Abstract: A coating with antimicrobial agents for use with medical devices. In one approach, a related method involves coating high temperature vulcanized silicone material with a room temperature vulcanized dispersion.

Abstract: A coating with antimicrobial agents for use with medical devices. In one approach, a related method involves coating high temperature vulcanized silicone material with a room temperature vulcanized dispersion.

Abstract: A method for making an intravascular stent by applying to the body of a stent a solution which includes a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the solvent and then evaporating the solvent. The inclusion of a polymer in intimate contact with a drug on the stent allows the drug to be retained on the stent during expansion of the stent and also controls the administration of drug following implantation. The adhesion of the coating and the rate at which the drug is delivered can be controlled by the selection of an appropriate bioabsorbable or biostable polymer and the ratio of drug to polymer in the solution. By this method, drugs such as dexamethasone can be applied to a stent, retained on a stent during expansion of the stent and elute at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A method for making an intravascular stent by applying to the body of a stent a solution which includes a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the solvent and then evaporating the solvent. The inclusion of a polymer in intimate contact with a drug on the stent allows the drug to be retained on the stent during expansion of the stent and also controls the administration of drug following implantation. The adhesion of the coating and the rate at which the drug is delivered can be controlled by the selection of an appropriate bioabsorbable or biostable polymer and the ratio of drug to polymer in the solution. By this method, drugs such as dexamethasone can be applied to a stent, retained on a stent during expansion of the stent and elute at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A wireless remote control system within a power supply or telecommunications module. A user simply plugs the power cord or telecommunication line of their device, such as a computer or appliance, into the outlet of the module. The user is then able to dial a pager number that is already pre-programmed. The paging service then transmits a signal to a radio frequency (“RF”) receiver in the module. The signal is then decoded and sent to a processor. The processor then causes a relay to open or close in accordance with the decoded signal to activate the power supply or to turn the power off to the electronic device or to connect or disconnect the telecommunications line.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The heavy metal water-soluble salt can be dispersed in the porous material so that the device can be sterilized and the therapeutic material can be loaded in the device in situ, for example, just prior to use. The therapeutic material is preferably a heparin or heparin derivative or analog which renders the material antithrombotic as an implantable or invasive device.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The heavy metal water-soluble salt can be dispersed in the porous material so that the device can be sterilized and the therapeutic material can be loaded in the device in situ, for example, just prior to use. The therapeutic material is preferably a heparin or heparin derivative or analog which renders the material antithrombotic as an implantable or invasive device.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The porous material can be made of a polymer other than fibrin with fibrin incorporated into the pores, which can be the only layer of polymeric material on the medical device (e.g., stent). A new method for preparing a porous polymer material on a medical device.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The porous material can be made of a polymer other than fibrin with fibrin incorporated into the pores, which can be the only layer of polymeric material on the medical device (e.g., stent). A new method for preparing a porous polymer material on a medical device.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The heavy metal water-soluble salt can be dispersed in the porous material so that the device can be sterilized and the therapeutic material can be loaded in the device in situ, for example, just prior to use. The therapeutic material is preferably a heparin or heparin derivative or analog which renders the material antithrombotic as an implantable or invasive device.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The heavy metal water-soluble salt can be dispersed in the porous material so that the device can be sterilized and the therapeutic material can be loaded in the device in situ, for example, just prior to use. The therapeutic material is preferably a heparin or heparin derivative or analog which renders the material antithrombotic as an implantable or invasive device.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The porous material can be made of a polymer other than fibrin with fibrin incorporated into the pores, which can be the only layer of polymeric material on the medical device (e.g., stent). A new method for preparing a porous polymer material on a medical device.

Abstract: A medical device useful for localized delivery of radiation in vivo is provided. The medical device includes a structure including a porous material; and a plurality of discrete particles including a water-insoluble radioactive salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The water-insoluble radioactive salt is formed by contacting an aqueous radioactive salt solution with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The heavy metal water-soluble salt can be dispersed in the porous material so that the device can be sterilized and the radioactive material can be loaded in the device in situ, for example, just prior to implantation.

Abstract: A device useful for localized delivery of a therapeutic material is provided. The device includes a structure including a porous material; and a water-insoluble salt of a therapeutic material dispersed in the porous material. The water-insoluble salt is formed by contacting an aqueous solution of a therapeutic salt with a heavy metal water-soluble salt dispersed throughout a substantial portion of the porous material. The porous material can be made of a polymer other than fibrin with fibrin incorporated into the pores, which can be the only layer of polymeric material on the medical device (e.g., stent). A new method for preparing a porous polymer material on a medical device.

Abstract: Intraluminal stents and methods of manufacturing intraluminal stents are disclosed in which the stents have a plurality of recesses in the body of the stent, at least some of the recesses preferably providing a plurality of passageways between the inner and outer surfaces of the stent. The preferred stents are constructed of films on support structures having spaced apart elements, with the films having a thickness of between about 25 micrometers and about 400 micrometers. The stent can also be treated with an antithrombotic or a thrombolytic substance and, in some cases, the stents can incorporate therapeutic agents for delivery. The methods of manufacturing stents include forming the films using a solid particulate material that can be substantially removed after the film is formed, thereby forming the recesses and corresponding passageways described above. In preferred methods, the solid particulate material is soluble in a solvent in which the film is substantially insolvent.

Abstract: A medical device for use in supporting a luminal surface of a human or animal body comprising a catheter, a stent mounted on the distal end of the catheter, the stent comprising a hollow cylindrical first wire segment and a hollow cylindrical second wire segment, and a means on the catheter for releasing the stent in the expanded diameter from the catheter. The first wire segment forms a plurality of spaced-apart first wire segment elements each extending 360 degrees around the hollow cylinder, each of the first wire segment elements having a plurality of extendible portions which permit the first wire segment elements to be expanded from the unexpanded diameter to a second, expanded diameter, the first wire segment proximal end having a straight tail extending proximally and longitudinally therefrom.

Abstract: A method for making an intravascular stent by applying to the body of a stent a solution which includes a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the solvent and then evaporating the solvent. The inclusion of a polymer in intimate contact with a drug on the stent allows the drug to be retained on the stent during expansion of the stent and also controls the administration of drug following implantation. The adhesion of the coating and the rate at which the drug is delivered can be controlled by the selection of an appropriate bioabsorbable or biostable polymer and the ratio of drug to polymer in the solution. By this method, drugs such as dexamethasone can be applied to a stent, retained on a stent during expansion of the stent and elute at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A method for making an intravascular stent by applying to the body of a stent a solution which includes a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the solvent and then evaporating the solvent. The inclusion of a polymer in intimate contact with a drug on the stent allows the drug to be retained on the stent during expansion of the stent and also controls the administration of drug following implantation. The adhesion of the coating and the rate at which the drug is delivered can be controlled by the selection of an appropriate bioabsorbable or biostable polymer and the ratio of drug to polymer in the solution. By this method, drugs such as dexamethasone can be applied to a stent, retained on a stent during expansion of the stent and elute at a controlled rate.

Abstract: An injectable composition consisting of a plurality of discrete physiologically-compatible, non-biodegradable, silicone rubber bodies, said bodies having (i) a maximum outside dimension of from about 0.005 to 0.08 inch (125 to 2000.mu.), (ii) reversible deformability of about 20 to 75% of their unstressed outside dimension and (iii) a lubricious surface, wherein the lubricious surface is provided by a thin film coating of a liquid lubricant; and a method for treating a tissue condition in a patient using said composition.

Abstract: An injectable composition comprising a plurality of discrete physiologically-compataible, non-biodegradable, polymeric bodies, said bodies having (i) an average outside diameter of from about 0.005 to 0.20 inch, (ii) reversible deformability of about 20 to 75% of their unstressed outside diameter, and (iii) a lubricious surface; a process for the preparation of said composition and a method for treating a tissue condition in a patient using said composition.