Abstract: An improved medical device for use in the treatment of stenosis of the ostium of tubular organs, such as, but not limited to blood vessels. The improved medical device includes a configuration and design that enables at least one end region of the improved medical device to flare outwardly.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a stent, a surface of which is coated with an amphiphilic copolymer that includes both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer chains. An amphiphilic copolymer coating according to the invention can serve as a carrier for a very broad range of drugs. The release rates of the drugs can be controlled, for example, through the length of the polymer chains, through their ratio, or through the degree of crosslinking.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a graft, a surface of which is coated with an amphiphilic block copolymer that includes both hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer chains. An amphiphilic block copolymer coating according to the invention can serve as a carrier for a very broad range of drugs, possibly including every drug presently used, being considered for use, or likely to be used in the future to inhibit stenosis. The release rates of the drugs can be controlled, for example, through the length of the polymer chains, through their ratio, or through the degree of cross-linking.

Abstract: A monitoring system and data archive system for a stent crimping process. The information concerning the crimped stent is used in deciding whether the stent is acceptable for insertion into the body cavity of a human or animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to sutures and surgical staples useful in anastomoses. Various aspects of the invention include wound closure devices that use amphiphilic copolymer or parylene coatings to control the release rate of an agent, such as a drug or a biological material, polymerizing a solution containing monomers and the agent to form a coating, using multiple cycles of swelling a polymer with a solvent-agent solution to increase loading, microparticles carrying the agent, biodegradable surgical articles with amphiphilic copolymer coatings, and sutures or surgical staples the deliver a drug selected from the group consisting of triazolopyrimidine, paclitaxol, sirolimus, derivatives thereof, and analogs thereof to a wound site.