Abstract: An expandable reinforcing member or stent of the invention is used inside a body lumen, especially, in patient's artery for opening and holding a lesion or stenosis with a branch. The expandable reinforcing member is formed of at least two hollow mesh portions situated away from each other along an axial direction of the reinforcing member, and a connecting portion situated between the two hollow mesh porions for connecting the same. The connecting portion has a plurality of tortuous lines to define hollow areas therein, and a marker. Each hollow area is greater than a mesh size of the hollow mesh portions, and the marker is formed in one of the tortuous lines. Thus, a position of the connecting portion is realized at a time of installation of the reinforcing member. After the expandable reinforcing member is expanded, the reinforcing member can be slightly moved to relocate the position.

Abstract: An expandable stent is formed of a plurality of rows of circularly arranged annular members situated side by side in one direction, and connecting rods for connecting the annular members together. The annular members in one row is formed substantially independently, preferably spaced apart from each other. The stent is delivered in a compressed condition in a hole, such as blood vessel, and the compressed stent is substantially fully returned to the original shape when the compressed condition is removed. The stent withstand a high compression force.

Abstract: An expandable reinforcing member with different mesh patterns of the invention is used inside a body lumen, especially, in patient's artery for opening and holding a lesion or stenosis. The stent of the invention includes at least one large mesh portion, and a small mesh portion connected to the large mesh portion. The small mesh portion has a mesh size smaller than that of the large mesh portion. When the stent is delivered into the artery, the small mesh portion is positioned at the lesion or the stenosis, and the large mesh portion is positioned at healthy tissues of the artery. Therefore, the small mesh portion has enough strength to open and hold the lesion or stenosis in the artery, and the large mesh portion does not hurt the healthy tissues of the artery.

Abstract: A catheter with a locking device is formed of a catheter and a locking device attached to a proximal end of the catheter. The locking device is formed of a cylindrical portion fixed to the proximal end of the catheter and having a dent at one side thereof, and a movable ring rotatably attached to the cylindrical portion and having a slit. The movable ring is rotatable to open and close the dent, so that when a portion of the catheter is placed in the dent through the slit, the movable ring is rotated to close the dent to securely hold the portion of the catheter in the slot. Accordingly, the catheter can be locked in the looped condition.

Abstract: A stent for the reinforcement of a blood vessel which comprises a plurality of circularly arranged elongated struts inclined in the same direction relative to an imaginary line on the outer surface of the circularly dimensioned stent. The struts include joint members for joining adjacent elongated struts within the same circular row in a continuous manner. Connector members are formed to the joint members and include a verticle, relative to the longitudinal axis of the stent, portion to which oppositely extending end portions connect to adjacent rows of the joint members of the circumferentially arranged joint members of the elongated members so that the connectors provide flexibility along the longitudinal axis and reduce longitudinal movement of the stent when the stent is expanded.

Abstract: An expandable tubular reinforcing member of the invention is used for a body lumen, such as a blood vessel for reinforcement. The reinforcing member is formed of a tortuous section having a plurality of laterally extending elongated members, and a plurality of vertically extending end members situated between two adjacent elongated members for connecting the same. The tortuous section is arranged diagonally to form a cylindrical shape with a first diameter extending in a spiral form. The elongated members generally extend parallel to a central axis of the cylindrical shape. A plurality of joint members is situated between two end members arranged in the cylindrical shape to keep the shape. When a radial force is applied from an inside of the reinforcing member, the elongated members are bent relative to the end members to thereby allow the tubular reinforcing member to have a second diameter larger than the first diameter to thereby hold the body lumen.

Abstract: An expandable tubular reinforcing member of the invention is used for a body lumen. The reinforcing member is basically formed of a plurality of rows of expandable joint members and a plurality of rows of flexible elongated members. The joint members in one row are arranged in a circular form and are spaced apart from each other. The elongated members in one row are arranged in a circular form, and each flexible elongated member extends diagonally to a central axis of the reinforcing member and connects two of the joint members situated in adjacent two rows. When a radial force is applied from an inside of the reinforcing member, the elongated members are bent relative to the joint members to have a larger diameter.

Abstract: A shaft of a catheter system of the invention is used for PTCA, angiography, perfusion, drug delivery or the like in a body of a patient. The shaft is formed of a tube and a plurality of ribs projecting from an inner wall of the tube towards a center thereof. The respective ribs have a certain thickness, so that resisting force against a direction in which the shaft is bent or kinked is provided, and at the same time force or torque for manipulating the catheter system is transmitted from the proximal end to the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A dilator of the invention is used for enlarging a constricted portion of a blood vessel. The dilator is formed of a flexible guide wire to be entered into the blood vessel, a head having a tapered front portion and a through hole extending through the head, and a shaft fixed to the rear portion of the head for manipulation of the head. After the head is introduced into the blood vessel by the guide wire extending through the through hole of the head, when the head is pushed into the constricted portion by pushing the shaft, the tapered front portion enlarges the constricted portion. Thus, in case the constricted portion is too small for a balloon catheter, the constricted portion can be enlarged to a size sufficient for the balloon catheter.