Abstract: An implantable flow restrictor plug is disclosed that is disposed within a deployed endoluminal prosthesis to initially restrict, then gradually restore blood flow through the prosthesis after an angioplasty procedure. Upon initial deployment, the plug has a tubular biodegradable body defining a blood flow lumen therethrough that is sized to effectively reduce the amount of blood flow exiting the prosthesis. An inner surface of the body erodes or biodegrades in vivo to enlarge the plug lumen, thereby gradually restoring blood flow through the prosthesis until blood flow is unimpeded through the prosthesis, i.e., blood flow through the vessel is fully restored. The flow restrictor plug may be attached to the endoluminal prosthesis to be delivered and deployed therewith, or may be formed within a previously deployed prosthesis.

Abstract: An implantable flow restrictor plug is disclosed that is disposed within a deployed endoluminal prosthesis to initially restrict, then gradually restore blood flow through the prosthesis after an angioplasty procedure. Upon initial deployment, the plug has a tubular biodegradable body defining a blood flow lumen therethrough that is sized to effectively reduce the amount of blood flow exiting the prosthesis. An inner surface of the body erodes or biodegrades in vivo to enlarge the plug lumen, thereby gradually restoring blood flow through the prosthesis until blood flow is unimpeded through the prosthesis, i.e., blood flow through the vessel is fully restored. The flow restrictor plug may be attached to the endoluminal prosthesis to be delivered and deployed therewith, or may be formed within a previously deployed prosthesis.

Abstract: A system for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac valve dysfunction comprises delivering one or more calcium chelating agents locally to a treatment site. One aspect of the invention provides a method including delivering a nano-particulate calcium chelating agent into a vascular wall. Another aspect of the invention provides a method and device for forming a sealed chamber around a cardiac valve, releasing one or more calcium chelating agents into the sealed chamber and decalcifying a cardiac valve in need thereof.

Abstract: A stent includes a stent framework and a coating disposed on the stent framework. The coating includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The coating has a circumferential therapeutic concentration zone near the inner surface and a circumferential washed zone near the outer surface.

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: 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: An intraluminal stent, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of treating a vascular condition. The stent includes a framework with a plurality of flap portions projecting substantially beyond a central core region. The flap portions are movable from a compressed position and an extended position when the stent is deployed. The system includes a catheter and the intraluminal stent. The method includes positioning an intraluminal stent within a vessel. A plurality of flap portions of the stent is extended from a compressed position into contact with the vessel.

Abstract: The stent with cathodic protection and stent delivery system includes a stent delivery system including a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes a stent body having a first stent layer of an anodic stent material disposed about a second stent layer of a cathodic stent material; and a battery having a first battery layer of an anodic battery material and a second battery layer of a cathodic battery material. The first stent layer is electrically coupled to the first battery layer and the second stent layer is electrically coupled to the second battery layer.

Abstract: The coil stent delivery system and method of use includes a stent delivery system including a coil stent; a housing, the housing having a receiver defining a receiver chamber and a sheath defining a sheath lumen, the receiver chamber being in communication with the sheath lumen; and a screw assembly, the screw assembly having a shaft, a helical screw disposed about a distal portion of the shaft, and a drive operably coupled to the shaft. The shaft is disposed in the receiver chamber and the sheath lumen, the helical screw is disposed in the sheath, and the coil stent is disposed about the shaft in the receiver chamber and engages the helical screw. Rotation of the drive moves the coil stent through the sheath lumen.

Abstract: A stent for implantation within the body of a patient is disclosed. The stent can be formed from one or more stent modules comprising a plurality of stent struts, one or more of which have an inner contour designed for streamlined fluid flow when the stent is implanted within an anatomical passageway of the patient.

Abstract: An intraluminal stent, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of treating a vascular condition. The stent includes a framework composed of a biodegradable material. At least one strut is composed of a non-biodegradable material. The framework is operably attached to the at least one strut. The delivery system includes a catheter and a stent disposed on a portion of the catheter. The stent includes a framework composed of a biodegradable material. The stent further includes at least one strut composed of a non-biodegradable material. The framework is operably attached to the at least one strut. The method includes positioning an intraluminal stent via a catheter within a vessel. The stent includes at least one strut that is composed of a non-biodegradable material and is operably attached to a framework. The framework expands during deployment of the intraluminal stent. The framework is allowed to biodegrade within the vessel.

Abstract: Described herein are implantable medical devices that can be coated with polymers and/or bioactive agents with the aid of supercritical fluids and methods for coating the devices. The medical devices described herein can have at least a portion of their surface made of or formed from a porous material. The supercritical fluids are used as a carrier for the bioactive agents described. Once the bioactive agents are carried to the medical device surface, they are sequestered there, preferably in the pores. The supercritical fluid is sprayed onto the medical devices achieving precipitation of the fluid. If appropriate conditions are used in the area of precipitation, bioactive agents can penetrate into the pores of the medical device before coming out of solution and expanding.

Abstract: A clot retrieval device for removing thrombi or other emboli from a body lumen is disclosed. The clot retrieval device includes an elongate shaft portion, a self-expanding snare disposed at a distal end of the shaft portion and a flexible bag portion attached to the self-expanding snare. The snare may be a loop or circlet formed in a distal end of the elongate shaft portion or may be a separate component attached thereto. An opening of the bag portion for receiving the thrombi or emboli there through faces proximally when the snare is fully deployed. The bag portion is made of a flexible, non-porous material, such as a balloon-type or elastomeric material, that is foldable or otherwise collapsible to achieve a low-profile while the clot retrieval device is being tracked to the treatment site through the body lumen.

Abstract: A biodegradable implantable device for delivering a drug to a treatment site includes a biodegradable hypotube defining a lumen and at least one drug disposed within the lumen of the hypotube. At least one drug is released from the lumen upon degradation of the biodegradable hypotube. The lumen may be compartmentalized, each compartment containing a different drug. The hypotube may also include a plurality of pores in fluid communication with the compartments providing different drug release profiles.

Abstract: An implantable device capable of delivering drugs is disclosed. An example of the device is a stent that comprises at least one hypotube having a lumen and one or more pores. The lumen of the hypotube is configured to retain drugs that can be eluted through the one or more pores after deployment at a treatment site.

Abstract: A stent for implantation within the body of a patient is disclosed. The stent can be formed from one or more stent modules comprising a plurality of stent struts, one or more of which have an inner contour designed for streamlined fluid flow when the stent is implanted within an anatomical passageway of the patient.

Abstract: A system for treating a vascular condition includes a stent having a biodegradable coating on the stent framework. The coating releases a therapeutically effective amount of therapeutic agent as a function of degradation of the coating. Also provided is a method of treating a vascular condition by placing a stent having a biodegradable coating at a treatment site and delivering a therapeutically effective amount of therapeutic agent at the treatment site as a function of degradation of the coating. Also provided is a method of improving the performance of a medical device by including a biodegradable coating on the surface of the device and releasing a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutic agent at the treatment site as a function of degradation of the coating.

Abstract: A stent includes a stent framework and a coating disposed on the stent framework. The coating includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The coating has a circumferential therapeutic concentration zone near the inner surface and a circumferential washed zone near the outer surface.

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.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an intraluminal stent includes a stent framework with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a center portion includes a plurality of struts positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion includes a plurality of struts and the second end portion includes a plurality of struts. The first end portion plurality of struts and second portion plurality of struts have a radial strength and/or stiffness less than a radial strength and/or stiffness of the center portion plurality of struts. In another embodiment, a method of treating a vascular condition includes delivering a stent to a target region of a vessel via a catheter. The stent is deployed at the target region. The first and second end portions of the deployed stent are flexed in a radial direction while reducing flexing in the radial direction of the center portion.