Abstract: A coiled shaft for tissue disruption is described herein where a flexible aspiration cannula has a first portion and a second portion formed of the coiled shaft. The cannula is configured in a particular embodiment to rotate over the length of the cannula to disrupt the matrix of bone marrow without the cannula buckling or collapsing. The cannula also includes a disruption tip coupled to the coiled shaft. The disruption tip has a radiused portion along a distal tip face of the disruption tip.

Abstract: A coiled shaft for tissue disruption is described herein where a flexible aspiration cannula has a first portion and a second portion formed of the coiled shaft. The cannula is configured in a particular embodiment to rotate over the length of the cannula to disrupt the matrix of bone marrow without the cannula buckling or collapsing. The cannula also includes a disruption tip coupled to the coiled shaft. The disruption tip has a radiused portion along a distal tip face of the disruption tip.

Abstract: A coiled shaft for tissue disruption is described herein where a flexible aspiration cannula has a first portion and a second portion formed of the coiled shaft. The cannula is configured in a particular embodiment to rotate over the length of the cannula to disrupt the matrix of bone marrow without the cannula buckling or collapsing. The cannula also includes a disruption tip coupled to the coiled shaft. The disruption tip has a radiused portion along a distal tip face of the disruption tip.

Abstract: A coiled shaft for tissue disruption is described herein where a flexible aspiration cannula has a first portion and a second portion formed of the coiled shaft. The cannula is configured in a particular embodiment to rotate over the length of the cannula to disrupt the matrix of bone marrow without the cannula buckling or collapsing. The cannula also includes a disruption tip coupled to the coiled shaft. The disruption tip has a radiused portion along a distal tip face of the disruption tip.

Abstract: A coiled shaft for tissue disruption is described herein where a flexible aspiration cannula has a first portion and a second portion formed of the coiled shaft. The cannula is configured in a particular embodiment to rotate over the length of the cannula to disrupt the matrix of bone marrow without the cannula buckling or collapsing. The cannula also includes a disruption tip coupled to the coiled shaft. The disruption tip has a radiused portion along a distal tip face of the disruption tip.

Abstract: Pancreatic delivery catheters which facilitate direct intravascular access to the pancreas are described herein. A catheter which is configured particularly for pancreatic access may generally comprise a distal section which defines three curves each extending in an alternating pattern and a proximal section with an additional curve in an opposing direction. A primary curve defined along the distal section may define an acute angle with respect to a secondary curve and which also curves in an opposite direction. The secondary curve may define an acute angle with respect to both the primary curve and a tertiary curve which is proximal of the secondary curve. Similarly, a tertiary curve may extend in an opposite direction from the secondary curve. A quaternary curve along the proximal section may extend in an opposite direction from the tertiary curve.

Abstract: Systems for controlled closure of body lumens may utilize a single access port which is attached to a vessel wall and allows for controlled closure and/or insertion of small to large sized instruments and catheters. The vascular access device generally includes a first frame and a second frame having an access port secured between the respective frames, e.g. via adhesive, welding, etc. Each respective frame may be configured to include a support member which may be shaped in a variety of configurations so long as an access opening is defined by the support member. A number of retaining members may extend radially from its respective support member and each retaining member may be configured so as to compress or “sandwich” the vessel tissue which surrounds the tissue opening between the retaining members on the inner and outer surfaces of tissue to securely position the device along the vessel wall.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tissue disruption are disclosed where a tissue disruptor may have various configurations extending from the distal end of a flexible aspiration cannula. The devices can have aspiration and/or irrigation systems configured to provide aspiration pressure and/or irrigate with fluid at the distal end of the cannula. The cannula can be configured to rotate or disrupt the matrix of bone marrow and extract the marrow in vivo through a single opening. The cannula shaft itself may be fabricated utilizing multiple layers of material such that the cannula is flexible yet sufficiently stiff to transmit a torque therealong.

Abstract: Devices and methods for guiding surgical tools are disclosed. The guided surgical tools can be used to extract body tissue from an enclosed body cavity. The guide can have multiple channels for the surgical tools to pass through the guide. The channels can converge and exit at a single exit port. The channels can have distinct entry ports. The guide can have a configuration to provide stable seating at or adjacent to the target site.

Abstract: System and method for managing resource locators. A database of resource locators is established for selected resource locators. For example, the resource locators are those used to reference resources maintained at multiple web sites. An automated process reads the resource locators from the database and initiates access requests for the referenced resources. For each failed access request, the failed resource locator is reported. In various embodiments, the database is configured for storage of owner identifiers and failure codes in association with the resource locators, and the resource locators are indexed in a variety of categories.

Abstract: An expandable intraluminal stent having a tubular shaped member having first and second ends defining an axial passageway therethrough. The tubular shaped member has a multiplicity of slots helically formed thereabout that are preferably provided in rows wherein the slots of each row are arranged in an end to end fashion. The tubular shaped member is initially disposable in a radially collapsed configuration such that the device may be passed into the lumen of a blood vessel, and subsequently expand to an operative configuration wherein it will frictionally engage the surrounding blood vessel wall to hold the device in fixed position within the blood vessel lumen. In an alternative embodiment, the stent is designed to accommodate a bifurcated vessel having a collateral vessel extending therefrom.

Abstract: An improved drug delivery catheter, for use in the prevention of restenosis of a dilated vascular region, and/or for use in the delivery of a medication to a preselected vascular site. The catheter comprises an elongate body, an inflation balloon disposed about a catheter body. In a drug delivery embodiment, a perforated drug delivery balloon is disposed concentrically about the inflation balloon. In another embodiment, the two balloons are heat sealed together at the distal and proximal ends of the catheter body. A first lumen extends through the catheter body for communicating with the inflation balloon, and a second lumen extends through the body for communicating with the drug delivery balloon. Methods describing the intraluminal delivery of drugs to a site specific location are also disclosed, including the delivery of a drug to a vascular area before, during or after a conventional PTCA procedure.

Abstract: An improved drug delivery catheter, for use in the prevention of restenosis of a dilated vascular region, and/or for use in the delivery of a medication to a preselected vascular site. The catheter comprises an elongate body, an inflation balloon disposed about a catheter body. In a drug delivery embodiment, a perforated drug delivery balloon is disposed concentrically about the inflation balloon. In another embodiment, the two balloons are heat sealed together at the distal and proximal ends of the catheter body. A first lumen extends through the catheter body for communicating with the inflation balloon, and a second lumen extends through the body for communicating with the drug delivery balloon. Methods describing the intraluminal delivery of drugs to a site specific location are also disclosed, including the delivery of a drug to a vascular area before, during or after a conventional PTCA procedure.