Abstract: A catheter having a distal tip with an inner layer formed of a polymeric material having a coefficient of friction and surface energy which are relatively low, such that the inner layer has a lubricious, non-polar inner surface repulsive to polar liquids. As a result, blood coagulation in the distal tip, and adherence of the distal tip on the guidewire are prevented or minimized.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft with an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, a balloon on a distal shaft section, and a proximal intermediate port proximal to the balloon and a distal intermediate port distal to the balloon, the intermediate ports being in communication with the guidewire lumen and being configured to slidably receive a guidewire therethrough so that the guidewire extends into or out of a proximal section of the guidewire lumen through the proximal intermediate port, extends along an outer surface of the balloon, and extends into or out of a distal section of the guidewire lumen through the distal intermediate port. The balloon is inflated in a patient's blood vessel to perform a medical procedure, with the section of the guidewire extending along an outer surface of the balloon providing improved balloon retention at the desired location in the blood vessel during inflation of the balloon.

Abstract: A catheter which has an elongated shaft having a layer of an ultra high molecular weight polyolefin, such as a melt-extruded ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The UHMWPE, forming at least in part a surface of the shaft, facilitates sliding a blood/contrast coated device along the shaft surface, and preferably substantially prevents or inhibits agglomerations of blood and contrast from adhering to the surface of the shaft in a patient's body lumen. In a presently preferred embodiment, the layer has a lubricious coating, such that the coated surface of the UHMWPE layer significantly decreases the force produced by the blood/contrast coated device sliding along the coated surface.

Abstract: A method of mounting a drug delivery stent on a balloon of a balloon catheter. The method securely mounts the drug delivery stent on the balloon without damaging the drug delivery layer of the stent. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises positioning a drug delivery stent on a balloon of a balloon catheter, and positioning the balloon with the drug delivery stent thereon within a polished bore of a mold formed at least in part of a metallic material. The balloon is pressurized and heated within the mold as the mold radially restrains the stent from expanding, to mount the stent on the balloon without damaging the drug delivery layer of the stent.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing a medical device component, such as a catheter balloon, in which an electron beam (i.e., e-beam) is applied to the component in an evacuated or inert gas-filled container. The method of the invention allows for electron beam sterilization without significant degradation of the component polymeric material. In one embodiment, the device component is configured to be pressurized or expanded during use. The method of the invention provides a component with a rupture pressure that is not significantly decreased due to electron beam sterilization. Another aspect of the invention is a medical device component, e-beam sterilized according to a method of the invention. A variety of medical device components can be sterilized by the method of the invention, and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, such as balloon catheters, catheter shafts and balloons, stent covers, and vascular grafts.