Abstract: The gradient coated stent 150 of the present invention provides a coated stent having a continuous coating 130 disposed on the stent elements. The continuous coating 130 includes a first coating component and a second coating component. The concentration of the first coating component varies continuously over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. The concentration of the second coating component can also vary over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. In one embodiment, the concentration of the first coating component decreases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130 and the concentration of the second coating component increases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the administration of zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) or nucleic acids that encode such ZFPs for treating peripheral arterial disease, particularly by the repeated administration at regular intervals if such ZFPs or nucleic acids that encode such ZFPs.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of delivering a therapeutic agent to the adventitia of a vessel using a catheter-based microsyringe. A therapeutic agent is formed into microparticles, which are dispersed throughout an appropriate liquid carrier to form a therapeutic mixture. A catheter is provided that includes a microsyringe operably attached to an actuator. The microsyringe includes a hollow needle in fluid communication with a therapeutic agent delivery conduit. The catheter is introduced into a target area of a vessel. The actuator is operated to thrust the needle into a wall of the vessel. The therapeutic mixture is supplied to the therapeutic agent delivery conduit and delivered through the conduit to the needle and thereby into the adventitia of the vessel. The actuator is again operated to withdraw the needle from the wall of the vessel and to enclose it within the actuator. The catheter is then removed from the vessel.

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: The invention provides methods for treating injuries to one or more internal structures of a subject by administering a drug delivery vehicle to an external surface of the injured structure. The drug delivery vehicle substantially adheres to the site of administration and provides for the release of a bioactive agent that reduces or prevents further injury to the internal structure by disease processes, such as hyperplasia.

Abstract: A method and gene therapy agent for treating a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient is disclosed. The method includes providing at least one gene therapy agent encoding at least one protein. The gene therapy agent is administered to a target cell population. The protein is expressed within the patient from a portion of the target cell population. The vulnerable plaque is modified as a result of the protein expression. The gene therapy agent includes at least one polynucleic acid encoding at least one protein. Administration of the gene therapy agent to a target cell population results in expression of the protein capable of modifying the vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices having an anti-restenotic coatings are disclosed. Specifically, implantable medical devices having coatings of proteintyrosine kinase inhibitors are disclosed. The anti-restenotic protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor is 4+4-Methyl-1-piperazinyl)methyl]-N-[4-methyl-3-[[4-(3-pyridinyl)-2pyrimidinyl]amino]-phenyl]benzamide methanesulfonate and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof (imatinib mesylate). The anti-restenotic medial devices include stents, catheters, micro-particles, probes and vascular grafts. The medical devices can be coated using any method known in the art including compounding the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a biocompatible polymer prior to applying the coating. Moreover, medical devices composed entirely of biocompatible polymer-protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor blends are disclosed.

Abstract: The gradient coated stent 150 of the present invention provides a coated stent having a continuous coating 130 disposed on the stent elements. The continuous coating 130 includes a first coating component and a second coating component. The concentration of the first coating component varies continuously over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. The concentration of the second coating component can also vary over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. In one embodiment, the concentration of the first coating component decreases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130 and the concentration of the second coating component increases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130.

Abstract: A method of detecting vulnerable plaque is provided. The method includes stopping a heart from beating, preparing a bloodless field, and inspecting the bloodless field for vulnerable plaque using Optical Coherent Tomography.

Abstract: Methods and related compositions for treating vascular occlusions and preventing vascular narrowing are disclosed. In one embodiment an implantable medical device is provided with a coating comprising at least one cell growth inhibiting ubiquitin activator. In another embodiment a micro syringe is provided that injects the cell growth inhibiting ubiquitin activator directly into the adventitia. One specific embodiment includes a vascular stent having a cell growth inhibiting ubiquitin activator, specifically, hypothemycin.

Abstract: A method for detecting vulnerable plaque lesions in a blood vessel includes subjecting a localized area of the blood vessel to pressure pulses, while emitting electromagnetic radiation at the same localized area of the blood vessel. The pressure pulses cause vibrations of the vascular tissue and the vulnerable plaque lesions that are characteristic for each, which results in differing amounts of deflection of the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the vascular surface. The presence or absence of vulnerable plaque is determined from the extent of the deflection of the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the vascular surface. In another embodiment according to the invention, the presence or absence of vulnerable plaque lesions is determined from the intensity of vibrations of the vascular tissue in response to a pressure pulse.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for detecting vulnerable plaque in a blood vessel of a patient are disclosed. The device includes a catheter having at least one aperture, and a flexible guidewire within the aperture. The guidewire includes a coiled portion with at least one sensor for receiving information about the blood vessel and for determining presence of vulnerable plaque. The system includes a catheter and a flexible guidewire having a coiled configuration for positioning at least one sensor adjacent a blood vessel wall to allow the sensor to receive information for determining the presence of vulnerable plaque. The method includes steps for inserting a flexible guidewire into a lumen of the blood vessel; positioning a coiled guidewire with at least one sensor adjacent a blood vessel wall; receiving information about the blood vessel from the sensor and determining the presence of a vulnerable plaque based on the received information.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for detecting a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient. A first aspect of the invention includes a substance that is administered to the patient and a device that detects the substance. The substance has affinity for/binds to at least one of a lipid, a clotting factor, or an apoptotic factor associated with the vulnerable plaque. A second aspect includes a particle that is administered to the patient, an emitter that emits infra-red or near infra-red radiation on the particle, and a detector that detects light fluorescence from the particle. A third aspect includes a substance that is administered to the patient. The substance has affinity for/binds to the vulnerable plaque and includes a substance radiopaque characteristic that activates upon association/binding of substance with the vulnerable plaque. A device that detects the substance radiopaque characteristic is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating injuries to one or more internal structures of a subject by administering a drug delivery vehicle to an external surface of the injured structure. The drug delivery vehicle substantially adheres to the site of administration and provides for the release of a bioactive agent that reduces or prevents further injury to the internal structure by disease processes, such as hyperplasia.

Abstract: A method for chemical fixation of tissues by exposing the tissue to a chemical fixative agent, under oxidative conditions. The chemical fixative agents useable in this method include aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, dialdehyde starch), isocyanates (e.g., hexamethylene diisocyanate) and certain polyepoxy compounds (e.g., DENACOL). The oxidative conditions may be provided by heating of a chemical fixative solution that contains the crosslinking agent, in the presence of room air or oxygen. Alternatively, the oxidative conditions may be provided by adding one or more oxidizing chemicals (e.g., hydrogen peroxide or other peroxides, sodium periodate or other periodates, diisocyanates, halogens, n-bromosuccinimide or other halogenated compounds, permanganates, ozone, chromic acid, sulfuryl chloride, sulfoxides, selenoxides, etc.) to the chemical fixative solution. Alternatively, the oxidative conditions may be provided by irradiation (e.g.

Abstract: A highly sensitive and specific method for the detection and quantification of lipids is provided. Specifically, methods for the simultaneous detection and quantification of phospholipids extracted from mammalian tissues is described. The analytical methods provided disclose a modified one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography technique specifically developed to rapidly and accurantely detect and quantify phospholipids from mammalian cardiac tissues.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic heart valve that includes biologically active agents that retard or prevent the infiltration of fibrous tissue (“pannus”) from the host into the structure of the prosthetic valve. Preventing or decreasing the overgrowth of the prosthetic valve by pannus reduces the complications associated with the implantation and use of prosthetic heart valves.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating injuries to one or more internal structures of a subject by administering a drug delivery vehicle to an external surface of the injured structure. The drug delivery vehicle substantially adheres to the site of administration and provides for the release of a bioactive agent that reduces or prevents further injury to the internal structure by disease processes, such as hyperplasia.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and devices for inhibiting restenosis are provided. Specifically, molecular chaperone inhibitor compositions and medical devices useful for the site specific delivery of molecular chaperones are disclosed. In one embodiment the medical device is a vascular stent coated with a molecular chaperone inhibitor selected from the group consisting of geldanamycin, herbimycin, macbecin and derivatives and analogues thereof. In another embodiment an injection catheter for delivery an anti-restenotic effective amount of geldanamycin to the adventitia is provided.

Abstract: A method for chemical fixation of tissues by exposing the tissue to a chemical fixative agent, under oxidative conditions. The chemical fixative agents useable in this method include aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, dialdehyde starch), isocyanates (e.g., hexamethylene diisocyanate) and certain polyepoxy compounds (e.g., DENACOL). The oxidative conditions may be provided by heating of a chemical fixative solution that contains the crosslinking agent, in the presence of room air or oxygen. Alternatively, the oxidative conditions may be provided by adding one or more oxidizing chemicals (e.g., hydrogen peroxide or other peroxides, sodium periodate or other periodates, diisocyanates, halogens, n-bromosuccinimide or other halogenated compounds, permanganates, ozone, chromic acid, sulfuryl chloride, sulfoxides, selenoxides, etc.) to the chemical fixative solution. Alternatively, the oxidative conditions may be provided by irradiation (e.g.