Abstract:
The invention is directed to an expandable stent for implanting in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, peripheral artery, or other body lumen. The invention provides for an intravascular stent having a plurality of cylindrical rings connected by links. The links between adjacent rings provide axial strength when subjected to longitudinal compressive forces.
Abstract:
Methods of fabricating a polymeric implantable device with improved fracture toughness through annealing are disclosed herein. A polymeric construct is annealed with no or substantially no crystal growth to increase nucleation density. After the annealing, crystallites are grown around the formed nuclei. An implantable medical device, such as a stent, can be fabricated from the polymer construct after the crystallite growth.
Abstract:
Balloon catheter comprises an elongate catheter shaft having a proximal section, a distal section, and an inflation lumen, and a multilayer balloon on the distal section of the shaft. The multilayer balloon comprises at least a first layer and a second layer having a combined wall thickness and an outer-most layer. The first layer is made of a first polymer material having a first maximum blow-up-ratio. The second layer is made of a second polymer material having a second maximum blow-up-ratio greater than the first maximum blow-up-ratio and the second layer is an inner layer relative to the first layer. The at least first and second layers define a compliance less than that of a single layer balloon made of the first polymer material with a wall thickness equal to the combined wall thickness. The outer-most layer is made of a third polymer material.
Abstract:
Method of delivering a therapeutic agent includes delivering at least a portion of a medical device within a vasculature. The medical device includes a tubular member having a proximal end and distal end defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, an expandable member proximate the distal end of the tubular member, a tissue engaging member proximate the expandable member, a sheath disposed over the tissue engaging member, and a therapeutic agent disposed on at least the expandable member or the tissue engaging member. The method further includes deploying the tissue engaging member at a select location by displacement of the sheath relative the tissue engaging member, inflating the expandable member to engage the therapeutic agent with a vessel wall, deflating the expandable member, and withdrawing the medical device from the vasculature.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal section with multiple distally tapered core segments with at least two contiguous distally tapering core segments in which the most distal tapered core segment preferably has a greater degree of taper than the proximally contiguous tapered core segment. The invention is also directed to an elongated intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal section of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that preferably is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal section of the device.
Abstract:
A method for medical device sterilization comprises staggering a stack of packages so that a back surface of each package partially overlaps a front surface of another of the packages. Each package contains a medical device. The stack of packages are positioned so that the front surfaces of the packages face toward a radiation source. The packages are then exposed to radiation.
Abstract:
Methods for fabricating a polymeric stent with improved fracture toughness including radial expansion of a polymer tube and fabricating a stent from the expanded tube are disclosed. The polymer tube is disposed within a mold and may be heated with radiation. The heated tube radially expands within the mold.
Abstract:
A closure system for closing an opening in tissue, the closure system including a closure device and a knot replacement device configured to position a suture lock on a suture. The closure device includes a housing, a needle actuation handle cooperating with the housing, a first hollow needle selectively movable by the needle actuation handle and operatively cooperating with a suture anchor frictionally engaged with a slot and a lumen of the first hollow needle and coupled to a suture. A portion of the suture anchor rests along an outer surface of the first hollow needle as the first hollow needle is advanced through tissue adjacent the opening.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes tissue gripping devices, systems, and methods for gripping mitral valve tissue during treatment of a mitral valve and while a tissue fixation device is implanted in the mitral valve. The tissue gripping device includes a flexible member and one or more tissue gripping members coupled to one or more arms of the flexible member. The flexible member is formed from a shape-memory material, such as nitinol, and the tissue gripping member(s) are formed from a material that is more rigid than the shape-memory material. The tissue gripping member(s) are attached to the flexible member by threading or looping suture lines around and/or through the tissue gripping member(s) and the flexible member and/or by applying a cover material to the tissue gripping device to hold the tissue gripping member(s) against the flexible member.
Abstract:
A torque device for gripping and manipulating a guidewire for advancing the guidewire into a patient's vascular system. The torque device is configured for single-handed use and can be opened for repositioning the torque device relative to the guidewire and closed for gripping the guidewire to prevent axial and rotational movement relative to the guidewire. The torque device grips the guidewire at multiple spaced apart locations on the guidewire.