Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments may include one or more therapeutic substances for locally reducing pain, facilitating healing and/or otherwise treating mucosal tissue at or near a tonsil bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments may include one or more therapeutic substances for locally reducing pain, facilitating healing and/or otherwise treating mucosal tissue at or near a tonsil bed.

Abstract: The gradient coated stent 150 of the present invention provides a coated stent having a continuous coating 130 disposed on the stent elements. The continuous coating 130 includes a first coating component and a second coating component. The concentration of the first coating component varies continuously over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. The concentration of the second coating component can also vary over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. In one embodiment, the concentration of the first coating component decreases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130 and the concentration of the second coating component increases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130.

Abstract: The gradient coated stent 150 of the present invention provides a coated stent having a continuous coating 130 disposed on the stent elements. The continuous coating 130 includes a first coating component and a second coating component. The concentration of the first coating component varies continuously over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. The concentration of the second coating component can also vary over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. In one embodiment, the concentration of the first coating component decreases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130 and the concentration of the second coating component increases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments may include one or more therapeutic substances for locally reducing pain, facilitating healing and/or otherwise treating mucosal tissue at or near a tonsil bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments include a method for increasing the adhesion between tissue and the film or covering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing or eliminating pain after surgical procedures related to mucosal tissue, including tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or other pharyngeal operations. Certain embodiments provide a biodegradable film or covering that serves as a mechanical barrier to reduce pain caused, for example, by friction between solid food and healing tissue in the first few days after surgery. Some embodiments may include one or more therapeutic substances for locally reducing pain, facilitating healing and/or otherwise treating mucosal tissue at or near a tonsil bed.

Abstract: A percutaneously implantable device for the treatment of a cardiac condition or other disease is disclosed herein, the device capable of delivery and maintenance of a therapeutic scaffold. A therapeutic scaffold may comprise viable tissue to impart or restore normal cardiac function, or other therapeutic agent for the treatment of disease or injury. Viable tissue may comprise a pacemaker gene or other genes intended to impart a pacemaker function to either host tissue or transplanted tissue, or both. Further, a device according to the invention may be used for the implantation and maintenance of viable tissue to induce or enhance muscle contraction of a subject for the treatment of a disease or disorder.

Abstract: A method for providing a dental appliance adapted to be worn by a patient by fabricating the dental appliance and coating one or more substances to the dental appliance. The coating substance can be used to strengthen the appliance during use or to deliver drugs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs.

Abstract: A method and gene therapy agent for treating a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient is disclosed. The method includes providing at least one gene therapy agent encoding at least one protein. The gene therapy agent is administered to a target cell population. The protein is expressed within the patient from a portion of the target cell population. The vulnerable plaque is modified as a result of the protein expression. The gene therapy agent includes at least one polynucleic acid encoding at least one protein. Administration of the gene therapy agent to a target cell population results in expression of the protein capable of modifying the vulnerable plaque.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices having an anti-restenotic coatings are disclosed. Specifically, implantable medical devices having coatings of proteintyrosine kinase inhibitors are disclosed. The anti-restenotic protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor is 4+4-Methyl-1-piperazinyl)methyl]-N-[4-methyl-3-[[4-(3-pyridinyl)-2pyrimidinyl]amino]-phenyl]benzamide methanesulfonate and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof (imatinib mesylate). The anti-restenotic medial devices include stents, catheters, micro-particles, probes and vascular grafts. The medical devices can be coated using any method known in the art including compounding the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a biocompatible polymer prior to applying the coating. Moreover, medical devices composed entirely of biocompatible polymer-protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor blends are disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are devices and methods for treating or preventing smooth muscle cell proliferation caused by endothelin-mediated conditions. In particular, a medical device comprising a structure which is implantable within a body lumen and means on or within the structure for releasing an endothelin (A) receptor antagonist at a rate effective to inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation. The device can be, for example, an expansible stent or a graft, and the means can include a matrix coating, wherein the endothelin (A) receptor antagonist can be dispersed within the coating or disposed directly on the structure and under the matrix. The methods and devices of this invention can be used to decrease the incidence of restenosis as well as other thromboembolic complications resulting from implantation of medical devices.

Abstract: The gradient coated stent 150 of the present invention provides a coated stent having a continuous coating 130 disposed on the stent elements. The continuous coating 130 includes a first coating component and a second coating component. The concentration of the first coating component varies continuously over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. The concentration of the second coating component can also vary over at least part of the thickness of the continuous coating 130. In one embodiment, the concentration of the first coating component decreases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130 and the concentration of the second coating component increases in the direction from the stent element towards the outer edge of the continuous coating 130.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for detecting a vulnerable plaque associated with a blood vessel of a patient. A first aspect of the invention includes a substance that is administered to the patient and a device that detects the substance. The substance has affinity for/binds to at least one of a lipid, a clotting factor, or an apoptotic factor associated with the vulnerable plaque. A second aspect includes a particle that is administered to the patient, an emitter that emits infra-red or near infra-red radiation on the particle, and a detector that detects light fluorescence from the particle. A third aspect includes a substance that is administered to the patient. The substance has affinity for/binds to the vulnerable plaque and includes a substance radiopaque characteristic that activates upon association/binding of substance with the vulnerable plaque. A device that detects the substance radiopaque characteristic is also provided.

Abstract: Methods, compositions and devices for inhibiting restenosis are provided. Specifically, molecular chaperone inhibitor compositions and medical devices useful for the site specific delivery of molecular chaperones are disclosed. In one embodiment the medical device is a vascular stent coated with a molecular chaperone inhibitor selected from the group consisting of geldanamycin, herbimycin, macbecin and derivatives and analogues thereof. In another embodiment an injection catheter for delivery an anti-restenotic effective amount of geldanamycin to the adventitia is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for treating a vascular condition, including a catheter, a stent including a stent framework coupled to the catheter, a preservative coating operably disposed on the stent framework, wherein the preservative coating includes at least one antioxidant.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices having an anti-restenotic coatings are disclosed. Specifically, implantable medical devices having coatings of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR&ggr;) agonists are disclosed. The anti-restenotic PPAR&ggr; ligands include thiazolidinedione compounds including ciglitazone. The anti-restenotic medial devices include stents, catheters, micro-particles, probes and vascular grafts. The medical devices can be coated using any method known in the art including compounding the thiazolidinedione with a biocompatible polymer prior to applying the coating. Moreover, medical devices composed entirely of biocompatible polymer-thiazolidinedione blends are disclosed. Additionally, medical devices having a coating comprising at least one thiazolidinedione in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent are also disclosed. Furthermore, related methods of using and making the anti-restenotic implantable devices are also disclosed.