Abstract:
A medical device crimping system comprises a crimper and a plurality of protective strips. The crimper defines a crimping iris, which has an open state and a closed state. In the open state the cross-sectional area of the crimping iris is greater than in the closed state. The plurality of protective strips extend longitudinally through the crimping iris. Each of the strips is radially offset from one another. The strips protect the stent from direct contact with the crimping blades of the crimper.
Abstract:
A catheter comprises a catheter shaft, at least a portion of which defines a medical device receiving region, and at least one sleeve. The at least one sleeve comprises a tubular member constructed and arranged to transition between an extended state and a retracted state. The tubular member has a first portion being engaged to a portion of the catheter shaft adjacent to the medical device receiving region. In the extended state a second portion is constructed and arranged to at least partially overlay the medical device receiving region. In the retraced state the second portion is removed from about the medical device receiving region. At least one of the first portion and the second portion of the tubular member are at least partially constructed from a shape memory material.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for improved control of low viscosity fluid flow during electrohydrodynamic spray deposition of the fluid to coat small targets, such as medical devices like stents. The apparatus includes a target holder which applies a first electrical potential to a target, a coating fluid transporter such as a wick, a siphon tube or a siphon tube with a wick therein along which the coating fluid flows from a reservoir to a dispensing end of the transporter, and an electrode which applied a second electrical potential to the coating fluid sufficient to cause the coating fluid to be attracted from the dispensing end of the transporter toward the target. This provides a target coating apparatus with highly self-regulating coating fluid flow characteristics despite the low viscosity of the coating fluid, while producing highly consistent and uniform target coatings.
Abstract:
A medical device includes a member, a coating, and a lubricant. In one embodiment, the coating includes a therapeutic agent. In one embodiment, the coating is disposed on at least a portion of the body and the lubricant is disposed on at least a portion of the coating. In one embodiment, the lubricant is formulated to provide an effective degree of lubricity between the coating and at least one of a surface of a package configured to receive at least a portion of the medical device, another portion of the medical device, a coating of another medical device, and an uncoated portion of another medical device. In one embodiment, the lubricant is soluble in at least one of water and a bodily fluid of a mammal. In one embodiment, the coating is formulated to release from the member when the medical device is placed within a body of a patient.
Abstract:
A medical device comprising a surface coated by at least two coating regions comprising a therapeutic agent is disclosed. These coating regions allow for the release of the therapeutic agent over different time periods.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a coated medical device for delivering a biologically active agent to a body tissue such as a body lumen, said coated medical device having an increased coating surface area for adjusting the release rate of a biologically active agent, such as a drug, from the coating. The medical device has a coating comprising an outer surface having a surface area and capable of being in direct contact with the body tissue, and a plurality of indentations in the outer surface of the coating. The surface area of the coating outer surface is therefore greater than the surface area of the coating outer surface absent the indentations. The present invention is also directed to a method for making a medical device comprising forming a coating comprising a polymer and a biologically active agent on a surface of a medical device, wherein the coating comprises an outer surface capable of being in direct contact with body tissue, and increasing the surface area of the outer surface by forming indentations on the outer surface of the coating.
Abstract:
A method is provided for coating at least a portion of at least one medical device. The method includes arranging a polymer on the portion of the medical device, arranging a bioactive agent on the portion of the medical device, and spraying, subsequent to the arranging of the polymer and the arranging of the bioactive agent, a solvent on the portion of the medical device. The method may further include selecting a composition of the solvent to achieve a desired agent release response profile for the medical device. A medical appliance is provided having a coating applied by a method that includes arranging a polymer on the portion of the medical device, arranging a bioactive agent on the portion of the medical device, and subsequently spraying a solvent on the portion of the medical device. A method is provided for achieving a desired agent release response profile for a medical device by reflowing the coating with a solvent.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and device for coating a device with time-release drugs by providing a plurality of micro coated pellets having different release rates on the surface of the medical device structure, e.g., a stent. Organizing the micro pellets with different release rates on the structure can result in the structure having a plurality of release regions with varying release profiles.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for selective ablation of therapeutic coating material from the surfaces of generally tubular medical devices, such as stents or guide wires, is provided. The medical device is rotated about its longitudinal axis, and a laser is operated in coordination with the rotational motion of the medical device to ablate a selected portion of the coating from the device, such as a portion of undesired coating. In a further embodiment, laser ablation of the coating on a medical device is conducted to reduce the amount of coating material on the device to a desired target amount of coating.