Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Michael Stephen Austin

Jan Weber

Dennis R Boulais

Toby Freyman

Wendy Naimark

Marlene C Schwarz

Samuel J Epstein

Barry Heaney

Praveen Kulkarni

Gabriel Sobrino Serrano

Don Robinson

John Motherwell

Luuk Hijlkema

Aiden Flanagan

Daniel C Perreault

Sheng-ping Zhong

Dave McMorrow

Gabriel S Sobrino

Kshitij Mohan

The medical device of the invention comprises a surface comprising at least one outermost portion and a plurality of depressions. The depressions occupy at least about 80% of the surface area of the surface. The depressions contain a coating material that preferably comprises a biologically active material and/or polymer, and the outermost portion is substantially free of any coating material. The invention is also directed to a method for manufacturing a medical device. The method comprises applying a coating material to the surface of the medical device by using at least one roller.

Coated medical device and method for manufacturing the same

An apparatus for manipulating a medical device is formed of at least three coupled movable blades which are disposed about a reference circle to form an aperture whose size may be varied. The aperture capable of being sized to contain a medical device. Each blade is in communication with an actuation device which is capable of moving the blade to alter the size of the aperture. Each blade includes a single radial point which a) lies on the circumference of the reference circle prior to movement of the blade, and b) may be moved only along a radius of the reference circle on movement of the blade.

Method for contracting or crimping stents

Crimping apparatus for reducing size of a stent

A medical appliance is provided that includes an outer sheath adapted to enclose a self-expanding stent in an inner space before deployment of the self-expanding stent and an inner sheath arranged between the outer sheath and the self-expanding stent before deployment of the self-expanding stent. The inner sheath includes longitudinal slits that extend from a distal end of the medical appliance to the proximal end. The longitudinal slits form a plurality of inner sleeve tails. The medical appliance also includes an actuator adapted to move the outer sheath with respect to the inner sheath during deployment of the self-expanding stent. The actuator is adapted to cause the outer sheath to move proximally. A method of deploying a self-expanding stent is provided. A method of loading a delivery mechanism is provided.

Self-expanding stent and delivery system

Medical devices and related systems and methods.

Method of loading a medical endoprosthesis through the side wall of an elongate member

An anatomically correct endoluminal prosthesis is provided for placement in a lumen or vessel of a body. In a preferred embodiment, the prosthesis is a stent having at least one segment of curvature located along the body of the stent. The stent may have segments of curvature, apertures, tapers, flares, beveling, non-circular cross-sections, coverings or branching. Preferably, the stent has orientation markers and lines to allow for in vivo identification and orientation by conventional imaging formats. The stent may have multiple segments of curvature in succession or overlapping and may have segments of curvature lying in different planes of curvature. A method of forming the prosthesis is provided.

Anatomically correct endoluminal prostheses

Stent crimper

A stent loading system comprises a contracting aperture device having blades defining a contracting aperture and a fluid supply source. The blades are movable so as to vary the size of the contracting aperture. A stream of fluid is supplied by a fluid supply source and enters the contracting aperture and travels longitudinally through the contracting aperture. The stream of fluid is arranged to transport a stent from the contracting aperture contracting aperture and outside the contracting aperture device.

Loading stent with compressed air

A method for coating at least a portion of a medical device having an interior is provided that includes holding the medical appliance from an outside surface, inserting a spray nozzle in a first opening accessing the interior of the medical appliance, and spraying the coating on an inside surface of the medical appliance with the spray nozzle. The method may include inserting a further spray nozzle in a second opening accessing the interior of the medical appliance. The spray nozzle and the further spray nozzle may be opposingly arranged to form a radial nozzle. A device adapted to hold a medical appliance is provided that includes at least two wires and a tensioning arrangement adapted to introduce tension into the two wires. The at least two wires may be adapted to support the medical appliance from an exterior of the medical appliance. An apparatus for coating an interior of a medical appliance is provided. A medical appliance having a differential coating applied by the method is provided. An apparatus for coating an exterior of a medical appliance is provided.

Differentially coated medical devices, system for differentially coating medical devices, and coating method

A medical device for delivery of a self-expanding stent comprises a catheter assembly having a catheter shaft and a self-expanding stent disposed thereabout. A retractable sheath is disposed about the catheter shaft and the stent. The retractable sheath retains the stent in a reduced diameter condition prior to delivery. A retractable membrane is also disposed about the catheter shaft and the stent prior to delivery. Prior to delivery a first portion of the membrane is positioned between the stent and the retractable sheath. A second portion of the retractable membrane extends from the first portion and is positioned radially external of the retractable sheath. The retractable sheath and the retractable membrane are independently moveable relative to one another.

Stent delivery system

A system for protecting a stent from contact during loading comprises a stent, a protective sleeve disposed about the stent and a loading tool. The inner diameter of the protective sleeve is greater than the outer diameter of the stent. The protective sleeve has a length longer than that of the stent. The portion of the sleeve extending beyond the length of the stent defines a sleeve extension. The loading tool is positioned about at the stent retaining sleeve of a catheter. The tip region of the loading tool separates the protective sleeve and the stent from one another when the protective sleeve is pulled over the tip region of the loading tool. When the protective sleeve is pulled over the tip region of the loading tool the stent is advanced into a lumen defined by the stent retaining sleeve of the catheter.

Protective loading of stents

Apparatus for configuring an externally coated workpiece are provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a tubular reconfiguration chamber having a plurality of slidably mounted outer walls, the outer walls slidably mounted along individual radial lines emanating from and orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis of the tubular reconfiguration chamber; and a device for adjusting and maintaining the temperature of the external coating of a work-piece located within the tubular reconfiguration chamber. In another example the apparatus includes a reconfiguration chamber; a nozzle in fluid communication with the reconfiguration chamber, a regulator in fluid communication with the nozzle, the regulator adapted to regulate the flow of a thermal transfer fluid exiting the nozzle, and a controller in communication with the regulator, the controller adapted to send control signals to the regulator to maintain the surface temperature of the external coating of the reconfigurable work-piece within a predetermined temperature range, the predetermined temperature range associated with a predetermined minimum hardness of the external coating of the reconfigurable work-piece.

Growing community of inventors

Galway, Ireland

Michael Stephen Austin