Abstract: This invention is a medical device and a method of using it. The device is a foldable stent or stent-graft which may be percutaneously delivered with (or on) an endovascular catheter or via surgical techniques or using other suitable techniques. The expandable stent structure utilizes at least one torsional member having an undulating shape which is helically deployed to form the generally cylindrical shape used as the stent. The helical winding desirably is aligned to allow those undulating shapes in adjacent turns of the helix to be in phase. The adjacent undulating shapes may be held in phased relationship using a flexible linkage, often made of a polymeric material. The stent may be flared on at least one of its ends to promote smooth blood flow at that flare and to assure that the stent will remain in the chosen position within the body. The stent's configuration allows it to be folded or collapsed to a very small diameter prior to deployment without changing the length of the stent.

Abstract: A device which includes at least a tubular stent member which if formed from a helically wrapped undulating member and a coupling member which extends through undulations of adjacent turns of the helically wrapped undulating member and is movable along the undulations, the device is foldable into a lumen deployable configuration and may also include a coaxially positioned graft member.

Abstract: Methods for completely or partially blocking, augmenting, sealing, or filling various biological lumens and voids within the body of a patient are disclosed. Lumens include arteries, veins, intestines, Fallopian tubes, and trachea. Voids include various lesions, fissures, diverticulae, cysts, fistulae, aneurysms, or other undesirable voids that may exist within a patient's body. In the most general method of the invention, an effective amount of a biomaterial is administered (e.g., via injection, catheter, or surgical implantation) into the lumen or void. Preferred biomaterial compositions for use in the present invention are disclosed.

Abstract: Medical articles in the form of strings are formed by covalently binding collagen to pharmaceutically pure, synthetic, hydrophilic polymers via specific types of chemical bonds to provide collagen/polymer conjugate formulations which are extruded to make the strings. The collagen may be recombinantly produced human collagen or collagen extracted from any source, such as a bovine source or human placenta, and purified and can be of various types and may be fibrillar or non-fibrillar. The synthetic hydrophilic polymer may be polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof having an average molecular weight over a range of from about 100 to about 20,000. The string can be designed to incorporate other components such as fluid, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers to form injectable formulations, and/or biologically active proteins such as growth factors or cytokines. The strings contain large amounts of water when extruded and may then be dehydrated to form relatively solid but flexible strings.

Abstract: Medical articles in the form of tubes are formed by covalently binding collagen to pharmaceutically pure, synthetic, hydrophilic polymers via specific types of chemical bonds to provide collagen/polymer conjugate formulations which are used to make the tubes. The collagen may be recombinantly produced human collagen or collagen extracted from any source, such as a bovine or human placental source, and purified and can be type I, type II or type III and may be fibrillar or non-fibrillar. The synthetic hydrophilic polymer may be polyethylene glycol and derivatives thereof having a weight average molecular weight over a range of from about 100 to about 20,000. The tube can be designed to incorporate other components such as liquid, pharmaceutically acceptable, carriers, and/or biologically active proteins such as growth factors or cytokines. The tubes contain large amounts of water when extruded and then may be dehydrated to form relatively solid but flexible tubes which can be easily stored.