Abstract: An introducer with a longitudinal slit is disclosed. The slit may enable a practitioner to remove the introducer from an elongate instrument without removing the elongate instrument from a hub or catheter. A hub having a hub taper is also disclosed. The hub taper may be configured to retain the introducer within the hub in some embodiments.

Abstract: A method and device for coating a medical device including the step of heating the medical device and applying frozen ground up particles of coating material to the heated medical device such that the coating material flows on the surface of the medical device and forms a coating thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improved control of low viscosity fluid flow during electrohydrodynamic spray deposition of the fluid to coat small targets, such as medical devices like stents. The apparatus includes a target holder which applies a first electrical potential to a target, a coating fluid transporter such as a wick, a siphon tube or a siphon tube with a wick therein along which the coating fluid flows from a reservoir to a dispensing end of the transporter, and an electrode which applied a second electrical potential to the coating fluid sufficient to cause the coating fluid to be attracted from the dispensing end of the transporter toward the target. This provides a target coating apparatus with highly self-regulating coating fluid flow characteristics despite the low viscosity of the coating fluid, while producing highly consistent and uniform target coatings.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing medical devices.

Abstract: A medical device includes a member, a coating, and a lubricant. In one embodiment, the coating includes a therapeutic agent. In one embodiment, the coating is disposed on at least a portion of the body and the lubricant is disposed on at least a portion of the coating. In one embodiment, the lubricant is formulated to provide an effective degree of lubricity between the coating and at least one of a surface of a package configured to receive at least a portion of the medical device, another portion of the medical device, a coating of another medical device, and an uncoated portion of another medical device. In one embodiment, the lubricant is soluble in at least one of water and a bodily fluid of a mammal. In one embodiment, the coating is formulated to release from the member when the medical device is placed within a body of a patient.

Abstract: A predilation device may comprise a shaft portion and a distal tip having helical threadings. The predilation device may further include a rapid exchange element rotatably coupled to the shaft portion. A guidewire may slidably engage the rapid exchange element and may guide the predilation device to a lesion site. The predilation device may be positioned with the distal tip abutting the lesion. The shaft portion may be rotated, thereby rotating the tip and causing the tip to pass through the lesion and predilate the lesion. In some embodiments, the tip may remove lesion material.

Abstract: A medical device crimping system comprises a crimper and a plurality of protective strips. The crimper defines a crimping iris, which has an open state and a closed state. In the open state the cross-sectional area of the crimping iris is greater than in the closed state. The plurality of protective strips extend longitudinally through the crimping iris. Each of the strips is radially offset from one another. The strips protect the stent from direct contact with the crimping blades of the crimper.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue includes delivering a first beam of radiofrequency energy towards target tissue, and delivering a second beam of radiofrequency energy towards the target tissue, wherein the first beam and the second beam intersect. A system for treating tissue includes a first radiofrequency energy source configured to deliver a first beam of radiofrequency energy, and a second radiofrequency energy source configured to deliver a second beam of radiofrequency energy, wherein the first radiofrequency energy source is aimed towards a first direction, and the second radiofrequency energy source is aimed towards a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a surface coated by at least two coating regions comprising a therapeutic agent is disclosed. These coating regions allow for the release of the therapeutic agent over different time periods.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coated medical device for delivering a biologically active agent to a body tissue such as a body lumen, said coated medical device having an increased coating surface area for adjusting the release rate of a biologically active agent, such as a drug, from the coating. The medical device has a coating comprising an outer surface having a surface area and capable of being in direct contact with the body tissue, and a plurality of indentations in the outer surface of the coating. The surface area of the coating outer surface is therefore greater than the surface area of the coating outer surface absent the indentations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for coating a surface of a medical device with a coating composition. The method involves chilling the surface to be coated to below the freezing point of at least one solvent contained in the composition. This coating composition is applied to the chilled surface, and a portion of the coating composition is allowed to freeze onto the surface. The surface can then be heated (either by the application of heat from an external source, by allowing to heat by ambient air) to above the freezing point of the solvent in the coating composition to allow the solvent to thaw and be removed, thereby forming a smooth, uniform coating on the surface of the medical device.

Abstract: Methods of making medical devices, such as stents, having a surface and a coating layer disposed on a portion of the surface are described herein. The coating is formed by applying a coating composition to a portion of the surface of the medical device and then at least partially drying the coating composition substantially simultaneously with the application of the coating composition. The process may be repeated until a desired amount of the coating composition is applied to the surface of the medical device. This method allows for a more efficient and effective method of applying a coating composition to a medical device such as a stent. Also disclosed is a system for making a coated medical device.

Abstract: A method is provided for coating at least a portion of at least one medical device. The method includes arranging a polymer on the portion of the medical device, arranging a bioactive agent on the portion of the medical device, and spraying, subsequent to the arranging of the polymer and the arranging of the bioactive agent, a solvent on the portion of the medical device. The method may further include selecting a composition of the solvent to achieve a desired agent release response profile for the medical device. A medical appliance is provided having a coating applied by a method that includes arranging a polymer on the portion of the medical device, arranging a bioactive agent on the portion of the medical device, and subsequently spraying a solvent on the portion of the medical device. A method is provided for achieving a desired agent release response profile for a medical device by reflowing the coating with a solvent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for coating a device with time-release drugs by providing a plurality of micro coated pellets having different release rates on the surface of the medical device structure, e.g., a stent. Organizing the micro pellets with different release rates on the structure can result in the structure having a plurality of release regions with varying release profiles.

Abstract: A catheter comprises a catheter shaft, at least a portion of which defines a medical device receiving region, and at least one sleeve. The at least one sleeve comprises a tubular member constructed and arranged to transition between an extended state and a retracted state. The tubular member has a first portion being engaged to a portion of the catheter shaft adjacent to the medical device receiving region. In the extended state a second portion is constructed and arranged to at least partially overlay the medical device receiving region. In the retraced state the second portion is removed from about the medical device receiving region. At least one of the first portion and the second portion of the tubular member are at least partially constructed from a shape memory material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selective ablation of therapeutic coating material from the surfaces of generally tubular medical devices, such as stents or guide wires, is provided. The medical device is rotated about its longitudinal axis, and a laser is operated in coordination with the rotational motion of the medical device to ablate a selected portion of the coating from the device, such as a portion of undesired coating. In a further embodiment, laser ablation of the coating on a medical device is conducted to reduce the amount of coating material on the device to a desired target amount of coating.

Abstract: A latching device to be used with a cement squeeze packer and a stinger is disclosed. The latching device enables an operator at the surface of an oil or gas well to open and close the squeeze packer valve without the risk of pulling the stinger out of the packer. The latch assembly is installed on the stinger assembly and is provided with a plurality of radially flexible fingers that engage the uphole end of the packer mandrel. Preferably, a series of ribs on both the latch and the uphole end of the mandrel are engaged when the stinger assembly descends into the hole and the stinger enters the packer. These ribs prevent the stinger from coming out of the packer until a predetermined tensile force is applied.