Boston Scientific Corporation

Peter M Nicholas

Ronald A Sahatjian

James J Barry

Robert J Crowley

John E Abele

James C Wang

James D Koger

Jean C Vincent

A method and device for implanting an endoprosthesis within the lumen of a body passageway. A tubular, elongated endoprosthesis having a small outer diameter for intraluminal delivery of the selected body passageway, is capable of being progressively permanently deformed to an expanded diameter by application of outwardly acting force. The endoprosthesis is provided on a catheter having an inflatable, radially expandable balloon, the axial dimension of which is shorter than the axial dimension of the endoprosthesis. The elongated prothesis is inserted in unexpanded state into a desired location within the body passageway and with the catheter positioned so that its expandable portion registers inside a first portion of the endoprosthesis, the inflatable portion of the catheter is inflated to cause deformation of the first portion of the endoprosthesis to an expanded diameter. The inflatable portion of the catheter is then deflated and shifted axially until it registers with an unexpanded portion of the endoprosthesis and the inflation of the inflatable portion of the catheter is repeated until the elongated endoprosthesis is expanded the desired length, and the endoprosthesis is permanently placed within the lumen. With the endoprosthesis comprised at least partically of knitted wire, the long endoprosthesis is especially capable of conforming to tortuosities of the body passage.

Placement of endoprostheses and stents

An inflatable medical device and method for the placement of a stent in a body passageway by means of a two stage expansion of the stent and for the delivery of medications to precise location in the passageway. The device includes a catheter shaft (14) having a plurality of lumens (13, 22, 28) disposed therein. The catheter shaft has a distal end adapted to be disposed within a vascular passageway. An inflatable balloon is defined by a generally cylindrical wall and is adapted to receive inflation fluids. The balloon is disposed on the distal end of the shaft. An array of circumferentially arranged inflation conduits (40) is disposed in the wall. The conduits (40) are spaced from each other within the wall of the balloon whereby to form a annular array. An array of medication delivering conduits (25) can be disposed within the wall of the balloon. These conduits are adapted to deliver medications to predetermined locations within the body passageway being treated. A stent (30) is removably disposed around the exterior of the wall of the balloon and is expandable radially outwardly from a narrow insertion diameter to a larger second diameter by the expansion of the balloon (16) and then to a still larger third diameter by inflation of the inflation conduits (40) whereby to expand the body passageway and seat the stent.

Stent placement device with medication dispenser and method

A catheter for insertion into a bodily conduit, especially an artery. The catheter comprises a shaft (26) having at least one lumen (24) for delivery of a fluid inflation media and a double balloon (12) including an array (20) of a plurality of inflatable secondary chambers (22) radially disposed in a cylindrical array around an inflatable primary chamber (16). Each of the secondary chambers (22) shares a common wall (38) with adjacent secondary chambers (22) and a common wall (14) with the primary chamber (16). The secondary chambers (22) are inflated by an array of channels (32) which are separated from each other by webs (40). One or more of the secondary chambers (22) may be in communication with a pressure transducer for measurement of the resistance of, e.g., a stenosis to dilation by the balloon (12). Alternately, a triple balloon (60) has inner secondary chambers (22a) and outer secondary chambers (22b). Also alternately, one or more of the secondary chambers (22) may be adapted to dispense medication. A method for treating a constricted bodily conduit using the catheter is also disclosed.

Dilation catheter and method of treatment therewith

A diseased site, such as vascular dilatation site, is treated by first locally delivering to the site an agent that is effective to localize a desired drug and then systematically administering the drug.

Drug treatment of diseased sites deep within the body

An ultrasound imaging device and method employing it featuring a stationary, elongated flexible tubular body, a rotatable drive shaft extending through the body, and a nose member located distally of the tubular body, the nose member mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft to rotate therewith, the nose member being of rounded atraumatic form, sized at its proximal end to substantially match the diameter of the body and an acoustic imaging transducer incorporated in the nose member for producing acoustic images of adjacent tissue as the drive shaft turns, there being an axial passage within the body for fluid flow from a proximal entry port to at least one fluid delivery port located distally of the entry port.

Medical acoustic imaging catheter and guidewire

An ultrasound imaging device has a stationary, elongated flexible tubular body, a rotatable drive shaft extending through the body, and a nose member located distally of the tubular body. The nose member is mounted on the distal end of the drive shaft to rotate therewith, and an acoustic imaging instrument is incorporated in the nose member for producing acoustic images of adjacent tissue as the drive shaft turns. The nose member is covered with a bio-compatible, acoustically transparent, lubricous coating of hydrophilic material sufficient to shield and space the nose member from the adjacent tissue. The lubricous coating of hydrophilic material covers an area of the surface of the ultrasound imaging device through which the acoustic imaging instrument causes acoustic signals to pass. The coating has sufficient thickness to avoid puncturing of a wall of a blood vessel by the nose member while the nose member rotates within the blood vessel sufficiently close to the wall for puncturing otherwise to occur.

Growing community of inventors

South Dartmouth, MA, United States of America

Peter M Nicholas