Abstract: A catheter system includes a positioning catheter for receiving an injection needle into its lumen. Structurally, the injection needle incorporates a plurality of loops that are mounted directly onto its shaft. As the injection needle is moved in a distal direction to exit from the lumen of the catheter, the loops are individually biased to transition from a folded configuration, and into a deployed configuration. In their deployed configurations, the loops create a barrier that is oriented perpendicular to the needle. Thus, the barrier acts to limit the depth of insertion of the needle into target tissue of a patient, to a predetermined depth, and to prevent perforation of the target tissue by the catheter tip.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a positioning catheter for receiving an injection needle into its lumen. Structurally, the injection needle incorporates a plurality of loops that are mounted directly onto its shaft. As the injection needle is moved in a distal direction to exit from the lumen of the catheter, the loops are individually biased to transition from a folded configuration, and into a deployed configuration. In their deployed configurations, the loops create a barrier that is oriented perpendicular to the needle. Thus, the barrier acts to limit the depth of insertion of the needle into target tissue of a patient, to a predetermined depth, and to prevent perforation of the target tissue by the catheter tip.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a positioning catheter for receiving an injection needle into its lumen. The injection needle incorporates a web member mounted directly onto its shaft. As the injection needle is moved in a distal direction to exit from the lumen of the catheter, the web member is biased to transition from a folded configuration, and into a flared configuration. Specifically, this transition occurs when the injection needle is deployed more than a predetermined distance “d” beyond the distal end of the catheter. In its flared configuration, the web member is disk-shaped and is oriented perpendicular to the needle. Thus, it acts as a barrier to limit the depth of insertion of the needle into target tissue of a patient, to a depth less than “d”, and to prevent perforation of the target tissue by the catheter tip.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing injections in the ventricle of a patient. The system includes an injection catheter with a proximal and distal end. Importantly, a flexible array is mounted at the distal end of the injection catheter and is moveable between a protective configuration and a flared configuration. Also, a needle of variable length is mounted on the distal end of the injection catheter and is covered by the flexible array when the array is in its protective configuration. In order to manipulate the flexible array, a locking mechanism is mounted on the proximal end of the injection catheter for engagement with the flexible array. When selectively operated, the locking mechanism moves the array from its protective configuration to the flared configuration, holds the array in its flared configuration for an injection, and subsequently moves the array back to its protective configuration.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing injections in the ventricle of a patient. The system includes an injection catheter with a proximal and distal end. Importantly, a flexible array is mounted at the distal end of the injection catheter and is moveable between a protective configuration and a flared configuration. Also, a needle of variable length is mounted on the distal end of the injection catheter and is covered by the flexible array when the array is in its protective configuration. In order to manipulate the flexible array, a locking mechanism is mounted on the proximal end of the injection catheter for engagement with the flexible array. When selectively operated, the locking mechanism moves the array from its protective configuration to the flared configuration, holds the array in its flared configuration for an injection, and subsequently moves the array back to its protective configuration.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a flexible abutment at its distal end. Functionally, the abutment serves to stabilize and align (orient) the distal portion of the catheter as its distal tip is advanced into contact with a tissue surface. Structurally, the flexible abutment is an arrangement of wires that creates a hollow conical shaped frame having two open ends. One end is affixed to the distal end of the catheter. And, the other is presented as a plurality of separated end points that collectively define an annulus at a distal distance from the catheter's tip. For its operation, the flexible abutment is moved from a folded (tube-shaped) configuration, for travel through the vasculature of a patient, to a flared configuration with end points on the frame extended outwardly from the catheter axis, for contact with the tissue surface.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a positioning catheter for receiving an injection needle into its lumen. The injection needle incorporates a web member mounted directly onto its shaft. As the injection needle is moved in a distal direction to exit from the lumen of the catheter, the web member is biased to transition from a folded configuration, and into a flared configuration. Specifically, this transition occurs when the injection needle is deployed more than a predetermined distance “d” beyond the distal end of the catheter. In its flared configuration, the web member is disk-shaped and is oriented perpendicular to the needle. Thus, it acts as a barrier to limit the depth of insertion of the needle into target tissue of a patient, to a depth less than “d”, and to prevent perforation of the target tissue by the catheter tip.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that use a balloon/stent catheter for placing a stent at the ostium of a blood vessel. Included is a barrier member that is attached to the catheter at a location proximal the balloon. In use, the barrier member is reconfigured, prior to insertion of the balloon/stent portion of the catheter through the ostium. With this reconfiguration, a barrier (array) is established that limits advancement of the catheter into the blood vessel to ensure proper placement of the stent at the ostium.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing injections in the ventricle of a patient. The system includes an injection catheter with a proximal and distal end. Importantly, a flexible array is mounted at the distal end of the injection catheter and is moveable between a protective configuration and a flared configuration. Also, a needle of variable length is mounted on the distal end of the injection catheter and is covered by the flexible array when the array is in its protective configuration. In order to manipulate the flexible array, a locking mechanism is mounted on the proximal end of the injection catheter for engagement with the flexible array. When selectively operated, the locking mechanism moves the array from its protective configuration to the flared configuration, holds the array in its flared configuration for an injection, and subsequently moves the array back to its protective configuration.

Abstract: A device is provided for performing intra myocardial injections. The device comprises a needle, a catheter formed with a lumen, and an abutment member mounted within the lumen for axial movement. The abutment member is movable between a first configuration, wherein it is substantially tube-like and is positioned within the lumen of the catheter, and a second configuration, wherein it extends beyond the distal end of the catheter and is substantially radially flared. Before the needle is advanced to perform an injection, the abutment member is moved to its second configuration to prevent contact between the catheter and the myocardial tissue during the injection.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing injections in the ventricle of a patient. The system includes an injection catheter with a proximal and distal end. Importantly, a flexible array is mounted at the distal end of the injection catheter and is moveable between a protective configuration and a flared configuration. Also, a needle of variable length is mounted on the distal end of the injection catheter and is covered by the flexible array when the array is in its protective configuration. In order to manipulate the flexible array, a locking mechanism is mounted on the proximal end of the injection catheter for engagement with the flexible array. When selectively operated, the locking mechanism moves the array from its protective configuration to the flared configuration, holds the array in its flared configuration for an injection, and subsequently moves the array back to its protective configuration.

Abstract: A system and method for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. Specifically, the system and method administer bi-directional antibodies to treat a retina. Structurally, each bi-directional antibody has a first receptor arm and a second receptor arm. Further, each first receptor arm possesses binding affinity for retinal cells and each second receptor arm possesses binding affinity for melanin. After the antibodies are administered to the retina, the first receptor arms attach to the retinal cells. Thereafter, melanin is delivered to the retina and the second receptor arms are fixed to the melanin. In this manner, melanin is concentrated at the retinal cells.

Abstract: An over-the-wire catheter includes a guide wire lumen that is defined by a distal bracket and a proximal bracket. Both brackets are formed as part of the catheter, and the lumen is dimensioned for receiving a guide wire therethrough. Between the distal bracket and the proximal bracket is a lateral aperture that extends along the length of the catheter and provides for selective access to the guide wire during the use and operation of the catheter.

Abstract: A device is provided for performing intra myocardial injections. The device comprises a needle, a catheter formed with a lumen, and an inflatable abutment member. The abutment member is movable between a first configuration, wherein it is substantially tube-like and is deflated, and a second configuration, wherein it inflates beyond the distal end of the catheter and extends radially. Before the needle is advanced to perform an injection, the abutment member is moved to its second configuration to prevent contact between the catheter and the myocardial tissue during the injection.

Abstract: A device is provided for performing intra myocardial injections. The device comprises a needle, a catheter formed with a lumen, and an abutment member mounted within the lumen for axial movement. The abutment member is movable between a first configuration, wherein it is substantially tube-like and is positioned within the lumen of the catheter, and a second configuration, wherein it extends beyond the distal end of the catheter and is substantially radially flared. Before the needle is advanced to perform an injection, the abutment member is moved to its second configuration to prevent contact between the catheter and the myocardial tissue during the injection.

Abstract: A plurality of expandable and deformable intraluminal vascular grafts are expanded within a blood vessel by an angioplasty balloon associated with a catheter to dilate and expand the lumen of a blood vessel. The grafts may be thin-walled tubular members having a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members, and adjacent grafts are flexibly connected by a single connector member disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members.

Abstract: A medicament and corresponding treatment protocol for in-vivo cellular regeneration within a mammal is described. Applications include the treatment of injuries to bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons in humans and animals. Treatment includes the step of administering one or more therapeutically effective doses of medicament into an injured, living mammal. For the treatment, the medicament includes a plurality of stem cells and an angiogenic factor such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In one implementation, non-embryonic stem cells are harvested from the mammal after injury for use in the medicament. Once harvested, the stem cells are typically concentrated (by removing non-stem cells from the harvested cell population) in a laboratory and then mixed with angiogenic factor to prepare the medicament. In an exemplary procedure, approximately ten therapeutically effective doses are injected into the body at or near the injured tissue during a healing period following the injury.

Abstract: Pointer justification event induced low frequency jitter is attenuated during desynchronization of a synchronous input data stream into a plesiosynchronous output data stream. The output data stream has a clock rate T and is made up of tb byte multi-frames containing a nominal number tdb of data bits (tdb=772 and tb=104 for T1 data; tdb=1024 and tb=140 for E1 data). An integer number pc of phase adjustment commands are provided (in the preferred embodiment, pc=12 for T1 data and pc=9 for E1 data). A count having a total value pjT, where 1≦pjT≦tb, is maintained of the total number of positive pointer justification events previously encountered in the data stream. A separate count having a total value pcT, where 1≦pcT≦tdb*pc, is maintained of the total number of previously issued phase adjustment commands. If a positive pointer justification event is detected in the data stream, pjT is incremented by one.

Abstract: A plurality of expandable and deformable intraluminal vascular grafts are expanded within a blood vessel by an angioplasty balloon associated with a catheter to dilate and expand the lumen of a blood vessel. The grafts may be thin-walled tubular members having a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members, and adjacent grafts are flexibly connected by a single connector member disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for the prevention of atherosclerosis, its genesis, progression and restenosis in human patients undergoing treatments for arterial lesions such as PTA or atherectomy, and which may be accompanied by stent implantation. Further, the treatment method disclosed has applicability in all stages of atherosclerosis in which monocytes play a role. The compound utilized in the present method as the active agent is a 2-halo-2?-deoxyadenosine such as 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine (2-CdA). The treatment method of the present invention includes the administration of 14 doses of 2-CdA in the amount of 0.12 mg/kg. One dose is given intravenously before the coronary intervention, another is given intravenously after the intervention and the remaining twelve doses are given subcutaneously at weekly intervals over a subsequent three month period.