (300) of the catheter having an inner balloon (44), an outer balloon (42) with apertures (43) concentrically arrayed around the inner balloon, and a catheter shaft (30) adapted to deliver a carrier (270) through the apertures of the outer balloon. The bioactive is disposed on a portion of at least one of the inner and outer balloon surfaces. Radial outward expansion of the inner balloon urges the outer balloon into contact with the wall of the body vessel. The carrier is introducible within the catheter shaft to pass through the annular lumen (242) between the balloons and through the apertures of the outer balloon. The carrier interacts with the bioactive in order to release a therapeutically effective amount of drug to the wall of the body vessel.

Abstract: A circumferentially and longitudinally continuous scoring structure having a diameter in an initial unrestrained state that is smaller than a deflated diameter of the balloon is disposed around an outer surface of the balloon in an expanded configuration. The scoring structure continually exerts a radially inward compressive force against the balloon such that when the balloon is expanded from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration, the scoring structure expands in a radially outward direction and remains in continuous compressive contact with at least a portion of the balloon as the balloon unfolds. The scoring structure may be entirely free of attachment to the balloon and catheter, and may extend substantially a length of a working region of the balloon. The scoring structure may include a plurality of circumferentially compressible members connecting longitudinal members.

Abstract: Catheter balloons (10) for delivering a bioactive (260) to a body vessel in a greater amount and/or more quickly are provided, as well as related methods of treatment. The catheter balloon may include a dual balloon assembly at the distal portion (300) of the catheter having an inner balloon (44), an outer balloon (42) with apertures (43) concentrically arrayed around the inner balloon, and a catheter shaft (30) adapted to deliver a carrier (270) through the apertures of the outer balloon. The bioactive is disposed on a portion of at least one of the inner and outer balloon surfaces. Radial outward expansion of the inner balloon urges the outer balloon into contact with the wall of the body vessel. The carrier is introducible within the catheter shaft to pass through the annular lumen (242) between the balloons and through the apertures of the outer balloon. The carrier interacts with the bioactive in order to release a therapeutically effective amount of drug to the wall of the body vessel.

Abstract: A medical catheter device is disclosed that comprises a tubular shaft member, a soft tip member, and a wire guide lumen extending longitudinally within the tubular shaft member and the soft tip member. The wire guide lumen is offset relative to the centerline within the soft tip member. By offsetting the inner diameter of the soft tip member in such a way as to not change the outward profile of the catheter, the soft tip will have improved tracking across existing stents and eccentric lesions.

Abstract: A circumferentially and longitudinally continuous scoring structure having a diameter in an initial unrestrained state that is smaller than a deflated diameter of the balloon is disposed around an outer surface of the balloon in an expanded configuration. The scoring structure continually exerts a radially inward compressive force against the balloon such that when the balloon is expanded from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration, the scoring structure expands in a radially outward direction and remains in continuous compressive contact with at least a portion of the balloon as the balloon unfolds. The scoring structure may be entirely free of attachment to the balloon and catheter, and may extend substantially a length of a working region of the balloon. The scoring structure may include a plurality of circumferentially compressible members connecting longitudinal members.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for capturing emboli during treatment of a lesion in a blood vessel is presented. This embolic protection device generally comprises a plurality of struts having a predetermined shape and being configured to move between an expanded state for engagement with the blood vessel and a collapsed state for filter retrieval and delivery and a filter portion circumferentially attached to the struts having a proximal end and a distal end; the filter portion extending freely from the proximal end to a closed distal end. The filter portion forms at least one annulus chamber in the expanded state with the closed distal end of each chamber being not coincident to the center longitudinal axis of the blood vessel in order capture emboli in the chambers and to reduce any overall restriction of blood flow through the filter portion.