Abstract: A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. Polymeric materials may be utilized to fabricate any of these devices, including stents. The stents may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. The polymeric materials may include additives such as drugs or other bioactive agents as well as radiopaque agents. By preferential mechanical deformation of the polymer, the polymer chains may be oriented to achieve certain desirable performance characteristics. The stent has a plurality of hoop components interconnected by a plurality of flexible connectors. The hoop components are formed as a continuous series of substantially longitudinally or axially oriented radial strut members and alternating substantially circumferentially oriented radial arc members. The geometry of the struts and arcs is such that when the stent is expanded, it has very high strains within a relatively small region.

Abstract: A medical device is constructed from a polymeric composition having properties such as increased visibility of the device and the ability to deliver therapeutic and other agents. The device is constructed with additives incorporated into the polymeric structure, such as a material that increases visibility of the device, while still maintaining desired mechanical characteristics such as high radial stiffness, minimized recoil values, and improved flexibility. The device can assume a wide range of geometries that are adaptable to various loading conditions In order to include performance-enhancing additives to the medical device without affecting mechanical performance, the additives are localized in discrete regions of a polymer structure from which a medical device will be formed. For example, a medical device can be prepared from a polymer form such as a tube containing radiopaque agent localized at its ends or in a desired pattern along the device.

Abstract: An apparatus prepares a medical device from a polymeric composition having properties such as increased visibility of the device and the ability to deliver therapeutic and other agents. The device is constructed with additives incorporated into the polymeric structure, such as a material that increases visibility of the device, while still maintaining desired mechanical characteristics such as high radial stiffness, minimized recoil values, and improved flexibility. The device can assume a wide range of geometries that are adaptable to various loading conditions In order to include performance-enhancing additives to the medical device without affecting mechanical performance, the additives are localized in discrete regions of a polymer structure from which a medical device will be formed. For example, a medical device can be prepared from a polymer form such as a tube containing radiopaque agent localized at its ends or in a desired pattern along the device.

Abstract: An implantable medical apparatus includes a structure formed from bioabsorbable polymers. The apparatus also contains a therapeutic agent dispersed throughout the structure or coated on the structure in such a manner as to elute the therapeutic agent when implanted in an anatomical conduit. The apparatus can be constructed from a blend of polymers and other agents. The apparatus is implanted into the conduit by expansion with a balloon or some other expandable means. The morphology or arrangement of the polymeric structure ensures that the device maintains its shape characteristics to ensure proper modeling of the vessel. In particular, the crystallinity of the polymeric structure is adjusted so as to resist recoil.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable drug delivery device and various methods of making the same. The devices are preferably formed from bioabsorbable materials using low temperature fabrication processes, whereby drugs or other bio-active agents are incorporated into or onto the device and degradation of the drugs or other agents during processing is minimized. The method includes preparing a solution of at least one bioabsorbable polymer and a solvent. The solution is then deposited onto a mandrel and converted into a tube. The solvent is evaporated from the tube in a nitrogen rich environment. The tube is removed from the mandrel and further dried before being stored in an inert environment.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable drug delivery device and various methods of making the same. The devices are preferably formed from bioabsorbable materials using low temperature fabrication processes, whereby drugs or other bio-active agents are incorporated into or onto the device and degradation of the drugs or other agents during processing is minimized. The method includes the steps of preparing a solution of at least one bioabsorbable polymer with a solvent and pouring the solution into a mold. The solvent is then evaporated in a nitrogen environment and the solution is converted into a film. The film is then removed from the mold and residual solvent is removed from the film. The film is then cut into strips and stored in an inert environment.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable drug delivery device and various methods of making the same. The devices are preferably formed from bioabsorbable materials using low temperature fabrication processes, whereby drugs or other bio-active agents are incorporated into or onto the device and degradation of the drugs or other agents during processing is minimized. Radiopaque markers may also be incorporated into, or onto, the devices. The devices may be generally tubular helical stents comprised of a solid ladder or an open lattice configuration, or a hybrid combination thereof. The tubular helical stents are generally formed from precursor fibers, films or tubes. The solid ladder configuration provides increased radiopacity and increased radial strength, whereas the open lattice configuration provides better endothelialization and fluid flow through the stent.

Abstract: Self-expanding stent delivery systems and methods having an introducer that receives a delivery catheter. The delivery catheter includes an outer body, an inner body and a stent loaded onto a stent bed within the inner body. The outer body receives the inner body with the stent loaded on the stent bed thereof. The outer body helps constrain the stent in its undeployed state in the stent bed until the stent is deployed by retraction of the outer body of the delivery catheter when the stent is identified as positioned across an intended treatment site. At least one anchoring mechanism provided on the inner body helps maintain the undeployed loaded stent appropriately in the stent bed during deployment. The at least one anchoring mechanism can include radiopaque material to increase fluoroscopic visualization of the stent during deployment, and the self-expanding stent can be a bio-absorbable material including drugs or other bio-active agents incorporated therein or provided thereon.

Abstract: A vascular or cardiovascular medical device for placement at a site in a patient's body and for controlling pH levels at the site in the patient's body includes one or more structural components made of a biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, or alternatively, a coating thereon made of a biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. A buffering agent is provided on or in the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material and the buffering agent is dispersed from the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material in response to hydrolysis of the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. Additionally, the vascular or cardiovascular medical device can include a drug that is included with the biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. The vascular or cardiovascular medical device can also be a stent or a valve.

Abstract: The use of electrostatic impregnation to load materials such as binders and flavors onto substrates such as fibers and medical devices is disclosed. Substrates loaded with materials such as binders and flavors, wherein the materials are loaded on the substrates via electrostatic impregnation are also disclosed.

Abstract: An absorbent article including an absorbent structure is disclosed. The absorbent structure has an absorbent core and a plurality of discrete entities deposited on the absorbent core, wherein the combination of absorbent core and discrete entities form a body facing surface of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A stent includes a lattice of interconnecting elements defining a substantially cylindrical configuration having a first open end and a second open end. The lattice has a closed configuration and an open configuration. The lattice includes a plurality of adjacent hoops, wherein at least two hoops are movable to one or more discrete locked positions as the open configuration and at least one hoop interlocks with another hoop at the one or more discrete locked positions. Moreover, the stent can be made from a biodegradable or bioabsorbable material.

Abstract: A bicomponent monofilament tape wherein the tape is made from the fusion of the sheaths of at least about 60 bicomponent core-sheath fibers and the bonding of the fused sheaths to the core fibers is disclosed. A process for preparing a bicomponent monofilament tape by providing at least about 60 bicomponent core-sheath fibers; fusing the sheaths; and bonding the fused sheaths to the core fibers is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device, and more particularly to a method of forming a tubular membrane on a radially expandable structural frame. In one aspect, a structural frame is placed over a spinning mandrel and a fiber is electro-statically spun over at least a portion of the structural frame forming a membrane. A transfer sheath may be used between the mandrel and structural frame to prevent the electrostatically spun fiber from adhering to the mandrel. In another aspect, a first membrane is spun over the mandrel before the structural frame is placed over the mandrel. In this aspect, at least a portion of the structural frame is sandwiched between the membranes. The membrane or membranes and structural frame form a fiber spun frame assembly. The fiber spun frame assembly may be coated with an elastic polymer. In addition, the membrane or membranes may go through some post processing to achieve desired characteristics or configurations.

Abstract: A bicomponent monofilament tape wherein the tape is made from the fusion of the sheaths of at least about 60 bicomponent core-sheath fibers and the bonding of the fused sheaths to the core fibers is disclosed. A process for preparing a bicomponent monofilament tape by providing at least about 60 bicomponent core-sheath fibers; fusing the sheaths; and bonding the fused sheaths to the core fibers is also disclosed.

Abstract: The use of electrostatic impregnation to load materials such as binders and flavors onto substrates such as fibers and medical devices is disclosed. Substrates loaded with materials such as binders and flavors, wherein the materials are loaded on the substrates via electrostatic impregnation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bicomponent monofilament tape wherein the tape is made from the fusion of the sheaths of at least about 60 bicomponent core-sheath fibers and the bonding of the fused sheaths to the core fibers is disclosed. A process for preparing a bicomponent monofilament tape by providing at least about 60 bicomponent core-sheath fibers; fusing the sheaths; and bonding the fused sheaths to the core fibers is also disclosed.

Abstract: Process for the formation of a plasticized proteinaceous material in which a plasticizer component is selectively matched with a protein component to form a blend. The blend is heated under controlled shear conditions to produce the plasticized proteinaceous material having the plasticizer component uniformly distributed within the protein component. The plasticized proteinaceous material is used for a variety of purposes including the production of gums and confectionery compositions.