Abstract: Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices include at least one implantable stent carrier and/or membrane for carrying multiple stents or stent segments over an expandable member. At least a portion of the implantable carrier is expandable by the expandable member to deploy the portion of the carrier and one or more stent segments disposed thereon. A sheath may be retracted to expose and expand a distal portion of the expandable member to expand and deploy a distal portion of the carrier and the stent segment(s) disposed thereon. Stent delivery devices and methods provide enhanced delivery of multiple stents or stent segments by delivering the segments while coupled with one or more implantable carriers and/or membranes that are typically flexible and dividable.

Abstract: Custom-length self-expanding stent delivery systems and methods enable precise control of prosthesis position during deployment. The stent delivery systems carry multiple stent segments and include a stent bumper for helping control the axial position of the stent segments during deployment. This enables the deployment of multiple prostheses at a target site with precision and predictability, preventing stent segment recoil and ejection from the delivery device and thus eliminating excessive spacing or overlap between prostheses. In particular embodiments, the prostheses of the invention are deployed in stenotic lesions in coronary or peripheral arteries or in other vascular locations.

Abstract: A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.

Abstract: A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.

Abstract: A stent deployment system includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member mounted to the catheter shaft, and one or more stents or stent segments slidably positioned on the expandable member. The stent deployment system is adapted for deployment of stents or stent segments in very long lesions and in tapered and curved vessels. The stent deployment system facilitates slidable movement of a stent in a distal direction relative to the expandable member while inhibiting slidable movement in a proximal direction relative to the expandable member.

Abstract: A self-expanding stent includes a plurality of segments having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. Preferably, the segments are unconnected to each other in at least the expanded configuration. The segments include restraining structures that temporarily restrain them from expansion until activated. This allows the user to position the desired number of segments at a treatment site and to deploy them simultaneously, thereby avoiding misalignment, overlap, and excessive spacing between segments. In preferred embodiments, multiple segmented stents of user-selectable length may be deployed at multiple locations in a single intervention.

Abstract: Custom-length self-expanding stent delivery systems and methods enable precise control of prosthesis position during deployment. The stent delivery systems carry multiple stent segments and include a stent bumper for helping control the axial position of the stent segments during deployment. This enables the deployment of multiple prostheses at a target site with precision and predictability, preventing stent segment recoil and ejection from the delivery device and thus eliminating excessive spacing or overlap between prostheses. In particular embodiments, the prostheses of the invention are deployed in stenotic lesions in coronary or peripheral arteries or in other vascular locations.

Abstract: Prosthesis delivery devices and methods are provided that enable precise control of prosthesis position during deployment. The prosthesis delivery devices may carry multiple prostheses and include deployment mechanisms for delivery of a selectable number of prostheses. Control mechanisms are provided in the prosthesis delivery devices that control either or both of the axial and rotational positions of the prostheses during deployment. This enables the deployment of multiple prostheses at a target site with precision and predictability, eliminating excessive spacing or overlap between prostheses. In particular embodiments, the prostheses of the invention are deployed in stenotic lesions in coronary or peripheral arteries, or in other vascular locations.

Abstract: Medical devices having topographic coatings are provided. The topographic coatings have regions of high and low elevation and may be composed of polymers, metals, ceramics, proteins and other biocompatible materials. Such topographic coatings facilitate the deposition, elution, and protection of therapeutic agents on the medical device, manipulation of the medical device, and other purposes. In particularly preferred embodiments, the medical device comprises a stent for vascular implantation.

Abstract: Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices include at least one implantable stent carrier and/or membrane for carrying multiple stents or stent segments over an expandable member. At least a portion of the implantable carrier is expandable by the expandable member to deploy the portion of the carrier and one or more stent segments disposed thereon. A sheath may be retracted to expose and expand a distal portion of the expandable member to expand and deploy a distal portion of the carrier and the stent segment(s) disposed thereon. Stent delivery devices and methods provide enhanced delivery of multiple stents or stent segments by delivering the segments while coupled with one or more implantable carriers and/or membranes that are typically flexible and dividable.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices and methods include a shuttle for carrying multiple stent segments, to avoid direct contact between the stent segments and an expandable member. A sheath is disposed over the expandable member such that when it is withdrawn, a distal portion of the expandable member is exposed to expand against the shuttle, thus expanding the shuttle and expanding and deploying a selected number of stent segments. To deploy a second selected number of stent segments, the sheath may be withdrawn further to expose more of the expandable member. Thus, one or more custom length stents may be deployed with a reduced risk of damage to the expandable member and the stent segments and enhanced ease and accuracy of stent placement at a treatment location.

Abstract: Stent delivery devices and methods include multiple stents or stent segments mounted at fixed positions on an expandable member of the stent delivery catheter. One or more of the fixed-position stents may be selectively deployed in a body lumen such as a blood vessel by positioning one or more sheaths to constrain some stents while exposing other for deployment. Some embodiments include two axially movable sheaths for serially deploying stents while containing a portion of the expandable balloon from which stents have been deployed. Other embodiments include inner and outer balloon shafts to allow the balloon to be retracted into the delivery catheter as stents are deployed. Devices and methods of the invention provide enhanced serial deployment of multiple stents or stent segments while reducing the risk of damage to an expandable deployment member.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating invention disclosure statements. The method of the present invention reduces the likelihood that a known prior art reference document will erroneously go undisclosed to a patent office by an individual associated with the filing and prosecution of a patent applications. Additionally, the method of the present invention simplifies and streamlines the tasks that must be carried out in order to comply with the various disclosure requirements of patent offices around the world. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method of the present invention includes receiving a signal indicating that a user has identified an electronic document that contains reference information to be disclosed to a patent office, the reference information including information necessary for completing an invention disclosure statement (“IDS information”).