Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for filling a therapeutic substance or drug within a hollow wire that forms a stent. The stent is placed within a chamber housing a fluid drug formulation. During filling, the chamber is maintained at or near the vapor-liquid equilibrium of the solvent of the fluid drug formulation. To fill the stent, a portion of the stent is placed into contact with the fluid drug formulation until a lumenal space defined by the hollow wire is filled with the fluid drug formulation via capillary action. After filling is complete, the stent is retracted such that the stent is no longer in contact with the fluid drug formulation. The solvent vapor pressure within the chamber is reduced to evaporate a solvent of the fluid drug formulation. A wicking means may control transfer of the fluid drug formulation into the stent.

Abstract: A guide catheter assembly includes a dilator and a guide catheter. The dilator includes a dilator lumen extending from a distal opening at a distal end to a proximal opening at a proximal end, and a side exit port proximal of the distal opening and in communication with the dilator lumen. The guide catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide lumen extending therebetween. The dilator and the guide lumen are sized such that the dilator can pass through the guide lumen. The dilator and the guide catheter are sized such that with the proximal end of the dilator generally aligned along an axis with the proximal end of the guide catheter, the distal end of the dilator extends distally past the distal end of the guide catheter and the side exit port is disposed distal of the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: A guide catheter assembly includes a dilator and a guide catheter. The dilator includes a dilator lumen extending from a distal opening at a distal end to a proximal opening at a proximal end, and a side exit port proximal of the distal opening and in communication with the dilator lumen. The guide catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide lumen extending therebetween. The dilator and the guide lumen are sized such that the dilator can pass through the guide lumen. The dilator and the guide catheter are sized such that with the proximal end of the dilator generally aligned along an axis with the proximal end of the guide catheter, the distal end of the dilator extends distally past the distal end of the guide catheter and the side exit port is disposed distal of the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices including a multi-chamber bladder that is retained within the tissue compression device, with the multi-chamber bladder being positioned in a bladder orifice in a base of a compression device body. The multi-chamber bladder includes at least one upper chamber located above the base and at least one lower chamber located below the base. The lower chamber is located between the base and a selected location on a patient when the compression device is positioned over selected tissue such as, e.g., a radial artery, as described herein.

Abstract: A guide catheter assembly includes a dilator and a guide catheter. The dilator includes a dilator lumen extending from a distal opening at a distal end to a proximal opening at a proximal end, and a side exit port proximal of the distal opening and in communication with the dilator lumen. The guide catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a guide lumen extending therebetween. The dilator and the guide lumen are sized such that the dilator can pass through the guide lumen. The dilator and the guide catheter are sized such that with the proximal end of the dilator generally aligned along an axis with the proximal end of the guide catheter, the distal end of the dilator extends distally past the distal end of the guide catheter and the side exit port is disposed distal of the distal end of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for filling a therapeutic substance or drug within a hollow wire that forms a stent. The stent is placed within a chamber housing a fluid drug formulation. During filling, the chamber is maintained at or near the vapor-liquid equilibrium of the solvent of the fluid drug formulation. To fill the stent, a portion of the stent is placed into contact with the fluid drug formulation until a lumenal space defined by the hollow wire is filled with the fluid drug formulation via capillary action. After filling is complete, the stent is retracted such that the stent is no longer in contact with the fluid drug formulation. The solvent vapor pressure within the chamber is reduced to evaporate a solvent of the fluid drug formulation. A wicking means may control transfer of the fluid drug formulation into the stent.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for filling a therapeutic substance or drug within a hollow wire that forms a stent. The stent is placed within a chamber housing a fluid drug formulation. During filling, the chamber is maintained at or near the vapor-liquid equilibrium of the solvent of the fluid drug formulation. To fill the stent, a portion of the stent is placed into contact with the fluid drug formulation until a lumenal space defined by the hollow wire is filled with the fluid drug formulation via capillary action. After filling is complete, the stent is retracted such that the stent is no longer in contact with the fluid drug formulation. The solvent vapor pressure within the chamber is reduced to evaporate a solvent of the fluid drug formulation. A wicking means may control transfer of the fluid drug formulation into the stent.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.

Abstract: A hybrid stent prosthesis including a biodegradable tubular body, a first non-biodegradable self-expanding ring coupled to a proximal end of the biodegradable body, and a second non-biodegradable self-expanding ring coupled to a distal end of the biodegradable body. The hybrid stent includes a mechanism for longitudinally compressing the tubular body to increase the radial or hoop strength thereof. The longitudinally compressing mechanism may be protruding elements coupled to and extending radially outward from the hybrid stent or elastomeric compression bands or tethers extending between the non-biodegradable rings. The compression bands may be pre-connected to both non-biodegradable rings prior to stent delivery, or may be connected to one non-biodegradable ring prior to insertion and connected to the other non-biodegradable ring in situ.

Abstract: An implantable flow restrictor device is disclosed for initially restricting, then gradually restoring blood flow through a body vessel after an interventional procedure. A self-expanding annular member having a constricted diameter gives the device a frustoconical configuration that reduces blood flow therethrough upon initial deployment at a treatment site. The annular member is constricted by a plurality of linkages that operate to allow the annular member to gradually expand, thereby transforming the flow restrictor device to a cylindrical configuration that allows unimpeded blood flow therethrough. In one embodiment, expansion of the annular member is achieved via biodegradation of the linkages. In another embodiment, expansion of the annular member is achieved via creep deformation of the linkages. The flow restrictor device may be attached to an endoluminal prosthesis, or may be a separate complementary component that is delivered during an interventional procedure.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices including a multi-chamber bladder that is retained within the tissue compression device, with the multi-chamber bladder being positioned in a bladder orifice in a base of a compression device body. The multi-chamber bladder includes at least one upper chamber located above the base and at least one lower chamber located below the base. The lower chamber is located between the base and a selected location on a patient when the compression device is positioned over selected tissue such as, e.g., a radial artery, as described herein.

Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.

Abstract: An implantable flow restrictor device is disclosed for initially restricting, then gradually restoring blood flow through a body vessel after an interventional procedure. A self-expanding annular member having a constricted diameter gives the device a frustoconical configuration that reduces blood flow therethrough upon initial deployment at a treatment site. The annular member is constricted by a plurality of linkages that operate to allow the annular member to gradually expand, thereby transforming the flow restrictor device to a cylindrical configuration that allows unimpeded blood flow therethrough. In one embodiment, expansion of the annular member is achieved via biodegradation of the linkages. In another embodiment, expansion of the annular member is achieved via creep deformation of the linkages. The flow restrictor device may be attached to an endoluminal prosthesis, or may be a separate complementary component that is delivered during an interventional procedure.

Abstract: Neuromodulation assemblies (200) include an extravascular prosthesis (202) disposed around and contacting at least a portion of an exterior surface (204) of a vessel (V) and a radially expandable intravascular prosthesis (206) contacting an interior surface (208) of the vessel. The neuromodulation assemblies are configured to compress, pinch, or squeeze a target nerve within the adventitia of the vessel between the extravascular and intravascular prostheses in order to impinge and disrupt the target nerve, thereby blocking or stopping nerve signal transduction. Neuromodulation assemblies configured in accordance with the present technology may also utilize radio-frequency energy, a drug, and/or magnetic attraction to block nerve signal transduction for neuromodulation thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for filling a therapeutic substance or drug within a hollow wire that forms a stent. The stent is placed within a chamber housing a fluid drug formulation. During filling, the chamber is maintained at or near the vapor-liquid equilibrium of the solvent of the fluid drug formulation. To fill the stent, a portion of the stent is placed into contact with the fluid drug formulation until a lumenal space defined by the hollow wire is filled with the fluid drug formulation via capillary action. After filling is complete, the stent is retracted such that the stent is no longer in contact with the fluid drug formulation. The solvent vapor pressure within the chamber is reduced to evaporate a solvent of the fluid drug formulation. A wicking means may control transfer of the fluid drug formulation into the stent.

Abstract: A method for treating a vascular condition is disclosed, the method comprising delivering a stent to a target region of a vessel, the stent including a drug polymer coating including an elution portion and a remaining portion, eluting the elution portion from the delivered stent for an elution period, heating the delivered stent after the elution period; and removing the remaining portion based on the heating.