Abstract: Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.

Abstract: A catheter having expandable electrodes for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure such as a vein. When used on a vein, the catheter is useful for a minimally invasive treatment of venous insufficiency. The catheter includes conductive end rings to which the electrodes are attached, for mechanically connecting and electrically tying electrodes together to provide for a single wire electrical connection points, for transmitting energy while more evenly spacing the electrodes. Expandable arms are formed of electrically conductive material and insulated along their length except for an intermediate section that functions as the electrode. The arms are tapered to allow more room for wiring and to reduce the possibility of shorting between the ends of the arms. The catheter further includes thermocouples in the electrodes for measuring temperatures on the outer surface of the electrode. Slots are formed in the arms for mounting the thermocouples.

Abstract: A coil is located at the distal working end of an electrode catheter. The coil includes two parallel electrically conductive strips separated by a narrow gap. The strips are covered with insulation, and are connected respectively to electrical leads having opposite polarity. Electrodes are formed by removing portions of the insulation from the strips. The coil can be expanded to define an increased effective diameter at the working end of the catheter. An RF field produced along the helical path defined by the strips of the coil is unaffected by the expanded state of the coil. The energy from the RF field heats the surrounding venous tissue and causes a reduction in the diameter of the vein. The expanded coil mechanically prevents the vein from shrinking beyond the effective diameter defined by the expanded coil and the patency of the vein is maintained for venous function.

Abstract: A catheter having expandable electrodes for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure such as a vein. When used on a vein, the catheter is useful for a minimally invasive treatment of venous insufficiency. The catheter includes conductive end rings to which the electrodes are attached, for mechanically connecting and electrically tying electrodes together to provide for a single wire electrical connection points, for transmitting energy while more evenly spacing the electrodes. Expandable arms are formed of electrically conductive material and insulated along their length except for an intermediate section that functions as the electrode. The arms are tapered to allow more room for wiring and to reduce the possibility of shorting between the ends of the arms. The catheter further includes thermocouples in the electrodes for measuring temperatures on the outer surface of the electrode. Slots are formed in the arms for mounting the thermocouples.

Abstract: Presented is a segmented spherical display device including at least four embodiments. The segmented spherical body of the display device may be, but need not be, transparent, is segmented in specific ways unique to different segment configurations to provide multiple flat surface portions or facets, each defined by at least two straight edges or lines of demarcation and one arcuate edge subtending the angle defined by the two straight edges, and to which or on which facets may be detachably mounted selected visual indicia or images for visual display. In two of the embodiments, the segmented spherical bodies are each segmented to provide two bodies that are halves of a sphere, that are mirror-images of one another and interengageable to form a segmented sphere. In the other two embodiments, the respective spherical bodies are each segmented to provide four quarter-sphere segment portions or bodies that are mirror-images of one another.