Prolifix Medical, Inc.

Kathy M Mah

James D Passafaro

Ronald G Williams

David J Kupiecki

Greg R Patterson

Timothy B McFann

Joan Huynh

Roger W Perkins

James J Leary

Larry B Rogers

John Conrad Muskivitch

The present invention comprises a guidewire having a compressible guide section capable of deflecting a catheter to abut a lumen wall. The compressible guide section exerts an outward radial force while it is at least partially compressed within a lumen. The guide section permits a physician to precisely locate a catheter within a body lumen and adjust a catheter tip orientation to be directed to a particular side of a body lumen. A method is disclosed for properly matching a guidewire and a catheter to operate together in the present invention, along with a force measuring instrument to assist in measuring a catheter's resistance force value. This method and systems of the present invention involve determining the exact force relationship between the compressible guide section and the resistance of the catheter in vitro.

Guidewire for precision catheter positioning

The present invention relates to a guidewire having a shaped three dimensional guide section. In the preferred embodiment the guide section is helical, and exerts an outward radial force on a lumen the guidewire is constrained in. The outward radial force can be measured or calculated according to methods of the present invention. Also described is a system comprising a guidewire and catheter where the force the catheter exerts on a body lumen can also be calculated. Apparatus and methods of making the guidewire are also disclosed, as well as alternative embodiments of the guidewire.

Guidewire for positioning a catheter against a lumen wall

Apparatus and methods are provided for restoring and maintaining an open passage or lumen in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel, which has become stenosed or occluded. The apparatus includes a stent which is specially adapted for inhibiting restenosis within the stent after implantation in a body passage. In various embodiments, the apparatus also includes a catheter or other device for operating the stent to inhibit restenosis within the stented region of the body passage. The methods presented include implanting the stent within a body passage, typically a blood vessel such as a coronary artery, which has become stenosed or occluded, and operating the stent to inhibit ingrowth of stenotic material which would result in restenosis of the stented region. The stent may be operated manually to inhibit or remove ingrowth of stenotic material, for example by introducing a catheter which acts on the stent, or the stent may operate automatically to inhibit or remove ingrowth of stenotic material without manual intervention.

Vascular stent for reduction of restenosis

A system is provided having a catheter, a torque member extending longitudinally through a lumen of the catheter, a removal mechanism secured to a distal end of the torque member, and a guidewire having a guide section that extends through a lumen of the removal mechanism. The guide section defines a curved profile that is diametrically larger than the dimension of the removal mechanism. The guide section of the guidewire is adapted to be positioned inside a passageway of the occluding material, and provides a curved path along which the removal mechanism can be advanced inside the passageway of the occluding material to separate and remove occluding material.

Methods and systems for treating obstructions in a body lumen

An apparatus and method of making a guidewire with a preformed three dimensional profile is described. The Apparatus comprises a mandrel having a screw thread for receiving a core wire and at least one securing means for holding the core wire onto the mandrel. The core wire must be retained under tension in order to properly impart the desired shape into the core wire. A system and method of using the apparatus is disclosed comprising the steps of loading the core wire onto the mandrel, securing the core wire and mandrel and then heating the assembly until the wire takes the desired shape.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Kathy M Mah