Abstract: A bulbous valvuloplasty balloon is described that maintains its bulbous shape in its final deployed configuration along with the method of use for post dilation of a TAVR device. The bulbous balloon has two larger diameter bulb segments located on each side of a smaller diameter waist and can be used to post dilate a TAVR device that has been implanted at the site of a stenotic aortic valve. The post dilation causes deformation of the underlying tissues residing outside of the TARV stent structure.

Abstract: A medical device that may be implanted in a patient's body is disclosed. An illustrative medical device has an elongated structure that includes a material loaded with a radiopaque material. The radiopaque material includes radiopaque particles having multiple sets of radiopaque particles. The multiple sets of radiopaque particles may include a first set of radiopaque particles having particles with particle sizes in a first particle size range and a second set of radiopaque particles having particles with particle sizes in a second particle size range. The second set of radiopaque particles may have particles configured to fit within interstitial spaces between particles of the first set of radiopaque particles.

Abstract: Nanoparticles can be embedded into a medical device by accelerating them to a speed of between 100 m/s and 1,000 m/s and embedding the particles into a polymer surface of a medical device or a precursor thereof. In some cases, the nanoparticles can be embedded until the nanoparticles accumulate in sufficient number to adhere together to form a coating over the polymer surface. The nanoparticles can provide a conductive pathway, an abrasion resistant surface, a pro-healing surface, and/or an anti-bacterial surface.

Abstract: A bulbous valvuloplasty balloon is described that maintains its bulbous shape in its final deployed configuration along with the method of use for post dilation of a TAVR device. The bulbous balloon has two larger diameter bulb segments located on each side of a smaller diameter waist and can be used to post dilate a TAVR device that has been implanted at the site of a stenotic aortic valve. The post dilation causes deformation of the underlying tissues residing outside of the TARV stent structure.

Abstract: A medical device is provided with a porous region including a reservoir zone including a polymer and a protective zone between adjacent tissue and the reservoir zone that restricts the tissue from direct contact with the polymer.

Abstract: Medical devices and related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device that may be implanted in a patient's body is disclosed. An illustrative medical device has an elongated structure that includes a material loaded with a radiopaque material. The radiopaque material includes radiopaque particles having multiple sets of radiopaque particles. The multiple sets of radiopaque particles may include a first set of radiopaque particles having particles with particle sizes in a first particle size range and a second set of radiopaque particles having particles with particle sizes in a second particle size range. The second set of radiopaque particles may have particles configured to fit within interstitial spaces between particles of the first set of radiopaque particles.

Abstract: Nanoparticles can be embedded into a medical device by accelerating them to a speed of between 100 m/s and 1,000 m/s and embedding the particles into a polymer surface of a medical device or a precursor thereof. In some cases, the nanoparticles can be embedded until the nanoparticles accumulate in sufficient number to adhere together to form a coating over the polymer surface. The nanoparticles can provide a conductive pathway, an abrasion resistant surface, a pro-healing surface, and/or an anti-bacterial surface.

Abstract: Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlying balloon and encasing the web with a matrix material to form a composite balloon. The fiber web is applied to at least the cone portion of the underlying balloon form. Either the cone portion of the underlying balloon form, or the web fibers applied to said cone portion, or both, have a friction-enhancing material coated thereon.

Abstract: Medical devices and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a medical device or a medical device component includes contacting a non-fluid first member and a second member, the first member comprising a first polymer and an alignable material different from the first polymer; aligning the alignable material; and bonding the first and second members together.

Abstract: Nanoparticle precursor structures, nanoparticle structures, and composite materials that include the nanoparticle structures in a polymer to form a composite material. The nanoparticle structures have chemical linkage moieties capable of forming non-covalent bonds with portions of a polymer for the composite material. Such composite materials are useful as biomaterials in medical devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compounds from which nanofibers can be produced, the resulting nanofibers produced from the compounds, and nanofiber reinforced polymers prepared using the nanofibers and a polymer. The compounds used in forming the nanofibers include chemical linkage moieties that are capable of forming non-covalent bonds with portions of the polymer so as to form the nanofiber reinforced polymers. The nanofiber reinforced polymers are useful as biomaterials in medical devices.

Abstract: A coating having a smooth orange peel morphology is formed on an adluminal surface of a stent, concurrently with the formation of a coating having a rough rice grain morphology on an abluminal surface of the stent. During the formation of the two coatings, a mandrel is placed adjacent to the adluminal surface of the stent but does not generally contact the adluminal surface.

Abstract: A method includes: providing a tubular substrate in a chamber, the tubular substrate having a lumen, an a luminal surface and a luminal surface; providing a target in the lumen; depositing a first coating onto the abluminal surface and a second coating onto the luminal surface while keeping the tubular substrate in the chamber. An endoprosthesis, such as a stent, including a first coating on at least one portion of its abluminal surface and a second coating on at least one portion of its luminal surface is also disclosed.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a closure device, a method of making the closure device and a system that includes the closure device for closing an opening in a body lumen. The closure device includes an intravascular anchor for positioning in the body lumen, a suture coupled to the intravascular anchor, the suture to pass through the opening in the body lumen, a fastener joined to the suture, where the fastener moves longitudinally along the suture, and a plug having a first plug segment and a second plug segment. In one or more embodiments, the second plug segment has a hardness greater than the first plug segment, where the suture passes through the plug with the first plug segment between the intravascular anchor and the second plug segment and the second plug segment between the first plug segment and the fastener.

Abstract: In embodiments, a stent comprises a biodegradable polymer functionalized with an adhesion-enhancing amino acid.

Abstract: A medical device is provided with a porous region including a reservoir zone including a polymer and a protective zone between adjacent tissue and the reservoir zone that restricts the tissue from direct contact with the polymer.

Abstract: Molds and related methods and articles are disclosed. In certain embodiments, an exposed surface of the mold has regions with different coefficients of friction.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a plurality of struts defining a flow passage. At least one strut includes (a) a body comprising a bioerodible material and having a thickness and (b) a coating overlying the body. The coating includes a plurality of regions that allow physiological fluids to contact a plurality of corresponding areas of the underlying body when the endoprosthesis is implanted in a physiological environment. The plurality of regions are sized and arranged so that the contacted areas of the body erode substantially through the body in the thickness direction while the coating remains on the body when the endoprosthesis is implanted in the physiological environment.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a plurality of struts defining a flow passage. At least one strut includes (a) a body comprising a bioerodible material and having a thickness and (b) a coating overlying the body. The coating includes a plurality of regions that allow physiological fluids to contact a plurality of corresponding areas of the underlying body when the endoprosthesis is implanted in a physiological environment. The plurality of regions are sized and arranged so that the contacted areas of the body erode substantially through the body in the thickness direction while the coating remains on the body when the endoprosthesis is implanted in the physiological environment.