Abstract:
Medical devices or components thereof, and particularly intracorporeal devices for therapeutic or diagnostic uses, which are formed at least in part of a polymeric material and a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, so that the medical device or component thereof is visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In one embodiment, the medical device is a balloon catheter having an MRI visible balloon. In a presently preferred embodiment, there is an insufficient amount of the ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material within a wall of the balloon or coated onto a wall of the balloon to make the balloon radiopaque.
Abstract:
A balloon catheter and a method of making a balloon catheter, having a balloon with a first layer and a second layer, the first layer having at least one impregnated section impregnated with a polymeric material compatible with a polymeric material forming the catheter shaft. At least a portion of the impregnated section is fusion bonded to the shaft. In a presently preferred embodiment, the impregnated section is adjacent to a section of the first layer which is not impregnated with the compatible polymeric material. The impregnated section provides improved bonding of the balloon to the catheter shaft while minimizing the effect of the bond on catheter performance characteristics such as profile and flexibility.
Abstract:
An elongated balloon catheter having a distal tip member on the distal end of the catheter and having a sleeve surrounding and secured at least to the proximal end of the distal tip member.
Abstract:
A catheter having an multilayered shaft section with a first layer formed of a polyimide first material and a second layer formed of a second material. In a presently preferred embodiment, the polyimide material is a thermoset polyimide. However, in alternative embodiments, a thermoplastic polyimide is used. The thermoset polyimide has a very high glass transition temperature (Tg) of approximately 400° C. (as measured by differential scanning calorimetry), and excellent dimensional stability at the processing temperature of polyamides commonly used in catheter components. As a result, during formation and assembly of the catheter, production of a thin polyimide layer with controlled dimensions is facilitated. The polyimide has a high modulus and provides a thin walled yet highly pushable shaft section, while the second layer provides kink resistance. In one embodiment, the second material is selected from the group consisting of a polyamide material and a polyurethane material.
Abstract:
A catheter assembly comprising a shaft and at least one flexible radiopaque marker affixed with the shaft. Flexibility of radiopaque marker is achieved by using a segmented band of radiopaque material or a coiled band formed by winding a wire or hollow tube filled with radiopaque material. The flexible radiopaque marker may be affixed with the shaft by an adhesive, by swaging, by crimping, by soldering, or by spring-action tension fit against the shaft.
Abstract:
Preparing chemically cross-linked collagenous biological graft material by preparation processes which include the step of altering the locations and/or orientations of chemical cross-linkages formed during the collagen cross-linking process. Embodiments of the method include various processes whereby physical force, stress or movement is applied to alter the relative positioning of the collagen fibers within the graft materials during at least the initial period of exposure to the collagen cross-linking reagent.
Abstract:
A balloon catheter and a method of making a balloon catheter, having a balloon with a first layer and a second layer, the first layer having at least one impregnated section impregnated with a polymeric material compatible with a polymeric material forming the catheter shaft. At least a portion of the impregnated section is fusion bonded to the shaft. In a presently preferred embodiment, the impregnated section is adjacent to a section of the first layer which is not impregnated with the compatible polymeric material. The impregnated section provides improved bonding of the balloon to the catheter shaft while minimizing the effect of the bond on catheter performance characteristics such as profile and flexibility.
Abstract:
Machine-readable media, methods, and apparatus are described. In some embodiments, a header policy for a packet to be transmitted through the network is defined based upon characteristics of the network and a header of the packet is compressed based upon whether the header policy indicates the header of the packet is to be compressed.
Abstract:
A method of making a catheter balloon, and a balloon catheter formed thereby, in which a layer of a catheter balloon is formed by providing a tubular member to serve as a non porous liner for cooperation with a polymeric tube, and enlarging radially a central or working section of the tubular member such that a first end of the tubular member is smaller in the radial direction with respect to the working section. The tubular member may also have a thickness at the working section that is less than a thickness of the first and second end portions. The first end section of the tubular member is bonded to a catheter shaft having a first outer diameter to form at least a portion of a skirt section of the balloon, and the second end section is bonded to the catheter shaft having a second outer diameter to form a portion of a skirt section, where the skirt sections have an improved high rupture pressure.
Abstract:
A method including introducing a treatment device via a transluminal route within a blood vessel to a treatment site including a vulnerable plaque; and dispensing a treatment agent including a compound having a property that tends to modify a property of a content of the vulnerable plaque. A kit including a first treatment agent including a property capable of modifying a property of a content of a vulnerable plaque; and a different second treatment agent. A composition including a treatment agent capable of modifying the mobility of a content of a vulnerable plaque in a form and concentration suitable for dispensing through a catheter into a blood vessel.