Abstract: A device for transmitting mechanical waves, including a mechanical waveguide having an elongated shape and extending between a proximal end and a distal end for propagating the mechanical waves coupled at the proximal end up to the distal end, and a radiopaque marker secured to the mechanical waveguide adjacent to the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A device for transmitting mechanical waves, including a mechanical waveguide having an elongated shape and extending between a proximal end and a distal end for propagating the mechanical waves coupled at the proximal end up to the distal end, and a radiopaque marker secured to the mechanical waveguide adjacent to the distal end thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed medical devices, such as stents, guidewires and embolic filters, comprising a binary alloy of titanium and one binary element selected from platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold. There is also disclosed a radiopaque marker comprising the disclosed binary alloy, as well as medical devices having the radiopaque marker attached thereto. Methods of attaching the radiopaque marker to the medical devices, such as by welding, are also disclosure also disclosed.

Abstract: A guide wire for advancing a medical device such as a catheter through a patient's body lumen which has an elongated core with proximal and distal core section, a flexible tubular member such as a coil on the distal end. The wire core includes surface textures that are translated into the overlying coating. Alternatively, the coating has its own surface texture. The surface textures include randomly or non-randomly spaced bumps, divots, ridges, helical grooves, longitudinal grooves, undulations, etc.

Abstract: A guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal portion of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal portion of the device. An embodiment has a plurality of radiopaque elements that may be intermittent, continuous or in the form of a helical ribbon for scaled measurement of intracorporeal structure under flouroscopic imaging. Another embodiment has at least one layer of polymer over the distal end of the device.

Abstract: A locking component for locking a medical device onto a guide wire. Such medical devices include, for example, an embolic filter assembly used to capture embolic material that may be created and released into a patient's vasculature during a stenting or angioplasty procedure. The embolic filter assembly tracks along the guide wire, and is delivered to a treatment site where it is locked in place and deployed. The locking component enables the filter assembly to lock onto any standard guide wire, and does not require a modified guide wire that has a specially-designed fitting or stop to accomplish the locking function.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The expandable frame and filtering element can be mounted on a filter support structure, such as a coiled wire, and mounted on a guide wire. The expandable frames includes an articulation region which helps to distribute the strain which can be developed when the frame moves between an expanded and deployed position. The expandable frame may include further strain distributing bends which help distribute strain and increase the bendability of the frame.

Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having two core materials joined together without the use of a connector tube or sleeve, the core materials being stainless steel and psuedoelastic metal alloy, nitinol. The core materials are joined to each other through an intermediate transition piece made essentially of nickel, which is welded on either side to the two core materials. In alternative embodiments, the intermediate piece may have different shapes to provide different strengths and advantages as may be required.

Abstract: High radiopacity is achieved in a polymeric marker by combining a polymeric resin, a powdered radiopaque agent having uniformly shaped particles of a specific particle size distribution, and a wetting agent. The method to produce the marker calls for the blending and pelletization of these materials followed by extrusion onto support beading. The resulting supported tubing is subsequently cut to length with the beading still in place. After ejection of the beading remnant the marker is slipped into place on the device to be marked and attached by melt bonding. Marking of a guide wire allows lesions to be measured while the marking of balloon catheters allow the balloon to be properly positioned relative to a lesion.

Abstract: High radiopacity is achieved in a polymeric marker by combining a polymeric resin, a powdered radiopaque agent having uniformly shaped particles of a specific particle size distribution, and a wetting agent. The method to produce the marker calls for the blending and pelletization of these materials followed by extrusion onto support beading. The resulting supported tubing is subsequently cut to length with the beading still in place. After ejection of the beading remnant the marker is slipped into place on the device to be marked and attached by melt bonding. Marking of a guide wire allows lesions to be measured while the marking of balloon catheters allow the balloon to be properly positioned relative to a lesion.

Abstract: An intracorporeal device such as a guide wire with an elongated core having a radiopaque and optionally MRI-compatible markers embedded in a polymer sleeve disposed on a distal section of the elongated core is disclosed. The marker sleeve may be secured to a tapered portion of the distal core section or a constant diameter portion of the distal core section. Individual markers may be formed by radiopaque ribbons, bands, or strips, or may be in the form of a helical coil.

Abstract: An intracorporeal device such as a guide wire with an elongated core having a radiopaque and optionally MRI-compatible markers embedded in a polymer sleeve disposed on a distal section of the elongated core is disclosed. The marker sleeve may be secured to a tapered portion of the distal core section or a constant diameter portion of the distal core section. Individual markers may be formed by radiopaque ribbons, bands, or strips, or may be in the form of a helical coil.

Abstract: The ultrasonic angioplasty transmission guide wire has regions of reduced cross-sectional diameter to improve flexibility and to compensate for degradation of longitudinal displacement due to acoustic losses along the length of the guide wire. The guide wire has a core of ultrasonic transmission material and an outer jacket surrounding a usable portion of the elongated shaft. The outer jacket is formed of a shrink tubing. At the proximal end are disposed threads configured to connect to a connecting device for an ultrasound transducer. The distal end comprises a smooth ball tip for atraumatic application of ultrasound energy to biological tissue. In one embodiment, the guide wire is formed of stainless steel. In another, the guide wire is formed at least partially of a superelastic metal alloy and in one case is formed at least partially of a shape memory alloy that exhibits superelastic properties when in its martensitic state. In one preferred embodiment, the guide wire is formed of a nickel-titanium alloy.