Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has an inner coil that is radiopaque and an outer coil that is non-radiopaque at the distal end of the guidewire. The radiopaque inner coil is visible under fluoroscopy so that the physician can monitor the location of the distal end of the guidewire during a procedure. The inner coil and the outer coil can be formed from a single wire or a multi-filar wire. The inner coil and the outer coil can have any of the following cross-sections for enhanced torquability: I-beam; vertical rectangular; vertical ellipse; square; peanut shape; vertical hexagonal; horizontal hexagonal; and horizontal ellipse.

Abstract: An elongated guidewire for use in angioplasty and related procedures. The guidewire includes a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal section has a plurality of round cross-section segments alternating with a plurality of non-round cross-section segments. The non-round cross-section segments can include a square, rectangle, pentagon, triangle, octagon and polygon.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has an inner coil that is radiopaque and an outer coil that is non-radiopaque at the distal end of the guidewire. The radiopaque inner coil is visible under fluoroscopy so that the physician can monitor the location of the distal end of the guidewire during a procedure. The inner coil and the outer coil can be formed from a single wire or a multi-filar wire. The inner coil and the outer coil can have any of the following cross-sections for enhanced torquability: I-beam; vertical rectangular; vertical ellipse; square; peanut shape; vertical hexagonal; horizontal hexagonal; and horizontal ellipse.

Abstract: A guidewire formed from drawn filled tubing having an inner core member encased in an outer layer. The inner core member is formed from a linear elastic or superelastic material and the outer layer is formed from a metal alloy such as 35N LT. A portion of the outer layer is ground down to form a feather edged joint between the outer layer and the inner core member.

Abstract: A shaping tool is used to form a bend in the distal end of a guidewire. The guidewire distal end is inserted through a channel and into a cavity of the shaping tool. Using hand pressure, a first member is moved axially relative to a second member of the shaping tool, thereby moving the cavity relative to the channel and imparting a bend in the distal end of the guidewire.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has an inner coil that is radiopaque and an outer coil that is non-radiopaque at the distal end of the guidewire. The radiopaque inner coil is visible under fluoroscopy so that the physician can monitor the location of the distal end of the guidewire during a procedure. The inner coil and the outer coil can be formed from a single wire or a multi-filar wire. The inner coil and the outer coil can have any of the following cross-sections for enhanced torquability: I-beam; vertical rectangular; vertical ellipse; square; peanut shape; vertical hexagonal; horizontal hexagonal; and horizontal ellipse.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in intravascular procedures has an inner coil that is radiopaque and an outer coil that is non-radiopaque at the distal end of the guidewire. The radiopaque inner coil is visible under fluoroscopy so that the physician can monitor the location of the distal end of the guidewire during a procedure. The inner coil and the outer coil can be formed from a single wire or a multi-filar wire. The inner coil and the outer coil can have any of the following cross-sections for enhanced torquability: I-beam; vertical rectangular; vertical ellipse; square; peanut shape; vertical hexagonal; horizontal hexagonal; and horizontal ellipse.

Abstract: Elongated shaft for a catheter including a single layer biaxially oriented nonporous thermoplastic polymer tubular member having a Shore durometer hardness of less than about 75D is provided. Elongated shaft for a catheter prepared by a process is also provided.

Abstract: Multilayer balloon for a catheter includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer having a combined wall thickness. The first layer is made of a first polymer material having a first maximum blow-up-ratio. The second layer made of a second polymer material having a second maximum blow-up-ratio greater than the first maximum blow-up-ratio, and the second layer is an inner layer relative to the first layer. The third layer is made of a third polymer material having a third maximum blow-up-ratio greater than the second maximum blow-up-ratio, and the third layer is an inner layer relative to the second layer. The at least first, second, and third layers define a compliance less than that of a single layer balloon made of the first polymer material with a wall thickness equal to the combined wall thickness. Method of making of multilayer balloon is also provided.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.

Abstract: Method of making a balloon catheter includes melt-extruding a thermoplastic polymeric material into a tube, cooling the extruded tube, placing the extruded tube within a capture member and biaxially orienting the polymeric material of the extruded tube while simultaneously tapering at least a section of the extruded tube by radially expanding the extruded tube with pressurized media in the tube lumen and axially expanding the extruded tube with an external load applied on at least one end of the tube as an external heat supply traverses longitudinally from a first end to a second end of the extruded tube in the capture member, wherein an overall axial load on the tubing is varied as at least a section of the tube is heated. The method includes cooling the expanded tube to form a tapered biaxially oriented nonporous thermoplastic polymer tubular member and sealingly securing a balloon proximate a distal end of the tubular member.

Abstract: Balloon catheter comprises an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal section, a distal section, and an inflation lumen, and a multilayer balloon on the distal section of the shaft. The multilayer balloon comprises a first layer made of a first polymer material having a first Shore durometer hardness, a second layer made of a second polymer material having a second Shore durometer hardness lower than the first shore durometer hardness, wherein the second layer is an inner layer relative to the first layer, and an outer-most layer made of a third polymer material having a third Shore durometer hardness lower than the second Shore durometer hardness.

Abstract: Multilayer balloon for a catheter comprises a first layer of a first elastomeric polymeric material, and a second layer of a second elastomeric polymeric material having a lower maximum blow up ratio (BUR) than the first elastomeric polymeric material and being an outer layer relative to the first layer. The multilayer balloon is formed by blow-molding such that the multilayer balloon is blown, in at least a first stage, to a final working radial dimension, wherein an area draw-down ratio (ADDR) of 2.0 for the multilayer balloon is targeted.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a medical article that include radial deformation of a polymer tube are disclosed. A medical article, such as an implantable medical device or an inflatable member, may be fabricated from a deformed tube.

Abstract: Multilayer balloon for a catheter comprises a first layer of a first elastomeric polymeric material, and a second layer of a second elastomeric polymeric material having a lower maximum blow up ratio (BUR) than the first elastomeric polymeric material and being an outer layer relative to the first layer. The multilayer balloon is formed by blow-molding such that the multilayer balloon is blown, in at least a first stage, to a final working radial dimension, wherein an area draw-down ratio (ADDR) of 2.0 for the multilayer balloon is targeted.

Abstract: Method of making a balloon catheter includes providing an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an inflation lumen extending therein, providing a multilayer tube, forming a multilayer balloon by blow-molding the multilayer tube such that the multilayer balloon is blown, in at least a first stage, to a final working radial dimension, and securing the multilayer balloon on a distal section of the shaft with an interior of the multilayer balloon in fluid communication with the inflation lumen. The ADDR of the multilayer balloon after formation is approximately 2.0.

Abstract: Elongated shaft for a catheter including a single layer biaxially oriented nonporous thermoplastic polymer tubular member having a Shore durometer hardness of less than about 75D is provided. Elongated shaft for a catheter prepared by a process is also provided.

Abstract: Multilayer balloon for a catheter includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer having a combined wall thickness. The first layer is made of a first polymer material having a first maximum blow-up-ratio. The second layer made of a second polymer material having a second maximum blow-up-ratio greater than the first maximum blow-up-ratio, and the second layer is an inner layer relative to the first layer. The third layer is made of a third polymer material having a third maximum blow-up-ratio greater than the second maximum blow-up-ratio, and the third layer is an inner layer relative to the second layer. The at least first, second, and third layers define a compliance less than that of a single layer balloon made of the first polymer material with a wall thickness equal to the combined wall thickness. Method of making of multilayer balloon is also provided.

Abstract: Balloon catheter comprises an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal section, a distal section, and an inflation lumen, and a multilayer balloon on the distal section of the shaft. The multilayer balloon comprises at least a first layer and a second layer having a combined wall thickness and an outer-most layer. The first layer is made of a first polymer material having a first maximum blow-up-ratio. The second layer is made of a second polymer material having a second maximum blow-up-ratio greater than the first maximum blow-up-ratio and the second layer is an inner layer relative to the first layer. The at least first and second layers define a compliance less than that of a single layer balloon made of the first polymer material with a wall thickness equal to the combined wall thickness. The outer-most layer is made of a third polymer material.