Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Endovascular Technologies, Inc.

Chicheng Wang

David H Burkett

Andy Edward Denison

Arkady Kokish

William Joseph Boyle

Kent C B Stalker

Benjamin C Huter

Scott Jason Huter

Debashis Dutta

John D Whitfield

Paul F Muller

Murthy V Simhambhatla

John Francis Boylan

Christopher J Tarapata

Rommel Lumauig

Kerry J Williams

Samir R Patel

Dorrie M Happ

Johann J Skinner

Eugene R Serina

Steven L Mouw

Jessica Liang

Francisco Sanchez

Kondapavulur T V Rao

Renee E Garcia

Michael Y Zhang

Arakady Kokish

An embolic protection device for use in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region to capture any embolic material which may be created and released into the bloodstream during the procedure. The device includes a filtering assembly having a self-expanding strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto. In one embodiment, the filtering assembly is attached to the distal end of a guidewire and is deployed within the patient's vasculature as the guidewire is manipulated into the area of treatment. A restraining sheath placed over the filtering assembly in a coaxial arrangement maintains the filtering assembly in its collapsed position until it is ready to be deployed by the physician. Thereafter, the sheath can be retracted to expose the filtering assembly which will then self-expand within the patient's vasculature. Interventional devices can be delivered over the guidewire and any embolic debris created during the interventional procedure and released into the blood stream will enter the filtering assembly and be captured therein. Other embodiments include filtering assemblies attached to an outer tubular member and inner shaft member which apply axial force to the distal ends of the assembly to either expand or contract the struts as needed.

Embolic protection devices

The present invention relates to a stent comprising a structural support and a polymeric film or sheet or tube. The structural support comprises an outer surface that is roughened patterned. The polymeric film or sheet or tube is retained to the structural support by the roughened or patterned outer surface of the structural support.

Mechanical attachment method of cover materials on stents

A catheter apparatus includes a lesion dilating member disposable at a lesion position in a vessel (e.g. a patient's artery) which is dilatable to open the vessel at the lesion position. An emboli-capturing assembly having a perfusion member and filter is displaced downstream from the lesion dilating member to capture embolic debris released in the fluid flow. The perfusion member may illustratively have peaks and channels formed between adjacent peaks which cooperate with the filter to create trapping pockets that capture embolic debris. The filter may be made from any flexible and porous material with dimensions to pass the fluid and block the emboli. The perfusion member is thereafter deflated to provide for emboli retention in the perfusion member.

Catheter apparatus for treating occluded vessels and filtering embolic debris and method of use

Methods for forming low profile balloons for use with a catheter by providing a polymeric tube, removing material from the outer surface of the polymeric tube around at least one of its end portions, and inflating a region of the polymeric tube between the two end portions to form the balloon. Low profile balloons having end portions with an outer diameter below 30 mils are also disclosed.

Method for forming low profile balloon and low profile balloon for use with a catheter

An embolic protection device for use in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region to capture any embolic material which may be created and released into the bloodstream during the procedure. The device includes a filtering assembly having a self-expanding strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto. In one embodiment, the filtering assembly is attached to the distal end of a guide wire and is deployed within the patient's vasculature as the guide wire is manipulated into the area of treatment. A restraining sheath placed over the filtering assembly in a coaxial arrangement maintains the filtering assembly in its collapsed position until it is ready to be deployed by the physician. Thereafter, the sheath can be retracted to expose the filtering assembly which will then self-expand within the patient's vasculature. Interventional devices can be delivered over the guide wire and any embolic debris created during the interventional procedure and released into the blood stream will enter the filtering assembly and be captured therein. Other embodiments include filtering assemblies attached to an outer tubular member and inner shaft member which apply axial force to the distal ends of the assembly to either expand or contract the struts as needed.

Porous vascular grafts and stent covers are formed of open-celled microcellular polymeric foams having a porosity that can be modified to be adapted for carrying and delivering different types of therapeutic drugs. A stent cover is formed of a tubular member including at least one layer of a porous, microcellular foam formed from a polymeric material capable of absorbing and releasing therapeutic drugs at predictable rates for delivery of the therapeutic drugs in localized drug therapy in a blood vessel. A composite metal and polymer vascular graft is formed of an interior structural stent member, and an outer layer or coating of the porous, microcellular foam. The method of making the composite metal and polymer vascular graft involves providing an interior structural stent member with an outer layer or coating of the porous, microcellular foam, and can further comprise the step of loading a therapeutic drug into the outer layer of the porous, microcellular foam for delivery of the therapeutic drugs in localized drug therapy in a blood vessel.

Method of processing open-celled microcellular polymeric foams with controlled porosity for use as vascular grafts and stent covers

An embolic protection device includes a filtering assembly having a self-expanding strut assembly and a filter element. The filtering assembly can be attached to a guidewire and deployed within the patient's vasculature into an area of treatment. A restraining sheath maintains the filtering assembly in its collapsed position until it is ready to be deployed by the physician. Interventional devices can be delivered over the guidewire and any embolic debris created and released into the blood stream will enter the filtering assembly. The filtering assembly can be rotatably mounted on the guide wire and may include a dampening element which helps to prevent some shock force that may be transmitted along the guide to the deployed filtering assembly.

The invention is generally directed to an intraluminal catheter system with an improved transition between a proximal shaft portion and a more flexible distal shaft portion. The improvement provides enhanced flexibility and kink-resistance, thus, facilitating advancement through tortuous anatomy. The present catheters may be used for either or both angioplasty and stent deployment.

Catheter with improved transition

The present invention is directed to apparatus and method for forming balloons with improved dimensional stability and balloons formed by the same. The method of the present invention provides for a very accurate control of the temperature profile of the balloon material during its making. The attributes of the balloon can be affected by how the balloon is treated during the blowing stage and after the initial blowing, i.e., heat-setting. Using the present method, the balloon will form more uniformly and evenly (e.g., wall thickness and outer diameter of the balloon). The present method significantly increases the dimensional stability of the balloon which provides a balloon that is more predictable, in use. The present heat-set process also provides the means for the working length to be located more accurately on dilation catheters and stent delivery systems.

Balloon forming process

A method for medical balloon fabrication comprising the steps of securing a balloon with a mold by inflating it and then enlarging the inner diameter of the balloon. The devices of the invention comprise a fixture with a mold configured to hold the inflated balloon and a drill that can be centered with the mold to enlarge the inner diameter of the balloon.

Method and apparatus for forming a catheter balloon

A system used in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region, which is capable of treating an entire affected area in a blood vessel while preventing adverse effects for healthy tissue. The system includes a catheter which is positionable in a blood vessel at the interventional procedure site. The system further includes an expandable interventional instrument such as an expandable stent which is expandable and which may be deployed in the blood vessel at the interventional procedure site, which includes an unexpanded axial dimension. The system also includes an expandable member such as an expandable balloon, for expanding the expandable stent. The expandable balloon is capable of expanding so as to expand and deploy the expandable stent, and to substantially retain the unexpanded axial dimension of the expandable stent. The expansion of the expandable balloon prevents lengthening or shortening of the expandable stent, so as to enable the entire affected lesion area to be covered precisely without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue upon deployment of the expandable stent.

Expandable stent dimensional retention system and method

A catheter system for removably securing a stent which generally includes an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member with an expandable member disposed about the inner tubular member. A foamed cover is disposed between the expandable member and the inner tubular member. An expandable stent is crimped onto the expandable member and is retained in place by compressing the foamed cover. Used with a stent delivery system, the catheter system is inserted into a body lumen such as an artery. The stent is secured in place while advancing the system through tortuous body lumen passages. The stent is advanced to the desired location in the body lumen and implanted by inflating the expandable member and thereby expanding the stent into the body lumen. The stent is released from the system by deflating the expandable member and withdrawing the catheter system from the body.

Foamed inner member cover stent retention and method of use

The present invention includes a stent. The stent comprises a structural support and a polymeric film or sheet or tube that overlays the structural support. The stent also includes a tacky portion that adheres the polymeric film or sheet or tube to the structural support. The tacky portion comprises sugar or starch or polyvinylalcohol or degradation products of these materials.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Chicheng Wang