Abstract: A stent delivery assembly includes a catheter for carrying an intravascular stent for use in a body lumen. The catheter assembly includes a rapid exchange feature in which a proximal port is spaced a relatively short distance form the distal end of the catheter and a relatively long distance from the proximal end of the catheter. A stent is mounted on the expandable member or balloon portion of the catheter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for converting standard catheters or balloon catheters into drug infusion devices on an as-needed basis in a sterile environment, and which permit re-use of catheter devices previously used in a preceding non-invasive procedure. Apparatus is provided having a cavity for receiving a catheter device and a plurality of perforation pins or teeth for creating apertures in the catheter. Apparatus capable of converting a wide range of catheter devices into drug infusion devices is provided, which apparatus may be single-use disposable or re-sterilizable and re-usable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for converting standard catheters or balloon catheters into drug infusion devices on an as-needed basis in a sterile environment, and which permit re-use of catheter devices previously used in a preceding non-invasive procedure. Apparatus is provided having a cavity for receiving a catheter device and a plurality of perforation pins or teeth for creating apertures in the catheter. Apparatus capable of converting a wide range of catheter devices into drug infusion devices is provided, which apparatus may be single-use disposable or re-sterilizable and re-usable.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stent delivery method and system which generally includes an elongated delivery sheath and a catheter disposed within an outer lumen of the sheath having an expandable member on its distal extremity. An expandable stent is mounted on the expandable member of the catheter. The distal portion of the sheath tapers down and is tucked within an elastic cone during transport of the stent to a stenotic region. A manipulating device is provided on the proximal end of the delivery system to effect relative axial movement between the sheath and the catheter so as to expose the stent mounted on the expandable member on the catheter within a body lumen such as a coronary artery and allow the expansion of the stent by the expansion of the expandable member. The elastic cone thereby disengages from the sheath and collapses about the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stent delivery method and system which generally includes an elongated delivery sheath and a catheter disposed within an outer lumen of the sheath having an expandable member on its distal extremity. An expandable stent is mounted on the expandable member of the catheter. The distal portion of the sheath tapers down and is tucked within an elastic cone during transport of the stent to a stenotic region. A manipulating device is provided on the proximal end of the delivery system to effect relative axial movement between the sheath and the catheter so as to expose the stent mounted on the expandable member on the catheter within a body lumen such as a coronary artery and allow the expansion of the stent by the expansion of the expandable member. The elastic cone thereby disengages from the sheath and collapses about the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a stent delivery method and system which generally includes an elongated delivery sheath and a catheter disposed within an outer lumen of the sheath having an expandable member on its distal extremity. An expandable stent is mounted on the expandable member of the catheter. The distal portion of the sheath tapers down and is tucked within an elastic cone during transport of the stent to a stenotic region. A manipulating device is provided on the proximal end of the delivery system to effect relative axial movement between the sheath and the catheter so as to expose the stent mounted on the expandable member on the catheter within a body lumen such as a coronary artery and allow the expansion of the stent by the expansion of the expandable member. The elastic cone thereby disengages from the sheath and collapses about the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The intravascular stent intended for implantation in a stenotic area or zone of obstruction of a blood vessel consists of a flat sheet which is perforated to form a kind of a reticulated or lattice type structure with undeformable links and made of malleable material. Said sheet is temporarily rolled up and locked in a spiral with a relatively small diameter (d) on a deflated angioplasty balloon mounted on the end of a catheter and is held in said rolled-up state by a tie laced into overlapping links. Once the device is in place in the restricted area of the blood vessel to be treated and after tie is removed, the rolled sheet is expanded to a desired diameter (D) by inflating balloon and is then held in this expanded state by integrated holding flaps which, after the balloon is deflated, extend through the links and engage the edges thereof under the pressure of the vessel.

Abstract: Femoral compression device including a pressurizing element for compressive bearing at the puncture site, preferably located at the femoral artery of a patient subjected to, for example, heart catheterization, and for applying a pressure on the same, and a base plate for supporting the pressurizing element. A belt is adapted to be fixed around the patient's body. The base plate has a top portion and a bottom portion and is adapted to be fixed to the belt and the pressurizing element is provided at the bottom portion of the base plate so as to exert a compressive force against the patient's body at the puncture site.