Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible magnesium alloy. The bioerodible magnesium alloy has magnesium and one or more additional alloying elements, including aluminum. The alloy has a microstructure comprising equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution phase grains having an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 5 microns and continuous or discontinuous second-phase precipitates in grain boundaries between the Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains, the second-phase precipitates having an average longest dimension of 0.5 micron or less.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible body including an alloy comprising at least 85 weight percent magnesium and at least one high-melting-temperature element having a melting temperature of greater than 700° C. The alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed magnesium-rich phase grains and optionally high-melting-temperature intermetallic phases. The equiaxed magnesium-rich phase grains have an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 10 microns. High-melting-temperature intermetallic phases, if present, can have an average longest dimension of 3 microns or less.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter is disclosed that includes an elongated shaft defined by a wall including at least one port extending through the wall into a lumen. At least one channel may be defined between layers of polymer making up the catheter shaft. The channel extends along at least a portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the port. Outer and inner diameters of the catheter may be substantially constant along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A stent-graft comprising a tubular, radially self-expandable, braided structure comprising elongate bioabsorbable filaments, a bioabsorbable adhesive means, and a permanent graft disposed and adhered with the adhesive means to at least a portion of the structure and forming a stent-graft assembly, the permanent graft and the tubular structure are coextensive along at least a portion of the stent-graft.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible magnesium alloy. The bioerodible magnesium alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains having an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 5 microns and second-phase precipitates in grain boundaries between the equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains. The beta-phase precipitates have an average longest dimension of 0.5 micron or less. The microstructure can be produced by one or more equal-channel high-strain processes.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible magnesium alloy. The bioerodible magnesium alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains having an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 5 microns and second-phase precipitates in grain boundaries between the equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains. The beta-phase precipitates have an average longest dimension of 0.5 micron or less. The microstructure can be produced by one or more equal-channel high-strain processes.

Abstract: Medical stents having valves and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. The valve may be basket-shaped and formed integral to a medical stent to prevent undesirable backflow across the valve. The valve can be formed by converting the braided wires of the stent, by providing elastomeric material onto a mold or fixture to form an elastomeric valve, or by attaching a gasket valve. The valve is normally closed but configured to allow easy opening in response to a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Medical stents having valves and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. The valve may be basket-shaped and formed integral to a medical stent to prevent undesirable backflow across the valve. The valve can be formed by converting the braided wires of the stent, by providing elastomeric material onto a mold or fixture to form an elastomeric valve, or by attaching a gasket valve. The valve is normally closed but configured to allow easy opening in response to a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible body including an alloy comprising at least 85 weight percent magnesium and at least one high-melting-temperature element having a melting temperature of greater than 700° C. The alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed magnesium-rich phase grains and optionally high-melting-temperature intermetallic phases. The equiaxed magnesium-rich phase grains have an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 10 microns. High-melting-temperature intermetallic phases, if present, can have an average longest dimension of 3 microns or less.

Abstract: Stent delivery system and method of manufacturing same. The stent delivery system comprises an inner catheter with an enlarged tip disposed at the distal end thereof. A stent engaging sleeve coaxially surrounds and is secured to a portion of the inner catheter proximally contiguous to the tip. The stent engaging sleeve is used to frictionally engage a stent mounted thereover in such a way as to prevent the stent, during deployment, from sliding proximally relative to the inner catheter. The system additionally comprises a self-expandable stent of the type comprising a knitted mesh of nitinol wire flexible in both the radial and longitudinal axes. The stent is mounted over the stent engaging sleeve in a longitudinally stretched state. The system also includes an outer catheter surrounding the stent and stent engaging sleeve, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter.

Abstract: A stent delivery catheter comprising at least one catheter shaft, the catheter shaft having an inner surface and an outer surface and a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter shaft defining a guidewire lumen, the guidewire lumen comprising a diameter defined by the inner surface of the catheter shaft, a stent disposed within the distal end of the catheter shaft and in contact with the inner surface of the catheter shaft, and a stylet disposed within the distal end of the catheter shaft, the stylet comprising a wave geometry.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter is disclosed that includes an elongated shaft defined by a wall including at least one port extending through the wall into a lumen. At least one channel may be defined between layers of polymer making up the catheter shaft. The channel extends along at least a portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the port. Outer and inner diameters of the catheter may be substantially constant along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: A medical implant includes a metallic base, a tie layer, and at least a first layer overlying an outer surface of the tie layer. The tie layer is bonded to at least a portion of a surface of the metallic base. The tie layer includes magnesium or a magnesium-based alloy. The tie layer can have an outer surface comprising dendritic grains. The tie layer can have a rough outer surface defined by pores, projecting grain structures, and/or projecting particles. A method of producing a tie layer on a medical device includes applying magnesium or a magnesium-based alloy to the medical device and cooling the magnesium or the magnesium-based alloy to produce a rough outer surface.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering an implantable endoprosthesis with an occlusion region for occluding fluid flow to a desired location in a body lumen. The delivery device includes an outer sleeve and an inner tube terminating at a distal tip. The distal tip is made of one of a dissolvable, bioabsorbable, or deformable material. Upon deployment of the endoprosthesis at the desired location, the shape of the distal tip is altered to a different shape and withdrawn through the constricted region of the endoprosthesis.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis includes a bioerodible magnesium alloy. The bioerodible magnesium alloy has a microstructure including equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains having an average grain diameter of less than or equal to 5 microns and second-phase precipitates in grain boundaries between the equiaxed Mg-rich solid solution-phase grains. The beta-phase precipitates have an average longest dimension of 0.5 micron or less. The microstructure can be produced by one or more equal-channel high-strain processes.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes an expandable tubular body defined by a plurality of struts. In some embodiments, the expandable tubular body includes a bioerodible metal that has at least a first surface region and a second surface region. The first and second surface regions can have different surface oxide compositions. In some embodiments, the first portion has a thermally altered microstructure and the second portion has a wrought microstructure. The thermally altered microstructure can be a cast microstructure comprising dendritic grains. The first portion forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the expandable tubular body. In some embodiments, the expandable tubular body includes iron or a bioerodible iron alloy and at least one surface of the expandable tubular body includes a substantially uniform coating of iron(III) oxide.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis can have a member that includes molybdenum and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The member can have a microstructure characterized by: (a) a molybdenum-rich base region comprising at least 50 weight percent molybdenum, (b) a surface region comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof, and (c) an inter-diffusion region in which the concentration of molybdenum decreases in the thickness direction from the molybdenum-rich base region to the surface region of the member.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis can have a member that includes molybdenum and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The member can have a microstructure characterized by: (a) a molybdenum-rich base region comprising at least 50 weight percent molybdenum, (b) a surface region comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof, and (c) an inter-diffusion region in which the concentration of molybdenum decreases in the thickness direction from the molybdenum-rich base region to the surface region of the member.

Abstract: A temporary stent endoprosthesis that does not require an interventional procedure for removal. The disintegrating stent is preferably made from a bioabsorbable polymer, such as by braiding polymer monofilaments into a tubular mesh shape, and the polymer has fracture initiation sites within it that promotes the disintegration of the stent into small pieces that are harmlessly transported out of the body by the vessel contents. Fracture initiation sites may be created by controlling the heterogenous structure of amorphous and crystalline regions, by introducing internal or surface fracture initiation sites, or use of multiple strands with small section size.

Abstract: A composite stent comprises an expandable framework made from a bioabsorbable polymer and a plurality of metallic structures disposed on, adhered to or force fit into openings of the expandable framework. Each opening has a perimeter defined by a plurality of struts of the expandable framework. Each strut has a width and a thickness. At least one first metallic structure is disposed along at least a portion of the perimeter of at least one of the openings. Methods for manufacturing such a composite stent are provided herein.