Abstract: A stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape for insertion into a lumen of a vessel of a living being. The tubular main body includes a substantially biodegradable matrix having collagen IV and laminin that enclose voids within the matrix. The tubular main body also includes a biodegradable strengthening material in contact with the matrix to strengthen the matrix. The tubular main body is essentially saturated with drugs.

Abstract: A polymer network useful as a lubricous coating, the polymer network comprising a reaction product of a vinyl prepolymer and an uncrosslinked hydrogel retained within the reaction product such that the network exhibits a greater lubricity when wet.

Abstract: Collagen applied to a vascular stem for increasing the biocompatability of the stent on implantation find method of treatment.

Abstract: An implantable programmable drug delivery system for injection of a pharmaceutical agent into the peritoneum to treat cardiac arrhythmia is described. The device consists of essentially three components: a main body containing electronics, power supply, valve means, and drug reservoir; an electronic lead into the heart to transmit impulses from the heart and deliver electronic responses to the heart; and a separate specialized drug delivery catheter for delivery of agents to the peritoneal cavity or near the exterior of the pericardium.

Abstract: A device for closing off a septal defect including a polymeric self-hardening material in a specific conformation which is delivered by a catheter device to the area of defect either directly on the cardiac tissue or into a balloon which spans both surfaces of the defect, and hardened in-situ by change in pH or ionic concentration, organic solvents, by permeation of a secondary material capable of precipitation, or by exposure to heat, light or laser energy. In blood, the device may be hardened through photopolymerization or a cooperative effect of coagulation, precipitation or ionization. The device can be made of biodegradable material impregnated with growth factors, mitogenic factors or other determinants which can improve tissue growth such that tissue ingrowth can occur over a period of time. The catheter itself may be an ultrasonic imaging catheter.

Abstract: A stent in an implanted site is subjected to pulses of laser or sonic energy from external means thereby altering its physical structure without substantially altering or damaging tissue surrounding the implanted site.

Abstract: A stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape having an exterior surface, a cambered interior surface, a leading end and a trailing end. The main body has substantially the same thickness at the leading end as at the trailing end. The stent may be made of a biodegradable material having a rate of degradation and including a drug releasable at a rate controlling the rate of degradation of the biodegradable material.

Abstract: A stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape for insertion into a lumen of a vessel of a living being. The tubular main body includes a substantially biodegradable matrix having collagen IV and laminin that enclose voids within the matrix. The tubular main body also includes a biodegradable strengthening material in contact with the matrix to strengthen the matrix. The tubular main body is essentially saturated with drugs.

Abstract: A stent made of biodegradable material includes a drug that is released at a rate controlled by the rate of degradation of the biodegradable material. The stent includes a main body of a generally tubular shape. The main body may further include a plurality of apertures extending therethrough and a slot defined by opposing edges which permits insertion and positioning of the stent.

Abstract: A balloon/stent device for enlarging in situ to fit against a vessel wall and hardening in place.

Abstract: A prosthesis for cement-free bonding to bone comprising a metal substrate coated with a biologically active glass or glass-ceramic of uniform composition and thermal coefficient of expansion and free of flaws resulting from thermo-mechanical stresses, the glass coating being bonded to the metal substrate by ion diffusion of the interface wherein the thermal coefficients of expansion of the metal substrate and the glass or glass-ceramic coating are substantially different.

Abstract: A method of bonding a bioglass layer to a metal substrate comprising heating the metal substrate having a roughened, oxidized surface to about a temperature at which the expansion of the metal is substantially equal to that of the bioglass at the temperature above which the thermal expansion of the bioglass is non-linear, immersing the heated metal surface in molten bioglass, the time of immersion being of such duration that the temperature of the metal does not rise substantially above the temperature to which it is heated, allowing the coated substrate to cool whereby the bioglass layer is bonded to the metal substrate by ion diffusion and thermo-mechanical stresses in the bioglass and metal layer are relieved at a substantially equal rate and the product produced by said process.