Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Corporation

Forrest D Whitcher

Claude O Clerc

F Anthony Headley, Jr

Suresh Gidwani

Sally C Thornton

Robert B DeVries

Alan L Kaganov

Hannah Kim

Naroun Soun

Mark W Wolfson

Makoto Takeuchi

The invention relates to an implantable radiopaque stent adapted to be disposed in a body lumen. In one aspect of the invention, a plurality of elongate filaments including one or more radiopaque filaments are arranged to form a hollow tubular structure having a tubular wall that defines an inner surface and an outer surface and opposing first open end and second open end. One of the open ends of the stent is formed by an intersection of adjacent filament ends. A radiopaque compound is applied to the intersection, the radiopaque compound comprising radiopaque material and polymeric material. The radiopaque compound and radiopaque filament provide improved external imaging of the tubular structure on imaging equipment.

Radiopaque compositions, stents and methods of preparation

A method of forming a medical device, the method including the steps of providing a substrate, depositing a metallic layer on the substrate by a vapor deposition process, and removing the metallic layer from the substrate. The metallic layer thus removed is the medical device or serves as a basis for forming the medical device. In another aspect, the present invention includes a medical device formed by the process of the present invention.

Manufacturing medical devices by vapor deposition

A thrombosis filter configured for placement within a blood vessel lumen. The thrombosis filter of the present invention includes a body element, a plurality of struts, and a surface treatment. The surface treatment, comprised in part of an anti-proliferative or anti-angiogenic drug, is applied to portions of the thrombosis filter in order to regulate neointimal growth around the thrombosis filter and its anchor elements. The thrombosis filter may further contain a first and a second surface treatment layer. The first surface treatment layer possesses endothelial cell growth enhancing properties, while the second surface treatment layer includes the anti-proliferative or anti-angiogenic drug. The surface treatment may alternatively be applied to a substrate, which in turn is applied to the filter.

Thrombosis filter having a surface treatment

A thrombus filter which can be securely fixed in a selected location in the vascular system of a patient and removed when no longer required. The thrombus filter includes a plurality of struts which radiate from a body portion to form the generally conical shape of the thrombus filter. The thrombus filter includes anchor members joined to the free end of each strut. The thrombus filter includes an insulating layer substantially covering the thrombus filter including the body portion, the struts and the anchor members. The insulating layer includes an opening proximate the anchor members. The opening in the insulating layer creates a conductive path between the thrombus filter and the patient's body. When removal of the thrombus filter is desired, a first electrical conductor forms an electrical connection with the body portion of the thrombus filter. A second electrical conductor forms an electrical connection with the patient's body. A power supply is used to selectively apply a voltage differential between the thrombus filter and the body of the patient. This voltage differential induces an electrical current the flow of electrical current between the thrombus filter and the patient's blood causes the electrolytic corrosion of the thrombus filter proximate the opening in the insulating layer. When the bond between the struts of the thrombus filter and the anchors is cut through or weakened, the thrombus filter may be pulled into the lumen of a retrieval catheter. Removal of the thrombus filter from the patient's body is completed by withdrawing the retrieval catheter from the patient's blood vessel.

Device and method for selectively removing a thrombus filter

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Allston, MA, United States of America

Forrest D Whitcher