Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy bandage for applying negative pressure to a wound, the bandage comprising: a membrane configured for disposition over a wound so as to form a wound chamber between the membrane and the wound, the membrane comprising a wound-side surface, an atmosphere-side surface, and an opening extending through the membrane from the wound-side surface to the atmosphere-side surface; and a pump assembly carried by the membrane, the pump assembly comprising: a pump body comprising a wall structure disposed about a pump chamber, wherein at least a portion of the wall structure is resilient, and further wherein the pump chamber communicates with the wound chamber through the opening formed in the membrane; and an atmosphere-side passageway extending through the wall structure so as to fluidically connect the pump chamber to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy bandage for applying negative pressure to a wound, the bandage comprising: a membrane configured for disposition over a wound so as to form a wound chamber between the membrane and the wound, the membrane comprising a wound-side surface, an atmosphere-side surface, and an opening extending through the membrane from the wound-side surface to the atmosphere-side surface; and a pump assembly carried by the membrane, the pump assembly comprising: a pump body comprising a wall structure disposed about a pump chamber, wherein at least a portion of the wall structure is resilient, and further wherein the pump chamber communicates with the wound chamber through the opening formed in the membrane; and an atmosphere-side passageway extending through the wall structure so as to fluidically connect the pump chamber to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a method of applying a radiopaque marker to a tubular stent. A radiopaque marker for a tubular stent is constructed of a radiopaque material and configured with a roof portion and a pair of wall portions extending approximately perpendicular to the roof portion. The radiopaque marker is applied to a tubular stent by a method including the steps of forming the tubular stent with a pair of openings through a wall of the tubular stent; inserting the wall portions of the radiopaque marker into the openings in the wall of the tubular stent; and heat treating the tubular stent to retain the wall portions of the radiopaque marker within the openings in the wall of the tubular stent. The heat treating step also embeds the roof portion of the radiopaque marker onto the wall of the tubular stent. The method of the invention is particularly adapted for applying a radiopaque marker to a bioresorbable polymeric vascular stent.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a method of crimping a tubular stent having a stent lumen onto an inflatable balloon of a stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: A bioresorbable vascular implant for implantation in a bodily lumen has a tubular framework and includes one or more annular support members. Each of the one or more annular support members includes a plurality of struts interconnected by a hinge region. Each of the plurality of struts also includes a mid-section. The vascular implant also includes at least one viscoelastic material that enables transition of the vascular implant between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. Each of the plurality of struts and the hinge region defines a cross-section. The moment of inertia increases from the mid-section towards the hinge region to accommodate the transition and resist a radial load applied to the vascular implant in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis so that the catheter system can be advanced as a unit. The catheter system is combined with drug eluting technology to prevent restenosis, inflammation and/or thrombosis and/or to promote reendothelialization in the vessel bifurcation. The main vessel stent and/or the sidebranch stent may be coated or impregnated with one or more drugs or bioactive substances. Alternatively or in addition, the first balloon and/or the second balloon may be coated with or include a mechanism for delivering one or more drugs or bioactive substances to the vessel wall.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a method of applying a radiopaque marker to a tubular stent. A radiopaque marker for a tubular stent is constructed of a radiopaque material and configured with a roof portion and a pair of wall portions extending approximately perpendicular to the roof portion. The radiopaque marker is applied to a tubular stent by a method including the steps of forming the tubular stent with a pair of openings through a wall of the tubular stent; inserting the wall portions of the radiopaque marker into the openings in the wall of the tubular stent; and heat treating the tubular stent to retain the wall portions of the radiopaque marker within the openings in the wall of the tubular stent. The heat treating step also embeds the roof portion of the radiopaque marker onto the wall of the tubular stent. The method of the invention is particularly adapted for applying a radiopaque marker to a bioresorbable polymeric vascular stent.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a method of crimping a tubular stent having a stent lumen onto an inflatable balloon of a stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis. The linking device allows the catheter system to be advanced as a unit and helps prevent premature or inadvertent dislodgement of the stent from the catheters, yet is releasable so that one or both of the balloon catheters can be released from the linking device and maneuvered separately from the rest of the catheter system when desired. The method utilizes the described catheter system for stenting bifurcated vessels using a modified “kissing balloons” technique.

Abstract: A bioresorbable vascular implant for implantation in a bodily lumen has a tubular framework and includes one or more annular support members. Each of the one or more annular support members includes a plurality of struts interconnected by a hinge region. Each of the plurality of struts also includes a mid-section. The vascular implant also includes at least one viscoelastic material that enables transition of the vascular implant between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. Each of the plurality of struts and the hinge region defines a cross-section. The moment of inertia increases from the mid-section towards the hinge region to accommodate the transition and resist a radial load applied to the vascular implant in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for performing angioplasty and stenting with embolic protection. A catheter system includes an angioplasty balloon catheter, a balloon-expandable stent, an embolic protection device and a linking device. The catheter system has an undeployed configuration in which the balloon-expandable stent is mounted on the inflatable angioplasty balloon in an uninflated condition, the embolic protection member is positioned distally to the balloon-expandable stent and the angioplasty balloon, and the linking device is mounted on the catheter shaft of the angioplasty balloon catheter and the device shaft of the embolic protection device. The linking device prevents any relative longitudinal motion of the angioplasty balloon catheter and the embolic protection device, which might lead to accidental dislodgement of the balloon-expandable stent.

Abstract: A stenting system includes a stent delivery catheter having a catheter shaft with a step balloon mounted thereon. The step balloon has a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is inflatable to a larger expanded diameter than the distal portion. A two-part stent has a proximal part that is mounted on the proximal portion of the step balloon and a distal part that is mounted on the distal portion of the step balloon and a non-link zone between the proximal part and the distal part of the two-part stent. The proximal part and the distal part of the two-part stent are each configured with stent struts that extend like interdigitating fingers into the non-link zone to provide improved strut coverage in the carina region of the bifurcated vessel. The non-link zone effectively eliminates any difficulties in alignment of the two parts relative to one another during placement of the two-part stent in a bifurcated vessel.

Abstract: A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis. The linking device allows the catheter system to be advanced as a unit and helps prevent premature or inadvertent dislodgement of the stent from the catheters, yet is releasable so that one or both of the balloon catheters can be released from the linking device and maneuvered separately from the rest of the catheter system when desired. The method utilizes the described catheter system for stenting bifurcated vessels using a modified “kissing balloons” technique.

Abstract: A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis. The linking device allows the catheter system to be advanced as a unit and helps prevent premature or inadvertent dislodgement of the stent from the catheters, yet is releasable so that one or both of the balloon catheters can be released from the linking device and maneuvered separately from the rest of the catheter system when desired. The method utilizes the described catheter system for stenting bifurcated vessels using a modified “kissing balloons” technique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter system of the type comprising: a stent delivery catheter (2) having a proximal end and a distal end and an interior lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end; a stent (1) having a proximal end and a distal end and a stent lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the stent having an expanded state and an unexpanded state; and an embolic protection filter (3) having an expanded state and an unexpanded state; the catheter system having a deployed position and an undeployed position. According to the invention the catheter system is characterised in that when the catheter system is in the undeployed position, the stent (1) is in its unexpanded state and positioned within the interior lumen of the stent delivery catheter (2) and the embolic protection filter (3) is in its unexpanded state and positioned within the stent lumen of the stent.

Abstract: A catheter system is described for performing protected angioplasty and stenting of a patient's carotid bifurcation. A self-expanding stent is deployed across a stenosis in the patient's carotid artery. A catheter system that includes a rapid exchange angioplasty catheter with an occlusion balloon catheter positioned through the guidewire lumen is advanced through the guiding catheter to the distal end of the stent. A releasable linking device holds the catheter system together as a unit. The occlusion balloon is inflated within the stent to occlude the carotid artery and to prevent any embolic debris from traveling downstream from the treatment site. The angioplasty balloon is inflated to dilate the stenosis and to complete the expansion of the stent. The angioplasty catheter is withdrawn and any potential embolic debris is aspirated out through the lumen of the guiding catheter. The occlusion balloon is deflated and the catheter system is withdrawn.

Abstract: A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis. The linking device allows the catheter system to be advanced as a unit and helps prevent premature or inadvertent dislodgement of the stent from the catheters, yet is releasable so that one or both of the balloon catheters can be released from the linking device and maneuvered separately from the rest of the catheter system when desired. The method utilizes the described catheter system for stenting bifurcated vessels using a modified “kissing balloons” technique.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for performing protected angioplasty and stenting of a patient's carotid bifurcation. An integrated catheter system can be configured in a rapid-exchange version or in an over-the-wire version. The catheter system includes a self-expanding stent, a stent delivery sheath, a combination angioplasty balloon catheter and stent pusher catheter, an embolic protection device and, in the rapid-exchange version, an auto-releasing sheath.

Abstract: A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis so that the catheter system can be advanced as a unit. The catheter system is combined with drug eluting technology to prevent restenosis, inflammation and/or thrombosis and/or to promote reendothelialization in the vessel bifurcation. The main vessel stent and/or the sidebranch stent may be coated or impregnated with one or more drugs or bioactive substances. Alternatively or in addition, the first balloon and/or the second balloon may be coated with or include a mechanism for delivering one or more drugs or bioactive substances to the vessel wall.

Abstract: A guidewire separator device and methods are described for resolving guidewire entanglement and for introducing guidewires into branch vessels when performing angioplasty or stenting of a bifurcated artery. The device has an elongate tubular distal portion joined to an elongate proximal portion. A first lumen extends through the tubular distal portion of the device, with a first distal guidewire port located near a distal end of the distal portion and a first proximal guidewire port located near a proximal end of the distal portion. A second lumen extends through the tubular distal portion of the device, with a second distal guidewire port located near a distal end of the distal portion and a second proximal guidewire port located near a proximal end of the second lumen. One or both of the lumens may continue through the proximal portion of the device. Optionally, the device includes one or more longitudinal slits to externalize the guidewires from the lumens during withdrawal of device.