Abstract: A delivery system that includes a catheter, a balloon, a self-expanding prosthesis, and a sheath. The sheath including an opening in a wall of the sheath that initiates rupturing of the sheath so that the self-expanding prosthesis may move from its compressed state to its expanded state. Additionally, a distal end portion of the balloon that is distal to a distal end of the sheath includes an enlarged diameter portion, the enlarged diameter portion having approximately the same outer diameter as an outer diameter of the sheath when the self-expanding prosthesis is in its compressed state, and the enlarged diameter portion being the maximum outer diameter of the balloon when the self-expanding prosthesis is in its compressed state.

Abstract: An implantable tissue filler including a particulate material suspended in a carrier, the particulate material having more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, wherein the particulate material is substantially free of rare earth metals.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element having more than 50% by weight a metal and being substantially free of rare earth elements, the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant and including a wire formed into a discrete bioabsorbable expandable metal ring; at least two biostable ring elements, each biostable ring element having a biostable and radio-opaque metallic alloy, the bioabsorbable expandable metal ring being disposed adjacent to at least one of the biostable ring elements; at least one flexible longitudinal connector including a bioabsorbable polymer, the connector being disposed between at least two adjacent rings; and a coating having at least one pharmaceutically active agent disposed over at least a portion of one ring.

Abstract: A delivery system that includes a catheter, a balloon, a self-expanding prosthesis, and a sheath. The sheath including an opening in a wall of the sheath that initiates rupturing of the sheath so that the self-expanding prosthesis may move from its compressed state to its expanded state. Additionally, a distal end portion of the balloon that is distal to a distal end of the sheath includes an enlarged diameter portion, the enlarged diameter portion having approximately the same outer diameter as an outer diameter of the sheath when the self-expanding prosthesis is in its compressed state, and the enlarged diameter portion being the maximum outer diameter of the balloon when the self-expanding prosthesis is in its compressed state.

Abstract: A fully absorbable intraluminal device, comprising a magnesium alloy structure having a polymer surface coating, the magnesium alloy structure being substantially free of rare earth metals; and an expandable polymeric mesh sleeve at least partially bondable to the polymer surface coating to form a mechanical coupling with the magnesium alloy structure.

Abstract: A delivery system for a self-expandable prosthesis includes a catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, a balloon portion positioned on the distal portion, and a self expanding medical device positioned about the balloon portion. The medical device has a compressed state and an expanded state. A sheath couples the medical device in its compressed state about the balloon portion and has only a single opening in a wall of the sheath. When the balloon is expanded, the sheath is configured to (i) first rupture at the single opening, thereby allowing the medical device to self-expand and engage an inner wall of a vessel, and (ii) controllably continue the rupturing from the single opening to the proximal end of sheath, thereby allowing the medical device to expand to its expanded state and a portion of the medical device to engage an inner wall of the vessel.

Abstract: An implantable tissue filler including a particulate material suspended in a carrier, the particulate material having more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, wherein the particulate material is substantially free of rare earth metals.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element having an alloy including more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, and being substantially free of rare earth metals, the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant, wherein the alloy defines a columnar microstructure including grains having an average grain length of at least about 1 mm, and an average grain diameter of less than about 3 mm.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element having more than 50% by weight a metal and being substantially free of rare earth elements, the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant and including a wire formed into a discrete bioabsorbable expandable metal ring; at least two biostable ring elements, each biostable ring element having a biostable and radio-opaque metallic alloy, the bioabsorbable expandable metal ring being disposed adjacent to at least one of the biostable ring elements; at least one flexible longitudinal connecter including a bioabsorbable polymer, the connector being disposed between at least two adjacent rings; and a coating having at least one pharmaceutically active agent disposed over at least a portion of one ring.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which contain the following: (a) an interior region that contains at least one degradation promoting agent and (b) an exterior region disposed over the interior region that contains at least one biodegradable polymer and at least one therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element including more than 50% a metal substantially free of rare earth metals, with the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a self-expanding medical device such as a stent. The delivery system includes a sheath profiled or shaped to reduce instances of interference between a distal edge of the sheath and a vessel or with any lesion or lesions that might be present in the vessel. The sheath is formed by modifying a cylinder of sheath material to include three portions and an initiation slit that controls the rupturing of the sheath to facilitate delivery of the medical device. The initiation slit is positioned on the delivery system with respect to a configuration of a balloon portion of the system.

Abstract: An implant having a coating or a cavity filling comprising a PLGA polymer and taxane embedded therein, the release rate of the taxane after day two after implantation being ?400 ng/day for a period of more than 10 consecutive days, characterized in that the PLGA polymer has a ratio of monomer units to each other of 60-99% lactic acid units to 40-1% glycolic acid units.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element comprising an alloy of more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, substantially free of rare earth metals. An implantable tissue filler includes a particulate material suspended in a carrier, comprising more than about 70% by weight magnesium and about 2-20% by weight lithium, substantially free of rare earth metals. A bioabsorbable implant includes an elongated metallic element having a core and at least two layers of alternating compositions of magnesium, iron, and alloys thereof. A bioabsorbable implant includes at least three wires including magnesium and defining a cylindrical sheath surrounding at least one core wire including iron. A bioabsorbable implant includes a plurality of intertwined magnesium alloy wires defining a strand, with an Fe-rich layer formed by vapor, chemical and/or electro-deposition defined on a surface of at least one of the wires.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element including more than 50% a metal substantially free of rare earth metals, with the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant.

Abstract: A medical device delivery system includes a self-expanding medical device mounted on a balloon portion of a catheter. A sheath is provided around the medical device to hold the device in place with the device staying in a compressed state. The balloon portion is inflated to cause the sheath to rupture and release the self-expanding medical device. A number of radio-opaque markers in a pattern that will aid in determining whether or not the sheath has properly ruptured upon inflation of the balloon portion are provided on the sheath. The radio-opaque markers are positioned with respect to an expected sheath rupture propagation path along which the sheath is expected to rupture. The pattern of the markers changes as the sheath ruptures and this change is detected by an operator of the system.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a self-expanding medical device such as a stent. The delivery system includes a sheath profiled or shaped to reduce instances of interference between a distal edge of the sheath and a vessel or with any lesion or lesions that might be present in the vessel. The sheath is formed by modifying a cylinder of sheath material to include three portions and an initiation slit that controls the rupturing of the sheath to facilitate delivery of the medical device. The initiation slit is positioned on the delivery system with respect to a configuration of a balloon portion of the system.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided which comprise: (a) a substrate, (b) an inner bioerodable polymeric layer over the substrate that comprises (i) 80 wt % or more of an amorphous biodegradable polymeric component and (ii) 20 wt % or less of a therapeutic agent component, and (c) an outer bioerodable polymeric layer over the inner bioerodable polymeric layer that comprises (i) 80 wt % or more of an amorphous biodegradable polymeric component and (ii) 20 wt % or less of a therapeutic agent component. The compositions of the inner and outer layers differ such that the outer layer has a bioerosion rate that is faster than that of the inner layer.

Abstract: A medical device delivery system includes a self-expanding medical device mounted on a balloon portion of a catheter. A sheath is provided around the medical device to hold the device in place with the device staying in a compressed state. A series of perforations or an initial cut is provided in the sheath at a predetermined location, or within a predetermined range of locations, on the circumference of the sheath. The predetermined location or range of locations are determined with respect to the folds of the balloon portion.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which contain the following: (a) an interior region that contains at least one degradation promoting agent and (b) an exterior region disposed over the interior region that contains at least one biodegradable polymer and at least one therapeutic agent.