Abstract: Medical devices, medical device systems, and methods for using the same are disclosed. An example medical device system may include a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The guide catheter may be designed to guide a therapeutic catheter to a target site. A guidewire may be disposed within the lumen of the guide catheter. The system may also include a trap balloon catheter including a catheter shaft and a balloon coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon catheter may be designed to extend through the lumen of the guide catheter to a position adjacent to the distal end of the guide catheter. A trap balloon retainer may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon retainer may be designed to prevent a distal end of the trap balloon catheter from extending distally beyond the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Medical devices, medical device systems, and methods for using the same are disclosed. An example medical device system may include a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The guide catheter may be designed to guide a therapeutic catheter to a target site. A guidewire may be disposed within the lumen of the guide catheter. The system may also include a trap balloon catheter including a catheter shaft and a balloon coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon catheter may be designed to extend through the lumen of the guide catheter to a position adjacent to the distal end of the guide catheter. A trap balloon retainer may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon retainer may be designed to prevent a distal end of the trap balloon catheter from extending distally beyond the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Medical devices, medical device systems, and methods for using the same are disclosed. An example medical device system may include a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The guide catheter may be designed to guide a therapeutic catheter to a target site. A guidewire may be disposed within the lumen of the guide catheter. The system may also include a trap balloon catheter including a catheter shaft and a balloon coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon catheter may be designed to extend through the lumen of the guide catheter to a position adjacent to the distal end of the guide catheter. A trap balloon retainer may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon retainer may be designed to prevent a distal end of the trap balloon catheter from extending distally beyond the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Medical devices, medical device systems, and methods for using the same are disclosed. An example medical device system may include a guide catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The guide catheter may be designed to guide a therapeutic catheter to a target site. A guidewire may be disposed within the lumen of the guide catheter. The system may also include a trap balloon catheter including a catheter shaft and a balloon coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon catheter may be designed to extend through the lumen of the guide catheter to a position adjacent to the distal end of the guide catheter. A trap balloon retainer may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The trap balloon retainer may be designed to prevent a distal end of the trap balloon catheter from extending distally beyond the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Polymers of fluorinated monomers and acrylate and alkyl acrylates are disclosed which demonstrate improved performance as coatings for implantable devices. Such coatings may, for example, be used to release a bioactive agent from the medical device. One specific application lies in drug-eluting coatings for stents.

Abstract: Catheter devices having an expandable balloon for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site. In one aspect, one or more sheaths are disposed around the balloon with the therapeutic agent being disposed within the sheath, being disposed over the sheath, being contained in the space between the sheath and the balloon, or being otherwise associated with the sheath. In another aspect, the balloon includes a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) for drug delivery.

Abstract: Catheter devices having an expandable balloon for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site. The balloon has one or more folds which serve as a reservoir for containing the therapeutic agent. The fold may have any of various configurations to hold the therapeutic agent. In some cases, the balloon comprises one or more lobes that forms the fold(s). The therapeutic agent may be provided in various ways. For example, the therapeutic agent may be contained in packets that rupture upon expansion of the balloon, or as a plurality of discrete bulk masses, or sealed within compartments.

Abstract: Catheter devices having an expandable balloon for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site. In one aspect, one or more sheaths are disposed around the balloon with the therapeutic agent being disposed within the sheath, being disposed over the sheath, being contained in the space between the sheath and the balloon, or being otherwise associated with the sheath. In another aspect, the balloon includes a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) for drug delivery.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods facilitate modification of renal sympathetic nerve activity using a force generating arrangement. A device for mechanically modifying renal sympathetic nerve activity includes a contact arrangement having a shape that generally conforms to a portion of a renal artery wall and is configured for placement at the renal artery wall portion. A compression arrangement is configured to cooperate with the contact arrangement to place the wall portion of the renal artery in compression sufficient to achieve a desired reduction in renal sympathetic nerve activity. The compression arrangement and the contact arrangement are preferably configured to cooperatively place the wall portion of the renal artery in compression sufficient to irreversibly terminate renal sympathetic nerve activity.

Abstract: A renal denervation apparatus includes a treatment element dimensioned for deployment on or within a renal artery of a patient. The treatment element comprises a predefined pattern arranged to complete at least one revolution of the treatment element. The apparatus includes a treatment source. The treatment source and treatment element are configured to cooperatively facilitate communication of an agent from the treatment source to the pattern arrangement of the treatment element. The treatment element is configured to deliver denervation therapy using the agent via the pattern arrangement to one or more regions of the renal artery adjacent the pattern arrangement, such that at least one complete revolution of the renal artery is subjected to the denervation therapy.

Abstract: Polymers of fluorinated monomers and acrylate and alkyl acrylates are disclosed which demonstrate improved performance as coatings for implantable devices. Such coatings may, for example, be used to release a bioactive agent from the medical device. One specific application lies in drug-eluting coatings for stents.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as stents, having a surface, a coating layer comprising a polymer disposed on at least a portion of the surface, and a composition comprising a biologically active material injected into or under the coating layer at one or more locations in the coating layer to form at least one pocket containing a biologically active material are disclosed. The composition may be injected using a nanometer- or micrometer-sized needle. Methods for making such medical devices are also disclosed. Using this method, a precise amount of the biologically active material may be disposed accurately and efficiently on the medical device at predefined locations.

Abstract: Catheter devices having an expandable balloon for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site. The balloon has one or more folds which serve as a reservoir for containing the therapeutic agent. The fold may have any of various configurations to hold the therapeutic agent. In some cases, the balloon comprises one or more lobes that forms the fold(s). The therapeutic agent may be provided in various ways. For example, the therapeutic agent may be contained in packets that rupture upon expansion of the balloon, or as a plurality of discrete bulk masses, or sealed within compartments.

Abstract: Catheter devices having an expandable balloon for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site. In one aspect, one or more sheaths are disposed around the balloon with the therapeutic agent being disposed within the sheath, being disposed over the sheath, being contained in the space between the sheath and the balloon, or being otherwise associated with the sheath. In another aspect, the balloon includes a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) for drug delivery.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an implantable stent prosthesis comprising a sidewall and at least one channel for containing a biologically active material. A method for making such stent prosthesis is also disclosed. In the method, at least one tube or mandrel is placed in contact with a covering material on a stent and surrounded by the covering material to form a channel. Alternatively, a channel can be formed by covering the tube or mandrel with a channel material and exposing the covered tube or mandrel to an appropriate treatment. The channel can be attached to a sidewall of a stent or attached to a strut material to form a stent wire. A method of treating an afflicted area of a body lumen by implanting the stent prosthesis is also disclosed.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as stents, having a surface, a coating layer comprising a polymer disposed on at least a portion of the surface, and a composition comprising a biologically active material injected into or under the coating layer at one or more locations in the coating layer to form at least one pocket containing a biologically active material are disclosed. The composition may be injected using a nanometer- or micrometer-sized needle. Methods for making such medical devices are also disclosed. Using this method, a precise amount of the biologically active material may be disposed accurately and efficiently on the medical device at predefined locations.

Abstract: A method for electrostatic spray-coating a medical device having a tubular wall, such as a stent, having an inner surface, an outer surface and openings therein. The tubular wall is grounded or electrically charged, and an electrically charged conductive core wire is located axially through the center of the stent. An electrical potential is applied to the conductive core wire to impart an electrical charge to the conductive core wire. The tubular wall is exposed to an electrically charged coating formulation, and the electrically charged coating formulation is deposited onto a portion of the tubular wall to form a coating. The electrical potentials of the conductive core wire and tubular wall can be repeatedly alternated.