Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are employed to restore patency to arterial lesions, e.g., by debulking restenosis in a blood vessel or within a stent or coil.

Abstract: This invention relates to infusion catheters that are used in cardiovascular and endovascular procedures to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic or vasoocclusive agents to a target site (the target site being accessible by a tortuous path through the vasculature). In particular, the invention relates to flow-directed catheters which have been coated on their interior or exterior surfaces with a cross-linkable lubricious polymer and to the method of making those catheters. The invention also relates to the process of using the infusion catheter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new technique for preparing metal devices such as guidewires for the subsequent attachment of hydrophilic coatings. The invention also relates to guidewires and other devices made according to that method.In one embodiment of the method of this invention, a hydrocarbon residue undercoat is applied to a metal guidewire core by plasma deposition. A photoactive hydrophilic polymer is then deposited on the hydrocarbon residue coating and activated by ultraviolet light. The hydrocarbon residue coating acts as a tie layer between the hydrophilic polymer and the metal guidewire core apparently by providing C--C bonds for the covalent linking of the coating material to the tie layer. The resulting article of this invention is a guidewire having the maneuverability of a metal guidewire and the biocompatibility of a lubricious, hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: This invention is a microballoon tipped catheter. The catheter has a shaft which is of varying flexibility with the most flexible portion towards the distal tip. The balloon, located near the distal tip of the catheter, is typically of an elastic material, is quite flexible in its own right when deflated, and is quite small. The catheter shaft has a main lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end so to allow the use of a guidewire in placing the catheter's distal tip in remote regions of the vasculature and for delivery of drugs, diagnostics, and other biologics to those regions. The catheter shaft has a wall that desirably is of a multilayer construction. The wall preferably includes an independent lumen, which may be formed from a small diameter tubing that is placed between layers of the wall, for the inflation and deflation of the microballoon. The inflation lumen proceeds from the proximal end of the catheter and terminates near the distal end of the catheter but within the microballoon.

Abstract: An infusion catheter with an elongate tubular body having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending between the ends through which a diagnostic, therapeutic, or vasoocclusive agent can be delivered is disclosed. The elongate tubular body is formed of a relatively stiff tapered proximal segment, a relatively flexible and strong distal segment, and a transition section that is less flexible than the distal segment but more flexible than the proximal segment. The infusion catheter is directed to the target site by means of the flow of blood to that site.

Abstract: A pusher-vasoocclusive coil assembly that is advanced through a catheter to a site within a vessel and is manipulated to detach the coil from the assembly. The coil has an affixed, proximally-extending wire that carries a ball on its proximal end and the pusher has an affixed, distally-extending wire that carries a ball on its distal end. The pusher and coil are coupled by placing the wires and balls in an overlapping interlocked position and enclosing the coupled assembly with a coaxial sleeve. The coil-pusher-sleeve assembly is positioned at the site and the sleeve is retracted to allow the balls to move radially relative to one another to disengage and uncouple the pusher and coil.