Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for operating and controlling an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. A handle member includes an elongated body and an actuator knob that rotates around the longitudinal axis of the body. Rotational movement of the actuator knob is translated to rotational movement of one or more lead screws by a system of gears, rollers, or combinations of gears and rollers. Each of one or more axially moveable members is positioned on a lead screw and attached to a portion of the catheter shaft in order to provide the ability to advance or retract the portion of the cathether shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering stents and other prostheses to body lumens include a prosthesis forming and deploying mechanism carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft. The mechanism is adapted to form and deploy prostheses of a variable length, and to form and deploy multiple prostheses during a single interventional procedure.

Abstract: A method of deferring compensation. One or more initial payment dates over a period of time are selected on which a portion of compensation is to be paid. At least twelve months prior to each initial payment date, the initial payment date is rescheduled to a subsequent payment date at least five years later. Method may be repeated over a plurality of years. Bucket accounting procedures may be used in determining valuation of the deferred compensation benefit associated with each payment date. By giving required notice, deferred compensation recipients may prevent automatic rescheduling of payment dates and thereby receive deferred compensation on such payment dates.