| Medtronic Vascular, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120109103 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLED-DEPTH INJECTION - Devices and methods for simultaneous injection or delivery of two or more substances from separate syringes. The syringes are loaded into a device that has a handle and a screw driven mechanism for simultaneously depressing the plungers of the syringes. The user grasps the handle and positions the device. Thereafter, the screw mechanism is used to simultaneously advance the plungers of the syringes thereby simultaneously expelling the substances from the syringes. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120108986 | Implantable Medical Sensor and Fixation System - An implantable medical device, such as a sensor for monitoring a selected internally detectable physiological parameter of a patient, is attached to a fixation member that is deployable within the patient to position and orient the sensor to enable it to perform its function. The fixation member may be configured to lie in a single plane when deployed or may be tubular in shape. The attachment of the housing and fixation member includes providing the fixation member with a linear attachment strut that is non-circular in cross section and providing the housing with external members that define an elongate channel, non-circular in cross section and receptive to the attachment strut. The attachment strut can be inserted transversely into the channel and the external member can be crimped over the strut to secure the housing and fixation member together. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120108922 | Implantable Medical Sensor and Fixation System - An implantable medical device, such as a sensor for monitoring a selected internally detectable physiological parameter of a patient, is attached to a fixation member that is deployable within the patient to position and orient the sensor to enable it to perform its function. The fixation member may be configured to lie in a single plane when deployed or may be tubular in shape. The attachment of the housing and fixation member includes providing the fixation member with a linear attachment strut that is non-circular in cross section and providing the housing with external members that define an elongate channel, non-circular in cross section and receptive to the attachment strut. The attachment strut can be inserted transversely into the channel and the external member can be crimped over the strut to secure the housing and fixation member together. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120089047 | CRYOABLATION APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR RENAL NEUROMODULATION - Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for cryogenically modulating neural structures of the renal plexus by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a cryo-applicator to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Cryogenic renal neuromodulation may be achieved via application of cryogenic temperatures to modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120071961 | Stent With Hollow Drug-Eluting Elements - A stent includes a plurality of cylindrical elements joined along a common longitudinal axis to form a tube. The cylindrical elements include struts joined by crowns. Hollow, drug-eluting elements are disposed between adjacent cylindrical elements and connect adjacent cylindrical elements to each other. A therapeutic substance fills the lumen of the drug-eluting elements, and openings in the walls of the drug-eluting elements allow elution of therapeutic substance from the lumen for treatment of a vessel. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120070563 | Apparatus and Methods for Loading a Drug Eluting Medical Device - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120070562 | Apparaus and Methods for Loading a Drug Eluting Medical Device - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067455 | Apparatus and Methods for Loading a Drug Eluting Medical Device - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067454 | Apparatus and Methods for Loading a Drug Eluting Medical Device - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067103 | Method of Forming a Drug-Eluting Medical Device - A method of forming a stent includes the steps of forming a composite member into a stent pattern, forming openings through an outer member of the composite member, processing the composite member to remove a portion of the composite member without adversely affecting the outer member, and swaging the outer member to create a plurality of lumens. The composite member may be formed of an outer member with an hourglass-shaped inner member, wherein the processing step removes the inner member and the swaging step forms two lumens from the hourglass shaped cavity. The composite member may be formed of an outer member, an inner member, and an intermediate member, wherein the processing step removes the intermediate member and the swaging step presses portions of the outer member into contact with the inner member to form two lumens separated by the inner member. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067008 | Method of Forming a Drug-Eluting Medical Device - A method of forming a stent includes the steps of forming an elongated composite member or plurality of elongated composite members into a stent pattern having struts interconnected by crowns, the composite member including an outer member and a core member. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from at least a plurality of the struts of the stent without adversely affecting the outer member and such that the core member is not removed from at least a plurality of the crowns of the stent, thereby leaving the outer member with a lumen in at least a plurality of the struts and the outer member with the core member in at least a plurality of the crowns. The lumens may then be filled with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120065725 | PROSTHESIS FOR ANTEGRADE DEPLOYMENT - An endoluminal tubular prosthesis for use in an open surgical repair comprises a tubular graft having a longitudinal axis, a first tubular section having a plurality of self-expanding stents and extending along the longitudinal axis and a second stent-less tubular section extending from the first tubular section and along the longitudinal axis. The tubular prosthesis can include a plurality of tubular branching members branching therefrom for treating branched arteries without obstructing them, such as the branches from the aortic arch. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120041547 | Heart Valve Delivery Catheter With Safety Button - Valve delivery catheter assemblies including components that limit trauma to the expanded prosthetic valve and body channels as the distal tip of the catheter is withdrawn through the expanded valve and thereafter from the body. Catheter assemblies according to the present invention can include a handle assembly, an introducer sheath, and a distal tip assembly. The handle assembly can include a fixed main handle and two or more rotating handles that allow a user to control the distal tip assembly of the catheter. A safety button can be included on the handle assembly to allow for precise and consistent positioning of the prosthetic valve in the body. A valve retaining mechanism can be included to assist in retaining the prosthetic valve prior to deployment. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120035717 | Catheter Assembly with Valve Crimping Accessories - Valve delivery catheter assemblies including components that limit trauma to the expanded prosthetic valve and body channels as the distal tip of the catheter is withdrawn through the expanded valve and thereafter from the body. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly according to the present invention includes a handle assembly, an introducer sheath, and a distal tip assembly. The handle assembly can include a fixed main handle and two or more rotating handles that allow a user to control the distal tip assembly of the catheter. A valve retaining mechanism can be included to assist in retaining the prosthetic valve prior to deployment. Each control knob on the handle assembly controls a portion of the components on the distal tip of the catheter by allowing for precise manipulation of various delivery shafts. Each delivery shaft extends from the handle assembly to respective positions towards the distal end of the catheter. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120029611 | Stent Graft System and Method of Use - A stent graft system and method of use including a stent graft system with a first stent graft component and a second stent graft component. A first tubular graft of the first stent graft component has an integral first body and first leg, with the first body defining a first crown opening and a first substantially elliptical opening. The second body of the second stent graft component is disposed in the first body of the first stent graft component with the second leg of the second stent graft component disposed through the first substantially elliptical opening of the first stent graft component with the perimeter of the first elliptical opening of the first stent graft component in contact with the second body of the second stent graft component. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120022641 | Valve Holder - Methods and apparatus for holding and maneuvering a valve during preparation and attachment to patient, providing increased visibility of the prosthetic valve and the sewing ring to prevent suture entanglement. A handle attachment is spaced from the valve for improved visibility of the sewing ring and the outlet end of the valve during attachment. Commissure posts are bent inward at the tips while preventing crashing of the commissure posts into each other causing damage. A release force needed to remove the holder and unthread the holder sutures is reduced. The holder and related methods can provide a kink free holder suture path to reduce suture entanglement and prevent damage to the implanted valve during holder removal by reducing the release force needed to remove the holder sutures by up to 30%. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120018496 | Method and Apparatus for Forming a Wave Form Used to Make Wound Stents - A method for forming a wave form for a stent includes clamping a formable material to a first die including a forming portion; drawing the formable material with the first die in a first direction; clamping the formable material to a second die at a location spaced from the first die, the second die including a forming surface; moving a forming member in between the first die and the second die in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and into contact with the formable material; and deforming the formable material by moving the forming member in the second direction while moving the first die towards the second die and/or moving the second die towards the first die. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120016411 | Apical Closure System - Aspects of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for closing an apical hole in a heart of a subject, including a hole-closure device that includes a tissue-attachment portion configured to attach to cardiac tissue around the apical hole, and a collapsible portion coupled to the tissue-attachment portion and configured to close the hole by collapsing inwardly inside the apical hole. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012014 | Method for Forming a Wave Form Used to Make Wound Stents - A method for forming a wave form for a stent. The wave form includes a plurality of substantially straight portions and a plurality of curved portions. Each curved portion connects adjacent substantially straight portions. The method includes feeding a formable material between a first die and a second die, the first die having a protruding surface in the shape of the wave form, and the second die having a recessed surface in the shape of the wave form complementing the protruding surface of the first die, pressing the formable material with the protruding surface of the first die into contact with the recessed surface of the second die, and shearing the wave form from the formable material with shearing forces created by the pressing. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120010691 | Particle Embedded Polymer Stent and Method of Manufacture - A particle embedded polymer stent and method of manufacture, which includes a stent delivery system having a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a polymer stent disposed on the balloon, the stent comprising struts interconnected to form a tubular body. Each of the struts includes in cross section a drug-free core region; and a drug region surrounding and immediately adjacent to the core region, the drug region including drug particles. The drug-free core region and the drug region are made of a single polymer, the single polymer having a drug-safe softening temperature. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120009325 | Method of Making a Stent with Hollow Struts - A stent including hollow struts is formed on a cylindrical substrate. The struts of the stent are formed by electroforming metal layers of the strut in openings formed in a patterned photoresist material. A first metal layer forming the inner strut material is formed in openings in a first photoresist material. A sacrificial material to form the cavity to make the struts hollow is formed in openings in a second photoresist material. A second metal layer forming the side walls and outer wall of the struts is formed in openings in a third photoresist material and around the sacrificial material. The photoresist materials are removed. The substrate and cavity sacrificial material are removed, leaving hollow struts formed into a stent pattern. The hollow struts may be filled with a therapeutic substance for elution. Openings through the struts to the cavity may be formed during the forming process. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20110301688 | Prosthetic Valve Delivery System - A prosthetic valve delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a prosthetic valve within an existing valve is disclosed. The delivery system includes a stented prosthetic valve having a balloon-expandable stent portion with a prosthetic valve disposed therein and at least one self-expanding stent portion. The delivery system further includes a dual balloon catheter having a first balloon on which the stented prosthetic valve is disposed during delivery and a second balloon. Upon delivery within the existing valve, the self-expanding stent portion contacts the existing valve and the first balloon expands the balloon-expandable stent portion to a first diameter such that the stented prosthetic valve is in a first stage deployment configuration. The second balloon then expands the balloon-expandable stent portion to a second diameter, greater than the first diameter, such that the stented prosthetic valve is in a second stage deployment configuration being fully deployed within the existing valve. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301625 | Hydrodynamic Thrombectomy Catheter - A catheter apparatus for removing an obstruction within a body lumen includes an elongate tubular shaft defining a lumen and a flexible membrane that fluidly seals the distal end of the tubular shaft. At least one cutting element or tool is attached to and distally extends from the flexible membrane. An actuating mechanism is operatively connected to a proximal end of the tubular shaft. The actuating mechanism displaces a fluid disposed within the lumen of the tubular shaft in such a manner that the fluid oscillates the flexible membrane and the cutting element attached thereto. Accordingly, the catheter apparatus uses pulsatile fluid flow through the tubular shaft to transmit energy from the driving mechanical at the proximal end of the catheter apparatus to the flexible membrane at the distal end of the catheter apparatus. The transmitted energy causes the cutting element to oscillate and break up a target blood clot. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110301299 | Medical Devices and Polymers Therefor Having PTFE Surfaces Modified With Nitric Oxide-Releasing Polymers - Described herein are polymers useful for forming or coating implantable medical devices and such medical devices. The polymers are biocompatible and hemocompatible and comprise PTFE surfaces modified by covalently linking a nitric oxide releasing polymer to the PTFE surface through a linking group. Further described are precursor polymers and processes for preparing such polymers and precursor polymers. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110295355 | BLOUSED STENT-GRAFT AND FENESTRATION METHOD - A method includes deploying a bloused stent-graft into a main vessel such that a bloused section of the bloused stent-graft covers a branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. The bloused section includes loose graft cloth. A pressure differential between the main vessel and the branch vessel causes the bloused section to be forced into an ostium of the branch vessel creating a pocket aligned with the branch vessel. A distal tip of a puncture device is located in the pocket and thus aligned with the branch vessel. An outward force is applied to the puncture device to cause the distal tip of the puncture device to fenestrate the bloused section thus creating a collateral opening in the bloused section precisely aligned with the branch vessel. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110282425 | Catheter Handle and Methods of Operating - A delivery system having an improved handle allowing operation of the delivery system with one hand while maintaining accuracy in delivery and deployment of a prosthesis in a body lumen. The delivery system includes a sheath and a handle. The handle includes a slide shaft having a threaded outer surface, and a hub assembly coupled to the sheath. The hub assembly includes an inner slider having a thread tooth pivot support, a thread tooth pivotably mounted to the thread tooth pivot support, a distal sleeve having a thread tooth press member pressing on the thread tooth, and a proximal sleeve. Motion of the distal sleeve relative to the inner slider pivots the thread tooth on the thread tooth pivot support to engage and disengage the hub assembly with the threaded outer surface. The distal sleeve is rotatably coupled to the proximal sleeve, and the proximal sleeve is prevented from rotating to provide a stable grip to allow operation of the catheter with one hand. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110282286 | Introducer Sheath - An introducer sheath includes a elongated sheath configured to be inserted into a blood vessel. The elongated sheath includes a central lumen configured to allow a surgical implement or medical device to pass therethrough. The introducer sheath also includes a hemostatic valve operatively connected to the sheath. The hemostatic valve is configured to prevent blood in the blood vessel from exiting the introducer sheath assembly when the elongated sheath is located in the blood vessel. The hemostatic valve includes a plurality of seals supported by a housing, including a front seal configured to provide a hemostatic seal with a guide wire, and a rear seal configured to provide a hemostatic seal with a range of sizes of implements and devices. The housing is configured to provide strain recovery for strain induced by displacement forces generated during movement of the implement or medical device through the plurality of seals. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110270385 | Tethered Pop Up Branch Structure Stent Graft and Method - A method includes tethering a first pop up branch structure of a tethered pop up branch structure stent graft to a second pop up branch structure of the tethered pop up branch structure stent graft with a tether. The tethered pop up branch structure stent graft is deployed into a main vessel such that the first pop up branch structure is near a first branch vessel emanating from the main vessel and the second pop up branch structure is near a second branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. A first guide is passed through a first collateral opening in the first pop up branch structure and into the first branch vessel. A second guide is passed through a second collateral opening in the second pop up branch structure and into the second branch vessel. The tether is then removed such that the first pop up branch structure slides outwards on the first guide and into a first ostium of the first branch vessel and the second pop up branch structure slides outwards on the second guide into a second ostium of the second branch vessel. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270380 | Mobile External Coupling for Branch Vessel Connection - An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto which forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. A coupling deployment device is coupled to the coupling graft material to provide an extension force to extend the mobile external coupling from a collapsed configuration against the tubular body to an extended position wherein the mobile external coupling extends from the tubular body. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270379 | Mobile External Coupling for Branch Vessel Connection - An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto which forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. A coupling deployment device is coupled to the coupling graft material to provide an extension force to extend the mobile external coupling from a collapsed configuration against the tubular body to an extended position wherein the mobile external coupling extends from the tubular body. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270378 | Mobile External Coupling with Internal Sealing Cuff for Branch Vessel Connection - An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto, a forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. A cylindrical sealing cuff of graft material is attached to and extends from the top of the mobile external coupling towards the tubular body within the coupling lumen. The sealing cuff is configured to contact a portion of a branch vessel prosthesis and thereby provides an elongated interference seal between the branch vessel prosthesis and the mobile external coupling. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270372 | Stent Graft Delivery System and Method of Use - A stent graft delivery system including a tip assembly, a middle member tube, a sheath assembly, a threaded assembly, and a unitary endoseal. The tip tube is disposed in and longitudinally slideable within the proximal portion of the endoseal lumen, the middle member proximal end of the middle member tube is disposed in the distal portion of the endoseal lumen and fixed to the longitudinal cylindrical endoseal body, the first cylindrical portion of the transverse cylindrical endoseal body is disposed in the first sidewall port of the threaded assembly, the second cylindrical portion of the transverse cylindrical endoseal body is disposed in the second sidewall port of the threaded assembly, and the longitudinal endoseal cylindrical body is disposed in the threaded assembly lumen. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270371 | Stent graft Delivery System - A stent graft delivery system including a tip assembly, a middle member tube, a sheath assembly, and a unitary front grip. The sheath tube is axially slideable within the distal front grip lumen, the threaded assembly distal end is disposed in the proximal front grip lumen and fixed to the unitary front grip, and the first threaded tube portion and the second threaded tube portion are radially compressed together by the unitary front grip. The sheath handle engages the exterior thread of the threaded assembly in a first configuration to move the sheath tube axially relative to the middle member tube and tip tube through rotation of the sheath handle and disengages the exterior thread of the threaded assembly in a second configuration to move the sheath tube axially relative to the middle member tube and tip tube through axial motion of the sheath handle. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110270339 | Two-Stage Delivery Systems and Methods for Fixing a Leadless Implant to Tissue - Systems and methods of delivering and retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue, wherein a docking base and the implant are sequentially delivered to an implantation site. In a first stage, the docking base is delivered and deployed into tissue at an implantation site. In a second stage, the implant is navigated through the vasculature and coupled to the docking base. Various mechanisms for navigating the implant to the previously implanted docking base and coupling the implant thereto are described. Navigational mechanisms include advancing the implant over a proximally extending wire portion that is releasably attached to the previously implanted docking base, utilizing fluoroscopic visualization to guide the implant to a previously implanted docking base that is at least partially radiopaque and utilizing electromagnetism to guide the implant to a previously implanted docking base that is electro-magnetizable. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110266720 | System and Method for Stent Manufacture - The system and method for stent manufacture includes a method of supercritical stent manufacture including mixing a polymer and a supercritical fluid to form a supercritical mixture; electrically charging a mold to a first polarity, the mold having a mold wall defining a mold plenum; discharging the supercritical mixture through a nozzle; electrically charging the supercritical mixture to a second polarity opposite the first polarity; repeatedly directing the charged supercritical mixture into the mold plenum to form a plurality of polymer layers on the mold wall, the plurality of polymer layers having a predetermined thickness; and separating the plurality of polymer layers from the mold wall. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110264203 | Transcatheter Prosthetic Heart Valve Delivery Device With Passive Trigger Release - A delivery device for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic valve includes a sheath, an inner shaft, and a release assembly. The release assembly is disposed between the sheath and the inner shaft, and includes a retraction member, a release member, and a retention member. The retraction member can self-retract in length from an extended condition to a retracted condition. The release member can self-expand from a compressed condition to an expanded condition. The retention member is distal the release member. In a delivery state, the sheath end is distal the retention member, the release member is in the compressed condition and the retraction member in the extended condition to retain the prosthesis. In a deployment state, the sheath end is positioned to permit the release member to self-transition to the expanded condition, allowing the retraction member to self-transition to the retracted condition and release the prosthesis. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264202 | Transcatheter Prosthetic Heart Valve Delivery Device with Biased Release Features - A delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a stented prosthetic heart valve. The delivery device includes a delivery sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft, and a capture assembly. The capture assembly includes a spindle and a biasing member. The spindle is attached to the inner shaft and defines slot. The biasing member is disposed within the slot and self-transitions from a deflected condition to a normal condition. In a delivery state, the delivery sheath retains the prosthesis over the inner shaft and coupled to the spindle via the capture slot, including a portion of the prosthetic valve being engaged within the slot and the biasing member forced to the deflected condition. In a deployment state, the delivery sheath is proximally withdrawn and the biasing member self-transitions toward the normal condition to eject the prosthetic valve from the capture slot. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264195 | Helical Stent with Opposing and/or Alternating Pitch Angles - Waveforms for forming helical stents with opposing and/or alternating pitch angles along their lengths are disclosed. A wire is bent to form a waveform having a series of sinusoidal segments between a first end and a second end thereof. Each sinusoidal segment is longitudinally offset from its adjacent segment(s). Each waveform includes at least one sinusoidal segment having a first portion in which the amplitude between consecutive turns of the wire gradually increases and a longitudinally offset second portion in which the amplitude between consecutive turns of the wire gradually decreases. The waveform is wrapped from one end to the other about a mandrel to form the stent and depending on the arrangement of sinusoidal segments along the waveform may have opposing and/or alternating pitch angles along a section or an entire length of the stent. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264194 | Endoluminal Implant With Locking and Centering Fixation System - An implant centering system includes a sensor connected to a hollow cylindrical anchor via at least two struts. The hollow cylindrical anchor is transformable between a radially compressed configuration for delivery and a radially expanded configuration for lodging against a vessel wall. The struts longitudinally relocate the sensor between a first position in which the sensor is longitudinally spaced apart from the radially compressed anchor, and a second position in which the sensor is at least partially within a lumen of the radially expanded anchor and radially centered within vessel. In one embodiment, the struts are heat-set into a curved configuration and an externally applied force longitudinally relocates the sensor until the struts lock over center into their heat-set configuration. In another embodiment, radial expansion of the anchor longitudinally relocates the sensor without an externally applied force. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264187 | Drug Eluting Folded Stent and Stent Delivery System - The drug eluting folded stent and a stent delivery system, which includes a stent having a plurality of struts interconnected to form a tubular body. At least one of the struts includes a U-shaped strut having in cross-section a first leg, a second leg, and a closed end connecting the first leg and the second leg, wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the closed end define a recess having a drug release opening opposite the closed end; and a drug coating disposed on the first leg, the second leg, and the closed end within the recess. The drug release opening is sized to release a drug from the drug coating at a predetermined drug elution rate. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264186 | Biodegradable Stent Having Non-Biodegradable End Portions and Mechanisms for Increased Stent Hoop Strength - A hybrid stent prosthesis including a biodegradable tubular body, a first non-biodegradable self-expanding ring coupled to a proximal end of the biodegradable body, and a second non-biodegradable self-expanding ring coupled to a distal end of the biodegradable body. The hybrid stent includes a mechanism for longitudinally compressing the tubular body to increase the radial or hoop strength thereof. The longitudinally compressing mechanism may be protruding elements coupled to and extending radially outward from the hybrid stent or elastomeric compression bands or tethers extending between the non-biodegradable rings. The compression bands may be pre-connected to both non-biodegradable rings prior to stent delivery, or may be connected to one non-biodegradable ring prior to insertion and connected to the other non-biodegradable ring in situ. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264128 | Percutaneous Methods for Apparatus for Creating Native Tissue Venous Valves - Percutaneous methods and apparatuses for forming a venous valve from autologous tissue. A catheter having a retractable dissecting system received therein is delivered to a target location where a new venous valve is to be created. A distal balloon or other radially-expandable component mounted on the catheter is expanded against the vein wall, and the dissecting system is proximally retracted to deploy one or more dissecting components that dissect a subintimal layer of the vein wall. Radial expansion of the dissecting component(s) within the vein wall creates one or more leaflets and corresponding pocket/sinuses in the vein that collectively act as a venous valve, and/or the radially-expandable component of the catheter is subsequently collapsed such that the dissecting component(s) each pull a flap of the dissected tissue towards the vein lumen to create one or more leaflet(s) and corresponding pocket/sinuses in the vein. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110264127 | Percutaneous Methods and Apparatus for Creating Native Tissue Venous Valves - Percutaneous methods and apparatus for forming a venous valve from autologous tissue by creating at least one subintimal longitudinal dissection that forms at least one flap of intimal tissue are disclosed. In one method, a balloon catheter having a dissecting blade mounted thereon is delivered to a target site where a new venous valve is to be created. The balloon is inflated to deploy the blade against the vein wall, and the catheter is longitudinally translated such that the blade dissects a subintimal layer of the vein wall. The balloon is subsequently deflated such that the blade pulls a flap of the dissected tissue towards the vein lumen, thereby creating a leaflet and corresponding pocket/sinus in the vein that collectively act as a monocuspid venous valve. Methods of forming new bicuspid and tricuspid venous valves utilizing two or three dissecting blades mounted on the balloon are also disclosed. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110263960 | Stent Delivery System for Detecting Wall Apposition of the Stent During Deployment - A stent delivery and apposition detecting system includes at least one electrode pair of dissimilar metals mounted on a balloon of a balloon catheter. The electrode pair forms part of an electrochemical cell, and voltage and current generated from the electrochemical cell enables the system to detect when a stent mounted on the balloon achieves proper wall apposition. As the balloon is exposed to different environments, i.e., blood or tissue having different resistances, the electric potential of the electrochemical cell changes and an alert is generated by a feedback circuit to notify a user that the electrodes are in contact with tissue of the vessel wall. In one embodiment, the feedback circuit may be powered by the electrochemical cell. Multiple sets of electrode pairs may be mounted along the circumference and length of the balloon to detect differential contact between the deployed stent and the vessel wall. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110257725 | Blood Inflating Prosthesis - A prosthesis comprises a tubular member that defines an inner lumen and has an inner surface and an outer surface, an outer member secured to the tubular member and covering at least a portion of the tubular member outer surface and forming an outer chamber therewith, and at least one valve in the tubular member to regulate or control fluid flow between the tubular member lumen and the chamber. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110257724 | Flexible Stent Device with Magnetic Connections - A stent includes a plurality of bands aligned generally along a common longitudinal axis. The plurality of bands includes at least a first band having a plurality of first crowns and a second band adjacent to the first band and having a plurality of second crowns. A magnetic connection joins at least one of the first crowns and at least one of the second crowns. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110257720 | Controlled Tip Release Stent Graft Delivery System and Method - An apparatus and method of deploying a stent graft having a proximal anchor stent ring includes restraining proximal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring between a spindle body of a spindle and a control release sleeve of a tapered tip. The control release sleeve is advanced relative to the spindle to release a first proximal apex through an opening in the control release sleeve while the remaining proximal apexes remain restrained by the control release sleeve. The control release sleeve is further advanced relative to the spindle to release the remaining proximal apexes from the control release sleeve. In another example, a stent capture fitting has variable length stent capture fitting arms. As the stent capture fitting is retracted, the proximal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring are sequentially exposed from and released by the variable length stent capture fitting arms. By using the control release sleeve or the stent capture fitting, controlled sequential release of the proximal apexes is achieved. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110257719 | Retraction Mechanism and Method for Graft Cover Retraction - A stent or stent-graft delivery system includes a handle having a graft cover retractor having a screw gear and a drive and quick release assembly. The drive and quick release assembly allows a user to retract a graft cover by rotating the assembly in a first rotational direction about the screw gear. When the assembly is being rotated in a particular rotational direction, a partial revolution in the opposite rotational direction disengages the assembly from the screw gear, which is sensed by a change in the force required to rotate the assembly. With the assembly disengaged from the screw gear, the assembly can be slid along the screw so that the graft cover can be positioned more quickly. In transitioning from using the screw gear to sliding along screw gear, it unnecessary to push any button and unnecessary for the user to remove her/his hand from the assembly. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110257718 | Retraction Mechanism and Method for Graft Cover Retraction - A stent or stent-graft delivery system includes a handle having a graft cover retractor having a screw gear and a drive and quick release assembly. The drive and quick release assembly includes a proximal portion and a distal portion that are separable. The proximal portion of the drive and quick release assembly rotates in a first rotational direction about the screw gear to retract the graft cover using the screw gear. The drive and quick release assembly transitions from retraction using the engagement with the screw gear to retraction by sliding by the user grasping the distal portion instead of the proximal portion, and sliding the proximal portion only along the screw gear. In transitioning from using the screw gear to sliding along screw gear, it unnecessary to push any button and unnecessary for the user to remove her/his hand from the assembly. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110251676 | Sheath for Controlled Delivery of a Heart Valve Prosthesis - Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling deployment of a self-expanding support structure of a prosthetic valve that flares in a proximal direction upon implantation in vivo. A tubular delivery sheath having a side opening that proximally extends within a side wall thereof is used to deploy the prosthetic valve with the self-expanding support structure in a controlled manner. The prosthetic valve is distally advanced within a lumen of the delivery sheath with the self-expanding support structure held in a compressed delivery configuration within the delivery sheath lumen. The self-expanding support structure of the prosthetic valve is aligned with the side opening of the delivery sheath and the prosthetic valve is rotated relative to the delivery sheath whereby the self-expanding support structure is laterally released from the delivery sheath lumen through the side opening to gradually transition from the compressed delivery configuration to a flared deployed configuration. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251668 | Stent With Therapeutic Substance - A stent includes a wave form that includes a cable including a plurality of strands. The wave form has a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns, with each crown connecting two adjacent struts. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis at a pitch to define a plurality of helical turns. The stent includes a filler located within the cable. The filler includes a therapeutic substance. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251667 | Anchor Pin Stent-Graft Delivery System - A stent-graft delivery system includes a stent-graft including a proximal anchor stent ring. The proximal anchor stent ring includes proximal apexes and anchor pin structures extending proximally from each of the proximal apexes. The anchor pin structures include anchor pin connecting arms and anchor pins. The anchor pin structures are tucked together to accommodate small catheter sizes. Further, the anchor pins reduce or eliminate migration of the stent-graft. Further still, the anchor pin connecting arms are long and flexible thus distributing stresses in a way that improves the load carrying capacity of the anchor pins and allows flowering of the graft material of the stent-graft prior to release of the anchor pins structures. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251666 | Delivery System Ejection Component and Method - A stent or stent-graft delivery system includes a stent ejection component. The stent ejection component includes a body and an ejection collar. The ejection collar extends from the body in the proximal direction. The ejection collar assists in automatically ejecting a proximal end of a stent when the tapered tip is moved in the distal direction to deploy the stent. A stent or stent-graft delivery system may also include a retain-sleeve landing component. The retaining-sleeve landing component includes a body and a landing collar. The landing collar extends from the body in a distal direction. The landing collar automatically captures a tapered tip of the delivery system when the tapered tip is moved in a distal direction to deploy a stent contained in the delivery system. Upon capture of the tapered tip, the stent ejection component with the tapered tip attached has an atraumatic profile. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251665 | Delivery System Ejection Component and Method - A stent or stent-graft delivery system includes a stent ejection component. The stent ejection component includes a body and an ejection collar. The ejection collar extends from the body in the proximal direction. The ejection collar assists in automatically ejecting a proximal end of a stent when the tapered tip is moved in the distal direction to deploy the stent. A stent or stent-graft delivery system may also include a retain-sleeve landing component. The retaining-sleeve landing component includes a body and a landing collar. The landing collar extends from the body in a distal direction. The landing collar automatically captures a tapered tip of the delivery system when the tapered tip is moved in a distal direction to deploy a stent contained in the delivery system. Upon capture of the tapered tip, the stent ejection component with the tapered tip attached has an atraumatic profile. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251664 | Short Legged Bifurcated Stent Graft Distal Capture Element and Method - A bifurcated stent graft section includes a plurality of loops formed from a serpentine support wire forming a stent at a distal end of one of the short legs of the bifurcated stent graft section. A delivery system includes a coil having a wire configured to pass through the loops and prevent disengagement of the loops from the delivery system without relative rotational movement between the coil and the loops. In a method for delivery the bifurcated stent graft section, the bifurcated stent graft section is advanced to the treatment site, a sheath is retracted to deploy the proximal end of the bifurcated stent graft section while the coil retains the distal end of one of the short legs of the bifurcated stent graft section. A second guidewire is threaded into the short leg of the bifurcated stent graft section which is been stabilized by being held by the coil of the delivery system. An extension leg graft is delivered over the second guidewire and deployed to be coupled to the other short leg of the bifurcated stent graft section while the coil retains the loops. The coil is rotated to release the loops and allow the bifurcated stent graft section to fully deploy. A second extension leg graft is delivered and coupled to the other leg of the bifurcated stent graft section to complete the construction of a bifurcated stent graft in situ. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251663 | Drug Eluting Rolled Stent and Stent Delivery System - The drug eluting rolled stent and a stent delivery system, which includes a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes a rectangular metal foil sheet having a first side and a second side, the rectangular metal foil sheet being rolled to form a cylindrical tube having a central axis and a spiral cross section perpendicular to the central axis; a polymer drug coating disposed between and adhering the first side and the second side; and at least one opening formed through the cylindrical tube generally perpendicular to the central axis, the at least one opening being shaped to form at least one strut having in cross section polymer drug layers between metal foil layers, polymer drug layer edges of the polymer drug layers being in communication with the at least one opening. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251662 | Slidable Fixation Device for Securing a Medical Implant - A fixation device for retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue includes an array of elongate tines having self-expanding distal portions. The fixation tines may be advanced between an implant body and an outer jacket to deploy the tines from a delivery configuration in which the tines are constrained by the outer jacket to an expanded configuration in which the distal end portions of the tines are released from the outer jacket. The implant and fixation device are contained within a sheath for delivery to the treatment site and a pusher within the sheath advances the fixation device relative to the implant body and deploys the tines. A distal end of the implant having an electrode may form a distal tip of the delivery system, and a potential implantation site may be tested prior to deployment of the fixation device to allow for easy repositioning of the implant. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251660 | Slidable Fixation Device for Securing a Medical Implant - A fixation device for retaining a leadless medical implant to tissue includes an annular collar and an array of self-expanding tines extending from the collar. When deployed, the annular collar encircles the implant and the tines are preset to splay outwardly from the implant to grab body tissue and anchor the implant at a treatment site. The implant and fixation device are contained within a sheath for delivery to the treatment site and a pushing force is applied to a pusher of the delivery system to distally advance the fixation device relative to the implant and deploy the tines. A distal end of the implant having an electrode may form a distal tip of the delivery system, and a potential implantation site may be tested prior to deployment of the fixation device to allow for easy repositioning of the implant if the potential implantation site is determined to be unacceptable. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251589 | Catheter With Distensible and Frangible Cap - A catheter for delivering a medical implant in a patient's vasculature includes an elongate catheter having a distensible and frangible cap mounted across the open distal end thereof. The cap is distendable by pressure within the catheter to provide a bumper tip for guiding the catheter through a patient's vasculature. At the desired site for deploying the medical implant, the cap is ruptured to permit the implant to be advanced through the distal opening. Methods of using the catheter are also disclosed. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251545 | Cell Reservoirs Created by Polymer Plugs - Described herein generally are catheter systems used to deliver cells and other bioactive materials to a target location within the vascular system of the human body, and methods of delivering cells and other bioactive materials to such target locations. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110245782 | Method of Using Catheter with Rotating Portion - A catheter includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including an arcuate portion. The catheter further includes a rotating portion, the rotating portion connecting the proximal portion and distal portion, the rotating portion including a first piece and a second piece, wherein the first piece and second piece create a snap fit. Methods of using the catheter include threading the inserted catheter through the vasculature and allowing the distal portion to freely rotate about an axis defined by the rotating portion responsive to any tortuosity in the vasculature. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110238160 | Bifurcated Stent with Variable Length Branches - A bifurcated stent includes a trunk portion and first and second branches. At least one of the branches includes a longitudinally extendable portion such that the branch can be extended from a first length up to second length. The longitudinally extendable portion may be formed of a plurality of cylindrical rings coupled to each other by a curved link, wherein pulling the branch straightens the curved link, thereby lengthening the branch. The longitudinally extendable portion may be formed by winding a portion of a continuous wire of the branch at a first pitch whereas the remainder of the branch is wound at a second pitch greater than the first pitch. Thus, when the branch is pulled, the pitch of the longitudinally extendable portion increases, thereby lengthening the branch. A method of deploying a stent with a longitudinally extendable portion is also disclosed. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110224649 | Catheter Having Improved Traceability - Embodiments hereof relate to a catheter having a metal hypotube proximal shaft and a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit electrically connected to the metal hypotube such that the metal hypotube operates as an antenna for transmitting and receiving modulated RF signals between the RFID integrated circuit and an external receiver configured to read the electronic identification information carried by the RFID integrated circuit. The hypotube and RFID integrated circuit are embedded in a luer hub of the catheter. The RFID integrated circuit contains electronic identification information such as model/serial number, manufacturing information and other summary information for improving traceability of the catheter and removing paper work associated with product tracking. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110218615 | Stent With Multi-Crown Constraint and Method for Ending Helical Wound Stents - A stent includes a wave form having a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns with each crown connecting two adjacent struts. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis to define a plurality of turns. The stent includes a first connection that connects an end of the wave form to an adjacent crown in a first turn that defines an end of the stent, and a second connection that connects a first crown of the wave form to an adjacent crown in a second turn. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110218614 | Stent With Sinusoidal Wave Form and Orthogonal End and Method for Making Same - A stent includes a wave form that includes a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis so as to define a plurality of turns, including a first turn disposed at a first angle and a second turn disposed at a second angle relative to the longitudinal axis. A first connection connects an end of the wave form that started the first turn to an adjacent crown of the wave form that completed the first turn, a second connection connects a first crown of the second turn to an adjacent crown that completed the second turn, and a third connection connects a crown of the first turn to an adjacent crown of the second turn. The wave form is disrupted between the first turn and the second turn. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110218606 | Methods for Stabilizing Femoral Vessels - The invention provides methods for stabilizing the femoral artery. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110208175 | Methods for Treating Sleep Apnea Via Renal Denervation - Methods for therapeutic renal neuromodulation are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to methods that block, reduce and/or inhibit renal sympathetic nerve activity to achieve a reduction in central sympathetic tone. Renal sympathetic nerve activity may be altered or modulated along the afferent and/or efferent pathway. The achieved reduction in central sympathetic tone may carry several therapeutic benefits across many disease states, including, without limitation, sleep apnea. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110208173 | Methods for Treating sleep apnea via renal Denervation - Methods for therapeutic renal neuromodulation are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to methods that block, reduce and/or inhibit renal sympathetic nerve activity to achieve a reduction in central sympathetic tone. Renal sympathetic nerve activity may be altered or modulated along the afferent and/or efferent pathway. The achieved reduction in central sympathetic tone may carry several therapeutic benefits across many disease states, including, but without limitation, insulin resistance, diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110207758 | Methods for Therapeutic Renal Denervation - Methods for therapeutic renal denervation are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to methods that block, reduce and/or inhibit renal sympathetic nerve activity to achieve a reduction in central sympathetic tone. Renal sympathetic nerve activity may be altered or modulated along the afferent and/or efferent pathway. The achieved reduction in central sympathetic tone may carry several therapeutic benefits across many disease states. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110202128 | Distal Tip Assembly for a Heart Valve Delivery Catheter - A catheter assembly according to the present invention includes a handle assembly, an introducer sheath, and a distal tip assembly. The distal tip assembly can include first and second retaining sleeves and a slotted tip with a non-traumatic tip guard positioned at the proximal end of the slotted tip. The handle assembly can include a fixed main handle and two or more rotating handles that allow a user to control the distal tip assembly of the catheter. Each control knob on the handle assembly controls a portion of the components on the distal tip of the catheter by allowing for precise manipulation of various delivery shafts. Each delivery shaft extends from the handle assembly to respective positions towards the distal end of the catheter. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110202127 | Apparatus and Methods for Creating a Venous Valve From Autologous Tissue - An implantable prosthesis for percutaneous placement within a vein that forces opposing portions of the vessel wall of a vein together to create a new valve of autologous vein tissue to be operable to alternate between a valve closed configuration and a valve open configuration. When in a preset closed configuration, the implantable prosthesis pushes or pulls portions of the vessel wall of the vein together to substantially close the vein lumen and prevent retrograde blood flow from backflowing through the new valve in the valve closed configuration. The implantable prosthesis has leg portions that may be pushed apart in response to antegrade blood flow through the vein to allow the new valve to achieve the valve open configuration. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110202124 | Apparatus and Methods for Creating a Venous Valve from Autologous Tissue - An implantable prosthesis for percutaneous placement within a vein that forces opposing portions of the vessel wall of a vein together to create a new valve of autologous vein tissue to be operable to alternate between a valve closed configuration and a valve open configuration. When in a preset closed configuration, the implantable prosthesis pushes or pulls portions of the vessel wall of the vein together to substantially close the vein lumen and prevent retrograde blood flow from backflowing through the new valve in the valve closed configuration. The implantable prosthesis has leg portions that may be pushed apart in response to antegrade blood flow through the vein to allow the new valve to achieve the valve open configuration. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110196477 | Methods and Apparatus for Treatment of Aneurysms Adjacent Branch Arteries - A polymer coating/ring is employed to aid in the sealing and connection of modular elements used in body flow lumens for the exclusion and bypass of diseased regions of the flow lumen, such as where aneurysm occurs adjacent to branching blood vessels. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110184504 | Methods and Apparatus for Providing an Arteriovenous Fistula - Methods and apparatus for creating an artificial arteriovenous fistula between an artery and an adjacent vein are disclosed. Methods include utilizing a hollow spiral shunt that defines a fluid passageway between a proximal port and a distal port thereof. The spiral shunt is loaded within a delivery device that is transversely advanced through a wall of the artery. A piercing end of the spiral shunt is than exposed and the delivery device is rotated to pierce an opposing wall of the artery and a wall of the adjacent vein with the spiral shunt piercing end. Rotation of the delivery device corkscrews the spiral shunt through the walls of the artery and the vein in order to position the spiral shunt to fluidly connect the artery and vein. Once so positioned, the spiral shunt is released to be deployed between the artery and vein lumens thereby forming an artificial arteriovenous fistula therebetween. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110165216 | Hydrogen Sulfide Generating Polymers - Described herein are hydrogen sulfide (H | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110155149 | Percutanous Methods for Creating Native Tissue Venous Valves - Percutaneous methods of forming a venous valve from autologous tissue are disclosed. The methods include percutaneously creating one or two subintimal dissections for forming one or two flaps of intimal tissue. In one method, a puncture element is delivered by a catheter based delivery system to a treatment site where a new venous valve is to be created. The puncture element is deployed to gain access to a subintimal layer of the vein wall. A dilation balloon is than positioned and inflated within the subintimal layer to create a flap and corresponding pocket/sinus in the vein, which than acts as a one-way monocuspid valve in the manner of a native venous valve. In a similar manner, methods of forming new bicuspid venous valves by subintimal dissections are also disclosed. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110150966 | DEGRADABLE POLYMERS INCORPORATING GAMMA-BUTYROLACTONE - Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices having controlled release biodegradable polymer coatings thereon wherein the polymer is formed from ring opening of γ-butyrolactone and at least one additional monomer selected from the group consisting of trimethylene carbonate, lactide, polyethylene glycol, glycolide, the monomers formed from ring opening of ε-caprolactone, 4-tert-butyl caprolactone, and N-acetyl caprolactone, and combinations thereof, and at least one drug releasable from the biodegradable polymer. Also disclosed are implantable medical devices form of the biodegradable polymers and processes for forming the polymers. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110144677 | Methods and Systems for Bypassing an Occlusion in a Blood Vessel - Methods and systems for re-entering the true lumen of a vessel after subintimally bypassing an occlusion in a blood vessel. A guidewire is positionable within a subintimal tract in a wall of the blood vessel with a distal end located beyond the occlusion. A hollow lumen of the guidewire includes a retractable blade slidably exposable adjacent a distal end thereof for rotary cutting or scoring the intima layer of the vessel wall to create a transverse cut or line of weakness in the intima. A balloon catheter is subsequently trackable over the guidewire and once inflated tears or otherwise ruptures the transverse cut, thereby creating or enlarging a passageway into the true lumen of the blood vessel beyond the occlusion. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110118828 | Implantable Valve Prosthesis for Treating Venous Valve Insufficiency - A valve prosthesis for percutaneous placement within a vein is disclosed that includes a valve scaffold and a backflow barrier. The valve scaffold is of a shape memory or resilient material and the backflow barrier is a flap of flexible material attached to the valve scaffold. The valve prosthesis is operable to alternate between open and closed configurations in response to changes in retrograde blood flow pressure. In the open configuration, the valve scaffold has a frustoconical coil shape of consecutive windings with open spaces therebetween and the backflow barrier allows antegrade blood flow through the open spaces. In the closed configuration, the consecutive windings of the valve scaffold are collapsed such that the valve scaffold has a substantially flat profile and the backflow barrier covers the opens spaces of the flattened valve scaffold to prevent retrograde blood flow from leaking there through. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110106136 | IVC Filter With Drug Delivery - Retrievable inferior vena cava filters are disclosed. Such filters provide for easy removal of the filter and provide drug delivery for dissolution of captured emboli. Methods of using such systems for the prevention, capture, dissolution and removal of emboli are described. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110106135 | Indwelling Temporary IVC Filter System With Drug Delivery and Aspiration - Indwelling temporary inferior vena cava filter systems are disclosed. Such filter systems provide for easy removal of the filter without the need for additional invasive procedures and provide for dissolution and aspiration of captured emboli. Methods of using such systems for the dissolution, capture and removal of emboli are described. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110106134 | Indwelling Temporary IVC Filter System with Aspiration - Indwelling temporary inferior vena cava filter systems are disclosed. Such filter systems provide for easy removal of the filter without the need for additional invasive procedures and provide for aspiration of captured emboli. Methods of using such systems for the capture and removal of emboli are described. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110106131 | Systems and Methods for Closing a Percutaneous Vascular Puncture - A system and method for closing a percutaneous vessel puncture at the conclusion of a vascular catheterization procedure includes placement of an intravascular closure device having a tubular membrane mounted about a radially self-expandable scaffold. A tether is attached to a midpoint of the closure device and extends externally therefrom. The closure device is placed by a delivery catheter extending through the puncture site and is radially expanded in a location upstream or downstream of the puncture site. The tether extends through the vessel puncture and tension applied to the tether slides the closure device into a position covering the puncture from within the vessel. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110104234 | Biodegradable Modified Carpolactone Polymers for Fabrication and Coating Medical Devices - Disclosed herein are biodegradable modified caprolactone polymers for coating and forming medical devices. The properties of the polymers are fine tuned for optimal performance depending on the medical purpose. Moreover, the polymers are suitable for the controlled in situ release of drugs at the treatment site. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110098799 | Stent Combined with a Biological Scaffold Seeded With Endothelial Cells - Disclosed herein are implantable medical device, and in particular, vascular stent having a biocompatible scaffold seeded with endothelial cells. The stent can provide structural support to maintain the openness of a vessel lumen following angioplasty while the biological scaffold seeded with endothelial cells can provide a new, healthy blood vessel wall. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110098671 | Over-The-WIre Balloon Catheter for Efficient Targeted Cell Delivery - A method for delivering a therapeutic substance to a treatment site within a body lumen includes advancing a balloon catheter to the treatment site. A balloon of the balloon catheter is inflated and while the balloon is inflated, a primer that coats the treatment site and attracts the therapeutic substance thereto is delivered through a first fluid delivery lumen of the balloon catheter. The balloon of the balloon catheter is deflated for a predetermined period of time. The balloon of the balloon catheter is reinflated and while the balloon is reinflated, the therapeutic substance is delivered through a second fluid delivery lumen of the balloon catheter. The primer improves adherence of the therapeutic substance to the treatment site. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110071620 | Methods for Forming an Orthogonal End on a Helical Stent - A method of manufacturing a stent includes forming a wave form having a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects two adjacent struts. The wave form has a central portion and two end portions located on opposite sides the central portion. Some of the struts located in the end portions have lengths longer and/or shorter than an average length of all of the struts of the wave form. The method includes wrapping the wave form about a longitudinal axis to define a plurality of turns so that an end turn is oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, a second turn is at a first pitch angle that is less than the angle that the end turn is disposed relative to the longitudinal axis, a third turn is at a second pitch angle that is less than the first pitch angle, and a fourth turn is at a third pitch angle that is less than the second pitch angle. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071619 | Stent With Constant Stiffness Along the Length of the Stent - A stent includes a wave form that includes a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects two adjacent struts within the wave form. The wave form is wrapped around a longitudinal axis at a pitch angle to define a plurality of turns and has a central portion and two end portions located on opposite sides of the central portion. At least some of the struts located in the end portions have lengths longer than an average length of all of the struts of the wave form. The stent also includes a plurality of connections. Each connection connects selected crowns from adjacent turns. The connections are positioned along the stent substantially equally so that a density of the number of connections of the end portions is substantially equal to a density of the number of connections of the central portion. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071618 | Helical Stent With Connections - A stent includes a continuous wave form wrapped around a longitudinal axis of the stent at a first pitch angle to define a first helix comprising a plurality of turns. The wave form includes a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects adjacent struts within a turn to define the continuous wave form. The stent also includes a plurality of connections configured to connect selected crowns of adjacent turns so that when the stent is in an unexpanded condition, the plurality of connections are aligned at a second pitch angle to define a second helix, and when the stent is in an expanded condition, at least some of the connections align along a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071617 | Stent With Improved Flexibility - A stent includes a continuous wave form wrapped around a longitudinal axis of the stent at a pitch to define a helix comprising a plurality of turns. The wave form includes a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects adjacent struts within a turn to define the continuous wave form. The stent also includes a plurality of connections configured to connect selected crowns of adjacent turns. Unconnected crowns of adjacent turns that substantially face each other are spaced from each other and define a gap therebetween. The gap between the unconnected crowns of adjacent turns is variable around a circumference of the stent. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071616 | Stent Including a Toggle Lock Strut - A tubular stent includes cylindrical rings disposed adjacent to each other and coupled to each other by a plurality of longitudinal segments. Each cylindrical ring includes circumferentially oriented toggle lock struts. The toggle lock struts include a first arm and a second arm coupled together at an elbow. When the stent is in a compressed configuration for delivery, the toggle lock struts are bent at the elbow such that the first arm is disposed at an angle of less than 180 degrees relative to the second arm. Upon radial expansion of the stent, the toggle lock struts are unbent to a straight configuration and permitted to relax slightly beyond the straight configuration to a locked configuration such that the angle between the first arm and the second arm changes from less than 180 degrees to more than 180 degrees. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110071615 | Methods for Forming an Orthogonal End on a Helical Stent - A method of manufacturing a stent includes forming a wave form having a plurality of struts and a plurality of crowns. Each crown connects two adjacent struts. The wave form has a center and two portions extending from opposite sides of the center. The method includes wrapping a first portion of the wave form about a longitudinal axis in a first direction at a first pitch angle, starting at the center of the wave form, to define at least one turn oriented at the first pitch angle, and wrapping a second portion of the wave form about the longitudinal axis in a second direction that is opposite the first direction at a second pitch angle, starting at the center of the wave form, to define at least one turn oriented at the second pitch angle. The first pitch angle is opposite the second pitch angle. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070358 | Method of forming hollow tubular drug eluting medical devices - A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes utilizing a hollow wire having an outer member and a lumen of the outer member, and filling the lumen with a fluid to form a supported hollow wire. The supported hollow wire is shaped into a stent pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member. The supported hollow wire is processed to remove the fluid from the lumen of the outer member without adversely affecting the outer member, leaving the hollow wire shaped into a stent pattern. The lumen is filled with a biologically or pharmacologically active substance. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070357 | Apparatus and Methods for Loading a Drug Eluting Medical Device - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067778 | Apparatus and Methods for Loading a Drug Eluting Medical Device - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067471 | Method and Apparatus for Creating Formed Elements Used to Make Wound Stents - A method for forming a wave form for a stent includes providing a length of a formable material from a supply of the formable material in a feeder along an axis in a first direction in between a first forming member and a second forming member. The second forming member is positioned closer to the feeder than the first forming member. The length is about the length of a substantially straight portion of the wave form. The method also includes moving the first forming member in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to a position in contact with the formable material, and moving the second forming member in a third direction substantially opposite the second direction to wrap the formable material about a distal end of the first forming member. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110066226 | Implantable Venous Valve for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction - A venous valve is disclosed for implantation in and selectively restricting the outflow of blood from a penile vein to aid a user in achieving and/or maintaining an erection. The venous valve includes a self-expanding stent framework defining a blood flow lumen there through. The self-expanding stent framework is constructed to recoil from a radially compressed configuration in which the blood flow lumen is narrowed to restrict blood flow through the venous valve to a radially expanded configuration in which the blood flow lumen is fully open to permit unrestricted blood flow through the venous valve. A recoil delay component is attached to the self-expanding stent framework for slowing the recoil of the self-expanding stent framework to thereby provide an extended time period during which the blood flow lumen is narrowed and blood flow through the venous valve is restricted. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110040367 | Low Profile Prosthesis - A prosthesis comprises a tubular graft and a bare spring connected in non-overlapping relation thereto through a plurality of straps adhered to the graft and extending around portions of the bare spring. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110014181 | Microneedle Delivery Device and Methods of Using Same - Described herein are microneedle bioactive agent delivery systems, associated apparatus and methods of using such. The microneedles described herein are deliverable using a needle or syringe apparatus that can interface with existing medical devices or the devices can be used as standalone systems. The systems deliver at least one bioactive agent to a tissue in need thereof, for example, the myocardium. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110008405 | Hollow Tubular Drug Eluting Medical Devices - A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting medical device includes providing composite member having an outer member and a core member disposed within a lumen of the outer member. The composite member is shaped into a pattern. Openings are formed through the outer member of the composite member. The composite member is processed to remove the core member from the lumen of the outer member without harming the outer member, leaving a hollow tubular member already formed into the desired pattern. The lumen of the outer member is filled with a therapeutic substance. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100324646 | Biodegrdable Medical Device With Hydroxyapatite Filaments and Biodegradable Polymer Fibers - A system for treating a vascular condition includes a stent including hydroxyapatite fibers interwoven to define a stent lumen. Another aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a stent by forming hydroxyapatite fibers and biodegradable polymeric fibers, and interweaving the fibers to form a stent wall. The hydroxyapatite fibers can be formed by a sol-gel process, followed by spinning of the gel to form the hydroxyapatite fibers. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100324537 | Catheter Flushing Mandrel - A mandrel includes a mandrel body with a proximal major diameter barrel section, a diameter reducing/tapered portion and a distal minor diameter barrel section. The tapered portion connects the proximal major diameter barrel section and distal minor diameter barrel section. The proximal major diameter barrel section has a major diameter, the distal minor diameter barrel section has a minor diameter, the minor diameter less than the major diameter. The minor diameter is less than a diameter of an inner lumen of a coaxial catheter, and the major diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port of the coaxial catheter, and the tapered portion is sized to form a fluid seal the inner diameter of the outer lumen guidewire exit port. The distal minor diameter barrel section of the mandrel occupies and substantially seals and prevent flow through it to the catheter distal end guidewire entry port. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100324471 | Systems and Methods for Delivering Drugs to Selected Locations Within the Body - A transvascular system for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel includes a catheter having a distal portion with puncturing, orientation, drug delivery, and imaging elements. The puncturing element is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element, the imaging element detecting the location of the orientation element with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter is percutaneously introduced into the vessel, the puncturing element is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region. An ablation device may also be deployed to create a cavity or fluid reservoir in the tissue region for receiving the drug therein, or an indwelling catheter may be advanced into and left in the tissue region. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100292613 | Concentric Guidewire Assembly - A concentric guidewire assembly includes a unitary first coil spring, a second coil spring joined to the first coil spring, and a core wire extending through the first and second coil springs. The first coil spring has a longitudinal axis, a first spring portion, a second diameter spring portion adjacent the first spring portion, and a third spring portion adjacent the second spring portion, the inner diameter of the second spring portion being smaller than the inner diameters of the first and third spring portions to fit with the core wire and maintain concentricity between the first coil spring and the core wire. The second coil spring has an inner diameter sized to receive the third spring portion. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100286758 | Implantable Temporary Flow Restrictor Device - An implantable flow restrictor plug is disclosed that is disposed within a deployed endoluminal prosthesis to initially restrict, then gradually restore blood flow through the prosthesis after an angioplasty procedure. Upon initial deployment, the plug has a tubular biodegradable body defining a blood flow lumen therethrough that is sized to effectively reduce the amount of blood flow exiting the prosthesis. An inner surface of the body erodes or biodegrades in vivo to enlarge the plug lumen, thereby gradually restoring blood flow through the prosthesis until blood flow is unimpeded through the prosthesis, i.e., blood flow through the vessel is fully restored. The flow restrictor plug may be attached to the endoluminal prosthesis to be delivered and deployed therewith, or may be formed within a previously deployed prosthesis. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100286725 | Systems and Methods for Closing a Percutaneous Vascular Puncture - A system and method for closing a percutaneous vessel puncture at the conclusion of a vascular catheterization procedure includes placement of an intravascular closure device having a radially and axially expandable tubular membrane and a radially expandable anchor at the distal sad of the membrane. The closure device is placed, by a delivery catheter extending through the puncture site, with its anchor radially expanded in a location upstream of the puncture site to enable the force of a patient's blood flow to deploy the tubular membrane to a proximally extended configuration closing the puncture from within the vessel. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100280595 | Method and Device for Localized Administration of Calcium Chelating Agent - A system for treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac valve dysfunction comprises delivering one or more calcium chelating agents locally to a treatment site. One aspect of the invention provides a method including delivering a nano-particulate calcium chelating agent into a vascular wall. Another aspect of the invention provides a method and device for forming a sealed chamber around a cardiac valve, releasing one or more calcium chelating agents into the sealed chamber and decalcifying a cardiac valve in need thereof. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100274345 | Self-Flaring Active Fixation Element for a Stent Graft - A stent graft includes a stent graft material of tubular shape and annular shaped stent elements coupled to the stent graft material. The stent graft further includes hooked fixation elements, having hook-end portions and coupling-end, circumferentially spaced about an annular shaped spring attachment element, and coupled to the stent graft at apexes of the spring attachment element. Before deployment the hook-end portions of the apexes of the attachment element and the hooked fixation elements attached thereto are compressed within the space bounded by the interior and exterior sides of the spring attachment element and angled laser cut strut inner surfaces under each apex of the spring attachment element are cut at an angle to cause apex and hook rotation at expansion and deployment. At deployment, the apex and hook-end portions rotate outwardly from the stent graft, partially penetrating the body vessel walls in which the stent graft is deployed and actively fixing the stent graft at the position of deployment. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100274339 | Delivery System for Deployment of a One-Piece Iliac-Branch Device - A delivery device for a bifurcated stent-graft includes a first catheter portion with a first tip and a second catheter portion with a second tip. The first and second tips each include a generally curved and tapered outer surface and complementary surfaces that face each other. The first and second tips together form a generally continuous substantially smooth shaped outer surface, for example a bullet-shaped combined tip. An outer sleeve is disposed around the first catheter portion and the second catheter portion such that at least a portion of the first tip and a portion of the second tip extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer sleeve. An inner sleeve maintains the stent-graft in a compressed configuration during delivery to the target site. The delivery device is tracked over two guidewires to the target location with the tips acting as a unit. The outer sleeve is retracted to release the first catheter portion from the second catheter portion, and the tips are tracked over a respective one of the guidewires into its respective branch vessel. The inner sleeve is retracted to deploy the stent-graft from its compressed configuration to its expanded configuration. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100274187 | Centering for a TAA - A stent graft is deployed by a steerable catheter delivery system having a integral tip capture release mechanism. The steering mechanism provides for a locked interference with a distal lock at the distal end of the delivery catheter. The configuration allows for selective circumferentially distributed release of one half or less of the number of crowns of a proximal spring which are captured by a tip capture mechanism so that new positioning of the stent graft can be verified and assured before full release of all proximal spring crowns is done. In this way, one or more steering elements of a catheter can be maintained in tension until catheter position is verified and acceptable stent graft position is achieved. This apparatus and method is particularly useful for deploying stent graft in curved passages such a thoracic aorta. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100269950 | Apparatus and Method for Forming a Wave Form for a Stent From a Wire - An apparatus for forming a wave form for a stent from a wire includes a first forming member configured to move substantially parallel to a first axis and to move substantially parallel to a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, and a second forming member configured to move substantially parallel to the first axis and to move substantially parallel to the second axis. The second forming member is positioned opposite from the first forming member relative to the second axis along which the wire is configured to travel. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control movement of the first forming member relative to the wire and to control movement of the second forming member relative to the wire so that the first forming member and the second forming member deform the wire in opposite directions to form a portion of the wave form. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100268328 | Endovascular Delivery System Having Textile Component for Implant Restraint and Delivery - A stent-graft delivery system is disclosed having an outer tubular shaft or sheath with a relatively stiff proximal segment and a distal segment formed from a tubular textile component. The proximal segment being formed from a polymeric tubing and having a distal end attached to a proximal end of the tubular textile component. During tracking of the delivery system through the vasculature, a self-expanding stent-graft is constrained by and within the tubular textile component in a compressed delivery configuration. Upon positioning at a treatment site, such as an aneurysm, retraction of the outer tubular shaft proximally slides the tubular textile component over the stent-graft to expose and deploy the stent-graft. The tubular textile component may be made from strands of one or more biocompatible materials that have been formed into a textile by weaving, braiding, knitting, crocheting, felting or a combination thereof. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268327 | Mobile External Coupling for Branch Vessel Connection - An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto, a forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. The coupling graft material is a woven fabric with warp yarn which run generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile external coupling including a shape memory material. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268320 | Endovascular Implant Having an Integral Graft Component and Method of Manufacture - A covered stent including an endovascular implant having a polymeric stent structure with an integrally formed membrane-like graft component, also referred to as a stent-graft, and methods of manufacturing the one-piece stent-graft by an injection molding process. A molding system for creating the polymeric stent structure is injected with a melt stream of moldable material that is forced between a parting line of the molding system to create a thin, flexible membrane-like structure within the open areas or interstitial spaces of the molded stent structure. The stent-graft so created is a one-piece, unified structure molded from a polymeric material in a single manufacturing step. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268319 | Mobile External Coupling for Branch Vessel Connection - An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a flexible springy mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto with a forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. A helically shaped stent may be coupled to the coupling graft material to make it flexible and springy. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268318 | Prosthesis for Antegrade Deployment - An endoluminal tubular prosthesis for use in an open surgical repair comprises a tubular graft having a longitudinal axis, a first tubular section having a plurality of self-expanding stents and extending along the longitudinal axis and a second stent-less tubular section extending from the first tubular section and along the longitudinal axis. The tubular prosthesis can include a plurality of tubular branching members branching therefrom for treating branched arteries without obstructing them, such as the branches from the aortic arch. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268317 | Stent Graft Restraining Mechanism for a Delivery System (Catheter) - A prosthesis delivery system comprises a tip having a lumen, a first end and a second end; a sleeve coupled to the tip second end; a spindle comprising a spindle body and a plurality of projections extending radially outward from the spindle body, each projection having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge facing the tip and the second edge extending from the first edge, being angled toward the tip first end, and extending toward the sleeve; and endoprosthesis having an undulating spring with a plurality of crown portions having apices, where the crown portions extend over at least one of the first or second edges and the sleeve radially constrains the apices. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268315 | Castellated Sleeve Stent-Graft Delivery System and Method - A method of deploying a stent graft includes radially constraining proximal apexes of a proximal anchor stent ring of the stent-graft in a space between merlons of a castellated sleeve of a tip and a spindle having spindle pins, the proximal apexes extending around the spindle pins. A graft material of the stent-graft is radially constrained in a primary sheath, a proximal end of the graft material being attached to distal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring. The proximal anchor stent ring further includes struts extending between the proximal apexes and the distal apexes. The primary sheath is retracted to allow the proximal end of the graft material and the distal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring to pivot out beyond the confines of the sleeve to a large angle as the proximal end radially expands. The struts then extend through embrasures of the castellated sleeve. The tip is advanced to deploy the proximal apexes. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268314 | Hollow Helical Stent System - A stent is formed from a hollow resilient tube shaped into a helical expanded configuration to form a substantially cylindrical prosthesis that is releasably attached to an actuation shaft for delivery to a treatment site. The stent is deliverable in a substantially linear configuration and deployed with internal fluid pressure, which is delivered through the actuation shaft, to return to the helical expanded configuration. Specifically, injection of a deployment fluid into the resilient tube that forms the stent causes the stent to revert or spring back from the substantially linear delivery configuration to the original helical configuration, and in some applications to dilate a vessel. A ring is attached to a distal end of the stent to couple the stent system to a guidewire for delivery through the vasculature. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100268191 | Drug Delivery Catheter using Frangible Microcapsules and Delivery Method - A drug delivery catheter and method are provided for delivering drugs to a targeted region of a lumen include drug-laden microcapsules provided within a porous catheter balloon with an effective pore size that prevents free-flow of the microcapsules through the porous wall of the balloon. The microcapsules are frangible under the influence of increased pressure within the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the microcapsules may be mechanically ruptured by compression between the outer porous balloon and optional, inner, non-porous balloon. The drug is emitted from the microcapsules through the balloon pores and against the targeted luminal surface. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100266656 | Splittable Elastomeric Drug Delivery Device - A system for treating a vascular condition including a catheter and a splittable elastomeric drug delivery device. The splittable elastomeric drug delivery device includes a balloon disposed on the catheter. The balloon includes a first elastic layer and a second elastic layer. A therapeutic agent layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first elastic layer, and the second elastic layer is disposed on the first elastic layer and the therapeutic agent layer. The first elastic layer has a first elongation-at-break percentage and the second elastic layer has a second elongation-at-break percentage. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100264050 | Packaging for a Stent Delivery System - The present invention relates to a method of packaging and a packaging system for treated stents which minimise the level of exposure of the stents to oxygen, moisture and light. The package comprises two compartments, the compartments being in communication with each other via a breathable membrane. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100262238 | Diazeniumdiolated Phosphorylcholine Polymers for Nitric Oxide Release - The present disclosure in a broad aspect provides for diazeniumdiolated phosphorylcholine polymers and associated methods for achieving nitric oxide release. The present polymers have superior biocompatibility and are useful for coating or fabricating medical devices such as a vascular stent. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100262228 | Implantable Medical Devices Having Bioabsorbable Primer Polymer Coatings - The present disclosure generally relates to implantable medical devices having a metallic surface coated with a bioabsorbable primer polymer layer under a bioabsorbable drug polymer layer. Thus, in addition to the degradation of the drug polymer layer, there is degradation of the primer layer. The underlying metallic framework may or may not degrade depending on whether bioabsorbable or biostable metals are chosen. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100262218 | Dual-Layer Medical Balloon and Process of Making - A dual-layer dilatation balloon, and a process of making such balloon, which includes an inner layer that includes a plasticizer and a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a copolymer thereof, and a combination thereof, and an outer layer that includes an ethylene-propylene rubber. The dual-layer balloon optionally further includes a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent is optionally a drug-eluting stent. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100262217 | Precise Positioning Prosthesis Delivery System and Method - A method of prosthesis delivery comprises advancing first, second and third guidewires through a first vessel, positioning the second guidewire in a second vessel that branches from the first vessel, positioning the third guidewire in a third vessel that branches from the first vessel, advancing a prosthesis over the first, second, and third guidewires to the vicinity of one of the second and third vessels, and deploying the prosthesis. The prosthesis can comprise a tubular stent-graft having a first eyelet adapted to receive a guidewire and a second eyelet adapted to receive a guidewire. A prosthesis delivery system comprises prosthesis delivery apparatus comprising a sheath, a prosthesis having a plurality of eyelets and being disposed in the sheath, a first guidewire tube for receiving a first guidewire and being positioned inside the prosthesis; a second guidewire tube for receiving a second guidewire and being positioned inside the prosthesis, and a third guidewire tube for receiving a third guidewire and being positioned inside the prosthesis. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100262216 | Stent having a C-shaped body section for use in a bifurcation - A bifurcation stent system includes a pair of self-expanding stents. Each stent has a C-shaped body section having a generally semicircular cross-section along its length and an O-shaped body section having a circular cross-section along its length. The stents are deployed in vivo such that the edges of the C-shaped body sections abut each other to form a tubular scaffold in a Y-shaped formation that conforms to the bifurcation. In order to connect the stents in vivo, the C-shaped body sections are configured to include a ball and socket connection there between. The C-shaped body sections align and abut to form a tubular scaffold that extends in the main vessel of the bifurcation, while the O-shaped body sections are tubular scaffolds that extend into the respective branch legs of the bifurcation. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100262157 | Methods and Systems for Loading a Stent - A stent loading and delivery system includes a delivery catheter having a catheter lumen, a stent loading assembly adjacent a distal end of the delivery catheter, and a braided stent disposed on the stent loading assembly. The stent loading assembly is configured to retain the stent in an expanded state until just prior to insertion into a patient at which time the stent loading assembly elongates and compresses the stent into a delivery configuration. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100262156 | Endoventricular Stay and Delivery System - An endoventricular device includes a backbone and a plurality of segments having a plurality of anchors that are delivered to the treatment site in an inverted delivery configuration within a delivery catheter and when deployed moves from the inverted delivery configuration to a tissue penetrating implantation configuration. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100261737 | Method of Treating Erectile Dysfunction - A combined therapy for treatment of a patient having erectile dysfunction at least in part caused by vascular disease within a pelvic vessel is disclosed that includes placement of a stent within a stenosed region of the pelvic vessel in conjunction with the administration of a drug for treatment of erectile dysfunction. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100260922 | Method for loading nanoporous layers with therapeutic agent - The present invention relates generally to medical devices with therapy eluting components and methods for making same. More specifically, the invention relates to implantable medical devices having at least one porous layer, and methods for making such devices, and loading such devices with therapeutic agents. A mixture or alloy is placed on the surface of a medical device, then one component of the mixture or alloy is generally removed without generally removing the other components of the mixture or alloy. In some embodiments, a porous layer is adapted for bonding non-metallic coating, including drug eluting polymeric coatings. A porous layer may have a random pore structure or an oriented or directional grain porous structure. One embodiment of the invention relates to medical devices, including vascular stents, having at least one porous layer adapted to resist stenosis or cellular proliferation without requiring elution of therapeutic agents. The invention also includes methods, devices, and specifications for loading of drugs and other therapeutic agents into nanoporous coatings. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100252470 | Packaging Systems for Percutaneously Deliverable Bioprosthetic Valves - A packaging system is disclosed for shipping a prosthetic tissue valve in a storage solution and preparing and loading of the bioprosthetic valve onto a catheter-based delivery system. The packaging system includes a fluid tight container filled with the storage solution attached to a delivery catheter, wherein the container surrounds the prosthetic tissue valve that is in a pre-loaded position on the delivery catheter during shipment and storage. The prosthetic tissue valve may include an attachment mechanism that attaches to the delivery catheter to properly position the tissue valve for loading within the delivery catheter. In another embodiment where the prosthetic tissue valve is not attached to the delivery catheter during shipment, the attachment mechanism may interact with the prosthetic tissue valve shipping container to prevent the bioprosthetic valve from moving during shipment. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100249898 | Stent Graft - A stent graft system includes a first stent graft having a first end and a second end opposing the first end. The system further includes a second stent graft in fluid communication with the first stent graft. The second stent graft defines a lumen a third end in fluid communication with the second end. The second stent graft further includes a fourth end opposing the third end, and at least a first sleeve and second sleeve extending radially therefrom and in fluid communication with the lumen, The first sleeve is radially offset from the second sleeve. Each of the first sleeve and second sleeve comprises a flexible material configured to evert between a first position such that the sleeve is positioned within the lumen and a second position such that the sleeve is positioned exterior to the lumen. The system further includes a third stent graft. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100249897 | Device and Method for Delivering an Endovascular Stent-Graft Having a Longitudinally Unsupported Portion - An endoluminal prosthesis having an unsupported or flexible region and a delivery system for delivering the endoluminal prosthesis is provided. The delivery system includes a prosthesis delivery catheter with stiffening elements that provide longitudinally rigid support to a flexible or unsupported portion of an endoluminal prosthesis as the prosthesis is being deployed. A prosthesis is removably coupled to the stiffening elements. The endoluminal prosthesis can be a stent or a stent graft or graft. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100249749 | Drug Delivery Catheter With Soluble Balloon Coating Containing Releasable Microspheres and Delivery Method - A drug delivery catheter and method for delivering microcapsules or microspheres containing a drug, pharmacological or other bioactive agent includes a balloon catheter having a coating on the balloon of a soluble biocompatible polymer containing a plurality of microcapsules or microspheres containing a drug or other agent. The balloon is porous to allow it to be inflated with a solvent fluid that passes through the porous wall of the balloon and dissolves the polymer, releasing the microspheres. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100241218 | Branch Vessel Prosthesis With a Roll-Up Sealing Assembly - A branch prosthesis configured for placement in a branch vessel includes an expandable tubular body portion, an expandable annular flange attached to a proximal end of the body portion, and a sealing sleeve proximally extending from the annular flange. The sealing sleeve is adapted to deform to a generally straight cylindrical hollow shape during implantation. When deployed, the sealing sleeve rolls up to a tightly-wound coil that bears against the annular flange. When used in conjunction with a main prosthesis having a side opening and deployed within in a main vessel, the annular flange of the branch prosthesis engages an outer surface of the main prosthesis around a perimeter of the side opening and the sealing sleeve engages an inner surface of the main prosthesis around the perimeter of the side opening to form a fluid-tight seal between the main prosthesis and the branch prosthesis. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100241163 | Aortic Dissection Treatment System and Method of Use - An aortic dissection treatment system and method of use including a treatment system for an aortic dissection having a catheter defining a suction lumen and a sealant lumen; a flexible cup defining an isolation region within the flexible cup, the isolation region being in communication with the suction lumen and the sealant lumen; and a sealant fluid deliverable to the aortic dissection through the sealant lumen and the isolation region. The flexible cup is sized to fit over at least one end of the aortic dissection and the suction lumen applies suction to maintain the flexible cup over the at least one end of the aortic dissection. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100234940 | Prosthetic Valve Delivery System - A prosthetic valve delivery system for percutaneously delivering and deploying a prosthetic valve within an existing valve is disclosed. The delivery system includes a stented prosthetic valve having a balloon-expandable stent portion with a prosthetic valve disposed therein and at least one self-expanding stent portion. The delivery system further includes a dual balloon catheter having a first balloon on which the stented prosthetic valve is disposed during delivery and a second balloon. Upon delivery within the existing valve, the self-expanding stent portion contacts the existing valve and the first balloon expands the balloon-expandable stent portion to a first diameter such that the stented prosthetic valve is in a first stage deployment configuration. The second balloon then expands the balloon-expandable stent portion to a second diameter, greater than the first diameter, such that the stented prosthetic valve is in a second stage deployment configuration being fully deployed within the existing valve. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234934 | Balloon Deployable Coronary Stent - A system for treating a vascular condition includes a delivery catheter, a balloon disposed at a distal end of the delivery catheter, a stent having a stent framework, the stent disposed on an outer surface of the balloon; and at least one restraining filament attached to an outer surface of the stent. a method of treating a vascular condition includes delivering a self-expanding stent including a restraining filament to a treatment site via a balloon catheter, the stent disposed over the balloon; inflating the balloon to fracture at least one fracture point disposed along the length of the restraining filament; expanding the self-expanding stent at the treatment site; contacting an outer surface of the self-expanding stent with a vessel wall at the treatment site; and trapping the fractured restraining filament between at least a portion of an outer surface of the stent and the vessel wall. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100234933 | Prosthesis Delivery Apparatus and Methods - A self-expanding prosthesis delivery system having an outer tubular structure and an inner tubular structure adapted for tracking over a guidewire and disposed in the outer tubular structure where the outer tubular structure and inner tubular structure form a fluid fillable space, which when filled with a fluid forms a fluid column that provides column strength from the delivery system handle to the stop of the delivery system. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100228342 | Laminated Drug-Polymer Coated Stent with Dipped and Cured Layers - The present invention provides a method of applying a drug-polymer coating on a stent. A stent framework is dipped into a first polymeric solution including a first polymer, a first therapeutic agent, and a first solvent. The polymeric solution is dried and the first polymer is cured to form a thin drug-polymer layer on the stent framework. The steps of dipping the stent framework into the first polymeric solution, drying the first polymeric solution, and curing the first polymer are repeated until a target drug-polymer coating thickness is disposed on the stent framework. A drug-polymer coated stent including a stent framework and a laminated drug-polymer coated stent, a system for treating a vascular condition, and a method of treating a vascular condition are also disclosed. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100227799 | SIMULTANEOUS PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AND PHOTO INDUCED POLYMERIZATION - Described herein are methods and compositions for the combined treatments of photodynamic therapy and photo-induced polymerization. The wavelength of light needed to accomplish both therapies can be different or can be the same. In one embodiment, the photodynamic therapy is performed first and the photo-induced polymerization is performed thereafter. In other embodiments, both treatments are performed simultaneously. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100226893 | High Retention Cell Injectate - The present disclosure generally relates to high retention cell injectates, methods of producing the high retention cell injectates and further to methods of treating diseases or conditions by administering the cell injectates to patients in need thereof. To allow for cell rentention into a provided hyaluronic acid solution, the present disclosure provides pretreatment of cells with one or more substances that increases the number of CD44 receptors on their surfaces. Cells expressing CD44 ligands show increase in binding to hyaluronic acid. The pretreated cells are thus incorporated into hyaluronic acid. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100217385 | One-Way Replacement Valve - Artificial valves for use as a venous valve or a heart valve are disclosed. The valve includes a frame including a platform and a valve material coupled to the frame. The valve material is a plurality of filaments or a flap. The valve material is coupled to the frame such that in response to a force in a first direction, e.g. blood flow, the valve material extends in the direct of the force to allow blood to flow past the valve material. In absence of the force in the first direction, the valve material rests against the platform to block blood flow in a direction opposite the first direction. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100217384 | Method For Replacing Native Valve Function Of A Diseased Aortic Valve - Methods for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve in a patient includes: (a) receiving an artificial heart valve assembly mounted about a first mounting position on a catheter system, (b) guiding the artificial heart valve assembly through the vasculature of the patient, (c) while the catheter system having the artificial heart valve assembly mounted thereto is in the patient's vasculature, mounting the artificial heart valve assembly about a second mounting position on the catheter system, (d) delivering the artificial heart valve assembly to the region of the diseased aortic valve, (e) expanding the artificial heart valve assembly in the region of the diseased aortic valve, and (f) withdrawing the catheter system from the patient's vasculature. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100217383 | Apparatus for Engrafting a Blood Vessel - The present invention relates to an apparatus for deploying an endoluminal prosthesis for engrafting a blood vessel. The apparatus includes a bifurcated graft that is able to conform to the interior surface of the blood vessel and can be deployed through a single entry site. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100217371 | Device, System, and Method for Aiding Stent Valve Deployment - A system for aiding implantation of a stented valve includes a delivery device and an outer balloon carried upon the delivery device. Additionally, the system includes a first inner balloon positioned within the outer balloon, a second inner balloon positioned within the outer balloon and adjoining the first inner balloon, and at least a first controller operable to introduce and remove fluid from each of the first inner balloon and second inner balloon. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100217303 | EMBOLIC FILTER DEVICE INDEPENDENT OF TREATMENT DEVICE - A self-expanding filter for collecting emboli or thrombi in a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The filter has a tubular filter body that coils or spirals around an outer surface of an adjacently located, independent treatment device in a corkscrew fashion when deployed from a sheath delivery catheter. When fully deployed, an outer surface of the coiled tubular body conforms to the inner wall of the vessel and an inner surface of the coiled tubular body conforms to an outer surface of the treatment device. The treatment device is disposed within a longitudinal opening extending through the expanded, coiled tubular body of the filter during an interventional procedure. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100211153 | Retractable Drug Delivery System and Method - A system for treating a vascular condition includes a catheter having an inner member and an outer member, the outer member concentrically arranged about the inner member and a retractable drug delivery device disposed at a distal end of the inner member. A coating disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the retractable drug delivery device includes at least one therapeutic agent. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100204770 | Stent Delivery System Permitting in Vivo Stent Repositioning - A stent delivery system is disclosed that includes a recapture component for at least partially collapsing an improperly deployed stent in situ to permit repositioning and re-deployment of the stent. The recapture component and the stent may be disconnected in situ to allow for removal of the stent delivery system. In one embodiment, the recapture component is a balloon having loops or hooks around a periphery thereof for receiving at least one removable tether that couples the balloon and stent together. In another embodiment, the recapture component is an expandable tubular component connected to the stent via the removable tether. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100183501 | Medical Devices With Nanotextured Titanium Coating - A system for treating a vascular condition includes a catheter, a stent disposed on the catheter, the stent having a stent framework including a core, the core having an outer surface and a pure titanium layer deposited on the outer surface of the core and a nanotextured surface formed in the deposited pure titanium layer. A method of manufacturing a stent for treating a vascular condition includes depositing a uniformly dense and uniformly thick layer of pure titanium onto an outer surface of a stent framework core, placing stent framework into a running chamber having a cathode and electrolyte solution, connecting stent framework and cathode to a power source operably connected to the running chamber, applying a power source to the attached stent framework and cathode for a predetermined length of time and at a predetermined voltage and forming a nanotextured surface within the deposited titanium layer. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100179632 | Robotic Fenestration Device Having Impedance Measurement - A method and system for real-time continuous impedance monitoring along the surface of a graft implanted within a main vessel to aid in optimally positioning an electrode at a branch vessel ostium. Due to the conductivity differences among various kinds of solid tissue and blood, a fenestration catheter system uses impedance monitoring as a tool to detect the location of branch ostia through graft cloth. Such information enables the fenestration electrode to be properly positioned for creation of a fenestration in the graft cloth in situ. In addition, the fenestration catheter system may utilize impedance information to avoid contact between the electrode and metal stent structures used to anchor the graft during an in situ fenestration procedure. The fenestration catheter system includes a catheter shaft, an electrode, one or more reference or indifferent electrodes, an impedance analyzer, a power source and an electrode position reference to record impedance measurements in relation to position. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100179588 | VASCULAR PUNCTURE CLOSURE SYSTEM WITH GUIDE SHEATH STABILIZER - A guide sheath for use in guiding a vascular puncture closure device to and in registry with a vascular puncture includes a stabilization system having retention wires deployable from the sheath and engageable with the vessel wall. The retention wires pierce the vessel wall at spaced locations, proximally and distally, about the puncture and form anchors to retain the sheath in registry with the puncture. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100179565 | Rail for Delivering an Endovascular Stapler - An endovascular stapler delivery apparatus having a continuous geometrically non-symmetrical delivery rail operable to guide a stapling device to one or more stapling locations within a body vessel is disclosed. The delivery rail includes a first elongated leg, a second elongated leg in parallel with the first leg, and a self-expanding distal loop extending between a distal end of the first leg and a distal end of the second leg. The distal loop self-expands at a delivery site within the vessel at an angle with a longitudinal axis of the vessel and includes at least first and second portions that abut the vessel at opposing and longitudinally offset locations of a wall of the vessel. The self-expanding distal loop operates to press and align the stapling device against one or more stapling locations. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100174353 | Drug-Polymer Coated Stent - The present invention provides a method and system for loading drug onto a stent. The method comprises positioning at least one polymer coated stent on a mandrel, positioning a drug infused sheath onto the stent and diffusing drug from the sheath into the polymer coating of the stent. The system includes a drug coated mandrel and sheath positioned adjacent to and in contact with a polymer coated stent. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100168833 | Stent With Reduced Profile, Delivery System, and Method of Manufacture - An intraluminal stent, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of manufacturing a stent. The stent ( | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100159119 | Dry Diazeniumdiolation Methods for Producing Nitric Oxide Releasing Medical Devices - The methods of the present disclosure in a broad aspect provide for dry diazeniumdiolation procedures for producing nitric oxide releasing medical devices. These medical devices may alternatively have cap coats applied prior to dry diazeniumdiolation to produce nitric oxide releasing medical devices with cap coats. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100158981 | Block Biodegradable Copolymers for Medical Devices - Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices comprising controlled release biodegradable block copolymers or coated with controlled release block copolymers and at least one drug releasable from the block copolymer. The controlled release block copolymers comprise least two blocks selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyethers, and polyurethanes. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100152845 | Annuloplasty Device Having Shape-Adjusting Tension Filaments - A system for treating mitral valve regurgitation includes a tensioning device having a flexible annuloplasty ring, a plurality of anchoring members and a tensioning filament attached to the flexible ring. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for attaching a flexible annuloplasty ring to the annulus of a mitral valve, and adjusting the lengths of segments of the tension filament attached to the flexible ring in order to exert force vectors on the annulus, thereby reshaping the mitral valve annulus so that the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve close completely during ventricular contraction. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100152843 | Percutaneous Methods for Creating Native Tissue Venous Valves - Percutaneous methods of forming a venous valve from autologous tissue are disclosed. The methods include percutaneously creating one or two subintimal dissections for forming one or two flaps of intimal tissue. In one method, a puncture element is delivered by a catheter based delivery system to a treatment site where a new venous valve is to be created. The puncture element is deployed to gain access to a subintimal layer of the vein wall. A dilation balloon is than positioned and inflated within the subintimal layer to create a flap and corresponding pocket/sinus in the vein, which than acts as a one-way monocuspid valve in the manner of a native venous valve. In a similar manner, methods of forming new bicuspid venous valves by subintimal dissections are also disclosed. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100152832 | Apparatus and Methods for Treatment of Aneurysms With Fibrin Derived Peptide B-Beta - Disclosed herein are methods and stent grafts related to the treatment of aneurysms through the local administration of at least one fibrin derived peptide B-beta. The at least one fibrin derived peptide B-beta can be locally administered by one or more of placing them directly onto a stent graft, incorporating them into a coating found on a stent graft, including them in a delivery device that is associated with a stent graft and/or injecting them through delivery and/or injection catheters at or near the time of stent graft deployment. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100152831 | Implantable Medical Devices Having Multiblock Copolymers - Provided herein are implantable medical devices comprising a biodegradable multiblock copolymer comprising at least three blocks; wherein the at least three blocks includes at least one inner block and two end blocks; further wherein each of the at least one inner block comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of e-caprolactone, r-butylactone, trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone derivatives, P-Dioxanone, and combinations thereof; and further wherein each of the end blocks comprises monomers selected from the group consisting of l-lactide, D-lactide, glycolide, L,D-lactide, and combinations thereof. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100152682 | Apparatus for Percutaneously Creating Native Tissue Venous Valves - Percutaneous apparatus for forming a bicuspid venous valve from autologous tissue are disclosed. A multilumen catheter is disclosed that includes a delivery shaft positioned on either side of the balloon. When the balloon is inflated within the vein at a treatment location where a bicuspid valve is to be created, the delivery shafts are pressed into the wall of the vein by the inflated balloon so that exit ports in the delivery shafts are at diametrically opposed locations. The delivery shafts may than be used to deliver puncture elements through the exit ports and into the vessel wall to gain access to a subintimal layer of the vein wall. In this manner, the inventive multilumen catheter aids in making properly positioned flaps of venous tissue for creating a bicuspid venous valve from autologous tissue. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100137976 | Systems and Methods for Treating Heart Tissue Via Localized Delivery of Parp Inhibitors - The systems and methods of the present disclosure, in a broad aspect, provide for treatment of cardiac tissue via localized delivery of PARP inhibitors. These systems include a composition comprising at least one poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor; and at least one delivery device for introducing the composition into the cardiac tissue. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100131051 | Systems and Methods for Treatment of Aneurysms Using Zinc Chelator(s) - Disclosed herein are methods and stent graft configurations related to the treatment of aneurysms through the local administration of zinc chelator(s). The zinc chelator(s) can be locally administered by placing one or more of them directly onto a stent graft, incorporating them into a coating found on a stent graft, including them in a delivery device that is associated with a stent graft, and/or injecting them through delivery and/or injection catheters at or near the time of stent graft deployment. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100131049 | One-Way valve Prosthesis for Percutaneous Placement Within the Venous System - A one-way valve prosthesis for percutaneous placement within a vein, the valve including a valve body having an inlet and an outlet with a lumen that extends there between. The valve body is operable to alternate between a closed configuration wherein the valve body has a double cone shape and an open configuration wherein the valve body has a double frustoconical shape. A valve seat if formed within the lumen of the valve body at a midsection thereof. The valve seat is constricted to prevent flow there through when the valve body is in the closed configuration and the valve seat is open to allow flow there through when the valve body is in the open configuration. The valve seat opens in response to an actuation pressure and closes in the absence of the actuation pressure. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100131001 | Targeted Drug Delivery for Aneurysm Treatment - Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to aneurysm treatment. More specifically, the systems and methods disclosed herein relate to localized treatment of aneurysms utilizing polymeric micelles that release therapeutic agent(s) when exposed to energy. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100129414 | Bioactive Agent Delivery Using Liposomes in Conjunction With Stent Deployment - Described herein are methods for treating aneurysms, vascular occlusions, and vascular lesions. The methods comprise the use of an implantable medical device which includes a bioactive agent substrate associated with its surface. Liposomes are used to encapsulate the bioactive agent and are delivered either systemically or locally to the bloodstream. A means for liberating the bioactive agents from the liposomes is used once an appropriate location is chosen and the liposomes have distributed themselves through the vasculature. Once liberated, the bioactive agent can be sequestered by the bioactive agent substrate associated with the implantable medical device, and slowly released to impart a therapeutic effect on the surrounding tissues. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100125326 | Braided Stent With a Shortenable Tether - The braided stent with a shortenable tether of the present invention includes a stent for use in a vessel having a vessel wall including a braided stent framework having a first framework end and a second framework end; and a plurality of shortenable tethers, each of the plurality of shortenable tethers having a first tether end and a second tether end, the plurality of shortenable tethers being disposed along a length of the braided stent framework and fixed to the braided stent framework at the first tether end and the second tether end. The plurality of shortenable tethers shorten in response to vessel conditions to urge the first framework end and the second framework end toward each other when the stent is deployed in the vessel to urge a circumference of the braided stent framework toward the vessel wall. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125325 | Stent With Cathodic Protection and Stent Delivery System - The stent with cathodic protection and stent delivery system includes a stent delivery system including a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes a stent body having a first stent layer of an anodic stent material disposed about a second stent layer of a cathodic stent material; and a battery having a first battery layer of an anodic battery material and a second battery layer of a cathodic battery material. The first stent layer is electrically coupled to the first battery layer and the second stent layer is electrically coupled to the second battery layer. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125324 | Catheter Inner Member - A catheter inner member includes an inner member body, including a first side and a second side, the second side opposing the first side. The inner member body includes an inner surface defining an inner member inner lumen and an outer surface defining a surrounding environment. The inner member further includes at least a first flush port and a second flush port in the inner member body. The first flush port and second flush port provide fluid communication between the inner lumen and a surrounding environment. The first flush port disposed on the first side and the second flush port disposed on the second side, wherein the first flush port is axially displaced from the second flush port. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125323 | Coil Stent Delivery System and Method of Use - The coil stent delivery system and method of use includes a stent delivery system including a coil stent; a housing, the housing having a receiver defining a receiver chamber and a sheath defining a sheath lumen, the receiver chamber being in communication with the sheath lumen; and a screw assembly, the screw assembly having a shaft, a helical screw disposed about a distal portion of the shaft, and a drive operably coupled to the shaft. The shaft is disposed in the receiver chamber and the sheath lumen, the helical screw is disposed in the sheath, and the coil stent is disposed about the shaft in the receiver chamber and engages the helical screw. Rotation of the drive moves the coil stent through the sheath lumen. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125282 | Robotically Steered RF Catheter - A distal end of a stent graft fenestration or other special purpose catheter is guided to a location in a patient's vasculature based on input from a surgeon using a pre-operatively generated image of the patient's vasculature—this can be in proximity to an already implanted device. The movement of the catheter is controlled by a robotic surgical system based upon the input from the surgeon. The distal end of the catheter, at the location, is synchronized to the patient's cardiac cycle so the robotic surgical system maintains the distal end of the catheter at the location throughout a cardiac cycle of the patient. The surgeon is not required to precisely manipulate the catheter to maintain the distal end in the proper location throughout the cardiac cycle. The surgeon can focus on performing the desired procedure such as fenestrating the stent graft, endostapling or endosuturing, for example. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125265 | Cell Delivery System to Induce Cell Growth and Angiogenesis - Systems and methods that allow the local delivery of stem cells and/or endothelial progenitor cells to a treatment site. More particularly, this disclosure provides cell delivery systems used to induce cell growth and angiogenesis at a treatment site. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125244 | BALLOON CATHETER FOR CROSSING A CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSION - A balloon catheter is disclosed including a “no-fold” balloon at a distal end thereof that surrounds a distal portion of a guidewire shaft having a compliant shaft or tubular section for selectively gripping a guidewire there within. Upon introduction of inflation fluid at low pressure values, the compliant shaft section of the guidewire shaft is radially compressed to “lock” onto the guidewire while an outer diameter of the no-fold balloon remains unchanged. The simultaneous compression of the compliant shaft section against a guidewire located within the guidewire lumen and the filling of the balloon with inflation fluid without expanding the balloon provides a clinician with a conjoined balloon catheter and guidewire ensemble that together may be pushed through a tight stenosis such as a chronic total occlusion (CTO). | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100124533 | Large Animal Model for Human-Like Advanced Atherosclerotic Plaque - An animal model for cardiovascular disease comprising one or more vascular plaque lesions formed at selected sites within a vascular segment of a nonhuman mammal. The vascular plaque lesion is formed by administering a hypercholesterolemic diet to the nonhuman mammal, inflicting an injury to the vascular wall at the selected site after a predetermined exposure to the hypercholesterolemic diet, and applying a hydrogel to the injured vascular wall. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for evaluating a test compound for an effect on atherosclerotic lesion formation comprising administering to a nonhuman mammal a hypercholesterolemic diet, and, after a defined period of time, isolating a segment of a blood vessel using a balloon catheter, inflicting an injury to the vascular wall within the isolated segment, and applying a hydrogel within the vascular segment. The method further comprises forming a vascular plaque lesion on the vascular wall at the site of the injury, delivering the test compound to the nonhuman mammal, and monitoring atherosclerotic lesion size and composition at the injured site after a defined period of exposure to the test compound. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100121429 | Stent Graft Having a Flexible, Articulable, and Axially Compressible Branch Graft - A stent graft and method for positioning and deploying the stent graft within a vessel system that includes a main vessel and a branch vessel emanating from the main vessel. The stent graft includes a tubular shaped main body formed from graft material, a branch opening (aperture) (ring) in the graft material of the main body whose position can be varied. A tubular shaped branch graft can extend from the main graft. A side wall of the main body may be configured as a series of connected annular corrugations or pleats, and coupled to the main body to define and provide variable positioning of its branch opening (aperture). | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100121357 | Tissue Penetrating Catheters having Integral Imaging Transducers and Their Methods of Use - A catheter device that is useable to penetrate from a blood vessel in which the catheter device is positioned to a target location comprises a flexible catheter advanceable into the first blood vessel, a tissue penetrator lumen adapted to receive an operative tissue penetrator which is usable to penetrate from the blood vessel to the target location when properly aimed. Further said catheter including an imaging transducer fixedly mounted on or within the catheter body to provide an imaging signal from which an image of the target location can be obtained. The catheter device may include an imageable marker on the catheter to form on the image obtainable from the imaging signal a penetrator path indication that indicates the path that will be followed by the tissue penetrator when the tissue penetrator exits from the catheter. Alternatively, or addition thereto, the imaging transducer may comprise a plurality of imaging elements which are located so that the penetrator path indication can be obtained. A method of utilizing such a catheter device to bypass an arterial obstruction is also disclosed. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100106234 | Medical Devices With Extended Drug Diffusion Pathway - A system for treating a vascular condition includes a catheter, a stent disposed on the catheter, the stent having a stent framework including a stent wire and at least one stent foil attached to and wrapped around the stent wire, and a therapeutic agent coating disposed on an inner surface of the at least one stent foil. A method of manufacturing a stent includes securing a first edge of a stent foil to a stent wire, applying a therapeutic agent coating to an inner surface of the stent foil and wrapping the coated stent foil around the stent wire to encase the coating between the stent foil and the outer surface of the stent wire, securing a second edge of the wrapped stent foil to the stent wire, forming at least one exit port along the secured second edge and forming the wrapped stent wire into a stent framework. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100094407 | Multiple Bioactive Agent Eluting Stents - The apparatus and methods of the present invention in a broad aspect provide novel multiple bioactive agent eluting stents for treating vascular diseases and conditions. Controlled elution of bioactive agents is achieved by the presence of the bioactive agents themselves. One or more characteristics of the bioactive agents cause variations in elution rates or profiles or the other bioactive agents. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100094397 | Method of Implanting a Transmyocardial Stent - According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method and apparatus for delivering a medical stent to a treatment site for forming a conduit between a blood vessel and a heart chamber. The apparatus comprises a hollow cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being positioned within the body; and an actuator for expelling the stent from the body to form the conduit. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100094259 | Catheters and Related Devices for Forming Passageways Between Blood Vessels or Other Anatomical Structures - The inventions described in this patent application include i) a torqueable introducer sheath which is useable in conjunction with a transvascular passageway forming catheter to effect precise rotational control of the catheter; ii) an anchorable guide catheter which is useable in conjunction with an intravascular imaging catheter and a transvascular passageway-forming catheter to effect precise positioning and aiming of the passageway-forming catheter; iii) a passageway forming catheter having a torqueable proximal portion to facilitate precise rotational positioning of the distal portion of the catheter; iv) a deflectable-tipped passageway forming catheter, v) various markers and other apparatus useable in conjunction with any of the passageway-forming catheters to facilitate precise positioning and aiming of the catheter, and vi) an apparatus which may be formed within a catheter to prevent a member, apparatus of flow of material from being inadvertently advanced through a lumen of the catheter. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100092535 | Nanoporous Drug Delivery System - Disclosed herein are controlled release drug delivery systems. The systems comprise a medical device at least one nonoporous surface, at least one bioactive agent and optionally a biodegradable polymer. The nanoporous surfaces of the medical devices contain nanopores capable of acting as reservoirs for drugs that are controllably released. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100092534 | Combination Local Delivery Using a Stent - Described herein are implantable medical devices useful in treating vascular conditions such as restenosis. In one embodiment, stents are described in which a combination of bioactive agents is described for local delivery in the vasculature. The combination of bioactive agents comprises at least one compound capable of inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and at least one compound capable of mitigating MCP- and/or TF induction. For example, a compound capable of inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation is a mTOR inhibitor and a compound capable of mitigating MCP-1 and/or TF induction is a corticosteroid. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100087731 | Method for Tracking Degradation of a Biodegradable Stent Having Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Particles Embedded Therein - A tubular stent formed from a plurality of filaments, the filaments constructed out of a solid bioabsorbable polymeric material having active agent particles dispersed there through that are visible by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The active agent particles are superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles. The SPIO particles enhance the visibility of the polymeric stent under MRI, and also allow for accurate monitoring of stent degradation. As the stent degrades, the SPIO particles are released and either flow downstream or are embedded by nearby macrophages. The amount of SPIO particles within the remaining stent body is decreased, which results in a different MRI signal. By quantifying the signal change, the amount of biodegradable stent remaining can be deduced in situ and the stent degradation rate may be accurately calculated. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100070013 | Medical Device With Microsphere Drug Delivery System - A system for treating a vascular condition includes a therapeutic agent eluting medical device having a multilayered coating comprising microspheres of variable wall thicknesses. The wall thicknesses and the composition of the microspheres provide a controlled delivery system for one or more therapeutic agents. Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of treating a vascular condition by placing a stent at the treatment site and delivering one or more therapeutic agents from a coating on at least a portion of the stent surface. The coating comprises microspheres of variable wall thicknesses and optionally, an agent that modulates the rate of degradation of the microspheres. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100049306 | Infundibular Reducer Devices - Described is a prosthetic valve assembly comprising: a radially self-expandable stent configured to expand to bear against a wall of a native body lumen; and an implantable prosthetic valve, having a diameter, the valve being mounted inside the stent; wherein the diameter of the stent is greater than the diameter of the prosthetic valve. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100047210 | Systems and Methods for Positioning of Needles and Other Devices Within Body Tissue - Systems and methods for delivering a substance (e.g., a therapeutic or diagnostic substance, drug, biologic, cells, etc.) or device (e.g., implantable device, sensor, electrode, etc.) to a specific location within a tissue mass (e.g., an organ, tumor, other mass of body tissue, etc.) that is located a spaced distance from an open or fluid-filled space, body cavity or body lumen. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100036471 | Method of Diagnosing and Treating Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms - A method of diagnosing and treating a patient having lower urinary tract symptoms caused by insufficient blood flow to the urinary bladder, the urethra, a nerve innervating the urinary bladder, or a nerve innervating the urethra due to atherosclerosis of a pelvic artery is disclosed. A method of diagnosing the patient's condition includes determining if a stenosis exists within a pelvic vessel. A method of treating the patient's condition may include placing a stent within the stenosed pelvic artery. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100022943 | Hydrodynamic Thrombectomy Catheter - A catheter apparatus for removing an obstruction within a body lumen includes an elongate tubular shaft defining a lumen and a flexible membrane that fluidly seals the distal end of the tubular shaft. At least one cutter member is attached to and distally extends from the flexible membrane. An actuating mechanism is operatively connected to a proximal end of the tubular shaft. The actuating mechanism displaces a fluid disposed within the lumen of the tubular shaft in such a manner that the fluid oscillates the flexible membrane and the cutter member attached thereto. Accordingly, the catheter apparatus uses pulsatile fluid flow through the tubular shaft to transmit energy from the driving mechanical at the proximal end of the catheter apparatus to the flexible membrane at the distal end of the catheter apparatus. The transmitted energy causes the cutting member to oscillate and break up a target blood clot. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100022940 | Percutaneously Introduceable Shunt Devices and Methods - Catheters, implantable shunt devices and methods usable to establish passageways between blood vessels and/or other anatomical structures within the body of a human or animal subject. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100021620 | Low Temperature Drug Deposition - A drug coating is formed by vaporizing a drug in a deposition chamber having an implantable medical device such as a stent loaded therein. A vacuum is utilized to lower the pressure within the deposition chamber, thereby reducing the temperature necessary to vaporize the drug. The drug is then deposited onto the implantable medical device while in a vapor phase to form the drug coating. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100016950 | Streamlined Stents - A stent for implantation within the body of a patient is disclosed. The stent can be formed from one or more stent modules comprising a plurality of stent struts, one or more of which have an inner contour designed for streamlined fluid flow when the stent is implanted within an anatomical passageway of the patient. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100016836 | Methods and Apparatus for Acute or Chronic Delivery or Substances or Apparatus to Extravascular Treatment Sites - Methods and apparatus for delivery of substances or apparatus to target sites located outside blood vessels within the body of a human or animal patient. A vessel wall penetrating catheter is inserted into the vasculature, positioned and oriented within a blood vessel near the target extravascular site and a penetrator is advanced from the catheter so as to penetrate outwardly through the wall of the blood vessel in the direction of the target site. Thereafter, a delivery catheter is passed through a lumen of the penetrator to the target site. A desired substance or apparatus is then delivered to or obtained from the target site. In some applications, the penetrator may be retracted into the vessel wall penetrating catheter and the vessel wall penetrating catheter may be removed, leaving the delivery catheter in place for chronic or continuous delivery of substance(s) to and/or obtaining of information or samples from the target site. Alternatively, a delivery catheter having an occlusion member or balloon may be advanced into a vein or venule and the occlusion member or balloon may be used to occlude the lumen of the vein or venule during and after injection of a substance through the catheter, such that the substance will not be carried away by normal venous blood flow and will remain in the vein or venule for a sufficient period of time to have its intended effect (e.g. to enter adjacent tissues through capillary beds drained by that vein or venule). | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100010617 | Stent-Graft Delivery System - A method of delivering a stent-graft includes mounting the stent-graft on a pushrod; radially constraining the stent-graft within a sheath; securing a crown portion of the stent-graft to the pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system; retracting the sheath to expose the crown portion of the stent-graft; and further retracting the sheath to cause the retainer structure to release the crown portion from the pushrod thus deploying the stent-graft. The retainer structure releases the stent-graft automatically as a result of the retraction of the sheath. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100010393 | Treatment of Occlusions by External High Intensity Focused Ultrasound - An apparatus for treating an occlusion in a vessel inside of a patient. The apparatus includes an external high intensity focused ultrasound transducer configured to be positioned outside of the vessel and to emit ultrasonic waves of energy to the occlusion and to detect ultrasonic waves of energy, an internal ultrasound transducer configured to be positioned inside of the vessel at a position adjacent to or inside the occlusion and to emit ultrasonic waves of energy for detection by the external high intensity focused ultrasound transducer, and a controller configured to control the ultrasonic waves of energy emitted by the external high intensity focused ultrasound transducer based on an electrocardiogram of the patient. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090326646 | Methods and Apparatus for Multiple Cured Formulation Coated Stents - The methods and apparatus of the present disclosure in a broad aspect provide stents with multiple cured formulations. Selective curing of formulations on a stent framework, such as by ultraviolet light, results in stents having multiple cured formulations as coatings which may or may not be layered in uniform or non-uniform fashion. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090312743 | Perivascular Leak Repair System - The perivascular leak repair system, and method of using the same, of the present invention provides a sealant reservoir | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090306756 | Hybrid Biodegradable/Non-Biodegradable Stent, Delivery System and Method of Treating a Vascular Condition - An intraluminal stent, an intraluminal stent delivery system, and a method of treating a vascular condition. The stent includes a framework composed of a biodegradable material. At least one strut is composed of a non-biodegradable material. The framework is operably attached to the at least one strut. The delivery system includes a catheter and a stent disposed on a portion of the catheter. The stent includes a framework composed of a biodegradable material. The stent further includes at least one strut composed of a non-biodegradable material. The framework is operably attached to the at least one strut. The method includes positioning an intraluminal stent via a catheter within a vessel. The stent includes at least one strut that is composed of a non-biodegradable material and is operably attached to a framework. The framework expands during deployment of the intraluminal stent. The framework is allowed to biodegrade within the vessel. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090299466 | Local Delivery of Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors - Disclosed are medical devices and methods for the local delivery and treatment of vascular conditions. The methods and treatments involve local delivery of at least one matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor. The vascular conditions described herein include plaque rupture, aneurysm, stenosis, restenosis, atherosclerosis and combinations thereof. | 12-03-2009 |
