Interventional Technologies, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Robert E Reiss

Dennis M Vigil

Peter A Barath

Gary W Gomringer

A method for preventing a restenosis within a vessel wall requires a medicament be delivered at predetermined locations into the vessel wall and allowed to subsequently disperse in a predetermined pattern. To deliver the medicament, a catheter with an expanding member is advanced into the vasculature of a patient until the expanding member is located as desired. The expanding member is then expanded to force dispensers into the vessel wall to the proper depth. A medicament is then pumped through the dispensers to create a plurality of equally spaced, localized medicinal deliveries which subsequently disperse to medicate an annulus shaped volume within the vessel wall.

Method for delivering medication into an arterial wall for prevention of restenosis

A method for profiling an infusion of a medicament into the wall of an artery involves inserting an intravascular ultrasound device into the artery and advancing it to the location of the infusion. A pullback device withdraws the intravascular ultrasound device from the artery, pausing at predetermined axial sites along the location of the infiltrated medicament to image the infusion profile at each site. A computer then compiles the individual site profiles to produce three dimensional images indicating the extent of infiltration of the medicament into the tissue surrounding the artery.

Method for ultrasonically profiling the distribution of an administered medicament

A method and device for injecting fluid into a treatment area of a vessel wall is provided herein. A first version of the device includes an inflatable balloon mounted on a catheter and a plurality of dispensers extending outwardly and moving with the balloon. At least one fluid passageway connects each injector in fluid communication with a fluid source. During use of the device, the balloon is first positioned in a vessel proximate the treatment area. Next, the balloon is inflated to embed the dispensers into the vessel wall. Subsequently, the fluid from the fluid source is introduced into the fluid passageway and through the dispensers into the treatment area. A second version of the device includes a plurality of flexible tubes mounted between a multi-lumen catheter and a grommet. A push-pull wire is connected to the grommet and passed through a lumen of the multi-lumen catheter. The dispensers are mounted on each of the flexible tubes. During use, the device is first positioned in a vessel. The push-pull wire is then partially withdrawn forcing the grommet to advance towards the multi-lumen catheter. The advancing grommet forces the flexible tubes to bow outwardly, embedding the dispensers into the vessel wall.

Method for treating a wall of a blood vessel

Device for injecting fluid into a wall of a blood vessel

Guidewire comprising an elongated core element manufactured from a martensitic alloy that is heat-treated to render a fully hardened core throughout its cross sectional area. The core has a constant taper or step-down decreasing cross sectional area in a direction towards the distal end which is fully hardened throughout its longitudinal length. A single coil, or two coils are carried by and secured to said core element near the distal end.

Medical guidewire with fully hardened core

A method and device for injecting fluid into a treatment area of a vessel wall is provided herein. A first version of the device includes an inflatable balloon mounted on a catheter and a plurality of injectors extending outwardly and moving with the balloon. At least one fluid passageway connects each injector in fluid communication with a fluid source. During use of the device, the balloon is first positioned in a vessel proximate the treatment area. Next, the balloon is inflated to embed the injectors into the vessel wall. Subsequently, the fluid from the fluid source is introduced into the fluid passageway and through the injectors into the treatment area. A second version of the device includes a plurality of flexible tubes mounted between a multi-lumen catheter and a grommet. A push-pull wire is connected to the grommet and passed through a lumen of the multi-lumen catheter. The injectors are mounted on each of the flexible tubes. During use, the device is first positioned in a vessel. The push-pull wire is then partially withdrawn forcing the grommet to advance towards the multi-lumen catheter. The advancing grommet forces the flexible tubes to bow outwardly, embedding the injectors into the vessel wall.

An expandable atherectomy cutting device comprises a flexible blade having one end connected to a torque tube and the other end connected to a tip. The tip and torque tube are rotatably positioned about a guide wire, and the torque tube is coupled to a drive element for rotating the flexible blade about the guide wire. A mechanism is associated with the tip and torque tube for pulling the tip toward the torque tube to cause the flexible blade to bow outwardly away from the guide wire to expand its radius of cutting action. The mechanism for causing the flexible blade to bow outwardly includes a base rotatably mounted in slidable relation in the torque tube, and a series of desmodromic filaments connecting the base to the tip for pulling the tip toward the torque tube. The flexible blade includes a bend so that it bows outwardly rather than inwardly. The amount of expansion is controlled by a control element coupled to the drive element so that it can be controllably expanded through an infinite variety of positions within a continuous range, and further, can be expanded while the blade is rotating.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Robert E Reiss