Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Qvanteq Ag

Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited

Straumann Holding Ag

Arik Zucker

Randolf Von Oepen

Lorcan James Coffey

Travis Richard Yribarren

Thomas Rieth

Boris Warnack

Judith Hartwig

Silke Pschibl

Armin W Mäder

Ib Erling Joergensen

Joost J Fierens

Andrew Jeffrey

Vincent Milleret

Louise Balfe

Eric Marcoux

Kay Unzicker

Philippe Nicaise

Georg Raeber

Stefano Buzzi

Zdravkica Dzakula

Erhard Huesler

Sebastien Dubois

Armin Mäder

Roman Schneeberger

Armin W Maeder

Sébastien Dubois

A method and a device that determines surface characteristics of a stent to be implanted in a lumen in a body in which a wetting behavior of a stent surface serves as measure for the surface characteristics of the stent surface. In order to determine the wetting behavior, a course of a wetting force along a length of the stent surface is determined, the wetting power between the stent surface and a liquid surface being detected along the length of the stent.

Method and device for determining surface characteristics of stents, and stent having defined surface characteristics

A dilatation balloon is fabricated according to a process that forms cavities and indentations in the balloon and/or catheter sections. A length of tubing is axially elongated and radially expanded in a form to provide the requisite biaxial orientation and strength. Then, an excimer laser or another type of laser or mechanical material removal tool is used to remove the polymeric material, virtually without thermal effects. Cavities in the sleeve sections of the balloon are defined and if desired, indentations in the cone sections are defined. Material removal, particularly near the balloon sleeves enables a thinner, more flexible bonding area between the catheter shaft and the balloon. Further, the indentations along the cone sections enables tighter wrapping of the balloon for a reduced delivery profile. Rigidity near the sleeves is reduced for better maneuverability of the catheter in tortuous passageways.

Method of reducing rigidity of angioplasty balloon sections

A device and a method for providing a stent for implantation into a body lumen are provided, wherein the stent () has a proximal end () and a distal end (), between which a stent lumen having a compressible diameter d extends. The device comprises a crimping apparatus (), having elements () which are disposed about an axis and can be moved at least partially relative to each other radially to the axis, and an activator () for actuating the crimping apparatus (). The elements () of the crimping apparatus comprise the stent () and can be moved radially by means of the activator () from a widened position, in which the stent () is not crimped, into a closed position, in which the diameter d of the stent () is compressed. According to the invention, a storage compartment comprising an inert medium or an inert filling is provided, which forms a jacket in which the stent () is stored in an inert manner at least the majority of the time, while the elements () enclose the stent () and are moved from the widened position into the closed position. The inert jacket can be interrupted during compression of the stent.

Device and method for providing a stent for implantation

The system according to the present disclosure includes a metal stent () as a medical implant for treating lesions in blood vessels and a packaging () having an inside volume, in which the stent () is arranged in a protected manner. The stent () has a plurality of webs (), which produce a tubular shape with each other, and a proximal end () and a distal end (), between which a stent lumen () extends. The stent surface () has a hydrophilic property. The molecular chemical impurities originating in the atmosphere, primarily hydrocarbon compounds, are significantly reduced on the surface by a treatment, whereby the contact angle as a measure of the hydrophilicity of a water drop present on the surface () is reduced in proportion to the contact angle prior to said treatment. The stent () is stored in an inert manner in the packaging ().

Metal stent for treating lesions in blood vessels, comprising a packaging

Dilatation balloon having reduced rigidity

The present invention relates to a catheter having a soft distal tip that can be manufactured at lower cost than catheters in the prior art. In one embodiment, the catheter is produced by coupling a soft sleeve to the distal end of a catheter tube. The sleeve may affixed to the catheter tube under temperature and pressure conditions that cause the proximal end of the sleeve to taper against the outer surface of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the insertion profile of the catheter, and that also cause the inner wall of the sleeve to taper against the distal end of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the lumen of the catheter.

Catheter having a soft distal tip

The present invention involves porous polymer membranes, suitable for use in medical implants, having controlled pore sizes, pore densities and mechanical properties. Methods of manufacturing such porous membranes are described in which a continuous fiber of polymer is extruded through a reciprocating extrusion head and deposited onto a substrate in a predetermined pattern. When cured, the polymeric material forms a stable, porous membrane suitable for a variety of applications, including reducing emboli release during and after stent delivery, and providing a source for release of bioactive substances to a vessel or organ and surrounding tissue.

Porous membranes for medical implants and methods of manufacture

A catheter arrangement is described that is arranged to permit a guide wire or other structure to be fed laterally from the region of an expandable working element. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular member and an inflatable structure carried by a distal portion of the flexible tubular member. The flexible tubular member has a guide wire lumen and at least one fluid supply lumen that is in fluid communication with the inflatable structure. The inflatable structure includes at least one, and preferably two, inflatable members (which may take the form of balloons). In the case of two inflatable members, the first and second inflatable members are radially spaced about the guide wire lumen such that at least one gap is formed between the inflatable members. With this arrangement, the distal end of a guide wire may be advanced through the guide lumen and out of a side opening such that the guide wire passes laterally between the first and second inflatable members. With such an arrangement, a guide wire passing out of the side opening in the region between the inflatable members can readily be directed into a second branch of a vessel bifurcation while the device is positioned in a first branch.

Balloon catheter

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Arik Zucker