Abstract: A delivery catheter for delivery, then photo-activation of photo sensitive material has a photo-sensitive substance-delivery part and an activation part. The catheter delivers substances such as biomaterials to a target site, followed by illumination of the target using optics located at the distal tip of the catheter which are optically coupled to an extracorporeal light source. The light may be delivered by a single or multi-lumen needle, or a separate light guide passed over the catheter.

Abstract: A delivery catheter for delivery, then photo-activation of photo sensitive material has a photo-sensitive substance-delivery part and an activation part. The catheter delivers substances such as biomaterials to a target site, followed by illumination of the target using optics located at the distal tip of the catheter which are optically coupled to an extracorporeal light source. The light may be delivered by a single or multi-lumen needle, or a separate light guide passed over the catheter.

Abstract: A delivery catheter for delivery, then photo-activation of photo sensitive material has a photo-sensitive substance-delivery part and an activation part. The catheter delivers substances such as biomaterials to a target site, followed by illumination of the target using optics located at the distal tip of the catheter which are optically coupled to an extracorporeal light source. The light may be delivered by a single or multi-lumen needle, or a separate light guide passed over the catheter.

Abstract: Devices for delivering drugs or other treatment agents locally to the vasculature of a mammal are disclosed. These devices have several related structures and are designed to deliver the drugs to facilitate rapid mixing with the blood flowing past the devices.

Abstract: A medical device includes a curved tubular body configured for being used as an extravascular device to support vein maturation following the formation of an arteriovenous fistula. The tubular body is curved. The tubular body has an entrance angle of less than about 40 degrees to improve blood flow from the artery into the vein. And the tubular body includes a cuff or edge at the proximal end to stabilize the tubular body at the fistula.

Abstract: Radiopaque cobalt-based alloys having a smooth electropolished surface with rounded edges and methods for electropolishing such alloys. A cobalt-based alloy includes cobalt, chromium, and one or more radiopaque elements. In one embodiment, examples of radiopaque elements include so-called platinum group metals (i.e., platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, or iridium). Group 10 elements (i.e., platinum or palladium) are particularly preferred. Because of the presence of the platinum group metal(s), such alloys are generally difficult to electropolish. Electrolyte formulations and methods for electropolishing such alloys are also disclosed.

Abstract: Intravascular cardiac restraining implants designed for treatment of heart disease and heart failure and methods for their use. The disclosed implants can be used to reshape or reinforce a diseased, weakened or distended portion of a patient's heart to counteract heart disease and heart damage. An intravascular cardiac restraining implant may include a first tissue anchor configured for implantation in a first region of a coronary vein, a second tissue anchor configured for implantation in a second region of the coronary vein, and at least one elongate member coupled to the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor. In one embodiment, the at least one elongate member may be a spring or a similar device configured for biasing the first and second tissue anchors toward one another, thus reshaping or reinforcing a diseased, weakened or distended portion of a patient's heart.

Abstract: Methods for making devices include providing a tubular member to be formed into a device, placing a removable sacrificial block material in the lumen of the tubular member and laser cutting the tubular member. A tubular member made from nickel-titanium alloy can be tightly adhered to a sacrificial sleeve utilizing the phase changes associated with nickel-titanium. A mandrel which includes an enlarged diameter section causes the workpiece to expand slightly within its elastic deformation range to dislodge islands from the workpiece. Such a mandrel could be formed from a tubular member which has a central lumen that can be used to deliver a pressurized medium to “blast” islands from the workpiece.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering an agent to an injection site in a wall of a patient's body lumen, with an elongated shaft having a needle-through lumen slidably containing a needle therein, and an expandable member on the distal shaft section which has a collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. In the radially expanded configuration, the expandable member supports the shaft in a position spaced away from the body lumen wall, and the needle slidably exits the needle-through lumen in the extended configuration through the port spaced away from the body lumen wall as a portion of the expandable member maintains the position of the port section of the shaft in the body lumen. The expandable member typically has an open-walled, helical, or lobed configuration providing a perfusion path along the expandable member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to balloon catheters for treating a luminal system of a patient. Specifically, the invention relates to catheters having a flexible membrane positioned at a distal portion of the catheter, the flexible membrane retained in a substantially unexposed conformation prior to deployment. Preferably the flexible membrane is capable of delivering a therapeutic agent to a localized environment when deployed to an exposed conformation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to balloon catheters for treating a luminal system of a patient. Specifically, the invention relates to catheters having a flexible membrane positioned at a distal portion of the catheter, the flexible membrane retained in a substantially unexposed conformation prior to deployment. Preferably the flexible membrane is capable of delivering a therapeutic agent to a localized environment when deployed to an exposed conformation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to balloon catheters for treating a luminal system of a patient. Specifically, the invention relates to catheters having a flexible membrane positioned at a distal portion of the catheter, the flexible membrane retained in a substantially unexposed conformation prior to deployment. Preferably the flexible membrane is capable of delivering a therapeutic agent to a localized environment when deployed to an exposed conformation.

Abstract: Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and phosphorous pentoxide (“P2O5”). Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering an agent to an injection site in a wall of a patient's body lumen, with an elongated shaft having a needle-through lumen slidably containing a needle therein, and an expandable member on the distal shaft section which has a collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. In the radially expanded configuration, the expandable member supports the shaft in a position spaced away from the body lumen wall, and the needle slidably exits the needle-through lumen in the extended configuration through the port spaced away from the body lumen wall as a portion of the expandable member maintains the position of the port section of the shaft in the body lumen. The expandable member typically has an open-walled, helical, or lobed configuration providing a perfusion path along the expandable member.

Abstract: Determining stability of a catheter is described. A first signal originating from a first region of a patient is monitored and a second signal originating from a second region of the patient is monitored. First components from a recurring interval of the second signal are extracted, where the recurring interval is defined by the first signal. The first components are compared to determine a first similarity value of the first components over time. The first similarity value is compared to a threshold value to determine a stability evaluation for a source of the second signal.

Abstract: Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and phosphorous pentoxide (“P2O5”). Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to balloon catheters for treating a luminal system of a patient. Specifically, the invention relates to catheters having a flexible membrane positioned at a distal portion of the catheter, the flexible membrane retained in a substantially unexposed conformation prior to deployment. Preferably the flexible membrane is capable of delivering a therapeutic agent to a localized environment when deployed to an exposed conformation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reinforcing ischemic tissue of a heart. A reinforcing element is initially positioned within a lumen of a delivery needle. The delivery needle is urged into the ischemic tissue and the reinforcing element is urged out of the needle into the ischemic tissue. The reinforcing element may be embodied as a coiled, undulating, or arcuate spring and may include a shape-memory material. A bioabsorbable material may maintain the reinforcing element in a deformed state. The reinforcing element may be tensioned as it is positioned within the myocardium in order to provide a cinching force by means of a cord lock selectively releasing the reinforcing element. The reinforcing element may be embodied as a number of spiral portions secured to a hub and urged outwardly by rotation of the hub.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering an agent to an injection site in a wall of a patient's body lumen, with an elongated shaft having a needle-through lumen slidably containing a needle therein, and an expandable member on the distal shaft section which has a collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. In the radially expanded configuration, the expandable member supports the shaft in a position spaced away from the body lumen wall, and the needle slidably exits the needle-through lumen in the extended configuration through the port spaced away from the body lumen wall as a portion of the expandable member maintains the position of the port section of the shaft in the body lumen. The expandable member typically has an open-walled, helical, or lobed configuration providing a perfusion path along the expandable member.

Abstract: A catheter which allows the rotational orientation of the distal end of the catheter to be adjusted in discrete intervals as the physician rotates the proximal end of the catheter. The catheter is designed to intentionally induce whipping but to limit the amount of whipping to a desired rotational interval.