Abstract: A suture attachment clip and method for assisting in the attachment or re-attachment of soft tissue to bone. The clip generally comprises a head having a shape suitable for allowing the passage of a suture during attachment of soft tissue to bone. One or more clips can be secured to a bone plate through a variety of means, including a snap configuration, a screw configuration, and a bendable prong configuration. The clip can also be continuous with an adjacent clip, thus forming a multi-clip assembly that can either be secured to a bone plate or secured directly to a bone without a bone plate.

Abstract: At least a portion of a catheter system (10) is provided with fullerene material (56) for performing or facilitating a medical procedure. In the case of a balloon catheter, the outer surface of the balloon may have a coating of fullerenes (64), which are preferably photosensitive or activated by light. A light source (60) can be used to illuminate or other wise activate the fullerene material. The light source (60) may be formed by one or more optical fibers extending through the shaft of the catheter, and into the balloon. Various arrangements of the catheter system are possible, whereby the light source may selectively emit light outward through the fullerene material, and associated portions of the catheter system, which may be translucent. When activated by light, the fullerene coating may preferably generate, and give off therapeutic oxygen radicals. These oxygen radicals may affect local cell function to prevent or reduce cell proliferation.

Abstract: The drug delivery stent assembly includes a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site in a vessel where the stent is placed.

Abstract: The drug delivery stent assembly includes a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site in a vessel where the stent is placed and the stent being constructed in a manner which permits the stent to be placed in one of two states, one state being where the stent assumes the shape of an enlarged generally cylindrical envelope and the other state being where the stent assumes the shape of a contracted smaller cylindrical envelope.

Abstract: A synchronous, pulsatile angioplasty system utilizes a control apparatus which controls balloon inflation and deflation in a pulsatile fashion synchronized with the heartbeat of a patient. A heart monitor provides an input, a signal to the control apparatus which serves as a baseline for operation of the pulsatile inflation and deflation of the balloon. A triggering circuit reads the baseline signal and generates a control signal to selectively generate valves interconnecting the angioplasty catheter with sources of inflation media and low pressure. Time delay circuits may be utilized which delay either the duration of the control signal or the receipt thereof by the control valves.

Abstract: The drug delivery stent assembly includes a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site in a vessel where the stent is placed.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring radiation at a region of interest inside a body is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a fiber optic equipped-catheter having a distal portion adapted to be inserted in a blood vessel. The apparatus further includes a luminescent scintillation material coupled to the fiber optic light pipe. The scintillation material is disposed in a distal portion of a lumen of the catheter and generates pulses of electromagnetic radiation in response to excitation by radiation rays. The apparatus further includes an index matching material disposed between the scintillation crystal and the fiber optic light pipe facilitating transmission of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation produced by the scintillation material to the fiber optic light pipe. A measuring assembly is coupled to the fiber optic light pipe to convert the pulses of radiation traversing the fiber optic light pipe to a measure of radiation in the region of interest.

Abstract: A photodynamic therapy balloon catheter is provided which has an elongated light-emanating optical fiber, an inner tubular member, a balloon member surrounding the inner tubular member, and fluid material provided between the inner tubular member and the balloon member. Light-reflective material is included in any one or a plurality of the inner member, fluid material, and balloon member in any combination to provide a uniform illumination for activating treatment fluids located on an elongated treatment site within a living body.

Abstract: A photodynamic therapy balloon catheter with microporous membrane is provided which has an elongated optical fiber, an inner tubular member, a porous balloon member surrounding the inner tubular member, and fluid material provided between the inner tubular member and the porous balloon member. The porous balloon member having a plurality of holes of a size to permit medication delivered through a lumen to pass outwardly through the holes. The balloon carries on an outer surface a substantially hydrophilic, tubular microporous membrane covering the holes, to break up streams of flowing medication. Light-reflective material is included in any one of a plurality of the inner member, fluid material, porous balloon member, and microporous membrane in any combination to provide a uniform light illumination for activating treatment fluids located on an elongated treatment site within a living body.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter shaft and a plurality of lumens, having a pair of spaced, inflatable balloons carried on the shaft to define an interballoon space between the balloons. Each of the balloons are connected to a separate inflation lumen to permit separate inflation and deflation. A fluid flow lumen extends through the catheter shaft and communicates with the interballoon space. Preferably, a perfusion lumen extends through the catheter shaft and the distal end to permit the shunting of blood past the inflated balloons. The spaced balloons are made of an elastomeric material, and are capable of being inflated to a diameter greater than their length. The catheter may be used by inflating a first catheter balloon to block a blood vessel. One then adds a therapeutic agent to the blood vessel at a position on one side of the first balloon through a flow lumen in the catheter.

Abstract: An infusion catheter is provided for delivering treatment fluids including medicaments, drugs, pharmaceuticals, cancer treatment agents and the like directly to a location within a living body such as within a vessel or body cavity. Electro-osmotic infusion is carried out by iontophoretic and/or iontohydrokinesis procedures. The infusion catheter includes both an internal electrode and an integral electrode, both of which are components of or closely associated with a distal portion of the catheter itself. When electrically joined to an EMF source, the electrodes are oppositely charged. The treatment fluid or components of the treatment fluid have an electrical charge which is the same as the internal electrode, as a result of which the medicament moves away from the internal electrode and to the body component being treated.

Abstract: An infusion catheter is provided for delivering treatment fluids including medicaments, drugs, pharmaceuticals, cancer treatment agents and the like directly to a location within a living body such as within a vessel or body cavity. Electro-osmotic infusion is carried out by iontophoretic and/or iontohydrokinesis procedures. The infusion catheter includes both an internal electrode and an integral electrode, both of which are components of or closely associated with a distal portion of the catheter itself. When electrically joined to an EMF source, the electrodes are oppositely charged. The treatment fluid or components of the treatment fluid have an electrical charge which is the same as the internal electrode, as a result of which the medicament moves away from the internal electrode and to the body component being treated.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter shaft and a balloon carried on the shaft, an inflation lumen being provided. The balloon comprises a plurality of holes of a size to permit medication delivered through the lumen to pass outwardly through the holes. The balloon carries on an outer surface a substantially hydrophilic, tubular microporous membrane covering the holes, to break up streams of flowing medication.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter shaft and a balloon carried on the shaft, an inflation lumen being provided. The balloon comprises a plurality of holes of a size to permit medication delivered through the lumen to pass outwardly through the holes. The balloon carries on an outer surface a substantially hydrophilic, tubular microporous membrane covering the holes, to break up streams of flowing medication.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter shaft, and first and second balloons carried on the catheter shaft with the second balloon positioned to at least partly overlie and sealingly enclose the first balloon. A lumen is defined by the catheter shaft to communicate between a space located within the first balloon and a proximal end portion of the catheter shaft. The first and second balloons each define holes of a size to permit medication delivered through the lumen to pass outwardly through the perforations of both the first and second balloons. By such an arrangement, medication may be directly delivered over a wide area to tissue without tissue damage.

Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises a catheter shaft which typically defines a first inflation lumen and a first, inflatable balloon mounted on the shaft in communication with the first inflation lumen. By this invention a second inflation lumen is typically provided, spaced from the first lumen and defined by the catheter shaft. A second balloon is mounted on the shaft in communication with the second inflation lumen. The second balloon defines apertures which are sized to permit liquid flow outwardly through the balloon. Thus, medication may be delivered in a controlled manner. Alternatively, the second balloon for medication administration may be the only balloon present on the catheter.