Abstract: Polypectomy devices and methods for making and using polypectomy devices are disclosed. An example polypectomy device may include an elongate sheath having a proximal end region and a distal end region. A shaft may be slidably disposed within the sheath. A handle may be coupled to the proximal end region of the sheath. The handle may be designed to axially shift the shaft relative to the sheath. A snare may be coupled to the shaft. The snare may include a first region, a traction region, and a distal tip region. The first region may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The traction region may include a plurality of traction members. At a position between two adjacent traction members the snare may have a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the first region. The distal tip region may have a circular cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: Polypectomy devices and methods for making and using polypectomy devices are disclosed. An example polypectomy device may include an elongate sheath having a proximal end region and a distal end region. A shaft may be slidably disposed within the sheath. A handle may be coupled to the proximal end region of the sheath. The handle may be designed to axially shift the shaft relative to the sheath. A snare may be coupled to the shaft. The snare may include a first region, a traction region, and a distal tip region. The first region may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The traction region may include a plurality of traction members. At a position between two adjacent traction members the snare may have a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the first region. The distal tip region may have a circular cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: Polypectomy devices and methods for making and using polypectomy devices are disclosed. An example polypectomy device may include an elongate sheath having a proximal end region and a distal end region. A shaft may be slidably disposed within the sheath. A handle may be coupled to the proximal end region of the sheath. The handle may be designed to axially shift the shaft relative to the sheath. A snare may be coupled to the shaft. The snare may include a first region, a traction region, and a distal tip region. The first region may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The traction region may include a plurality of traction members. At a position between two adjacent traction members the snare may have a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the first region. The distal tip region may have a circular cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for dilatation of a body passage and delivery of a stent into the body passage of a patient, and related methods of using such a system. The dilatation and stent delivery system may comprise a dilatation catheter having an expandable member on a distal end, and a stent delivery catheter configured to retain a stent and deliver the stent to a body passage. The stent delivery catheter defines a lumen sized to receive the dilatation catheter and permit movement of the dilatation catheter relative to the stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis comprising a stent, a cover fully covering the stent wherein the cover has variable porosity in the radial direction; and an adhesion layer connecting the stent to the cover. Another aspect of the invention is a method of implanting an endoprosthesis which includes a stent, providing a cover with variable porosity in the radial direction, connecting the stent to the cover with an adhesion layer to form a covered stent, and implanting the covered stent within a body lumen of a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for dilatation of a body passage and delivery of a stent into the body passage of a patient, and related methods of using such a system. The dilatation and stent delivery system may comprise a dilatation catheter having an expandable member on a distal end, and a stent delivery catheter configured to retain a stent and deliver the stent to a body passage. The stent delivery catheter defines a lumen sized to receive the dilatation catheter and permit movement of the dilatation catheter relative to the stent delivery catheter.

Abstract: An anti-reflux stent includes an extended inner sleeve, a stent surrounding at least a portion of the inner sleeve and a coating that bonds the stent to the inner sleeve whereby the extended inner sleeve can have a cross-sectional thickness that varies along the length of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is made of a material having a thickness and/or flexibility such that the distal end not surrounded by the stent collapses under gastric pressure to prevent the contents of the stomach from flowing into an esophagus. Food and liquid can pass through an inner lumen of the inner sleeve to enter a stomach when desired.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis comprising a stent, a cover fully covering the stent wherein the cover has variable porosity in the radial direction; and an adhesion layer connecting the stent to the cover. Another aspect of the invention is a method of implanting an endoprosthesis which includes a stent, providing a cover with variable porosity in the radial direction, connecting the stent to the cover with an adhesion layer to form a covered stent, and implanting the covered stent within a body lumen of a patient.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis comprising a stent, a cover fully covering the stent wherein the cover has variable porosity in the radial direction; and an adhesion layer connecting the stent to the cover. Another aspect of the invention is a method of implanting an endoprosthesis which includes a stent, providing a cover with variable porosity in the radial direction, connecting the stent to the cover with an adhesion layer to form a covered stent, and implanting the covered stent within a body lumen of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for use by an operator in a cavity of a mammalian body with a scope having a distal face providing a field of view. The apparatus includes a flexible elongate member having a distal extremity adapted for extending into the cavity and a proximal extremity accessible from outside of the mammalian body when the distal extremity is disposed in the cavity. An expandable prosthesis is releaseably secured to the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member. A visual marker capable of being seen by the operator in the field of view is secured to one of the distal extremity of the flexible elongate member and the prosthesis for facilitating placement of the prosthesis in the mammalian body.

Abstract: A composite stent structure includes separate and distinct stent elements or members: an outer stent element and an inner stent element removably attached to the outer stent element. The outer element may be, for example, a bioabsorbable stent typically constructed of a relatively non-resilient material such that the outer bioabsorbable stent element may not be self-expanding and subject to migration within the lumen over time. In contrast, the inner element may be, for example, a removable SEMS used to urge and maintain the outer element in position in the body lumen. The temporary inner SEMS may retain the composite structure (including the underlying inner element) in position until such time as the outer element is appropriately incorporated into the surrounding tissue or some other criteria occurs such that the removal of the SEMS is indicated. The SEMS may then be detached from the outer element and removed from the body lumen.

Abstract: An anti-reflux stent includes an extended inner sleeve, a stent surrounding at least a portion of the inner sleeve and a coating that bonds the stent to the inner sleeve whereby the extended inner sleeve can have a cross-sectional thickness that varies along the length of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is made of a material having a thickness and/or flexibility such that the distal end not surrounded by the stent collapses under gastric pressure to prevent the contents of the stomach from flowing into an esophagus. Food and liquid can pass through an inner lumen of the inner sleeve to enter a stomach when desired.

Abstract: An anchor secures an implantable device within a body by engaging a wall of the body. The anchor includes a shank and an arm extending from the shank. The shank and the arm are integrally formed from a single member. The shank attaches to the device.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in guiding a catheter has a tip construction that includes a core wire within a helical coil. The core wire has a distal tip segment that is tapered and is further impressed with a pair of opposed flattened surfaces extending along the taper, the surfaces lying at an angle to each other and defining a progressively flattened tip having increased width in a distal direction to define a duck-bill configuration. The tip construction provides improved column strength at the tip to resist guidewire prolapse while providing excellent torsional and flexibility characteristics.

Abstract: A connection system for a guidewire and a guidewire extension includes a manually actuable locking mechanism for locking or unlocking the mated ends of the wires together. One of the mating ends includes a socket. The other mating end includes a wire having a reduced diameter end portion that carries a sleeve. An enlarged wedging element is attached to the tip of the wire. The arrangement of the wedging element and sleeve are insertable into the socket and, after insertion, the arrangement is manipulated to draw the wedging element into the end of the sleeve. The sleeve thus is wedged radially outwardly into firm engagement with the inner surface of the socket. The lock is easily released by pulling the sleeve axially away from the wedging element.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in the placement of a catheter includes an elongate flexible core wire and a helical coil wrapped about the core wire. The pitch of the turns of the coil is relatively wide over most of the length of the guidewire with a distal segment having coil turns that are closely adjacent each other. The coil is formed from a radiopaque material. The wide pitch of the coil presented reduced contact area between the guidewire and the catheter, thereby reducing frictional drag between the two. The distal dip defines a relatively dark radiopaque image while the more proximal portions of the guidewire present a less radiopaque relatively gray image. The black/gray fluoroscopic images enable clear determination of the precise position and contour of the guidewire but without obstructing fluoroscopic visualization of radiopaque contrast liquid injected into the body lumen containing the guidewire and catheter.

Abstract: A low profile, steerable balloon dilatation catheter for dilating obstructions in blood vessels is provided which also enables catheter exchanges to be performed without losing guidewire position. The system includes a guidewire and catheter that can be locked together to be operated in a manner as that of an integral wire catheter, or alternatively, they can be unlocked to allow the guidewire to be operated independently in a manner similar to that of an over-the wire catheter system. In the latter mode of operation, the length of the guidewire, at its proximal end, can be extended and the catheter can be withdrawn from the patient without causing a loss of guidewire position. With the guidewire position so maintained, a succeeding catheter can be advanced over the guidewire to the vascular location being treated.

Abstract: A guidewire for use in guiding a catheter has a tip construction that includes a core wire within a helical coil. The core wire has a distal tip segment that is tapered and is further impressed with a pair of opposed flattened surfaces extending along the taper, the surfaces lying at an angle to each other and defining a progressively flattened tip having increased width in a distal direction to define a duck-bill configuration. The tip construction provides improved column strength at the tip to resist guidewire prolapse while providing excellent torsional and flexibility characteristics.