Abstract:
The present disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for loading, delivering, positioning, and deploying an artificial heart valve device at the mitral annulus. A delivery system includes a delivery member coupled to a handle assembly and extending distally from the handle assembly. The valve device is attached at the distal end of the delivery member, and is constrained within a valve cover of an outer sheath. A delivery catheter is configured to advance the valve relative to the outer sheath, and a suture catheter includes sutures/tethers which maintain proximal tension on the valve prior to deployment.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is directed to a drug-eluting implantable medical devices that includes a tantalum-alloy body having a drug-eluting coating thereon for delivering a drug to treat, for example, restenosis. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device includes a body sized and configured to be implanted in a living subject. At least a portion of the body may comprise a tantalum alloy. The tantalum alloy includes a tantalum content of about 77 weight % ("wt %") to about 92 wt %, a niobium content of about 7 wt % to about 13 wt %, and a tungsten content of about 1 wt % to about 10 wt %. The tantalum alloy exhibits at least one mechanical property modified by heat treatment thereof. The body has a drug-eluting coating thereon.
Abstract:
A sheath assembly ( 10 ) is provided for protecting a stent (42) mounted on a catheter (40). An inner tubular member (30) having two longirudinal slits (16) is positioned over the stent without longitudinal movement of the inner tubular member along the stent surface thereby eliminating the possibility of scraping or scratching a drug coating or polymer coating on the stent surface or balloon surface. An outer tubular member (14) slides over the inner tubular member to hold it onto the stent for further protection. In use, the outer tubular member is removed from over the inner tubular member so that the two half - cylindrical portions of the inner tubular member can fall away from the stent without longitudinal movement along the stent surface.
Abstract:
A medical device such as, for example, an implantable expandable stent is constructed of a ternary alloy of molybdenum, rhenium, and a third metal. In a preferred embodiment, the third metal is a refractory metal selected to improve the ductility of the alloy. The alloy may further be advantageously constructed to have a crystal structure selected from HCP, BCC, FCC, and tetragonal to further optimize the physical characteristics of the medical device.
Abstract:
A porous balloon (14) or other catheter structure is formed by creating specific size pores (24) for delivering an agent to a body lumen (18). The pores can be created by passing matter or energy through the surface of the catheter structure, as by a laser (35) or a projectile (51). In the case of laser, the catheter structure can be reversed so that the inner surface becomes the outer surface to convert diverging pores into converging pores. In the case of projectiles, a pore size can be achieved by selecting an appropriate size and shaped projectile to obtain the desired characteristic. Alternatively, a material to make the catheter structure can include impurities (29,59) that can be removed once the catheter structure is set, leaving pores where the material formed around the impurities.
Abstract:
A system for delivering a medical device, such as an angioplasty balloon, includes two catheter shafts. The distal portion of a first shaft includes a first balloon and is narrower than the proximal portion. A second catheter shaft includes a second balloon and is connected to a medial portion of the first shaft. The second shaft includes a guidewire passageway which is in communication with the passwageway of a third shaft that is removablly connected to the first shaft. The distal tips of the first and second balloons are connected together to allow the system to be advanced to an anatommical site using a single guidewire. A second guidewire may be used to separate the distal ends of the balloons and to position the balloons at vascular bifurcation. A stent can be crimped onto the balloons such that inflation of the balloons implants the stent within the bifurcation.
Abstract:
A dual lumen guidewire support catheter for accurately crossing a chronic total occlusion in a vessel is disclosed. The dual lumen guidewire support catheter includes a first lumen portion and a second lumen portion sharing a common side and a common distal end. The first lumen portion can be a rapid exchange or over-the-wire portion, while the second lumen portion is an over the wire portion. One or both of the portions can include a discontinuity to enable removal of a guidewire following placement through or at an occlusion or lesion.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns a novel bifurcated (20) stent apparatus for use in treating lesions at or near a bifurcation point in bifurcated vessel. More particularly, a dedicated bifurcation stent apparatus is fabricated from a single tube structure for use in a bifurcated body vessel having a main lumen and a side lumen. The stent apparatus includes a first stent portion (26) comprised of a first stent pattern that is configured for radial expansion into a generally cylindrical main body. A second stent portion is integrally formed with the first stent portion, and includes a second stent pattern configured to form a first branch leg (31) and a second branch leg (32). Collectively, the first stent portion, and the branch legs form a crocodile cut shape. Each branch leg is of a cylindrical shell-shaped arc segment in a first condition, and each of the first branch leg and the second branch leg is patterned for manipulation and radial expansion, in a second condition, into a generally cylindrical first body and a generally cylindrical second body, respectively.
Abstract:
A system for delivering a contrast medium to a treatment site including a delivery device, and a portable power injector. The delivery device includes a guidewire lumen and a contrast injection lumen, the guidewire lumen and contrast injection lumen being at least partially coaxial. The portable power injector includes an injector body and is configured to contain a contrast medium. The injector body has a plunger disposed therein. The portable power injector also includes a pressure generator, the pressure generator being configured to apply a pressure to the plunger to drive the contrast medium from the injector body and through a distal end of the contrast injection lumen.
Abstract:
Disclosed are stent delivery apparatus (200) and methods for moving a balloon (204) catheter carrying a stent (206) through a body vessel without the stent slipping from the balloon are provided. In general, the stent delivery system includes a stent stopper (208, 408, 600) that impedes the stent from slipping from the balloon. The stent stopper is sized to serve as a barrier to the stent as it is carried on the balloon. In a specific embodiment, the stent stopper is formed from a material that encircles the proximal end of the balloon and abuts the proximal end of the stent. The stent stopper material expands with expansion of the balloon and collapses with deflation of the balloon. In some embodiments, the stent stopper material has a thickness (302, 502) that is about equal to or greater than the thickness of the stent so as to form a barrier against the stent and impede the stent from slipping off the proximal end of the balloon.