Abstract: An abdominal aortic aneurysm repair device having an access port may be utilized to percutaneously access the aneurismal sac without disturbing the repair. The access port has a self-sealing member for maintaining the port in the normally closed position. The insertion of a percutaneous device into the port opens the port.

Abstract: A stent graft having graft material attached to a stent structure while providing a low profile to the stent graft in its crimped state. The graft material may be attached to an internal surface, an external surface, or both the internal surface and the external surface of the stent. The graft material may cover all or part of such surfaces. The stent graft is expandable upon delivery to the intended treatment site. The expandable nature of the stent graft may be accomplished by self-expanding materials, or through other methods, such as balloon expansion, as generally practiced in the art. The stent graft material is comprised of durable biocompatible materials as generally practiced in the art. The stent graft in its crimped state comprises a low profile fluid flow conduit that is preferably percutaneously delivered, but that may be surgically emplaced to the intended treatment site.

Abstract: An abdominal aortic aneurysm repair device having an access port may be utilized to percutaneously access the aneurismal sac without disturbing the repair. The access port has a self-sealing member for maintaining the port in the normally closed position. The insertion of a percutaneous device into the port opens the port.

Abstract: The present invention is a stent delivery system that uses short section of guidewire fixedly attached to the distal section of a balloon angioplasty catheter onto which a stent is co-axially mounted. By not having a guidewire that slides through the balloon of the balloon angioplasty catheter, the deflated balloon on which the stent is mounted can have a reduced diameter. Therefore, the outer diameter of the pre-deployed stent mounted onto that balloon is also minimized. This provides a smaller profile, i.e., a smaller outer diameter, for the stent. The time to perform a stent delivery procedure is reduced; a separate guidewire does not have to be placed prior to using the stent delivery system to place the stent at the site of a stenosis. Another embodiment of the present invention has a core wire that extends for nearly the entire length of the stent delivery system, the guidewire having different levels of stiffness for different portions of the core wire's length.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system has been developed for actively tracking the three-dimensional positions of numerous coils provided on one or more medical devices. One particular example of a novel magnetic resonance system of the present invention is capable of simultaneously tracking the positions of up to 32 coils or more, which may be provided on the medical device(s). As an example, catheter devices having a large number of independent tracking coils have been constructed, in which each coil has a direct connection to one at least the same number of receivers in the magnetic resonance system. Accordingly, physicians can obtain real-time visualization of the positions of medical devices using a magnetic resonance system, with sufficient frame-rates to guide the manipulation of the medical devices within the body of a patient. The medical devices may include catheters and guidewires.

Abstract: The present invention is a stent delivery system that uses short section of guidewire fixedly attached to the distal section of a balloon angioplasty catheter onto which a stent is co-axially mounted. By not having a guidewire that slides through the balloon of the balloon angioplasty catheter, the deflated balloon on which the stent is mounted can have a reduced diameter. Therefore, the outer diameter of the pre-deployed stent mounted onto that balloon is also minimized. This provides a smaller profile, i.e., a smaller outer diameter, for the stent. The time to perform a stent delivery procedure is reduced; a separate guidewire does not have to be placed prior to using the stent delivery system to place the stent at the site of a stenosis. Another embodiment of the present invention has a core wire that extends for nearly the entire length of the stent delivery system, the guidewire having different levels of stiffness for different portions of the core wire's length.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a self-expanding prosthesis into a delivery sheath includes a substantially cylindrical cartridge for receiving the prosthesis and a cartridge un-loading device for removing the prosthesis from the cartridge and loading it into a delivery sheath. The cartridge is provided with an exterior radial key at one end. The unloading device includes a substantially cylindrical member having an interior stationary coaxial piston extending substantially its entire length and an exterior sliding ring. The cylindrical member is provided with a radial slot which restricts movement of the sliding ring, and a stepped internal stop at one end. The stepped internal stop has a radial keyway which is dimensioned to receive the key on the cartridge. The sliding ring is provided with a radial pin which resides in the radial slot in the cylindrical member and which couples the sliding ring to an interior key engaging member with a locking keyway dimensioned to engage the key on the cartridge.