Abstract: This is in the general field of surgical instruments and is specifically a delivery catheter with a flexible, proximally-manipulated hinge or joint region. The inventive catheter may have a balloon region. The catheter may have a shaft of varying flexibility which contains several lumen. The inner, or delivery, lumen generally may be used with a guidewire to access target sites within the body via the flexible, small diameter vessels of the body. The delivery lumen may be also used for placement of occlusive materials, e.g., in an aneurysm. Inflation of the micro-balloon, located near the distal tip of the catheter, is effected using the inflation lumen. The push/pull wire lumen contains a wire, which when manipulated, flexes the catheter's distal tip. The push/pull wire tubing may have a variable thickness to aid in adjusting the degree of flexibility. Moreover, the delivery catheter may be capable of twisting in a helical or corkscrew-like manner for traversing certain vasculature.

Abstract: A long nose manipulatable catheter is described herein. The catheter generally comprises a flexible joint region defining a main lumen and an adjacent wire lumen. The wire lumen has an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region and a push/pull wire can be pushed or pulled through the wire lumen. The catheter assembly may also comprise at least one radio-opaque marker band for securing the push/pull wire. The joint region has a predetermined length sized to affect a flexure of the joint and is generally located at the distal end of the catheter. The joint region itself may be varied to extend distally from where the braid terminates, or it may extend to encompass a portion of the braid. By varying a length of the joint region, the amount of curvature and flexure of the joint region can be controlled.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for a motorcycle. The fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank defining a fuel containment volume. The fuel tank has an upper wall. A fuel cap is operable to selectively open and close the fuel containment volume. A motorcycle accessory is attachable to the fuel tank via a connection structure including first and second connection portions that are complementary and inter-engageable together to positively define a fully-secured state. The first connection portion is secured to an exterior surface of the upper wall of the fuel tank, and the second connection portion is secured to the motorcycle accessory. The connection structure defines a finite position and rotational orientation of the motorcycle accessory upon relative rotation of the motorcycle accessory with respect to the fuel tank to the fully secured state.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for a motorcycle. The fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank defining a fuel containment volume. The fuel tank has an upper wall. A fuel cap is operable to selectively open and close the fuel containment volume. A motorcycle accessory is attachable to the fuel tank via a connection structure including first and second connection portions that are complementary and inter-engageable together to positively define a fully-secured state. The first connection portion is secured to an exterior surface of the upper wall of the fuel tank, and the second connection portion is secured to the motorcycle accessory. The connection structure defines a finite position and rotational orientation of the motorcycle accessory upon relative rotation of the motorcycle accessory with respect to the fuel tank to the fully secured state.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly for a motorcycle. The fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank defining a fuel containment volume. The fuel tank has an upper wall. A fuel cap is operable to selectively open and close the fuel containment volume. A motorcycle accessory is attachable to the fuel tank via a connection structure including first and second connection portions that are complementary and inter-engageable together to positively define a fully-secured state. The first connection portion is secured to an exterior surface of the upper wall of the fuel tank, and the second connection portion is secured to the motorcycle accessory. The connection structure defines a finite position and rotational orientation of the motorcycle accessory upon relative rotation of the motorcycle accessory with respect to the fuel tank to the fully secured state.

Abstract: A highly compressible stent is described. The stent includes a plurality of circumferentially offset and interconnected undulating rings having intermediate struts disposed between at least some of the undulating ring struts.

Abstract: A guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter is described herein. The stent delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire covered in part by a retractable sheath and a radially expandable stent near or at the distal end of the guidewire. The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheters or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath is retracted proximally to expose the stent for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-opaque marker bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent on the guidewire body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon on the guidewire for different treatment modalities.

Abstract: A steering stem assembly for rotatably coupling a steering assembly to a steering head of a motorcycle main frame. The steering stem assembly includes a first stem member configured to support a first end of the steering assembly on a first end of the steering head and a second stem member configured to support a second end of the steering assembly on a second end of the steering head. The second stem member is formed separately from the first stem member. A joint is defined between the first and second stem members and fixedly secures the first stem member with the second stem member.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system including a prosthesis mounted on an elongate member. The prosthesis has a locking member positioned on the prosthesis. The locking member includes a reduced diameter portion with two opposing surfaces that are configured to engage opposing proximal and distal sides of a radially extending member on the elongate member to lock or limit the longitudinal position of the prosthesis on the elongate member during delivery of the prosthesis to a treatment site.

Abstract: A steering stem assembly for rotatably coupling a steering assembly to a steering head of a motorcycle main frame. The steering stem assembly includes a first stem member configured to support a first end of the steering assembly on a first end of the steering head and a second stem member configured to support a second end of the steering assembly on a second end of the steering head. The second stem member is formed separately from the first stem member. A joint is defined between the first and second stem members and fixedly secures the first stem member with the second stem member.

Abstract: A guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter is described herein. The stent delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire covered in part by a retractable sheath and a radially expandable stent near or at the distal end of the guidewire. The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheters or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath is retracted proximally to expose the stent for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-opaque marker bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent on the guidewire body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon on the guidewire for different treatment modalities.

Abstract: A prosthesis delivery system including a prosthesis mounted on an elongate member. The prosthesis has a locking member positioned on the prosthesis. The locking member includes a reduced diameter portion with two opposing surfaces that are configured to engage opposing proximal and distal sides of a radially extending member on the elongate member to lock or limit the longitudinal position of the prosthesis on the elongate member during delivery of the prosthesis to a treatment site.

Abstract: A guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter is described herein. The stent delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire covered in part by a retractable sheath and a radially expandable stent near or at the distal end of the guidewire. The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheters or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath is retracted proximally to expose the stent for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-opaque marker bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent on the guidewire body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon on the guidewire for different treatment modalities.

Abstract: A guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter is described herein. The stent delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire covered in part by a retractable sheath and a radially expandable stent near or at the distal end of the guidewire. The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheters or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath is retracted proximally to expose the stent for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-opaque marker bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent on the guidewire body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon on the guidewire for different treatment modalities.

Abstract: A long nose manipulatable catheter is described herein. The catheter generally comprises a flexible joint region defining a main lumen and an adjacent wire lumen. The wire lumen has an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region and a push/pull wire can be pushed or pulled through the wire lumen. The catheter assembly may also comprise at least one radio-opaque marker band for securing the push/pull wire. The joint region has a predetermined length sized to affect a flexure of the joint and is generally located at the distal end of the catheter. The joint region itself may be varied to extend distally from where the braid terminates, or it may extend to encompass a portion of the braid. By varying a length of the joint region, the amount of curvature and flexure of the joint region can be controlled.

Abstract: The long nose manipulatable catheter includes a main lumen, a wire lumen with a push-pull wire therethrough, and a flexible joint region. The catheter section includes a control including a handle and a wire control member engaging the push-pull wire for manipulating the flexible joint region. The push-pull wire may be tapered, having a proximal portion of a first diameter and a smaller diameter distal portion. A coil may be placed around the smaller diameter to prevent buckling of the smaller diameter portion. A strapping coil may also disposed around the outside of the catheter, and an outer covering may be disposed around the strapping coil. An outer covering of a mesh may also be disposed around the distal tip of the catheter.

Abstract: A long nose manipulatable catheter is described herein. The catheter generally comprises a flexible joint region defining a main lumen and an adjacent wire lumen. The wire lumen has an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region and a push/pull wire can be pushed or pulled through the wire lumen. The catheter assembly may also comprise at least one radio-opaque marker band for securing the push/pull wire. The joint region has a predetermined length sized to affect a flexure of the joint and is generally located at the distal end of the catheter. The joint region itself may be varied to extend distally from where the braid terminates, or it may extend to encompass a portion of the braid. By varying a length of the joint region, the amount of curvature and flexure of the joint region can be controlled.

Abstract: A device for removing material from a patient's body comprising a shaft and an adhesive carrying surface extending from the shaft. The adhesive carrying surface is movable with respect to the shaft and has an adhesive on at least a portion of its outer surface. The adhesive has sufficient stickiness to adhere to a body material to remove the material when the shaft is removed from the patient's body.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for caged stent delivery is provided herein. The device can be used to position and deliver any type of stent to a preselected treatment site within an intraluminal cavity. The device comprises a tubular portion, a plurality of arms attached to the distal end of the tubular portion, and a mechanism to open the arms. In operation, the caged device carries a stent in a constricted form to the treatment site for deployment. The arms of the cage are then opened, the stent released and deployed, and the device withdrawn. Several methods are provided to open the arms, including various pullwires, a piston, an electrolytic joint, and an activator. The arms may be constructed of a shape memory alloy and opened when shape memory behavior is effected. The device may be used with conventional catheters or used with a stent-loaded guidewire.

Abstract: A long nose manipulatable catheter is described herein. The catheter generally comprises a flexible joint region defining a main lumen and an adjacent wire lumen. The wire lumen has an opening near or at a distal end of the flexible joint region and a push/pull wire can be pushed or pulled through the wire lumen. The catheter assembly may also comprise at least one radio-opaque marker band for securing the push/pull wire. The joint region has a predetermined length sized to affect a flexure of the joint and is generally located at the distal end of the catheter. The joint region itself may be varied to extend distally from where the braid terminates, or it may extend to encompass a portion of the braid. By varying a length of the joint region, the amount of curvature and flexure of the joint region can be controlled.