Medinvent S.a.

Wallsten Medical S.a.

Plasmacarb Inc.

Shepherd Patents S.a.

Wallsten, Hans I.

Hans I Wallsten

Christian Imbert

Hirotsugu K Yasuda

Jerome Duc

Dierk Maass

Yasuo Matsuzawa

The invention relates to balloon catheters () and methods of treatment for exerting internal pressure on surrounding tissue of a mammalian duct or cavity in a section thereof having a substantially circular cylindrical configuration. The elongate rigid distal section and the intermediate section of the catheter contain a central tube (), whose distal part is provided with at least one outlet () for medium within the balloon, and whose intermediate part is surrounded by an axially displaceable tube (), onto whose distal end the proximal end of the balloon is attached. The balloon has an envelope which is constituted by at least one substantially gas- and liquid-impermeable and elastic internal layer and an external layer of limited radial expansion, said expansion being substantially independent of the axial length of said balloon. The balloon may he encompassed by a radially expandible stent (), or can be equipped with means for supplementing treatment using pressure with heat treatment.

Balloon catheter

Balloon catheter for hyperthermia treatment

Apparatus for medical treatment

An apparatus for low temperature plasma treatment of powder particles for modifying the surface properties thereof, comprising means for the creation of a low pressure zone and, in association therewith, at least one cascade arc torch generator to form a plasma torch which is directed into said low pressure zone, means for the supply by gravity of powder particles to be treated into said low pressure zone and conduit means for the removal of the treated powder particles from said low pressure zone, said cascade arc generator having an orientation such that said plasma torch enters said low pressure zone at a downward angle (.alpha.) to the horizontal of from about 15.degree. to about 60.degree., and said conduit means being directed away from said plasma torch at an upward angle (.beta.) to the horizontal of from about 15.degree. to about 80.degree.;

Apparatus and process for the treatment of powder particles for

A process for the surface treatment of individual particles of a pulverulent material to improve the surface properties thereof. The process includes a plasma-generating apparatus for generating a plasma in a plasmagenerator while supplying an inert gas at a high drift velocity into the generator to form a low temperature plasma flame which is directed into a low pressure zone. Subsequently, the pulverulent material is injected into the high velocity inert gas or into the base of the plasma flame to disintegrate any particle aggregate present in the material. The low temperature plasma acts on the surface of each individual particle to improve the properties thereof. The treated particles can then be recovered from the zone.

Process for surface treatment of pulverulent material

A resilient, elastic self-expanding prosthesis comprising a flexible tubular body, the diameter of which is variable under axial movement of the ends of the body relative to each other, said body being composed of several individual rigid but resiliently flexible thread elements with spring properties each of which extends in helix configuration with the center line of the body as a common axis, a number of elements having same direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other crossing a number of elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having the opposite direction of winding to form a braided structure, characterized in that the residual tension of the thread elements as they form the structural elements of the tubular body, at least at the end sections thereof, is such that the diameter of the unloaded helix-shaped thread element, at least at the end sections thereof, when removed from the other elements forming the tubular body is not more than about 60% and preferably at most about 30% greater than the diameter of the said body in an unloaded state; and processes for the manufacture of such self-expanding prosthesis.

Self-expanding prosthesis

A prosthesis for transluminal implantation comprising a flexible tubular body which has a diameter that is variable by axial movement of the ends of the body relative to each other and which is composed of several individual rigid but flexible thread elements each of which extends in helix configuration with the center line of the body as a common axis, a number of elements having the same direction of winding but being axially displaced relative to each other crossing a number of elements also axially displaced relative to each other but having the opposite direction of winding; and method for transluminal implantation.

Prosthesis comprising an expansible or contractile tubular body

The present invention is directed to an arrangement of cascade arc plasma torches in a process for plasma polymerization. The arrangement is utilized in low temperature plasma polymerization coating and utilizes a plasma reactor with concentric electroconductive rings separated by insulator rings. The rings are positioned between electrode connectors and form a central passage through the plasma reactor. A voltage supply source provides a voltage across the plasma reactor so as to initiate and continue the polymerization coating process. Downstream of the plasma reactor, an arrangement is provided by which monomeric gas is fed into a passage at a downstream end of the reactor so as to enable plasma polymerization.

Cascade arc plasma torch and a process for plasma polymerization

A device for transluminal implantation of a substantially tubular, radially expansible prosthesis (2), comprising in combination such prosthesis (2) and concentric therewith a flexible probe (1) with means (200) for maintaining said prosthesis (2) in a radially contracted state and for releasing same at the desired location, said means for maintaining and releasing the prothesis comprising a hose (5) concentrically surrounding said probe (1), one end of said hose being connected to the probe (1), and the hose (5) being folded inside itself to form a double-walled section (51, 52) radially surrounding the prothesis (2), the latter being releasable by axial relative movement of the ends of the hose, characterized by inflatable balloon means (30) positioned between said probe (1) and said prosthesis (2) and substantially coextensive with the latter, whereby after releasing the prosthesis at the desired location in the lumen controlled expansion of the prosthesis and the surrounding lumen wall can be achieved by inflating the balloon means; and a method of transluminal implantation using such device.

Growing community of inventors

Denens, Switzerland

Hans I Wallsten