Abstract: A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

Abstract: A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for annulus disc repair with and without the use of a patch or stent. The methods and devices are particularly suited to the repair and/or reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, with reduced failure rate as compared to conventional surgical procedures.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for annulus disc repair with and without the use of a patch or stent. The methods and devices are particularly suited to the repair and/or reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, with reduced failure rate as compared to conventional surgical procedures.

Abstract: A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods by which the blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity may be selectively and controllably reduced by activating baroreceptors. By selectively and controllably activating baroreceptors, the present invention reduces excessive blood pressure, sympathetic nervous system activity and neurohormonal activity, thereby minimizing their deleterious effects on the heart, vasculature and other organs and tissues. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a baroreceptor, preferably in the carotid sinus and/or the aortic arch. The baroreceptor activation device may comprise a wide variety of devices which utilize mechanical, electrical, thermal, chemical or biological means to activate the baroreceptor. A control system may be used to generate a control signal to modulate the baroreceptor activation device.

Abstract: A spinal disc annulus repair stent for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, which may incorporate suture closure or other means of stent insertion and fixation, designed to reduce the failure rate of conventional surgical procedures on the spinal discs. In an illustrative embodiment, the design of the spinal disc annulus stent advantageously allows ingrowth of normal cells of healing in an enhanced fashion strengthening the normal reparative process.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes a proximal single lumen shaft and a multilumen distal portion on which an inflatable balloon is mounted. The lumen of the shaft acts as a combined inflation lumen and guide wire lumen. In the multilumen distal portion, a distal inflation lumen connects the combined lumen with the interior of the balloon, while the distal guide wire lumen extends through the balloon to provide a passage for a guide wire.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a long shaft with an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end with a pressure source connected to the shaft at an invivo point which operates to inflate and deflate the balloon. The balloon catheter may be a fixed-wire type, an over-the-wire type, or an single-operator-exchange type catheter. The pressure source may include a piston and a chamber with an actuation member attached to the piston. The actuation member may be a solid rod or a hollow robe. In the case where the actuation member is a hollow tube, the tube may be used to introduce inflation fluid into the pressure source and the inflation lumen. A receptacle such as a reel or tubular hoop may be used to contain the actuation member when pulled proximally. A pressure sensor/gauge and a balloon sizing scale may be incorporated into the catheter assembly to assist the treating physician in monitoring the procedure.

Abstract: A blood perfusion balloon catheter is provided. The perfusion catheter includes an elongate tubular shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a plurality of toroidal-shaped inflatable balloons laced through the distal portion of the tubular shaft, the balloons creating a blood flow lumen when they are inflated. The perfusion catheter may also include a cylindrical sheath attached to the balloons.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is disclosed which includes a fluid displacement rod at least partially and slidably disposed in an elongate tubular member with a balloon connected to the distal end of the tubular member. A seal connected to the proximal end of the tubular member creates a liquid tight seal between the inside of the tubular member and the displacement rod. Accordingly, longitudinal actuation of the displacement rod causes the balloon to expand and/or contract. The balloon catheter may be a fixed wire, an over-the-wire or a single-operator exchange type balloon catheter. In addition, a pressure gauge may be connected to the proximal end of the tubular member. A one-way valve is also disclosed which allows the balloon catheter to be prepped via the guide wire lumen. Accordingly, the present invention negates the need for both an inflation device and an inflation lumen which results in a significant improvement in catheter performance and cost savings.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes a proximal single lumen shaft and a multilumen distal portion on which an inflatable balloon is mounted. The lumen of the shaft acts as a combined inflation lumen and guide wire lumen. In the multilumen distal portion, a distal inflation lumen connects the combined lumen with the interior of the balloon, while the distal guide wire lumen extends through the balloon to provide a passage for a guide wire.

Abstract: A drug delivery catheter with an inflatable blood flow lumen is provided. The drug delivery catheter includes a flexible tubular shaft and an inflatable balloon assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The catheter is inserted into a vessel with the balloon assembly in an un-inflated form. The balloon member is positioned at the treatment site and inflated. The balloon member in an inflated form defines a region or pocket between the balloon assembly and the vessel wall which contains the drug separate from blood flow. Apertures are provided in the balloon assembly to provide the drug to the containment pocket. Blood is allowed to flow through the center of the inflated balloon assembly.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a long shaft with an inflatable balloon connected to its distal end with a pressure source connected to the shaft at an invivo point which operates to inflate and deflate the balloon. The balloon catheter may be a fixed-wire type, an over-the-wire type, or an single-operator-exchange type catheter. The pressure source may include a piston and a chamber with an actuation member attached to the piston. The actuation member may be a solid rod or a hollow tube. In the case where the actuation member is a hollow tube, the tube may be used to introduce inflation fluid into the pressure source and the inflation lumen. A receptacle such as a reel or tubular hoop may be used to contain the actuation member when pulled proximally. A pressure sensor/gauge and a balloon sizing scale may be incorporated into the catheter assembly to assist the treating physician in monitoring the procedure.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes a proximal single lumen shaft and a multilumen distal portion on which an inflatable balloon is mounted. The lumen of the shaft acts as a combined inflation lumen and guide wire lumen. In the multilumen distal portion, a distal inflation lumen connects the combined lumen with the interior of the balloon, while the distal guide wire lumen extends through the balloon to provide a passage for a guide wire.

Abstract: An over-the-wire balloon catheter for use in angioplasty includes a proximal single lumen shaft and a multilumen distal portion on which an inflatable balloon is mounted. The lumen of the shaft acts as a combined inflation lumen and guide wire lumen. In the multilumen distal portion, a distal inflation lumen connects the combined lumen with the interior of the balloon, while the distal guide wire lumen extends through the balloon to provide a passage for a guide wire.

Abstract: An "innerless" balloon catheter controls fluid flow past the guide wire at the distal end of the catheter by a combination of flow resistance and a pressure responsive valve. The catheter includes a shaft which carries an inflatable balloon at its distal end. The shaft has a lumen therethrough with the lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon interior for inflating and deflating the balloon via the shaft lumen. The catheter further includes a lumen extension through the balloon, with the lumen extension being in fluid communication with the shaft lumen. A guide wire extends through the shaft lumen and the lumen extension and out the distal end of the balloon. The resistance to fluid flow past the guide wire in the lumen extension is substantially greater than the resistance to fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the balloon interior.

Abstract: An over-the-wire angioplasty balloon catheter having a balloon bonded at its proximal and distal ends to an outer tubular member where the outer tubular member continues a guide wire lumen in the distal portion of the catheter. Alternatively, the balloon may have its proximal end bonded to an outer tubular member and its distal end bonded to an extension tubular member where the extension tubular member continues the guide wire lumen in the distal portion of the catheter or the balloon may be bonded at both its proximal and distal ends to the extension tubular member. Alternatively the inner tubular member may extend to the distal end of the catheter and both the proximal and distal ends of the balloon may be bonded to the inner tubular member.

Abstract: An angioplasty balloon catheter having a balloon carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft. The catheter shaft includes an inflation lumen by which the balloon is inflated and deflated. A guide wire passage extends through the balloon. A guide wire assembly extends through the catheter shaft, through guide wire passage, and out the distal end of the balloon. The guide wire assembly carries, near its distal end, a selectively radially expandable valve which is used to limit or block fluid flow between the shaft lumen and the patient's body during inflation and deflation of the balloon.