Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Michael Swee

Brian R Reynolds

Bruce Howard Asmus

Peter Skujins

Brice Lee Shireman

Ron Tanaka

Michael Sean Owens

Dennis Larson

Stacie Blaskowsi

Ronald Tanaka

A method of producing a drug coated balloon that comprises the steps of: subjecting a balloon catheter with a folded and wrapped balloon thereon to a pre-annealing step to induce a fold/wrap memory in the resulting pre-annealed balloon; unfolding the pre-annealed balloon sufficiently to expose the full circumferential surface of the balloon by application of an inflation pressure that retains said fold/wrap memory; applying a drug coating formulation to the unfolded balloon surface; releasing pressure to relax the balloon and induce creasing along fold memory; and evacuating the balloon slowly to induce refolding and rewrapping of the balloon. The method overcomes the need to use a folding apparatus to fold and wrap a drug coated balloon.

Coating process for drug delivery balloons using heat-induced rewrap memory

Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip designs including coiled safety/shaping structures are also disclosed.

Composite guidewire

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Michael Swee