Cook Medical Technologies LLC

James C Merk

Brent A Mayle

Dean R Puckett

Ram H Paul, Jr

Sean Chambers

Tiffani Cannon

Darin Voorhies

Keith Milner

Ralf Spindler

Gary Neff

Mark J Hiatt

Melissa Dawn Baker

John Neilan

Scott E Boatman

Sean Cummins

Thomas Lysgaard

David A Drewes

Richard Swift

Michael D Deckard

Logan Cage

Nathaniel A Irwin

Seoggwan Kim

Conor Dillon

Brett O Baker

Michelle Reynolds

Johan Lowinger

Carrie L Fercik Grant

Tawnya Wood

Austin Neidigh

Thomas Mindel

Gary L Neff

Jr Ram H Paul

James C Elsesser

Thomas A Kay Jr

Alec E Cerchiari

Keith R Milner

An inner catheter for deployment of a medical device can include a pusher band having a passage that includes a first portion extending from a first end to a position and a second portion extending from a second end to the position. A cross-sectional area of the second portion can be less than a cross-sectional area of the first portion to form a step. A second end of the first tubular member having first and second ends can be within the first portion of the pusher band, abut the step and be unable to pass through the second portion. A portion of a second tubular member having first and second ends can be within the pusher band, and the second end of the second tubular member can extend away from the second end of the pusher band and be configured to extend through a medical device.

Inner catheter with a pusher band

A delivery system is provided for self-expanding medical devices, such as stents. The delivery system has a restraining sheath that maintains the stent in a compressed state prior to deployment. The restraining sheath terminates distally from the deployment handle, and a wire connects the restraining sheath to the deployment handle. The restraining sheath is withdrawn from the stent to deploy the stent by pulling the wires proximally at the deployment handle.

Delivery system for a self-expanding medical device

Disclosed herein is a hybrid stent having a balloon-expandable portion joined to a self-expanding portion. The hybrid stent is capable of withstanding the forces applied by delivery. Delivery systems for deploying a hybrid stent are described, as are methods of using such delivery systems.

Hybrid stent and delivery system

A prosthesis is disclosed including an expandable frame having a first region and a second region coupled to one another. The first region includes a transition segment and a flex segment. The stent members of the transition segment have proximal and distal apices arranged in a peak-to-peak relationship with one another. At least a portion of proximal and distal apices of the transition segment remains uncoupled to one another. The flex segment includes a stent member having proximal and distal apices arranged in a peak-to-valley relationship with the transition segment. Longitudinal tie bars are intermittently coupled between apices the flex segment and the transition segment at coupling joints. The coupling joint is located where the proximal and distal apices of the stent members of the transition segment remain uncoupled to one another. The transition and flex segments may form an alternating pattern. A flareable proximal portion may be included.

Prosthesis with flexible stent

A balloon expanded stent delivery system includes an inflation constraint, such as a wire, spirally wound about the longitudinal axis in contact with a balloon and attached to an underlying catheter. A balloon expanded stent is mounted about the balloon and the inflation constraint. The delivery system has a predeployment configuration with the balloon deflated and the stent unexpanded. The system has a deployment configuration in which the inflation constraint constrains the inflated balloon to a spiral shape, the stent is expanded and in contact with the balloon, and the stent has a flow directing surface with a spiral contour that matches the spiral shape of the balloon. In a postdeployment configuration, the stent retains the flow directing surface with the spiral contour.

Deploying a balloon expandable stent to induce spiral flow

The present invention relates to methods of making a prosthesis or a stent with a smooth covering. The method includes providing an elastomeric tube including an inner diameter and an outer diameter, positioning the elastomeric tube in a tube expander including a vacuum, expanding the inner diameter and the outer diameters of the elastomeric tube by applying the vacuum, providing a mandrel, positioning an inner covering over the mandrel, positioning a stent over the inner covering, positioning an outer covering over the stent to form a covered stent, positioning the mandrel and the covered stent in the tube expander, releasing the vacuum, removing the elastomeric tube, the covered stent, and the mandrel form the tube expander, applying pressure and heat to the elastomeric tube, the covered stent, and the mandrel, removing the elastomeric tube, the covered stent, and the mandrel from the pressure and the heat, removing the elastomeric tube from the covered stent, and removing the mandrel from the covered stent.

Methods of making a prosthesis with a smooth covering

A medical instrument is provided including a device having an expandable portion and a transitional portion. The transitional portion has a spiral cut on the outer surface, and is aligned with the distal portion of a catheter. The transitional portion may be secured to the catheter by a sleeve which is coupled to both the catheter and the transitional portion. Alternatively, the portion of the transitional portion having the spiral cut may be embedded within the catheter.

Transitional geometry for an expandable medical device

A balloon catheter includes a first balloon positioned inside of a second balloon, both of which are mounted about a catheter and fluidly connected to respective inflation lumens. In a first inflated configuration, the second balloon is inflated and has a shape that includes a plurality of bulb segments, with each two consecutive bulb segments being separated by a waist hoop. In a second inflated configuration both the inner and outer balloons are inflated, and the inner balloon bears radially outwardly against the waist hoop of the outer balloon such that the waist hoop of the outer balloon has a larger diameter in the second inflated configuration than in the first inflated configuration. The bulb segment separated by waist hoops enable the balloon catheter to conform to curved passageways, such as during the implementation of a stent.

Curved passageway conforming balloon catheter with nested balloons

A method of treating a thrombus is provided wherein a device is advanced to the vicinity of the thrombus, a thrombolytic agent is applied to the thrombus, and an expandable basket of the device is expanded to capture at least a portion of the thrombus within the expandable basket. The device includes a catheter having a distal portion, a lumen and a plurality of openings on the outer surface of the catheter, through which the thrombolytic agent is supplied. The device further includes a sheath and may include a collar which assists in expanding the expandable basket as the sheath is moved relative to the catheter.

Delivery of thrombolytic agent through actuation member of thrombus retrieval device

Methods and devices are described for removing a blockage from an anatomical passageway, for example thrombus or clot from a blood vessel. Devices and methods are provided for removing a blockage from an anatomical passageway. For example, a braided funnel is provided that may be placed adjacent a blockage. The braided funnel may be attached to an elongate tube and the blockage may be aspirated through the tube.

Partially covered braided funnel aspiration catheter

An introducer sheath includes an inner liner having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, a coil positioned over the inner liner, and an outer jacket positioned over the liner and the coil. The outer jacket is bonded to the inner liner between the coil turns. The coil turns have a cross-section comprising opposing end portions, and a center portion disposed between the opposing end portions. The center portion has a thickness not exceeding about one-third of a thickness of the end portions for reducing a bending modulus of the coil, and the end portions have a generally curved outer surface. At least a distal end portion of the outer jacket has a durometer between about 70 and 90 on the Shore D scale.

Introducer sheath having profiled reinforcing member

A sheath for deploying a medical device to a target site in the body of a patient. A tubular inner liner has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an outer surface. An outer jacket has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an inner surface. A reinforcing member is received within a length of the outer jacket. The outer jacket is positioned longitudinally around the inner liner and bonded to the outer surface of the liner. The reinforcing member, which may be a triaxial braid, or an encapsulated longitudinal reinforcing wire, extends along the outer jacket length and is configured for inhibiting elongation of the sheath upon deployment of the device.

Longitudinally reinforced sheath

A delivery system for a self-expanding medical device is provided. The delivery system includes an outer sheath that radially restrains the medical device. First and second inner catheters are disposed within the outer sheath. The first inner catheter is a composite structure with a closed coil wire covered by a polymer outer layer. The second inner catheter is disposed within the closed coil wire but is not attached to the closed coil wire.

Inner catheter arrangement for a self-expanding medical device delivery system

An introducer sheath has a proximal segment and distal segment. The proximal segment includes an inner portion, and a polymeric outer covering portion. The inner portion is formed from a plurality of elongated strands circularly positioned around a longitudinal axis. Each strand includes axial twist portions arranged to define a generally helical strand profile, wherein the twist portions are complementary with twist portions of adjacent strands to define the tubular segment. A tubular distal segment is dimensioned to receive an elongated stent for deployment. The length of the proximal segment is greater than the length of the distal segment, and the outer diameter of the distal segment may exceed that of the proximal segment. A stability sheath may be received over the proximal segment to enhance the stability of the sheath.

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Terre Haute, IN, United States of America

James C Merk