Abstract: Thick film conductive copper pastes that are lead-free and cadmium-free. The inventive copper pastes possess desirable characteristics, including good solderability, good wire bondability, a low firing temperature, and a wide temperature processing window, and provide excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates, including alumina and glass coated stainless steel substrates, as well as low resistivity, and a microstructure after firing that is dense and substantially free of pores.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making solar cells are disclosed. In general, the invention presents a solar cell contact made from a mixture wherein the mixture comprises a solids portion and an organics portion, wherein the solids portion comprises from about 85 to about 99 wt % of a metal component, and from about 1 to about 15 wt % of a lead-free glass component. Both front contacts and back contacts are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component thereof, in which an assembly of heat shrink material on an outer surface of coaxially disposed first and second tubes is heated to radially shrink the heat shrink material and reduce the outer diameter of the first tube. In a presently preferred embodiment, the heat shrink material extends at least along a central section of the first tube to reduce the outer diameter of the first tube at least along the central section of the first tube. The first and second tubes form the outer and inner layers, respectively, of a multilayered balloon, which has an improved low profile outer diameter.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making solar cells are disclosed. In general, the invention presents a solar cell contact made from a mixture wherein the mixture comprises a solids portion and an organics portion, wherein the solids portion comprises from about 85 to about 99 wt % of silver, and from about 1 to about 15 wt % of a glass component wherein the glass component comprises from about 15 to about 75 mol % PbO, and from about 5 to about 50 mol % SiO2, and preferably with no B2O3.

Abstract: Methods of coating a stent subsequent to mounting or crimping of the stent on a balloon of a catheter assembly are disclosed.

Abstract: A reduction resistant lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition that is particularly suitable for use in conductive ink applications. The invention includes a capacitor comprising a conductive copper termination, the copper termination is made by firing an ink including a glass component, the glass component may comprise ZnO, provided the amount does not exceed about 65 mole %; B2O3, provided the amount does not exceed about 61 mole %; and, SiO2, provided the amount does not exceed about 63 mole %. The molar ratio of B2O3 to SiO2 is from about 0.05 to about 3.

Abstract: A catheter balloon formed of a polymeric material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) bonded to a second layer formed of a low tensile set polymer and/or impregnated with a low tensile set polymer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the low tensile set polymer is an elastomer selected from the group consisting of a silicone-polyurethane copolymer and a diene polymer. The low tensile set polymer has high strength, low modulus, high elongation, and low tensile set, to provide improved balloon performance. The diene or silicone-polyurethane has a low tensile set, which facilitates deflation of the balloon to a low profile deflated configuration. One aspect of the invention provides improved attachment of the diene to the ePTFE. In one embodiment, the second layer is formed of a diene mixed with a bonding promoter such as a vulcanizing agent which is covalently bonded to the diene.

Abstract: Lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition that is particularly suitable for use in conductive ink applications. The invention includes a capacitor comprising a copper termination, the copper termination is made by firing an ink including a glass component, the glass component may comprise up to about 65 mole % ZnO, up to about 51 mole % SrO, about 0.1 to about 61 mole % B2O3, up to about 17 mole % Al2O3, about 0.1 to about 63 mole % Sio2, up to about 40 mole % BaO+CaO, and up to about 20 mole % MgO.

Abstract: Thick film conductive copper pastes that are lead-free and cadmium-free. The inventive copper pastes possess desirable characteristics, including good solderability, good wire bondability, a low firing temperature, and a wide temperature processing window, and provide excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates, including alumina and glass coated stainless steel substrates, as well as low resistivity, and a microstructure after firing that is dense and substantially free of pores.

Abstract: Lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition that is particularly suitable for use in conductive ink applications. The invention includes a capacitor comprising a copper termination, the copper termination is made by firing an ink including a glass component, the glass component may comprise up to about 65 mole % ZnO, up to about 51 mole % SrO, about 0.1 to about 61 mole % B2O3, up to about 17 mole % Al2O3, about 0.1 to about 63 mole % SiO2, up to about 40 mole % BaO+CaO, and up to about 20 mole % MgO.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable medical device, and a balloon or other device formed thereby, in which at least a portion of a tubular, wrapped sheet of polymeric material is heated with laser radiation to form a fused seam extending along at least a section of the length of the tubular body. In one embodiment, the portion of the sheet heated by laser radiation is less than the entire area of the sheet, so that the fused seam is formed by heating portions of the sheet without heating sections of the sheet spaced apart from the fused seam. In one embodiment, the sheet of polymeric material comprises a polymer having a porous and preferably a node and fibril microstructure, which in one embodiment is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and expanded ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

Abstract: Methods for modifying a balloon of a catheter assembly are disclosed.

Abstract: A medical device or component thereof, and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic uses, formed at least in part of a copolymer having a hard block and a polylactone soft block. In a presently preferred embodiment, the hard block of the copolymer is a polyester, and more specifically, the copolymer comprises a di-block copolymer of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and polycaprolactone. The copolymer is suitable for forming a variety of medical devices or medical device components, and is preferably used to form a catheter balloon, such as a balloon for an angioplasty or stent delivery catheter. However, a variety of medical devices or medical device components can be formed of the copolymer, including stent covers, vascular grafts, and shaft components.

Abstract: A catheter balloon formed of a polymeric material such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) bonded to a second layer formed of a low tensile set polymer and/or impregnated with a low tensile set polymer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the low tensile set polymer is a silicone-polyurethane copolymer elastomer or a diene polymer elastomer. The low tensile set polymer has high strength, low modulus, high elongation, and low tensile set. The diene or silicone-polyurethane has a low tensile set, which facilitates deflation of the balloon to a low profile deflated configuration. One aspect of the invention provides improved attachment of the diene to the ePTFE. In one embodiment, the second layer is formed of a diene mixed with a bonding promoter such as a vulcanizing agent which is covalently bonded to the diene.

Abstract: The present invention provides partially crystallizing lead-free and cadmium-free glass enamel composition that fuse at low temperatures. Glass enamel compositions according to the present invention form predominantly bismuth titanate and optionally zinc titanate crystals upon firing. Preferably, glass enamel compositions according to the invention include a glass component that includes by weight from about 11% to about 52% SiO2, from 10.2% to about 40% TiO2, from about 5% to about 75% Bi2O3, up to about 8% B2O3, up to about 14% BaO+SrO, and up to about 45% by weight ZnO, where the sum of Bi2O3 and ZnO comprises from about 30% to about 85% of the glass component by weight.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable medical device, and a balloon or other device formed thereby, in which at least a portion of a tubular, wrapped sheet of polymeric material is heated with laser radiation to form a fused seam extending along at least a section of the length of the tubular body. In one embodiment, the portion of the sheet heated by laser radiation is less than the entire area of the sheet, so that the fused seam is formed by heating portions of the sheet without heating sections of the sheet spaced apart from the fused seam. In one embodiment, the sheet of polymeric material comprises a polymer having a porous and preferably a node and fibril microstructure, which in one embodiment is selected from the group consisting of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and expanded ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component thereof formed of a compacted porous polymeric material, in which a tube of porous polymeric material is axially compacted, preferably without increasing the outer diameter of the tube, by positioning heat shrink material on the porous polymeric tube and heating the heat shrink material to decrease the length and diameter of the heat shrink material.

Abstract: A hybrid stent is formed which exhibits both high flexibility and high radial strength. The expandable hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by one or more links. In one embodiment, a dip-coated covered stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer material. In other embodiments, at least some of the rings and links are formed of a polymer material which provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent. These polymer rings and links are alternated with metallic rings and links in various configurations to attain sufficient column strength along with the requisite flexibility in holding open the target site within the body lumen. Alternatively, a laminated, linkless hybrid stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer tube.

Abstract: A hybrid stent is formed which exhibits both high flexibility and high radial strength. The expandable hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by one or more links. In one embodiment, a dip-coated covered stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer material. In other embodiments, at least some of the rings and links are formed of a polymer material which provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent. These polymer rings and links are alternated with metallic rings and links in various configurations to attain sufficient column strength along with the requisite flexibility in holding open the target site within the body lumen. Alternatively, a laminated, linkless hybrid stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer tube.

Abstract: A method of making a catheter balloon or other expandable tubular medical device or component thereof formed of a compacted porous polymeric material, in which a tube of porous polymeric material is axially compacted, preferably without increasing the outer diameter of the tube, by positioning heat shrink material on the porous polymeric tube and heating the heat shrink material to decrease the length and diameter of the heat shrink material.