Abstract: A tubular shaped elongated catheter device assembly with a distal and a proximal end, comprising an intraluminal distal segment and an extraluminal proximal segment, comprising one or more chemical and/or biological agents, for interaction with bodily fluids of luminal organs, wherein the intraluminal segment comprises at least one expandable cross-sectional area which in its expanded state is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the luminal target site and wherein at least the expandable portion of the intraluminal segment is capable of interacting with at least one component of the bodily fluid via an interactive contact surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter device comprising at least one pharmaceutically active compound, wherein the device is capable of releasing said pharmaceutically active compound such as angiogenesis promoting factors, inhibitors of an angiogenesis inhibiting factor or antibiotics over an extended period. It is preferred that the device is tubular and longitudinally extending device assembly with an intraluminal and an extraluminal segment and a proximal and a distal end, wherein the intraluminal segment comprises at least one reversibly expandable portion. Also envisaged is a catheter device for use in preventing a slow-healing or non-healing wound, diabetic foot or intoxication with bacterial toxins, or for treating or preventing bacterial or virus infections and/or medical complications during transplantation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter device assembly implant comprising one or more chemical and/or biological agents wherein the implant is capable of recruiting a circulating tumor or circulating metastatic cell or motile parts of tumor cells and hereby removes said cell or motile part thereof from circulation. For this purpose the implant comprises an agent, which is capable of binding to a tumor marker. The present invention further relates to the use of the implant for the treatment of cancer or metastasis, or for preventing cancer or metastasis, as well as corresponding methods of treatment. Also envisaged is a method of manufacturing the filter device assembly implant.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a shape for treating a vessel at a bifurcation, includes an oblique proximal end of the balloon, and a catheter shaft which is at least partially eccentric to a central axis of the balloon. Markers used for longitudinal and rotational alignment are included on the catheter shaft. A torque transmission element may be used for transmitting torque from the stiff proximal segment of the catheter to the distal flexible balloon segment of the catheter.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a balloon with a shape for treating a vessel at a bifurcation, includes an oblique proximal end of the balloon, and a catheter shaft which is at least partially eccentric to a central axis of the balloon. Markers used for longitudinal and rotational alignment are included on the catheter shaft. A torque transmission element may be used for transmitting torque from the stiff proximal segment of the catheter to the distal flexible balloon segment of the catheter.

Abstract: A stent having a main body with a proximal end and a distal end section having proximal and distal openings used for treatment of lesions in blood vessels and hollow organs, particularly at the ostium of side branches. The stent adapts to the anatomical configuration of a vessel branch by having at least one oblique end section in at least its expanded state. Truncated versions of the oblique end section are described as well.

Abstract: A stent having a main body with a proximal end and a distal end section having proximal and distal openings used for treatment of lesions in blood vessels and hollow organs, particularly at the ostium of side branches. The stent adapts to the anatomical configuration of a vessel branch by having at least one oblique end section in at least its expanded state. Truncated versions of the oblique end section are described as well.

Abstract: A balloon or dilatation activated stent particularly for use in a body vessel for specific lesions, particularly in the region of the ostium of a vessel or a bifurcation featuring at least two different stent characteristics (20, 30) as needed for optimal stent treatment. The main portion is predominantly plastically deformable and at least one end portion is elastically deformable and opens to a diameter significantly larger than the diameter of the main portion thereby covering the area of a vessel bifurcation or the ostium and the adjacent vessel wall by conforming to it. The second stent is protruding axially from at least one end (proximal and/or distal) of the first stent.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter is disclosed having an inflation balloon and a catheter shaft with an inflation channel. A first guidewire channel is disposed along the dilatation catheter and has a distal exit at the distal end of the catheter shaft. A second guidewire channel is disposed along the dilatation catheter and has a distal exit attached along the inflation balloon. Guidewires are slideably disposed within the first and second guidewire channels. An oblique ended expandable stent is disposed about the inflation balloon and used to treat bifurcated and sidebranched arteries and ostial lesions.

Abstract: A balloon dilatation system is comprised of an elongated flexible advancement member which terminates in a tubular tracking member slidable over a guidewire. An inflatable balloon has proximal and distal ends, the proximal end communicating with an inflation channel, and the distal end attaching to the tracking member. The balloon portion is coextensive with but not attached to the advancement member.

Abstract: For guiding at least two sutures through a wall of a membrane, of a balloon or of a surface, in particular of an artery of an individual, in the vicinity of the edge region of an opening provided therein and for drawing back out of the abovementioned opening the suture ends guided through the relevant wall, the invention provides a shaft-like suture-guide device which, in its longitudinal direction, contains a rear suture-feed part (3), a front suture-accommodating part (4) and a central suture-release/suture-clamping part located therebetween; the central suture-release/ suture-clamping part (5) can be expanded in one axial direction such that that membrane, balloon or surface or vessel wall of an artery of an individual which is located in the region of the relevant central suture-release/suture-clamping part (5) is thus subjected to tensioning, on account of which those edge regions of the abovementioned wall which are provided transversely to said tensioning direction draw together toward one another.

Abstract: A device (1) is disclosed to improve handling of a catheter guiding wire (6) at its proximal end. The device has a base body (9, 11) with a longitudinal lumen (10) for receiving the guiding wire (6), frictional clamping means for clamping the guiding wire in the longitudinal lumen (10), and an extension (11) shaped as a hollow needle that extends in the direction of the longitudinal lumen (10) and that protrudes at the distal and/or proximal end of the base body and is movable in the longitudinal direction in relation thereto. The hollow needle-shaped extension is preferably telescopically collapsible and the clamping means are arranged at the proximal end of the base body (9) in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A stent is formed in a tube like grid structure which consists of at least one sequence (i.e., one tubular segment) of closed loop elements which are connected to each other at at least one connecting point per loop (the loop contact point) wherein either the opposing ends of each sequence are circumferentially connected or one sequence is helically wrapped around the longitudinal axis of the stent.

Abstract: A guidewire and method of using same for tracking an indwelling device such as a catheter previously positioned within a body lumen. The guidewire includes an elongate flexible body shaft having proximal and distal ends, and a tracking member disposed at the region of the distal end. The tracking member defines an opening passable over the shaft of the indwelling device. During use, the tracking member is slid along the indwelling device toward its distal end to enable the guidewire to track the path of the indwelling device. The indwelling device then may be withdrawn from the patient's body lumen and an over-the-wire catheter may be threaded onto and advanced along the guidewire into the patient's body lumen. The tracking member is retractable within and removable from the guidewire. The invention is useful particularly in catheterization procedures where it is desired to exchange an over-the-wire catheter for a catheter having a fixed or integral guidewire.

Abstract: For the circumferential irradiation of objects, especially of vessels, hollow organs and solid tissue, by optical radiation of high intensity which is conducted via a flexible optical fiber, the optical radiation is coupled into the optical fiber at a predetermined angle (.beta..sub.1,.beta..sub.2) to the surface normal of the end face of the optical fiber such that it leaves the distant end of the optical fiber in the form of a conical surface.