Abstract: A self-expanding braided stent includes at least a distal radial expansion ring added to a distal end of the stent body to increase a radial expansion force of the self-expanding braided stent in deployment of the stent, and to facilitate advancement of the stent through a delivery sheath by a core advancement wire. A proximal radial expansion ring is optionally added to a proximal end of the stent body to allow the stent to be recaptured following partial deployment by retraction of the core advancement wire, prior to full deployment of a proximal portion of the stent body.

Abstract: A generally tubular braided flow diverting stent is formed of alternating round and rectangular elongated members, for treatment of aneurysms. The generally tubular braided flow diverting stent maintains a significant wall thickness while increasing area coverage of a vessel wall. Sliding of the round elongated members over the rectangular elongated members allows the stent to be crimped to very low diameters for delivery in narrow portions of the vasculature.

Abstract: A tubular introducer sheath is made of predominantly clear material, with a colored stripe that extends along the length of the tubular introducer sheath, and that preferably spirals along the length of the tubular introducer sheath around the longitudinal axis of the tubular introducer sheath. The colored stripe has a width that is sufficiently wide to be visible externally, and is sufficiently narrow that the clear area allows visual inspection through the tubular introducer sheath. The distal end portion of the tubular introducer sheath may also be tapered.

Abstract: A system is provided to effectively position a stent within a vessel. The system includes a delivery catheter and a core wire extend through the catheter. The core wire includes an engaging surface region and a capture member disposed thereon, which cooperate to engage a stent such that the stent is able to be advanced or retracted with the advancement or retraction of the core wire. The engaging surface region and the capture member can generally be configured to engage the stent when a portion of the stent is disposed within the lumen of the catheter, and release the stent when no portion of the stent is within the lumen.

Abstract: An occlusive device suitable for endovascular treatment of an aneurysm in a region of a parent vessel in a patient, including a structure having a fixed porosity and having dimensions suitable for insertion into vasculature of the patient to reach the region of the aneurysm in the parent vessel. The device further includes a frangible material supported by the structure which initially provides a substantial barrier to flow through the frangible material and is capable of at least one of localized rupturing and localized eroding, in the presence of a pressure differential arising at an ostium of a perforator vessel communicating with the parent vessel, within an acute time period to minimize ischemia downstream of the perforator vessel.

Abstract: A stretch-resistant occlusive device, and method of manufacturing such a device, having a helically wound coil defining a coil lumen extending along the entire axial length of the coil from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. The device further includes a headpiece having a proximal end, a distal end attached to the proximal end portion of the coil, and a headpiece lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the headpiece. An anchor filament extends through the headpiece lumen, has at least one proximal end secured to the proximal end of the headpiece, and has a distal portion defining an eye positioned distal to the distal end of the headpiece. A stretch resistant member is positioned within the coil lumen, has a proximal portion extending through the eye, and has at least one distal end secured to the distal end of the coil.

Abstract: A vascular catheter which comprises a catheter shaft, said catheter defining a first surface which is of undulating shape with a plurality of curved peaks, said peaks being spaced so that a second surface in contact with the first surface is spaced from at least a substantial portion of the first surface, to reduce friction of the catheter.

Abstract: A vascular occlusion device that includes an inner embolic member at least partially covered by an expandable generally tubular mesh. The expandable tubular mesh typically comprises a unitary wall with apertures through the wall to assist in the expansion of the generally tubular mesh.

Abstract: Thin film devices implantable within a human subject for occlusion of an aneurysm or body vessel are provided. The devices are movable from an elongated, collapsed configuration for delivery to a deployed configuration within the body. Such an occlusion device includes a thin film mesh attached to a carrying frame. The carrying frame is moveable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The thin film mesh can include a plurality of slits, slots and/or pores that typically vary in degree of openness as the carrying frame moves between the collapsed and the expanded configurations. The occlusion device is positioned within a blood vessel so that the thin film mesh substantially reduces or completely blocks blood flow to a diseased portion of a blood vessel.

Abstract: Thin film metallic devices implantable within a human subject for occlusion of an aneurysm or blood vessel are provided. The devices include an embolization element that is moveable between a collapsed configuration for delivery to a deployed configuration within the body. The embolization device plugs the aneurysm or blood vessel preventing blood from flowing into or out of the aneurysm or other defective or diseased location of the blood vessel. The embolization element may be either self-supporting or supported by a strut structure. The occlusion device also includes an anchor element for anchoring the occlusion device and aiding in maintaining the embolization element in place. The anchor element is connected to the embolization device via a connector element.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient, including therapeutic dilatation or deployment of medical devices such as stents or grafts. The balloon catheter has an “over-the-wire configuration, including a proximal hub defining an inflation port and a guidewire port, a flexible shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, a balloon near a distal end of the catheter, and a distal guidewire port. At least a portion of the shaft has an inner tubular body defining at least a portion of the guidewire lumen, surrounded by an outer tubular body defining at least a portion of the inflation lumen. A proximal portion of the inner body is reinforced by a hypotube, which provides much greater column strength and torsional stiffness. A distal end of the hypotube provides a graduated flexibility transition with a distal spiral-cut segment, in which the pitch of the spiral cut pattern decreases to provide increasing flexibility.

Abstract: A balloon assembly for a medical device includes an inflatable body formed of a semi-compliant material defining at least one inflation chamber which is adapted for inflation and deflation. The semi-compliant material is made of a blend of a first formulation which comprises an organofluorine polymer in sufficient concentration to provide lubricity without the presence of a lubricating surface layer of different formulation and a second formulation which is substantially-fluorine free.

Abstract: A vascular catheter which comprises a catheter shaft, said catheter defining a first surface which is of undulating shape with a plurality of curved peaks, said peaks being spaced so that a second surface in contact with the first surface is spaced from at least a substantial portion of the first surface, to reduce friction of the catheter.

Abstract: A medical device, such as a vascular catheter, is at least partly made from a formulation which comprises a relatively soft polymer, a compatible, relatively stiff polymer, and up to about 15 weight percent of a fluorine-containing polymer, to provide a material which has inherent lubricating characteristics against, for example, a guidewire in a guidewire lumen of the catheter. In one embodiment, the tip of the catheter may be made of such a fluorinated formulation, while the catheter body may be fluorine-free.

Abstract: Catheter shaft tubes and methods for making them are described, in which a tubular member has two or more polymer layers, with some kind of reinforcement between at least two of the polymer layers. An inner polymer layer has a lower melting temperature than an outer polymer layer.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for medical treatment of a patient, including therapeutic dilatation or deployment of medical devices such as stents or grafts. The balloon catheter has an “over-the-wire configuration, including a proximal hub defining an inflation port and a guidewire port, a flexible shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, a balloon near a distal end of the catheter, and a distal guidewire port. At least a portion of the shaft has an inner tubular body defining at least a portion of the guidewire lumen, surrounded by an outer tubular body defining at least a portion of the inflation lumen. A proximal portion of the inner body is reinforced by a hypotube, which provides much greater column strength and torsional stiffness. A distal end of the hypotube provides a graduated flexibility transition with a distal spiral-cut segment, in which the pitch of the spiral cut pattern decreases to provide increasing flexibility.

Abstract: A gripper for a catheter shaft is a flexible tube surrounding a portion of the catheter shaft. A physician can move the gripper to a selected position on the catheter shaft, and then squeeze the outer surfaces of the gripper, which resiliently collapses around the catheter shaft. When squeezed, an inner surface of the gripper contacts the catheter shaft and can transmit forces applied by the physician to the outside of the gripper, including twisting of the catheter shaft or longitudinal pushing or pulling. The physician may then release the squeezing pressure, and has the option to move the gripper along the catheter shaft to a different position, and may choose to use the gripper at the new position by squeezing it again.