Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making a prosthesis or a stent with a smooth covering.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an assembly including a balloon catheter as an inner catheter for the delivery of a self-expanding stent. The delivery assembly may lack a separate pusher structure. A method of using a single assembly to delivery a self-expanding stent and provide a post-dilatation step is also described herein.

Abstract: A catheter is provided with a collection chamber located between a seal and a cap. The seal is located distal from the collection chamber, and the cap is located proximal from the collection chamber. The seal may be opened and closed to alternately allow the passage of material into the collection chamber and prevent fluid from escaping from the shaft lumen. The cap may be opened and closed to allow the removal of a mass from the collection chamber and to prevent fluid from escaping during collection of the mass.

Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed apparatuses and methods for medically sealing an opening in a vessel or wall. For example, in medical applications, a delivery tube is provided for insertion through a sheath into a vessel (e.g. a blood vessel). A dome-shaped seal fixed to a filament, an absorbent and/or compressible buffer, and a locking member are provided in the delivery tube. The delivery tube is configured so that it can be inserted into the vessel through a sheath. Tension is maintained on the filament to hold the seal against the tube or sheath. The sheath is pulled out, which pulls out the tube at the same time, leaving the seal over the opening in the vessel wall. The locking member compresses the buffer against the outside of the vessel and with the filament holds the seal in place against the inside of a vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus and system that includes an elongated body, a vascular closure device that can occlude a hole in a vessel wall coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, a sleeve assembly and a biasing member arranged to elastically deform coupled between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly, wherein the vascular closure device is pliant and is deformable to fit with the sleeve assembly but is too large to fit within the sleeve assembly without deforming it and where application of tension to the elongated body by retracting the sleeve assembly away from the deployed vascular closure device elastically deforms the biasing member and exerts a force on the vascular closure device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical devices and methods of assembling medical devices, such as MRI-compatible interventional wireguides. An example of a wireguide includes a series of individual segments, a plurality of connectors, and a plurality of spacers. Each segment in the series of individual segments has a first end and a second end. Each connector of the plurality of connectors joins adjacent segments in the series of individual segments to one another such that a first end of a first segment and a second end of a second segment in the series of individual segments are attached to a connector of the plurality of connectors. A spacer of the plurality of spacers is disposed between each pair of adjacent segments in the series of individual segments. Each of the segments in the series of individual segments is electrically insulated from an adjacent segment in the series of individual segments.

Abstract: A device for thrombolytic therapy is provided. The device includes an elongate catheter with a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and a first lumen extending through both distal and proximal end portions. The distal end portion of the catheter includes an echogenic tubular potion that defines or surrounds a portion of the first lumen. An expandable balloon coaxially surrounds the tubular portion. The tubular portion additionally includes a plurality of indentations defined upon an outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Among other things, methods and apparatus for inserting devices for closing a tissue opening are disclosed. An anchoring or sealing member has one or more stems and/or filaments that are offset from the center of the member, so that lateral adjustments or movements of the anchoring or sealing member do not uncover the opening, cause the anchoring or sealing member to stick through or pull through the opening. Embodiments including a valve adapted to accommodate a guide wire for addressing emergencies are also disclosed.

Abstract: Among other things, methods and apparatus for inserting devices for closing a tissue opening are disclosed. An anchoring or sealing member has one or more stems and/or filaments that are offset from the center of the member, so that lateral adjustments or movements of the anchoring or sealing member do not uncover the opening, cause the anchoring or sealing member to stick through or pull through the opening. Embodiments including a valve adapted to accommodate a guide wire for addressing emergencies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dilator may include a leading portion that includes a leading end coupled to a leading stem. The dilator may further include a trailing portion that includes a trailing end coupled to a trailing shaft. The dilator may also include a segmented body disposed between the leading end and the trailing end. The segmented body may include a plurality of segments disposed circumferentially around the leading stem. The leading stem may extend through a passageway of the segmented body, an opening of the trailing end and a channel of the trailing shaft. The leading stem and the trailing shaft may be configured to move longitudinally relative to one another to radially outwardly expand the segmented body.

Abstract: Among other things, there is disclosed devices for closing an internal opening, e.g. a hole in a blood vessel, that includes a shape memory function. Particular substances have been found to provide advantages in use, and in particular forms of closure structures.

Abstract: Described are devices, methods, and systems for achieving occlusion of vascular vessels. Further described are certain reduced or low profile procedures and devices for the percutaneous occlusion of the saphenous vein, such as in the treatment of a varicose vein condition caused by venous reflux.

Abstract: Among other things, there is disclosed devices for closing an internal opening, e.g. a hole in a blood vessel, that includes a shape memory function. Particular substances have been found to provide advantages in use, and in particular forms of closure structures.

Abstract: A delivery system deploys a prosthesis for open surgical repair of a body vessel. The system includes a sleeve to retain segments of a prosthesis in a compressed configuration and retraction members. The sleeve has outer segments associated with each end of the prosthesis. Retraction of the retraction members removes the outer segments of the sleeve from the prosthesis outer ends to allow for expansion of the outer ends of the prosthesis in an outside-in direction. The system can include a handle and an actuation member movably attached to the handle. The actuation member is coupled to the sleeve outer segments so that movement of the actuation member corresponds to removal of the sleeve. The system can include elements to retain the sleeve outer segments to the actuation member and to redirect the retraction members to a direction different from the axis of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods are provided. In some aspects, devices useful for applying therapy locally within a body vessel are disclosed, the devices having a stent graft with flared end regions with a catheter providing fluid communication to the outer side of the narrower, intermediate region of the stent graft. Kits and systems including the same devices and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Among other things, methods and apparatus for inserting devices for closing tissue openings are disclosed. Examples may include a handle, sheath and/or sleeve for insertion into a patient and through or adjacent a tissue defect, fistula, or other tissue opening to be closed. Winding mechanisms for operation in or with such inserting devices are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sealing an opening in a wall within the body of a patient are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system has an elongated body coupled to a vascular closure device and a resisting member, the elongated body having a high resistance portion and a low resistance portion and being constructed and arranged to interface with a resisting member to apply a conforming force to a vascular closure device. In some exemplary embodiments, the elongated body comprises a large diameter portion positioned in a proximal end region of the elongated body. Methods and other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and system that includes an elongated body, a vascular closure device that can occlude a hole in a vessel wall coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, a sleeve assembly and a biasing member arranged to elastically deform coupled between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly, wherein the vascular closure device is pliant and is deformable to fit with the sleeve assembly but is too large to fit within the sleeve assembly without deforming it and where application of tension to the elongated body by retracting the sleeve assembly away from the deployed vascular closure device elastically deforms the biasing member and exerts a force on the vascular closure device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and system that includes an elongated body, a vascular closure device that can occlude a hole in a vessel wall coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, a sleeve assembly and a biasing member arranged to elastically deform coupled between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly, where the elongated body is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the sleeve assembly, wherein the biasing member exerts a force on the elongated body approximately proportional to a longitudinal displacement between the elongated body and the sleeve assembly and where the biasing member is arranged deform a discernible amount when a conforming force sufficient to occlude the hole is applied to the elongated body through the biasing member and the sleeve assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making a prosthesis or a stent with a smooth covering.