Abstract: A medical device for controlling a release of bioactive agents to a body of patient. The medical device includes a support structure and a coating disposed at least partially covering the support structure. The coating includes a biodegradable outer and inner layer. First beads are disposed between the layers. A therapeutically effective amount of a first bioactive agent is disposed within pores of the first beads. Second beads are disposed between the support structure and the inner layer. A therapeutically effective amount of a second bioactive agent is disposed within the pores of the second beads. The first beads are releasable in response to at least partial biodegradation of the outer layer, and the second beads are releasable after the first beads in response to at least partial biodegradation of the inner layer. The coating may include a nonwoven matrix.

Abstract: A low profiled stent delivery system includes a balloon catheter with a balloon mounted at a first location, and a balloon expandable stent crimped about the balloon catheter at a second location. The stent expands from a crimped state to a less than fully expanded state responsive to movement of an auxiliary expander from a first configuration to a second configuration. An inner diameter of the stent in the less than fully expanded state is greater than an outer diameter of the balloon in a deflated state. After repositioning the balloon within the less than fully expanded state, the balloon is inflated to fully expand the stent.

Abstract: A bifurcated stent graft includes a stent graft body that defines exactly one main body opening and at least two exit openings. The stent graft body includes at least one stent attached to a graft fabric material, and includes a dividing wall that divides a combined flow path, into a first flow path and a second flow path that each terminate at one of the respective exit openings. The dividing wall includes a thickness profile that terminates at a leading edge radius that extends across a width of the combined flow path.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a first section and a second section, and an interface region between the first and second sections. A magnet array overlies each of opposing surfaces of each of the first and second sections at least at the interface region. The magnet arrays include a plurality of magnetic elements arranged in a predetermined pattern, each of the plurality of magnetic elements having a north and a south pole. The predetermined pattern is such that the north and south poles of the magnetic elements in each magnetic arrays are conjugated with one another so as to define a variable magnetic field between the first and second sections.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes a first balloon positioned inside of a second balloon, both of which are mounted about a catheter and fluidly connected to respective inflation lumens. In a first inflated configuration, the second balloon is inflated and has a shape that includes a plurality of bulb segments, with each two consecutive bulb segments being separated by a waist hoop. In a second inflated configuration both the inner and outer balloons are inflated, and the inner balloon bears radially outwardly against the waist hoop of the outer balloon such that the waist hoop of the outer balloon has a larger diameter in the second inflated configuration than in the first inflated configuration. The bulb segment separated by waist hoops enable the balloon catheter to conform to curved passageways, such as during the implementation of a stent.

Abstract: A shape controlled balloon catheter includes the balloon mounted about a catheter. A wire is spirally wound about the balloon and includes a manipulation segment extending along a centerline of the catheter away from the balloon. A position of the wire on an outer surface of the balloon changes responsive to movement of the manipulation segment relative to the catheter along the centerline. The balloon has a continuum of different inflated shapes corresponding to a continuum of different positions of the manipulation segment of the wire relative to the catheter.

Abstract: A balloon expanded stent delivery system includes an inflation constraint, such as a wire, spirally wound about the longitudinal axis in contact with a balloon and attached to an underlying catheter. A balloon expanded stent is mounted about the balloon and the inflation constraint. The delivery system has a predeployment configuration with the balloon deflated and the stent unexpanded. The system has a deployment configuration in which the inflation constraint constrains the inflated balloon to a spiral shape, the stent is expanded and in contact with the balloon, and the stent has a flow directing surface with a spiral contour that matches the spiral shape of the balloon. In a postdeployment configuration, the stent retains the flow directing surface with the spiral contour.

Abstract: A multi-stage balloon catheter has a deflated state, a first inflation state at a first pressure and a second inflation state at a higher fluid pressure. In the first inflation state, the multi-stage balloon has a plurality of bulb segments separated by waist hoops that allow the multi-stage balloon to conform to match the curvature of a passageway. When pressure is increased in the multi-stage balloon from the first inflation state to the second inflation state, the waist locations expand either by breaking or stretching the waist restraints or by overcoming expansion resistance incorporated into the balloon material at the waist locations. The multi-stage balloon catheter may be used to implant a stent in a manner to conform and match a curved passageway rather than tending to straighten the passageway.