Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stabilizing vascular tissue adjacent the site of the placement of an intravascular repair vehicle such as a stent graft are provided. Thus, there is provided a method for stabilizing a segment of a blood vessel for placement of an intravascular repair vehicle comprising: isolating the segment of the blood vessel; infusing the isolated segment with a sclerosing agent creating a sclerosed segment; removing the sclerosing agent; and deploying the intravascular repair vehicle at the sclerosed segment.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and apparatus for minimizing the risks inherent in endovascular grafting for blood vessel therapy and repair. The invention involves delivering adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, progenitor cells, fibroblasts, or smooth muscle cells to the diseased blood vessel, in some embodiments in conjunction with a stent graft.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a stent graft material of cylindrical shape and tapered stent springs coupled to the stent graft material. Each stent spring includes a first stent cell and a second stent cell contiguous with the first stent cell. The first stent cell and the second stent cell are coupled. The second stent cell of each tapered stent spring is smaller than the first stent cell thereby defining a tapered shape to the tapered stent springs. The stent graft is placed in a curved segment of a tortuous body lumen and rotationally positioned such that the smallest stent cell of each tapered stent spring is placed at an inside radius of the curved segment.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a stent graft material of cylindrical shape and tapered stent springs coupled to the stent graft material. Each stent spring includes a first stent cell and a second stent cell contiguous with the first stent cell. The first stent cell and the second stent cell are coupled. The second stent cell of each tapered stent spring is smaller than the first stent cell thereby defining a tapered shape to the tapered stent springs. The stent graft is placed in a curved segment of a tortuous body lumen and rotationally positioned such that the smallest stent cell of each tapered stent spring is placed at an inside radius of the curved segment.

Abstract: A stent graft includes a stent graft material of cylindrical shape and tapered stent springs coupled to the stent graft material. Each stent spring includes a first stent cell and a second stent cell contiguous with the first stent cell. The first stent cell and the second stent cell are coupled. The second stent cell of each tapered stent spring is smaller than the first stent cell thereby defining a tapered shape to the tapered stent springs. The stent graft is placed in a curved segment of a tortuous body lumen and rotationally positioned such that the smallest stent cell of each tapered stent spring is placed at an inside radius of the curved segment.

Abstract: Methods of treating an aneurysm in a patient in need thereof are provided. The methods comprise delivering to a treatment site an effective amount of a fatty acid inhibitor of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) such that the fatty acid inhibitor of the MMP causes the regression of a pre-existing aneurysm. Additionally, an implantable medical device is provided for implanting in a vessel wall of a patient comprising a structural support and a fatty acid inhibitor of an MMP.

Abstract: An aneurysmal sac arterial wall electrostimulation system (11) comprises an array of electrical leads (4 and 5) placeable in contact with a portion of the arterial wall (12) to be electrostimulated and a source (3) of electrostimulation attached to the array of electrical leads. The source provides periodic electrostimulus to at least one of the array of leads in accordance with a treatment program and at least one of the array of leads senses the contraction condition of the aneurysmal sac arterial wall (10) which is provided as a feedback loop input signal to the treatment program. Repeated electrostimulation of a vascular passage using the system (11) provides increased muscle tone or pseudo permanent contraction of such vascular passage.

Abstract: An endoluminal graft repair device includes a multi-lumen catheter with a balloon coupled to a distal end portion of the catheter. A portion of the outer surface of the balloon is designed and configured to define a repair cavity. A repair cavity lumen of the catheter is coupled to and in fluid communication with the repair cavity. The catheter and balloon are inserted into an artery system, advanced and positioned interluminally through percutaneous procedures so that the repair cavity is positioned to substantially align with the location of an endoluminal leak in an endoluminal graft used to treat aortic aneurysmal disease. The balloon is inflated by injecting an inflation fluid through an inflation lumen of the catheter into the balloon to fix the position of the repair cavity substantially adjacent the location of the endoluminal leak. A repair agent is conveyed to the repair cavity through the repair cavity lumen.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a sensor to a body cavity includes a catheter and sheath slidably or rotatably coupled to the catheter. The sheath may be retractable and peelable. The delivery device may include an expandable balloon or a crushable material capable of moving the sensor laterally away from the catheter, to the target site. One embodiment of the delivery system includes a deployment device comprising a cord operably engaged with a pulley, and attached at the distal end to a cap engaged with the sensor. Another embodiment of the delivery system comprises a catheter having a chamber that can accommodate the sensor, and a sheath slidably coupled to the exterior of the catheter, and covering the chamber when the sheath is in the closed position. Further included is a method of delivering a sensor to a body cavity using any of the embodiments of the delivery system.

Abstract: An abdominal aortic aneurysm pressure monitoring system comprising at least one pressure sensor positioned in an aneurismal sac which optionally may be excluded from direct arterial pressure by an already implanted stent graft, at least one pressure sensor positioned in an abdominal region of the body at a location outside of the aneurismal sac, a controller in communication with the pressure sensors, where a pressure gradient between the abdominal region and the aneurismal sac is determined based on the pressures communicated to the controller from the aneurismal sac and abdominal region pressure sensors.

Abstract: An aneurysmal sac arterial wall electrostimulation system (11) comprises an array of electrical leads (4 and 5) placeable in contact with a portion of the arterial wall (12) to be electrostimulated and a source (3) of electrostimulation attached to the array of electrical leads. The source provides periodic electrostimulus to at least one of the array of leads in accordance with a treatment program and at least one of the array of leads senses the contraction condition of the aneurysmal sac arterial wall (10) which is provided as a feedback loop input signal to the treatment program. Repeated electrostimulation of a vascular passage using the system (11) provides increased muscle tone or pseudo permanent contraction of such vascular passage.

Abstract: A radio frequency probe is positioned in a body lumen, and the body lumen is heated, using the radio frequency probe, to stabilize the body lumen for insertion of a stent graft or stent. Specifically, the heating shrinks a diameter the body lumen. In one example, blood is allowed to flow through the body lumen during the heating, and in another example, blood flow is blocked through the body lumen during the heating. Another method inserts a metallic mesh in an aneurysmal sac of an aortic aneurysm and expanding the metallic mesh to contact a wall of the aneurysmal sac. The metallic mesh is used to electro-coagulate blood from a Type II endoleak.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stabilizing vascular tissue adjacent the site of the placement of an intravascular repair vehicle such as a stent graft are provided. Thus, there is provided a method for stabilizing a segment of a blood vessel for placement of an intravascular repair vehicle comprising: isolating the segment of the blood vessel; infusing the isolated segment with a sclerosing agent creating a sclerosed segment; removing the sclerosing agent; and deploying the intravascular repair vehicle at the sclerosed segment.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and apparatus for aiding in aneurysm treatment and repair. Embodiments according to the present invention provide a method for supporting or bolstering the aneurismal site in an individual with cross-linked proteins from the individual's blood.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods and apparatus for minimizing the risks inherent in endovascular grafting for blood vessel therapy and repair. The invention involves delivering adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, progenitor cells, fibroblasts, or smooth muscle cells to the diseased blood vessel, in some embodiments in conjunction with a stent graft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for minimizing the risks inherent in endovascular grafting for aneurysm repair are provided, including the implantation and time-controlled release of at least one bioactive agent at the aneurysmal site.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis is provided with an improved fixation system for coupling the endoluminal prosthesis to an inner wall of a lumen and to reduce distal migration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a laterally protruding member atraumatically engages the ostium of a side or branch vessel. The protruding member may be fixed to a portion of a prosthesis. In one embodiment the protruding member is provided on a modular fixation device for initial fixation within the body lumen with the finger member within the side or branch vessel. A primary endoluminal prosthesis is then fixed to the modular fixation device to bypass a diseased portion of the anatomy.

Abstract: The methods and devices for delivering therapeutic agents to abdominal aortic or thoracic aortic aneurysms provide a coated stent graft and methods of using the same. The coated stent graft system 100 comprises a support 20 and graft material 40 attached to the support 20, with a coating 30, 35 including a therapeutic agent disposed on the support 20 and/or the graft material 40. The coated stent graft system 600 can also include a stent graft portion 605 with an agent delivery portion 655 disposed about the stent graft portion 605 and including a therapeutic agent. A stent graft drug delivery system can include an endovascular catheter 710 having a coated region 730 with a therapeutic agent, and a stent graft 705 disposed on the endovascular catheter 710. The endovascular catheter 710 can have a balloon for releasing the therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent can be injected by endovascular catheter on carrier particles.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering a sensor to a body cavity includes a catheter and sheath slidably or rotatably coupled to the catheter. The sheath may be retractable and peelable. The delivery device may further include an expandable balloon or a crushable material capable of moving the sensor laterally away from the catheter, to the target site. One embodiment of the delivery system includes a deployment device comprising a cord operably engaged with a pulley, and attached at the distal end to a cap, the cap being engaged with the sensor to be delivered. Another embodiment of the delivery system comprises a catheter having a chamber that can accommodate the sensor, and a sheath slidably coupled to the exterior of the catheter, and covering the chamber when the sheath is in the closed position. Further included in the present invention is a method of delivering a sensor to a body cavity using any of the embodiments of the delivery system.

Abstract: An abdominal aortic aneurysm pressure monitoring system comprising at least one pressure sensor positioned in an aneurismal sac which optionally may be excluded from direct arterial pressure by an already implanted stent graft, at least one pressure sensor positioned in an abdominal region of the body at a location outside of the aneurismal sac, a controller in communication with the pressure sensors, where a pressure gradient between the abdominal region and the aneurismal sac is determined based on the pressures communicated to the controller from the aneurismal sac and abdominal region pressure sensors.