Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath pair is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath pair is removed by a health professional before placing the scaffold within the body.

Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath pair is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath pair is removed by a health professional before placing the scaffold within the body.

Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath pair is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath pair is removed by a health professional before placing the scaffold within the body.

Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath pair is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath pair is removed by a health professional before placing the scaffold within the body.

Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath pair is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath pair is removed by a health professional before placing the scaffold within the body.

Abstract: A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. A sheath pair is placed over the crimped scaffold after crimping to reduce recoil of the crimped polymer scaffold and maintain scaffold-balloon engagement relied on to hold the scaffold to the balloon when the scaffold is being delivered to a target in a body. The sheath pair is removed by a health professional before placing the scaffold within the body.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft formed of a polymeric tube with at least a section having an outer coiled support member wound in a first direction and embedded in the polymeric tube, and an inner coiled support member wound in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In a presently preferred embodiment, the inner coiled support member has coils spaced closer together than coils of the outer coiled support member. In one embodiment, the inner coiled support member is partially embedded in the polymeric tube.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft formed of a polymeric tubular member with at least a section having a lubricious inner layer defining the guidewire lumen, a coiled support member at least partially embedded in the lubricious inner layer, and an outer layer on an outer surface of at least a distal portion of the lubricious inner layer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the coil supported polymeric tubular member forms an inner tubular member of a balloon catheter.

Abstract: Optical windows for intracorporeal devices, intracorporeal devices comprising a window and a method for forming a window for an intracorporeal device are provided. The method comprises placing within a mold an assembly comprising a mandrel located within a pair of parts separated by a collar of window material, heating the window preform effective to cause the window material to soften, and applying force to urge together the pair of parts to deform the window material so as to form a window. The intracorporeal devices, such as imaging devices, include guidewires, catheters, endoscopes. In addition, the method is suitable for joining plastic parts to other parts, such as metal and ceramic parts.

Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having at least two core materials joined together. There is a wire core having a proximal core section with a proximal end and a distal end and a distal core section with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section are formed into complementary shapes, and then placed into a flexible sleeve in opposing directions. Inside the flexible sleeve, the complementary shaped ends are joined together through bonding, welding, brazing, cementing, or soldering. The flexible sleeve can be either a stretched coil or a polyimide sleeve, each with an outer diameter similar to the outer diameter of the core wire, therefore the guide wire does not require additional grinding to reduce the outer diameter of the joined section.

Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having at least two core materials joined together. There is a wire core having a proximal core section with a proximal end and a distal end and a distal core section with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section are formed into complementary shapes, and then placed into a flexible sleeve in opposing directions. Inside the flexible sleeve, the complementary shaped ends are joined together through bonding, welding, brazing, cementing, or soldering. The flexible sleeve can be either a stretched coil or a polyimide sleeve, each with an outer diameter similar to the outer diameter of the core wire, therefore the guide wire does not require additional grinding to reduce the outer diameter of the joined section.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft formed of a polymeric tube with at least a section having an outer coiled support member wound in a first direction and embedded in the polymeric tube, and an inner coiled support member wound in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In a presently preferred embodiment, the inner coiled support member has coils spaced closer together than coils of the outer coiled support member. In one embodiment, the inner coiled support member is partially embedded in the polymeric tube.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated shaft formed of a polymeric tubular member with at least a section having a lubricious inner layer defining the guidewire lumen, a coiled support member at least partially embedded in the lubricious inner layer, and an outer layer on an outer surface of at least a distal portion of the lubricious inner layer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the coil supported polymeric tubular member forms an inner tubular member of a balloon catheter.