Abstract: A polymer blend that contains a polymer of fluorinated monomers and another biocompatible polymer. The polymer blend can form a coating on a medical device. The medical device can be used for treat, prevent or ameliorate a medical condition.

Abstract: A nozzle for use in a coating apparatus for the application of a solvent and polymer to a stent is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices comprising poly(ester-amide) elastomers in coating layers on the device.

Abstract: An improved stent design and stent delivery catheter assembly for repairing a main vessel and a side branch vessel forming a bifurcation. The stent includes rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and connected by links, where the stent has one or more portals for aligning with and partially expanding into the opening to the side branch vessel. The stent is implanted at a bifurcation so that the main stent section is in the main vessel, and the portal section covers at least a portion of the opening to the side branch vessel. A second stent can be implanted in the side branch vessel and abut the expanded central section to provide full coverage of the bifurcated area in the main vessel and the side branch vessel. Radiopaque markers on the stent and on the tip of the delivery catheter assist in aligning the portal section with the opening to the side branch vessel.

Abstract: An improved stent design and stent delivery catheter assembly for repairing a main vessel and a side branch vessel forming a bifurcation. The stent includes rings aligned along a common longitudinal axis and connected by links, where the stent has one or more portals for aligning with and partially expanding into the opening to the side branch vessel. The stent is implanted at a bifurcation so that the main stent section is in the main vessel, and the portal section covers at least a portion of the opening to the side branch vessel. A second stent can be implanted in the side branch vessel and abut the expanded central section to provide full coverage of the bifurcated area in the main vessel and the side branch vessel. Radiopaque markers on the stent and on the tip of the delivery catheter assist in aligning the portal section with the opening to the side branch vessel.

Abstract: A polymer of fluorinated monomers and hydrophilic monomers is provided. It is also provided a polymer blend that contains a polymer of fluorinated monomers and another biocompatible polymer. The polymer of fluorinated monomers or polymer blend described herein and optionally a bioactive agent can form a coating on an implantable device such as a drug-delivery stent. The implantable device can be used for treating or preventing a disorder such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, restenosis, hemorrhage, vascular dissection or perforation, vascular aneurysm, vulnerable plaque, chronic total occlusion, patent foramen ovale, claudication, anastomotic proliferation for vein and artificial grafts, bile duct obstruction, ureter obstruction, tumor obstruction, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Provided herein is a poly(ester amide) (PEA) polymer blend and a polymeric coating containing the PEA polymer blend. The PEA polymer blend has a Tg above the Tg of poly(ester amide benzyl ester) (PEA-Bz) or the Tg of poly(ester amide TEMPO). The PEA polymer blend can form a coating on an implantable device, one example of which is a stent. The coating can optionally include a biobeneficial material and/or optionally with a bioactive agent. The implantable device can be used to treat or prevent a disorder such as one of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, restenosis, hemorrhage, vascular dissection or perforation, vascular aneurysm, vulnerable plaque, chronic total occlusion, claudication, anastomotic proliferation for vein and artificial grafts, bile duct obstruction, ureter obstruction, tumor obstruction, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A drug-eluting stent delivery system for the treatment of edge restenosis in a blood vessel. The drug-eluting stent delivery system has a balloon disposed about at least a portion of a catheter, the balloon having a first end and a second end and a working length therebetween, the first end and the second end each including a tapered portion, each tapered portion being attached to the catheter, the balloon being inflatable from a collapsed configuration to an inflated configuration. A drug-eluting stent contacts a wall of the blood vessel to maintain the patency of the vessel. The drug-eluting stent has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end each including a tapered portion, wherein the drug-eluting stent is disposed over the balloon such that at least a portion of the first end and the second end of the balloon are covered by the tapered drug-eluting stent. A method for making the same is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An expandable metallic stent has discontinuities of non-conducting material. These eliminate electrically conducting paths in the stent rings and cells. This makes the stent easier to image with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The non-conducting material can include adhesives, polymers, ceramics, composites, nitrides, oxides, silicides, and carbides. The discontinuity is preferably shaped so that during expansion the discontinuity is placed in primarily a compressive stress.

Abstract: A stent deployment assembly with a novel endcap is disclosed. The endcap includes a tapered member having a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end each have an aperture therethrough. The tapered member has a pre-expanded condition and an expanded condition. The first end of the tapered member is positioned to interdigitate with an end of a stent mounted on a catheter when the tapered member is in the pre-expanded condition, and the first end is not positioned overlying the stent. The endcap prevents the stent from catching on calcium deposits or foreign objects during navigation through the vasculature. Furthermore, the endcap prevents unwanted migration of the stent with respect to the catheter.

Abstract: Medical devices that incorporate compounds containing fluorine-19 materials for use as contrast agents and passive markers in interventional magnetic resonance angiography. The device may be a guidewire, guiding catheter, angioplasty catheter, stent, embolic protection device, endovascular graft, endotracheal tube, Foley catheter, Hickman catheter, Broviac catheter, cerebrospinal fluid shunt, biliary stent, stylet, biopsy needle, electrode, percutaneous or endoluminal transducer or other desired interventional medical device. The fluorine-19 material may be configured from an elastomer, a fluid, a fluorosilicone, or a perfluorocarbon grease or oil. Such materials may be incorporated into marker bands and/or stripes, or may be deposited into or dispersed within the walls or lumens of the medical device to be visualized.

Abstract: A polymer coating for medical devices based on a polyolefin derivative. A variety of polymers are described to make coatings for medical devices, particularly, for drug delivery stents. The polymers include homo-, co-, and terpolymers having at least one olefin-derived unit and at least one unit derived from vinyl alcohol, allyl alcohol and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: An expandable metallic stent has discontinuities of non-conducting material. These eliminate electrically conducting paths in the stent rings and cells. This makes the stent easier to image with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The non-conducting material can include adhesives, polymers, ceramics, composites, nitrides, oxides, suicides, and carbides. The discontinuity is preferably shaped so that during expansion the discontinuity is placed in primarily a compressive stress.