Abstract: This disclosure pertains to controllably bioabsorbable devices, particularly anchors for vascular closure plugs and to methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A radially expandable segmented stent, the stent including annular metallic stent segments and connectors interconnecting each segment, the interconnectors are formed from a biodegradable polymer material.

Abstract: A catheter with a fluorescent temperature sensor is shown and described. The catheter includes a lumen, a fiber-optic cable that extends through the lumen. A distal end of the fiber-optic cable is coated with a fluorescent material and a proximal end of the fiber-optic cable is connected to a console. The console includes a light source for transmitting light through the fiber-optic cable for exciting the fluorescent material. The console further includes a photo multiplier tube for converting light emitted by the excited fluorescent material to a plurality of analogue voltage signals. The console further includes a digital oscilloscope linked to the photo multiplier tube for converting the plurality of analogue voltage signals to at least one digital signal. The console further includes a processor linked to the digital oscilloscope for converting the at least one digital signal to a temperature value for the distal end of the fiber-optic cable.

Abstract: A drug eluting stent comprising a multilayer tubular structure which includes at least one intermediate layer having reservoirs therein for deposition of a drug, the intermediate layer eluting drug in a lateral direction, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: A medical device delivery system, having a rolling retractable sheath covering a medical device mounting region on the system is disclosed. The rolling retractable sheath comprises an inner wall and an outer wall and may be formed of one or more materials, optionally porous. Optionally, a lubricant maybe applied selectively to the interior and exterior walls of the stent.

Abstract: A medical device having a segmented construction. In at least some embodiments, a medical device including a plurality of conductive elongated members that are of such a length and are connected together in such a manner to impart a degree of MRI compatibility to the device. In some embodiments, the elongated members can include a series of solid elongate members and tubular elongate members, which construction provides one way to control at least some properties of the device, for example, stiffness, torque transmission, flexibility, shape retention, and the like. In yet some additional embodiments, at least one of the elongated members has a recess into which a protrusion of another elongated member may fit.

Abstract: A medical device delivery system, having a rolling retractable sheath covering a medical device mounting region on the system is disclosed. The rolling retractable sheath comprises an inner wall and an outer wall and may be formed of one or more materials, optionally porous. Optionally, a lubricant may be applied selectively to the interior and exterior walls of the stent.

Abstract: A medical device having a segmented construction. In at least some embodiments, a medical device including a plurality of conductive elongated members that are of such a length and are connected together in such a manner to impart a degree of MRI compatibility to the device. In some embodiments, the elongated members can include a series of solid elongate members and tubular elongate members, which construction provides one way to control at least some properties of the device, for example, stiffness, torque transmission, flexibility, shape retention, and the like. In yet some additional embodiments, at least one of the elongated members has a recess into which a protrusion of another elongated member may fit.

Abstract: A method for substituting at least one high quality position measurement of an object taken before an interrupting event with a set of upgraded low quality position measurements of the object provided by the same source of measurements after the interrupting event.

Abstract: A drug eluting stent comprising a multilayer tubular structure which includes at least one intermediate layer having reservoirs therein for deposition of a drug, the intermediate layer eluting drug in a lateral direction, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrodes that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Each of the electrodes contains a source of electrical energy for pacing the myocardium and is adapted to receive electromagnetic energy from a source outside the myocardium. The system also includes a source adapted for placement outside the myocardium and that uses locally measured electrocardiograms to synchronize pacing of the heart by sending electromagnetic commands to the electrodes to pace the myocardium surrounding the electrodes. Also disclosed is various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies.

Abstract: Imaging a device in a magnetic resonance imaging system includes inserting a device having a conductive coil assembly thereon into a subject, obtaining a magnetic resonance image of the subject that includes signal phase variations, determining a position of the device based on discontinuities in the signal phase variations, and displaying an image representation of the device superimposed on a reference image based upon the determined position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongate intravascular device adapted to be advanced through a vessel of a subject. The present invention further includes an antenna which is disposed on an inflatable member such that the antenna can be increased or decreased in size to more accurately tune the system in which it is employed.

Abstract: Medical devices incorporate therein imaging materials having selected MRI detectable nuclei to provide useful magnetic resonance images of the medical devices and proximate body tissue. Also, a method generates MRI images of such a medical device, and involves performing first and second MRI processes on a body portion including at least a portion of the medical device to obtain, respectively, first and second image data. The first MRI process is adapted to detect MRI detectable nuclei present in the proximate body tissue, and the second MRI process is adapted to detect the selected MRI detectable nuclei contained in the device's imaging material. The selected MRI detectable nuclei incorporated in the imaging material is not the same nuclei that the first MRI process is adapted to detect. The second image data are combined with the first image data to produce image data for the medical device and the proximate body tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongate intravascular device adapted to be advanced through a vessel of a subject. The present invention further includes an antenna which is disposed on an inflatable member such that the antenna can be increased or decreased in size to more accurately tune the system in which it is employed.

Abstract: An intravascular device includes alternating conductive and dielectric layers and an electrically conductive coil in a configuration that effects an impedance-matching circuit. Another embodiment of an intravascular device has cylindrical inner and outer walls formed of an expandable, electrically conductive material, the inner and outer walls being separated by a compressible dielectric material. Varying the pressure in the lumen defined by the inner wall changes the spacing between the inner and outer walls, thereby changing the capacitance between the inner and outer wall. Another embodiment of an intravascular device includes one or more coaxial chokes for limiting heating caused by currents induced by RF signals. A conductive shield of the choke is formed of a conductive polymer to further reduce heating effects.

Abstract: Personalized voice survey delivery systems and methods in which a computer identifies a person to be surveyed, including his or her phone number or Internet login to a specific website, or email address, together with specific identifiers for the person, such as the person's name. The person's phone number is dialed and when the call is answered, the computer concatenates the files having the digitized identifiers such as the person's name, with the file that is the standard message to be delivered as the initial survey content. Computer-generated personalized voice messages are created by concatenating data files of audio that were pre-recorded in the voice of an individual whose live voice is to be simulated during the delivery of the voice survey.

Abstract: A radially expandable segmented stent having plastic, i.e., permanent deformation, connectors interconnecting each segment.

Abstract: A covered stent comprises a coiled sheet stent having at least a portion with open cell geometry and a graft material covering at least a portion of the coiled sheet stent.

Abstract: Computer-generated personalized voice messages are created by concatenating data files of audio that were pre-recorded in the voice of an individual whose live voice is to be simulated during the delivery of the voice message. A call to a person or list of persons is placed by a computer. Common identifiers of each person to be called are read from a data base of data files, and matched with a separate data base containing recorded voice phrases, each of which is a digitization of the individual speaking content corresponding to the identifier—such as the person's first name. The recorded voice phrase audio is concatenated with at least one other audio file, which is a digitization of a message to be delivered to the called person.