Localmed, Inc.

Surgical Insight, Inc.

Mark Clifford

Aaron V Kaplan

Enrique J Klein

Martin Overbeek-Bloem

David Kermode

Jim Kermode

A catheter for use in combination with a balloon angioplasty catheter for delivering stents and other intraluminal prostheses comprises a tubular catheter body having a radially expansible portion. The stent is disposed over the radially expansible portion, and structure is provided for retaining the stent on the tubular body prior to deployment. The retaining structure may be active, i.e., requiring the user to retract retaining elements, such as axial members, sheaths, or the like. Alternatively, the retaining structure may be passive, wherein balloon expansion results in release of the prosthesis from the retaining structure. Particular methods for fluoroscopically positioning stents using such delivery catheters, for delivering two or more stents using such delivery catheters, and for overexpanding the ends of the stents for anchoring them in place, are also described.

Method and apparatus for intraluminal prosthesis delivery

In a procedure for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, the carpal ligament is spread by use of a cutting device passing through the interior of a cannula inserted into the carpal tunnel through an incision in the patient's wrist, the cannula containing an inflatable balloon at its distal end to secure the position of the cutting device against the carpal ligament, and the cutting device comprising a blade whose position is remotely controlled from the proximal end of the device. Other features of the procedure are the use of a blunt-tipped hypodermic needle and exchange wire to establish a path to the site under the carpal ligament, an endoscope or other visualization device to be inserted through the cannula with the cutting device, and a removable sheath over the cannula to contain the inflatable balloon until inflation is desired.

Instrument and method for transection of a ligament

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Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Mark Clifford