Abstract: A catheter includes a flexible heat transfer element, a cooling element encompassed by the flexible heat transfer element, a first tube couplable to a supply of coolant, and a second tube. The cooling element includes an elongate tubular wall defining an elongate cooling chamber therein having a first end that is coupled to a distal end of the second tube end and a second end that is closed. The distal end of the second tube is configured to receive a flow of coolant from the cooling element. A permeable distal portion of the first tube is positioned within the cooling chamber, the permeable distal portion including a plurality of holes in an outer surface of the tube such that when the coolant is supplied as a liquid at least some of the coolant passes through the plurality of holes and undergoes a phase change in the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A guidewire including a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to an expandable intraluminal medical device for use within a body passageway or duct, and more particularly to an optimized stent having flexible links that minimize foreshortening during stent deployment. In one embodiment of the present invention the intraluminal prosthetic device includes a first hoop section, a second hoop section, and one or more flex members attached between the first and the second hoop section. Each flex member comprises two generally longitudinally extending curved segments connected by a circumferentially undulating segment.

Abstract: A guidewire may include a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.

Abstract: A guidewire having a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.

Abstract: A system includes: a stent having a proximal end; a support including the stent engaged thereon, having a longitudinal axis and being equipped with a stop against which the proximal end is applied; a sheath having a distal end, which can slide relative to the support and stop, between a distal overlap position of the stent and a proximal release position for deploying the stent, and a first inflatable balloon situated between the support and stent, including a distal portion that protrudes past the distal end, on the distal side thereof when the latter is in the distal position, and having, on the distal side, a transverse section larger than or equal to that of the sheath, the distal end situated back from the distal end in the proximal direction, and situated opposite the distal portion, such that the distal portion protrudes partially past the distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: A device and method for treating a body conduit/lumen having an undesired reduced diameter include delivering an expandable stent in a contracted configuration to a target location. The stent has small cells that form an open tight mesh providing the effective capture of small particles such as thrombi. Preferably, the tight mesh is combined with structure that permits creation of large side openings to accommodate lumen branches.

Abstract: A guidewire comprising a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.

Abstract: A guidewire having a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.

Abstract: The present invention envisions an improved flexible connecting link used in conjunction with in-phase and half-phase circumferential sets of strut members. By increasing the total length and diagonality of the undulating connecting links, the present invention is a stent that provides increased flexibility during delivery and enhanced conformability to the shape of a curved artery when the stent is deployed into a curved vessel such as a tortuous coronary artery.

Abstract: A stent includes a lattice defining a substantially cylindrical configuration having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and a middle portion between the proximal end and the distal end. The lattice being moveable from a crimped state to an expanded state, and a plurality of adjacent hoops. Each hoop has a plurality of adjacent loops. Additionally, the stent further includes a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent hoops and a plurality of extensions on the lattice. Each of the hoops and bridges define a cell. The proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the lattice have at least one cell respectively and the middle portion of the lattice has at least one cell. The plurality of extensions are on the middle portion of the lattice. The plurality of extensions are cantilevered projections from the bridges and/or hoops of the lattice.

Abstract: A device and method for treating a body conduit/lumen having an undesired reduced diameter include delivering an expandable stent in a contracted configuration to a target location. The stent has small cells that form an open tight mesh providing the effective capture of small particles such as thrombi. Preferably, the tight mesh is combined with structure that permits creation of large side openings to accommodate lumen branches.

Abstract: A guidewire navigable through body vessels of a human subject for delivery of a catheter or the like is provided. The guidewire has a tube which receives a corewire that protrudes beyond a distal portion of the tube. The protruding portion of the corewire is surrounded by a spring and shapeable into a curve or arc. The cross-sectional shape of the spring may be varied in order to promote bending flexibility and curvature or to favor curvature of a chosen type. The corewire is axially movable with respect to the tube, which compresses or stretches the spring to change the stiffness of the spring. The tube has a proximal portion comprised of a relatively rigid material, such as stainless steel, while a distal portion is comprised of a more flexible material, such as a nitinol.

Abstract: A stent with axial flexibility, in a preferred embodiment, has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of longitudinally disposed bands, wherein each band defines a generally continuous wave along a line segment parallel to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of links maintains the bands in a tubular structure. In a further embodiment of the invention, each longitudinally disposed band of the stent is connected, at a plurality of periodic locations, by a short circumferential link to an adjacent band. Further, a pair of bifurcated stents is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device, and in particular, to a stent-based valve. The valve includes a radially expandable structural frame comprising a proximal and distal anchors formed from a lattice of interconnected elements, and having a substantially cylindrical configuration with first and second open ends and a longitudinal axis extending there between. One or more cantilevered valve struts are attached directly or indirectly to the proximal anchor. The stent based valve also comprises one or more connecting members attached between the proximal and distal anchors. A biocompatible valve assembly is coaxially disposed and attached to the proximal anchor and extends in the longitudinal direction along the one or more connecting members.

Abstract: A stent provides a folded strut section that provides both structural rigidity and reduction in foreshortening of the stent mechanism. A flexible section provides flexibility for delivery of the stent mechanism. In a second embodiment, flexible section columns are angled with respect to each other, and to the longitudinal axis of the stent. These relatively flexible sections are oppositely phased in order to negate any torsion along their length. In yet another embodiment, the flexible connector can take on an undulating shape (like an “N”), but such that the longitudinal axis of the connector is not parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stent. Finally, a new method is disclosed for making stents.

Abstract: A steerable guidewire having a deflectable distal tip which comprises a longitudinal hypotube and an interlocking spring coil attached to the distal end of the hypotube and also includes a longitudinally movable deflection member which is attached to the distal end of the spring coil and a tip retaining ribbon which extends from the distal end of the hypotube to the distal end of the spring coil for providing very precise deflection of the distal tip. The distal end of the deflection member has “skived,” or tapered, sides to enhance the flexibility of the guidewire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device, and in particular, to a stent-based valve. The valve includes a radially expandable structural frame comprising a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The proximal and distal anchors are formed from a lattice of interconnected elements, and have a substantially cylindrical configuration with first and second open ends and a longitudinal axis extending there between. The stent based valve also comprises one or more connecting members, each having a first and a second end. The first end of each connecting member is attached to the proximal anchor and the second end of each connecting member is attached to the distal anchor. A biocompatible valve assembly is attached to the proximal anchor and extends distally along the one or more connecting members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device, and in particular, to a stent-based valve. The valve includes a radially expandable structural frame including an anchor structure having a first and a second open end, a connecting member having a first and a second end, and a cantilever valve strut having a first and a second end. The first end of the connecting member is attached to the second end of the anchor structure. The first end of the cantilever valve strut is cooperatively associated with the second end of the connecting member. The prosthetic valve further includes a biocompatible membrane assembly having a substantially tubular configuration about the longitudinal axis, with a first open and a second closed end. The first end of the membrane assembly is attached to the structural frame along the second end of the cantilever valve strut.

Abstract: Balloon catheter designs are disclosed where the as-molded distal tip portion assumes a generally non-linear configuration. The non-linear tip configuration minimizes the gap between the wall of the catheter and the guidewire when the catheter passes over the guidewire when threaded through tortuous portions of the vasculature. The edge of the tip portion may be bias-cut angled with respect to the axis of the catheter to further reduce the gap. The disclosure also describes methods to use the catheter designs.