Abstract: A device can be introduced into the right atrium of a subject's heart by introducing the distal end of a hollow, straight, and stiff shaft into the subject's right internal jugular vein, and advancing the distal end of the shaft into the right atrium via the superior vena cava. The position of the distal end of the shaft is adjusted by manipulating a handle affixed to a portion of the shaft that remains outside the subject's body. The handle can be used to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis, rotate the shaft about an anterior-posterior axis, rotate the shaft about a medial-lateral axis, and/or advance the shaft in the caudal direction. A device is advanced through the interior of the shaft until the device extends beyond the distal end of the shaft and into the right atrium.

Abstract: A device can be introduced into the right atrium of a subject's heart by introducing the distal end of a hollow, straight, and stiff shaft into the subject's right internal jugular vein, and advancing the distal end of the shaft into the right atrium via the superior vena cava. The position of the distal end of the shaft is adjusted by manipulating a handle affixed to a portion of the shaft that remains outside the subject's body. The handle can be used to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis, rotate the shaft about an anterior-posterior axis, rotate the shaft about a medial-lateral axis, and/or advance the shaft in the caudal direction. A device is advanced through the interior of the shaft until the device extends beyond the distal end of the shaft and into the right atrium.

Abstract: An enlarged cardiac valve annulus can be reduced in diameter using a cord that is affixed to the annulus by a set of anchors. A knot or fixed loop is disposed at a first end of the cord, and the body of the cord passes through the knot or fixed loop so as to form (a) a loop portion positioned distally beyond the knot or fixed loop and (b) a second portion that runs between the knot or fixed loop and the second end. The body of the cord can slide with respect to the knot or fixed loop. After the anchors are implanted and a bond between the anchors and the annulus is sufficiently strong, pulling the second portion in a proximal direction while holding the knot or fixed loop in place will reduce the circumference of the annulus.

Abstract: Tissue ingrowth on the distal loop portion of a constricting cord can dramatically improve the bond between the constricting cord and a cardiac valve annulus. But tissue ingrowth on the proximal portions of the constricting cord can interfere with the constricting action of the cord. This problem can be addressed by covering the proximal portions of the constricting cord with a material that resists tissue ingrowth, and waiting for tissue ingrowth to strengthen the bond between the distal loop portion of the constricting cord and the annulus. The reduced ingrowth on the proximal portions of the constricting cord make it easier to constrict the annulus when the constricting operation is eventually performed.

Abstract: The diameter of an annulus in a patient (e.g., the mitral valve annulus) can be reduced using a tissue engaging member that is installed on the annulus and an actuator that is implanted into the patient's body. The tissue engaging member has anchors used to implant the tissue engaging member into the annulus, and a cinching loop runs through the tissue engaging member. The cinching loop terminates onto cinching wires. Preferably, tissue healing is used to enhance the bond between the tissue engaging member and the annulus. The actuator, which can be actuated from outside the patient's body, pulls the cinching wires in a proximal direction while holding the distal end of the cinching wires in close proximity to each other, so as to cause a reduction in the diameter of the cinching loop. This will cause a corresponding reduction in the diameter of the annulus.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connecter section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a corewire, sensor core, and coupler is presented. A portion of the corewire is disposed within a first end of the coupler, and a portion of the sensor core is disposed within a second end. Alternatively, the device comprises a corewire and a sensor assembly comprising a sensor core having first and second ends and a bore in the first end. A portion of the corewire is disposed within the bore. A method of manufacture comprises providing a corewire, sensor core, and coupler. The method further comprises inserting a portion of the corewire into a first end of the coupler, and a portion of the sensor core into a second end. Alternatively, the method comprises providing a sensor core having first and second ends, and a corewire. The method further comprises forming a bore in the first end, and inserting the corewire into the bore.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a corewire, sensor core, and coupler is presented. A portion of the corewire is disposed within a first end of the coupler, and a portion of the sensor core is disposed within a second end. Alternatively, the device comprises a corewire and a sensor assembly comprising a sensor core having first and second ends and a bore in the first end. A portion of the corewire is disposed within the bore. A method of manufacture comprises providing a corewire, sensor core, and coupler. The method further comprises inserting a portion of the corewire into a first end of the coupler, and a portion of the sensor core into a second end. Alternatively, the method comprises providing a sensor core having first and second ends, and a corewire. The method further comprises forming a bore in the first end, and inserting the corewire into the bore.

Abstract: A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connector section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.

Abstract: A guidewire for a medical device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the guidewire includes a corewire having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, an elongate shroud disposed about the corewire, the shroud having a distal end, and a plug coupled with the distal end portion of the corewire and the distal end of the shroud, the plug having a distal, non-traumatic tip portion, an interior between the corewire and the shroud being configured to receive a sensor.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: Tissue ingrowth on the distal loop portion of a constricting cord can dramatically improve the bond between the constricting cord and a cardiac valve annulus. But tissue ingrowth on the proximal portions of the constricting cord can interfere with the constricting action of the cord. This problem can be addressed by covering the proximal portions of the constricting cord with a material that resists tissue ingrowth, and waiting for tissue ingrowth to strengthen the bond between the distal loop portion of the constricting cord and the annulus. The reduced ingrowth on the proximal portions of the constricting cord make it easier to constrict the annulus when the constricting operation is eventually performed.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. An inner diameter of the end portion of the tube is greater than an inner diameter of the body portion of the tube. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: An expandable bone device that includes a plurality of linking elements pivotally connected to one another about a hinge, wherein each of the linking elements has upper and lower support plates. An expansion mechanism is operatively connected to the linking elements and can move the upper support plate closer or further with respect to the lower support plate.

Abstract: The diameter of an annulus in a patient (e.g., the mitral valve annulus) can be reduced using a tissue engaging member that is installed on the annulus and an actuator that is implanted into the patient's body. The tissue engaging member has anchors used to implant the tissue engaging member into the annulus, and a cinching loop runs through the tissue engaging member. The cinching loop terminates onto cinching wires. Preferably, tissue healing is used to enhance the bond between the tissue engaging member and the annulus. The actuator, which can be actuated from outside the patient's body, pulls the cinching wires in a proximal direction while holding the distal end of the cinching wires in close proximity to each other, so as to cause a reduction in the diameter of the cinching loop. This will cause a corresponding reduction in the diameter of the annulus.

Abstract: A medical stent mold includes a tube having an interior passage sized and dimensioned to receive a stent assembly disposed at least partially about a central portion of a stent balloon. The medical stent mold may also include a housing forming a chamber through which the tube extends. The tube may include a thermally conductive material and may have a body portion that extends within the chamber and an end portion that is proximate the body portion and that extends away from the housing. An inner diameter of the end portion of the tube is greater than an inner diameter of the body portion of the tube. Forced convection may be used to quickly heat and cool the tube. Methods of increasing retention of an expandable stent assembly on a stent balloon and of detecting a leak in a stent balloon are also included.

Abstract: A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connector section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.