Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for associative online advertisement are disclosed. In various embodiments, an online advertisement of a product or service provider may be selectively associated with a member of an online social network, under the selection control of the member. In various embodiments, the association enables at least another member of the online social network to select the online advertisement from a social media associated with the member to be likewise associated with the online advertisement, or purchase for the member, a product or service of the associated product or service provider. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Abstract: A closure device is provided for sealing a puncture in a body vessel. The closure device includes an energy delivery device for delivering energy to tissue adjacent the vessel puncture which enhances an adhesiveness of the tissue to a closure composition precursor.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for the delivery of therapeutic agents which reduce myocardial tissue damage due to ischemia and anti-restenotic agents which inhibit restenosis following a cardiac procedure such as stent implantation. The anti-ischemia agents are delivered to the myocardial tissue over an administration period sufficient to achieve reduction in ischemic or reperfusion injury of the myocardial tissue. The anti-restenotic agents are delivered over an administration period sufficient to reduce the re-narrowing of a blood vessel following a cardiac procedure such as implantation of a device. Preferred anti-restenotic drugs are those that do not reduce the beneficial effects provided by the anti-ischemic drug, such as drugs that do not act on the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR).

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices for delivery of therapeutic agents, such as drugs, to a patient. More particularly, the invention relates to a device having therapeutic agents protected by a protective layer that prevents or retards processes that deactivate or degrade the active agents.

Abstract: A method for reducing the level of restenosis following a stent placement medical intervention involves the continuous administration of a dose of an anti-restenotic agent, such as paclitaxel, from the stent to vascular tissue in need of treatment in a controlled and extended drug release profile for a period of at least 60 days in vivo. The in vivo release profile is determined by in vivo animal experiments involving implanting a series of stents in animals, explanting the stents from the animals at selected time points, and extracting remaining drug from the explanted stents.

Abstract: Dipyridamole is an antithrombotic agent which also promotes the growth of endothelial cells. An endothelial cell lining within a stent is necessary for complete healing on the interior of the stent. A dual drug dipyridamole stent includes a first drug formulation of dipyridamole and polymer arranged in a first set of holes in the stent for primarily luminal delivery and a second drug formulation of an antirestenotic agent and polymer arranged in a second set of holes in the stent for primarily mural delivery. The delivery of dipyridamole luminally into the blood stream can involve a two phase release with the first phase being a burst to prevent initial clotting or thrombus formation followed by a second phase with a much slower and more sustained release to reduce thrombogenicity and promote the growth of the endothelial cell lining.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery device loaded with a beneficial agent is provided, wherein the beneficial agent is in two different forms, a first form having a higher solubility and a second form having a lower solubility, and wherein the two different forms are present in a proportion which is selected to achieve a desired release rate.

Abstract: A device for introducing a catheter into a vessel through a puncture in a vessel and for sealing the puncture. The device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end sized to be positioned within a tissue site which includes the puncture. The elongated body includes a utility lumen sized to allow a catheter to be delivered through the utility lumen. The utility lumen is positioned within the elongated body so positioning the elongated body within the tissue site allows a catheter delivered through the utility lumen to enter the vessel. The elongated body also includes a closure lumen having an entrance port. A closure composition can be delivered through the entrance port into the closure lumen. The closure lumen also includes an exit port adjacent the distal end of the elongated body. The closure composition delivered into the closure lumen can be delivered through the exit port to the tissue site adjacent the puncture.

Abstract: A method and system for delivering drug includes a first set of holes filled with a first formulation of the drug and a second set of holes filled with a second formulation of the same drug. This dual formulation or dual release kinetic system allows the creation of specifically tailored release kinetics by summation of multiple release kinetics.

Abstract: A system for loading a beneficial agent into holes in a medical device includes a punch system for punching plugs of beneficial agent from a thin sheet into the holes in the medical device. The loading of a beneficial agent in the form of a thin film allows the formation of multilayered structures within the holes to control release kinetics and prevent any meniscus which occurs when a beneficial agent is deposited as a liquid in the holes and dried. The punch type loading system also can provide the ability to deliver large and potentially sensitive molecules including proteins, enzymes, antibodies, antisense, ribozymes, gene/vector constructs, and cells including endothelial cells.

Abstract: A system for delivery of a beneficial agent in the form of a viscous liquid or paste allows holes in a medical device to be loaded in a single step process. The loading of a beneficial agent in a paste form also provides the ability to deliver large and potentially sensitive molecules including proteins, enzymes, antibodies, antisense, ribozymes, gene/vector constructs, and cells including endothelial cells.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the level of restenosis following a stent placement medical intervention involves the continuous administration of a dose of an immunosuppressant or anti-inflammatory agent from reservoirs in a stent to vascular tissue in need of treatment in a controlled, two phase drug release profile. It is envisioned that the vascular tissue in need of treatment is arterial tissue, specifically coronary arterial tissue. The agent or drug can be the calcineurin inhibitor Pimecrolimus. The drug can be held within reservoirs in the stent in a drug delivery matrix comprised of the drug and a bioresorbable polymeric material and optionally additives to regulate the drug release.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the level of restenosis following a stent placement medical intervention involves the continuous administration of a dose of an anti-restenotic agent, such as Pimecrolimus, from the stent to vascular tissue in need of treatment in a controlled and extended drug release profile for a period of at least 45 days in vivo. The in vivo release profile is determined by in vivo animal experiments involving implanting a series of stents in animals, explanting the stents from the animals at selected time points, and extracting remaining drug from the explanted stents.

Abstract: A method for treating blood vessel occlusions in the heart delivers an angiogenic agent from an implantable device locally to the walls of the blood vessel over an extended administration period sufficient to establish self sustaining blood vessels. An expandable medical device for delivery of angiogenic agents includes openings in the expandable medical device struts to deliver one or more angiogenic agents to promote angiogenesis. The device can sequentially deliver a plurality of agents to promote angiogenesis to treat, for example, disorders and conditions associated with chronic total occlusions.

Abstract: The beneficial agent is applied into the holes in a medical device in a dry particulate form and is adhered in the hole in a manner that allows release of the drug in a controlled manner. The drug material would be formed into particles and placed in the holes. The solvent would be added to partially liquefy and adhere the drug into the holes. After application of the solvent, the particles are adhered together in a substantially uniform drug containing matrix. The particles may include drug alone or drug in combination with other materials including a matrix.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the level of restenosis following a stent placement medical intervention involves the continuous administration of a dose of an anti-restenotic agent, such as paclitaxel, from the stent to vascular tissue in need of treatment in a controlled, extended, and substantially linear drug release profile. The method of substantially linear extended release increases the therapeutic effectiveness of administration of a given dosage. In one example, a method of reducing restenosis includes delivering paclitaxel from a stent to an artery at a minimum release rate of 1 percent of the total dosage of paclitaxel on the stent per day throughout an entire administration period from the time of implantation of the stent until the time that substantially all the paclitaxel is released from the stent.

Abstract: The implantable medical devices are configured to release at least one therapeutic agent from a matrix affixed to the implantable body with a release profile which is programmable to the agent and treatment. The matrix is formed such that the concentration of the therapeutic agent in the matrix varies as a gradient relative to a surface of the implantable body. The change in the concentration gradient of the agent in the matrix directly controls the rate of elution of the agent from the matrix. The therapeutic agent matrix can be disposed in the stent or on surfaces of the stent in various configurations, including within volumes defined by the stent, such as openings, holes, or concave surfaces, as a reservoir of agent, and alternatively as a coating on all or a portion of the surfaces of the stent structure.

Abstract: An expandable medical device includes a plurality of elongated struts, forming a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. A plurality of different beneficial agents can be loaded into different openings within the struts for delivery to the tissue. For treatment of conditions such as restenosis, different beneficial agents are loaded into different openings in the device to address different biological processes involved in restenosis and are delivered at different release kinetics matched to the biological process treated. The different beneficial agents may also be used to address different diseases, such as restenosis and acute myocardial infarction from the same drug delivery device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices for the localized delivery of therapeutic agents, such as drugs, to a patient. More particularly, the invention relates to a device having a gradient of water soluble therapeutic agents within a therapeutic agent layer and a mixing layer that allows for controlled release of the therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the local delivery of therapeutic agents reduces myocardial tissue damage due to ischemia. A local delivery device is used for delivery of the therapeutic agents into a coronary artery which feeds the ischemic myocardial tissue. According to one example, an implantable medical device for delivering insulin locally to myocardial tissue includes a therapeutic dosage of insulin in a biocompatible polymer affixed to a stent. The therapeutic dosage of insulin is released from the stent at a therapeutic dosage and over an administration period effective to reduce ischemic injury of the myocardial tissue.