Abstract: Therapeutic and drug delivery systems are provided in the form of medical devices with coatings for capturing and immobilizing target cells such as circulating progenitor or genetically-altered mammalian cells in vivo. The genetically-altered cells are transfected with genetic material for expressing a marker gene and a therapeutic gene in a constitutively or controlled manner. The marker gene is a cell membrane antigen not found in circulating cells in the blood stream and therapeutic gene encodes a peptide for the treatment of disease, such as, vascular disease and cancer. The coating on the medical device may be a biocompatible matrix comprising at least one type of ligand, such as antibodies, antibody fragments, other peptides and small molecules, which recognize and bind the target cells. The therapeutic and/or drug delivery systems may be provided with a signal source such as activator molecules for stimulating the modified cells to express and secrete the desired marker and therapeutic gene products.

Abstract: A medical device for implantation into vessels or luminal structures within the body is provided, which stimulates positive blood vessel remodeling. The medical device, such as a stent and a synthetic graft, is provided with a coating with a pharmaceutical composition containing a controlled-release matrix and one or more pharmaceutical substances for direct delivery of drugs to surrounding tissues. The coating on the medical device further comprises one or more barrier layers, and a ligand such as a peptide, an antibody or a small molecule for capturing progenitor endothelial cells in the blood contacting surface of the device for restoring an endothelium at the site of injury. In particular, the drug-coated stents are for use, for example, in balloon angioplasty procedures for preventing or inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: Therapeutic and drug delivery systems are provided in the form of medical devices with coatings for capturing and immobilizing target cells such as circulating progenitor or genetically-altered mammalian cells in vivo. The genetically-altered cells are transfected with genetic material for expressing a marker gene and at least one therapeutic gene in a constitutively or controlled manner. The marker gene is a cell membrane antigen not found in circulating cells in the blood stream and therapeutic gene encodes a peptide for the treatment of disease, such as, vascular disease and cancer. The coating on the medical device may be a biocompatible matrix comprising at least one type of ligand, such as antibodies, antibody fragments, other peptides and small molecules, which recognize and bind the target cells.

Abstract: A medical device for implantation into vessels or luminal structures within the body is provided, which stimulates positive blood vessel remodeling. The medical device, such as a stent and a synthetic graft, is coated with a pharmaceutical composition consisting of a controlled-release matrix and one or more pharmaceutical substances for direct delivery of drugs to surrounding tissues. The coating on the medical device further comprises a ligand such as a peptide, an antibody or a small molecule for capturing progenitor endothelial cells in the blood contacting surface of the device for restoring an endothelium at the site of injury. In particular, the drug-coated stents are for use, for example, in balloon angioplasty procedures for preventing or inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: A medical device for implantation into vessels or luminal structures within the body is provided, which stimulates positive blood vessel remodeling. The medical device, such as a stent and a synthetic graft, is provided with a coating with a pharmaceutical composition containing a controlled-release matrix and one or more pharmaceutical substances for direct delivery of drugs to surrounding tissues. The coating on the medical device further comprises one or more barrier layers, and a ligand such as a peptide, an antibody or a small molecule for capturing progenitor endothelial cells in the blood contacting surface of the device for restoring an endothelium at the site of injury. In particular, the drug-coated stents are for use, for example, in balloon angioplasty procedures for preventing or inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for healing blood vessels by stimulating the formation of a confluent endothelial autologous cell layer in vivo on an implantable metallic stent having a lumen and a luminal surface, and an exterior surface. More specifically, the method includes implanting the stent with a coating in a patient in need of thereof; wherein the coating includes one or more layers of a matrix covalently adherent on said luminal and exterior surface of said stent containing one or more pharmaceutical substances on said exterior surface and a therapeutically effective amount of a single type of antibody, antibody fragments or combinations thereof being compatible to binding selectively to a specific cell surface antigen of circulating autologous endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. In addition, genetically engineered endothelial progenitor cells can be captured on said luminal surface of stent in vivo, to proliferate to form rapidly a confluent endothelium in situ.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for producing a medical device such as a stent, a stent graft, a synthetic vascular graft, heart valves, coated with a biocompatible matrix which incorporates antibodies, antibody fragments, or small molecules, which recognize, bind to and/or interact with a progenitor cell surface antigen to immobilize the cells at the surface of the device. The coating on the device can also contain a compound or growth factor for promoting the progenitor endothelial cell to accelerate adherence, growth and differentiation of the bound cells into mature and functional endothelial cells on the surface of the device to prevent intimal hyperplasia. Methods for preparing such medical devices, compositions, and methods for treating a mammal with vascular disease such as restenosis, artherosclerosis or other types of vessel obstructions are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device for implantation into vessels or luminal structures within the body is provided, which stimulates positive blood vessel remodeling. The medical device, such as a stent and a synthetic graft, is coated with a pharmaceutical composition consisting of a controlled-release matrix and one or more pharmaceutical substances for direct delivery of drugs to surrounding tissues. The coating on the medical device further comprises a ligand such as a peptide, an antibody or a small molecule for capturing progenitor endothelial cells in the blood contacting surface of the device for restoring an endothelium at the site of injury. In particular, the drug-coated stents are for use, for example, in balloon angioplasty procedures for preventing or inhibiting restenosis.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a body structure formed of a biocompatible material, the body structure including a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than the first material. The body structure has a mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4. The endoprosthesis may have a yield strength not greater than 100,000 psi. The endoprosthesis may be in the form of a wire or a tube. In one embodiment the first material is present in an amount not greater than 9% by volume based on the combined volume of the first and second materials. In another embodiment, about 30 to about 40% by volume of the first material is present based on a combined volume of the first and second materials in an endoprosthesis of tubular form.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis is provided which includes a stent component and a graft component capturing a portion of the stent component. The stent component is made of generally malleable material arranged to provide the stent component with a collapsed transluminal positioning configuration and an expanded, deployed configuration. The stent component has adjacent end windings that are welded together. In a preferred arrangement, a plurality of these welds define a spine-like welded arrangement, and a number of these arrangements are positioned generally circumferentially around the ends of the stent component. The graft component extends generally between the welded end portions of the stent component, with limited overlap being possible. Also provided is a method for forming this endoprosthesis and a procedure by which the endoprosthesis is implanted by deployment with a suitable expansion device.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a body structure formed of a biocompatible material, the body structure including a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than the first material. The first material is present in an amount not greater than 9% by volume based on the combined volume of the first material and the second material. The body structure has a mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4.

Abstract: A stent loading device is provided for loading a stent on a catheter of the type used in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures. The device has an end unit for holding a stent, a collet having a plurality of radially compressible fingers fitted to said end unit, a main body having a plurality of finger-like extensions whose distal ends can be fitted into openings in said base unit, a proximal extension for receiving a cap with compressible washer therein fitted to said main body proximal extension, a rotatable sleeve with collet driver fitted about said collet and main body finger-like extensions and a guide wire embedded in end unit and longitudinally extending through said device to either terminate at the proximal end of said cap or extend a distance from the proximal end of said cap.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis is provided which includes a stent component and a graft component capturing a portion of the stent component. The stent component is made of generally malleable material arranged to provide the stent component with a collapsed transluminal positioning configuration and an expanded, deployed configuration. The stent component has adjacent end windings that are welded together. In a preferred arrangement, a plurality of these welds define a spine-like welded arrangement, and a number of these arrangements are positioned generally circumferentially around the ends of the stent component. The graft component extends generally between the welded end portions of the stent component, with limited overlap being possible. Also provided is a method for forming this endoprosthesis and a procedure by which the endoprosthesis is implanted by deployment with a suitable expansion device.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps device is presented herein which employs a forceps assembly having a pair of forceps connected to the distal end of a control wire having its proximal end extending into a hub. A control wire actuator is connected to the proximal end of the control wire and the actuator is slidably mounted to the hub for slidable movement relative thereto between proximal and distal positions for respectively causing the forceps to be in a closed condition and in an open condition. A releasable locking mechanism normally blocks forward slidable movement of the actuator to prevent the forceps from being actuated to an open condition. A release mechanism releases the locking means from blocking forward movement of the actuator to thereby permit forward movement of the actuator causing the forceps to be actuated to an open condition.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps device is provided exhibiting improved torqueable and formable characteristics. The device includes a handle and a core wire connected at its proximal end to the handle and connected at its distal end to a forceps assembly. The control wire displacing device is carried by the handle and serves to displace the core wire for moving the core wire between a forceps open position and a forceps closed position. The core wire includes at least three elongated portions including a proximal portion having a proximal end secured to the wire displacing means, a distal portion having a distal end secured to the forceps assembly and an intermediate portion located between the proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion is of greater length than either the intermediate or distal portions and is of greater diameter than the intermediate portion which, in turn, is of greater diameter than the distal portion.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps device is presented herein wherein an elongated flexible hollow body portion having a lumen extending therethrough is provided with proximal and distal ends. A forceps assembly is coupled to the distal end of the body portion and the assembly includes a pair of forceps. A control wire having proximal and distal ends extends through the lumen of the body portion and is coupled at its proximal end to a handle and at its distal end to a forceps assembly. A trigger is mounted to the handle for slidable movement relative thereto between a proximal position and a distal position. A gripping device grips the proximal end of the control wire and is movable between first and second positions for respectively moving the control wire between a forceps open condition and a forceps closed condition. The gripping device is resiliently biased toward its first position. The lever arm engages and moves the gripping device from its first position to its second position against the resilient forces.