Abstract: A cryogenic ablation catheter includes a catheter shaft, a balloon and a connector respectively at the catheter shaft proximal and distal ends, a refrigerant delivery tube assembly including a refrigerant delivery tube rotatable within the catheter shaft lumen, and a refrigerant delivery element with an outlet located inside the balloon which directs refrigerant outwardly against the balloon at different rotary positions as it rotates. A cryogenic balloon ablation system includes the cryogenic ablation catheter, a catheter coupler mating with the connector, a motor including a rotatable hollow motor shaft, and a delivery line fluidly coupled to a cryogenic gas source for supplying cryogenic gas to the refrigerant delivery tube. At least one of the refrigerant delivery tube and the delivery line passes at least partway through the hollow motor shaft. The coupling tip of the connector and the refrigerant delivery tube rotate with the motor shaft.

Abstract: A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.

Abstract: A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously polishing the inner and outer surfaces of an unpolished polymeric stent using a heat process. The unpolished stent can be mounted, for example, on a “spiral-mandrel,” a tubular helical structure with gaps in between a series of coils of the structure. Heat from a heat source can then applied to the spiral-mandrel at a range between the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the polymer of the stent.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments of stents with radiopaque markers arranged in patterns are described herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously polishing the inner and outer surfaces of an unpolished polymeric stent using a heat process. The unpolished stent can be mounted, for example, on a “spiral-mandrel,” a tubular helical structure with gaps in between a series of coils of the structure. Heat from a heat source can then applied to the spiral-mandrel at a range between the glass transition temperature and melting temperature of the polymer of the stent.

Abstract: A focal ablation assembly, used with an endoscope comprising an endoscopic tube, comprises a cryogenic catheter, a balloon and a reinforcing element. The cryogenic catheter is placeable within the endoscopic tube channel and has a distal end placeable at the distal end of the endoscopic tube. The balloon is mountable to the catheter distal end and extends distally of both of the distal ends. The reinforcing element at least partially defines the shape of the balloon in the expanded state. The balloon defines a balloon volume when expanded and has a thermally conductive therapeutic region which provides effectively no thermal insulation. In some examples the focal ablation assembly comprises a delivery catheter extending along the channel with a distal portion fluidly coupled to the balloon interior, whereby refrigerant can be introduced into the balloon interior and towards the therapeutic region by the delivery catheter.

Abstract: A focal ablation assembly, used with an endoscope comprising an endoscopic tube, comprises a cap and a cryogenic catheter placeable within the endoscopic tube channel. The cryogenic catheter defines a catheter lumen and has a distal end placeable at the endoscopic tube distal end. The cap is mountable to at least one of the distal ends and extends distally of both. The cap comprises a material which substantially maintains its shape during use while not causing tissue trauma. The cap defines a limited area therapeutic region, which is a chosen one of an open therapeutic region and a covered, effectively thermally transparent therapeutic region providing effectively no thermal insulation. In some examples the assembly includes a delivery catheter extending along the channel with a distal portion fluidly coupled to the cap volume, whereby refrigerant can be introduced into the cap volume and towards the therapeutic region by the delivery catheter.

Abstract: The invention is directed a delivery system for implantation a self-expanding medical device in a body which includes a control handle and a catheter portion. The catheter portion includes an outer restraining member which covers the collapsed, medical device, an inner catheter member having a distal end including a region upon which the medical device is mounted, and an outer sheath which is removably attached to the control handle. The outer sheath creates a conduit for the catheter portion to prevent the inner catheter member from moving axially when the outer restraining member is retracted. The control handle has a rotatable thumbwheel to actuate a retraction mechanism attached to the proximal end of the outer restraining member which moves the restraining member in a proximal direction to deploy the medical device.

Abstract: A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.

Abstract: A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.