Abstract: A stent delivery system and method are provided. The stent delivery system includes an elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the elongate shaft. A stent is positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft, the stent having a first position and a second position. A proximal constraining member is positioned on a proximal end of the stent. A distal constraining member is positioned on a distal end of the stent. A restraining member disposed throughout a length of the elongate shaft and releasably engaged with at least one of the proximal constraining member and the distal constraining member, the restraining member having a proximal end and a distal end. The stent is in the first position, the distal restraining member applies an axial mechanical force to the distal constraining member.

Abstract: A stent delivery system includes an elongate shaft including a proximal portion, a distal portion, at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a stent receiving portion on the distal portion of the elongate shaft. A stent is positioned on the stent receiving portion of the elongate shaft. A proximal constraining arrangement is engaged with a proximal end of the stent. A distal constraining arrangement is engaged with a distal end of the stent. A release wire is disposed through the elongate shaft and releasably engaged with portion of the proximal constraining arrangement and the distal constraining arrangement member. A handle assembly comprising a shuttle and a spring arrangement is positioned therein. A first brake assembly is disposed within the handle assembly and a second brake assembly is disposed within the handle assembly proximal to the first brake assembly.

Abstract: A cell collection device for collecting cells from the inner surface of a body lumen is disclosed. The cell collection device includes a longitudinal member, a plurality of struts that are expandable radially, and a sheath having an inner surface that constrains the outward movement of the plurality of struts when the sheath is in a first position and does not constrain the outward movement of the plurality of struts when the sheath is in a second position.

Abstract: A stent delivery system is provided with an inner elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an outer elongate shaft having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, wherein the proximal portion of the inner elongate shaft is at least partially movably disposed within the lumen. The system also includes a stent positionable about the inner elongate shaft having collapsed and expanded configurations. The system includes a proximal restraining member removably engaged with the outer elongate shaft and attached the stent, and a distal restraining member removably engaged with the inner elongate shaft and attached to the stent. The system also has a proximal biasing member operatively engaged with a distal portion of the outer elongate shaft, a distal biasing member operatively engaged with the distal portion of the inner elongate shaft, and an outer tube with a lumen movably disposed over the inner elongate shaft.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with rotatable housing portion or member configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploy one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with a recessible-toothed rack and actuation member(s) configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploying one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which needle slot also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: A stent delivery system is provided with an inner elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an outer elongate shaft having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, wherein the proximal portion of the inner elongate shaft is at least partially movably disposed within the lumen. The system also includes a stent positionable about the inner elongate shaft having collapsed and expanded configurations. The system includes a proximal restraining member removably engaged with the outer elongate shaft and attached the stent, and a distal restraining member removably engaged with the inner elongate shaft and attached to the stent. The system also has a proximal biasing member operatively engaged with a distal portion of the outer elongate shaft, a distal biasing member operatively engaged with the distal portion of the inner elongate shaft, and an outer tube with a lumen movably disposed over the inner elongate shaft.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with a toothed rack and actuation member(s) configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploying one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: A stent delivery system is provided that includes an inner elongate shaft with a lumen and an outer elongate shaft with a lumen, where the inner elongate shaft coaxially extends at least partially within the lumen of the outer elongate shaft. The stent delivery system also a pull member movably disposed along the the inner elongate shaft and first and second restraining members removably secured to the pull member. The stent delivery system also includes a self-expanding stent having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, where the first restraining member is secured to a first portion of the self-expanding stent and the second restraining member is secured to a second portion of the self-expanding stent, thereby securing the self-expanding stent about the outer elongate shaft. Movement of the inner and elongate shafts relative to each other in a first direction applies a tension to the first and second restraining members to move the self-expanding stent to the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A cell collection device for collecting cells from the inner surface of a body lumen is disclosed. The cell collection device includes a longitudinal member, a plurality of struts that are expandable radially, and a sheath having an inner surface that constrains the outward movement of the plurality of struts when the sheath is in a first position and does not constrain the outward movement of the plurality of struts when the sheath is in a second position.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with a collet and plunger actuation member configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploy one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with rotatable housing portion or member configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploy one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: An endoscopic tissue-sampling needle includes an elongate needle shaft having a proximal and a distal shaft portion. The proximal shaft portion includes an inner tubular core that may be constructed of a same material as the distal shaft potion, having a longer length and a smaller outer diameter than the distal shaft portion. The distal shaft portion extends into and is fixedly attached to an inner diameter of a distal shaft portion lumen. The distal shaft portion lumen is configured for collection of patient tissue, with a distal penetrating tip and/or a side aperture with a cutting edge configured to excise tissue from a target site in a patient body. The proximal shaft portion includes polymer coating around the inner tubular core, which is configured to provide an outer diameter for the proximal shaft portion that may be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion.

Abstract: A drug delivery device is provided for directly treating a treatment site. The device allows body fluids to perfuse past the device while it is expanded to increase the amount of treatment time that is possible. The drug is delivered through a hollow helical tube that extends around a support structure. The hollow tube includes a series of lateral holes to allow the drug to directly reach the desired treatment site.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system including a needle and at least two adjacent and releasably-engaged fiducials retained within a lumen of the needle by engagement with each other and/or by engagement with a pusher element. A fiducial may include one or more mechanical engagement structures that interengage with and/or are rupturably attached to one or more adjacent fiducials. The needle, which may include echogenic enhancements, may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. A variety of releasably-engaged fiducials are disclosed, as are methods for use.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes an actuation mechanism with a toothed rack and actuation member(s) configured for incrementally or otherwise controlledly deploying one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: Embodiments include a fiducial deployment system with a handle configured for actuation of same. A fiducial may include one or more protuberances configured to engage one or more slots in a needle of the system. The needle may be configured to deliver a plurality of fiducials to a target location in serial fashion, one at a time. In certain embodiments, echogenic placement of fiducials may present certain advantages. The handle includes a clutched-gear actuation mechanism configured for incrementally or otherwise controlled deploying one or more fiducials at a time by advancing a stylet through and/or retracting the body of a slotted needle in which fiducials are disposed with a fiducial protrusion extending into the needle slot, which also includes retaining structures that do not impede the needle lumen.

Abstract: A prosthesis for placement within a body vessel of a patient may include a tubular frame and a covering material coupled to the tubular frame. The covering material may have an outer surface defining at least a segment of an outer surface of the prosthesis. An anti-migration coating may be applied to at least a portion of the outer surface of the prosthesis. The anti-migration coating may include a mucoadhesive agent. The mucoadhesive agent may include a polymer configured to adhere to a mucous membrane within the body vessel. The anti-migration coating may have a thickness of greater than or equal to about 2 ?m in a dry state to promote adhesion to the mucous membrane.

Abstract: Stents with inwardly-directed protrusions are described. An exemplary stent has a main body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface. The main body defines a lumen extending from the first end to the second end. A protrusion is disposed on and extends inward from the inner surface of the main body. The protrusion extends along a path on the inner surface and has a pitch and a depth.

Abstract: An endoscopic tissue-sampling needle includes an elongate needle shaft having a proximal and a distal shaft portion. The proximal shaft portion includes an inner tubular core that may be constructed of a same material as the distal shaft potion, having a longer length and a smaller outer diameter than the distal shaft portion. The distal shaft portion extends into and is fixedly attached to an inner diameter of a distal shaft portion lumen. The distal shaft portion lumen is configured for collection of patient tissue, with a distal penetrating tip and/or a side aperture with a cutting edge configured to excise tissue from a target site in a patient body. The proximal shaft portion includes polymer coating around the inner tubular core, which is configured to provide an outer diameter for the proximal shaft portion that may be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the distal shaft portion.