Radius Medical Technologies, Inc.

Maureen A Finlayson

Richard M DeMello

Bruce W Flight

Jon Burkhardt

A device and method for treating tissue at a treatment site. The device and method include supplying controlled energy to a heating portion of the device positioned within a tissue wall at the treatment site. The size of the heating portion and energy supplied provides for ablation of the tissue to form a cavity within the tissue wall without ablating the surfaces of the tissue wall. Treatment fluid can then be supplied through the device to the cavity to supplement growth of blood vessels or retard such growth at the treatment site. The device can also be used to create an injury zone at a treatment site without ablating tissue, wherein the injury zone can be injected with treatment fluid. The device and method has use anywhere within the body, especially in the regions of the heart.

Device and method for myocardial revascularization

A guidewire includes (i) a tapered core; (ii) an elongated non-radiopaque coil that is coincident with the core and extends over a distal portion of the core up to a proximal portion of a tapered end section of the core; and (iii) a radiopaque plastic tip that fits over the distal end of the core. The proximal end of the plastic tip may extend over the distal end of the non-radiopaque coil. The tip may then be attached to the coil by forcing the proximal end of the tip through the windings at the distal end of the coil. The distal end of the plastic tip extends slightly beyond the distal end of the core, to form a deformable bumper. The outer diameter of the proximal end of the plastic tip is the same as the outer diameter of the coil, which is the same diameter as proximal end of the core before its first taper. Accordingly, the guidewire has an essentially uniform outer diameter over its entire length. The durometer hardness of the plastic material used to form the tip may be adjusted, to alter the stiffness of the tip. Thus, the tip may be made stiffer or more flexible without changing the outer dimensions of the guidewire. The tip may also be tapered, as desired, to narrow the outer diameter of the distal end of the guidewire. A low friction coating may be added to the wire, to facilitate movement of the wire through the arteries.

Flexible guidewire with radiopaque plastic tip

A guidewire includes a tapered core, an elongated non-radiopaque inner coil that is coincident with the core and extends over a distal portion of the core, and a radiopaque outer coil that fits over a distal end of the inner coil. The inner coil tapers between its proximal end and distal end, to form a tapered distal end section. The outer diameter of the proximal end of the inner coil is the same as the outer diameter of the proximal end of the core, before its first taper, and similarly, the outer diameter of the outer coil is the same as the outer diameter of the inner coil before its taper. Accordingly, the guidewire has an essentially uniform outer diameter over its entire length. A rounded tip that acts as a deformable buffer is formed where the distal ends of the two coils and the core join. The distal end of the core is preferably flattened to provide a formable end to the guidewire. A low friction coating may be added to the wire, to facilitate movement of the wire through the arteries.

Growing community of inventors

Acton, MA, United States of America

Maureen A Finlayson