Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Raychem Limited

Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc.

Curo Medical, Inc.

Other

Tai Chun Cheng

Ketan P Muni

Udayan G Patel

Robert P Saltman

Ziyun Chen

Michael Froix

Frank W Mercer

Martin A Katz

Sergio Nacht

Richard Won

Robert P Eury

Elbert T Cheng

Christine Jy Liau

Jacqueline T Cheng

Jeong Soo Lee

Lawrence D Wasicek

Robert D Ainsworth

Ashok K Mehan

David D Taft

Steven C Zingheim

Michael F Froix

Carl J Weber

Bruce A Kaduk

Rafael Camargo

Bruce A McKinley

Ivy Y Cheng

A medical heating device is based on an electrical heater formed out of a self-limiting conductive material, such as a conductive polymer or ceramic. An electrical resistance that gradually changes with temperature characterizes the material such that heat production from electrical current through the material varies with temperature. A thermally insulating jacket contains the self-limiting heater element, which can be coupled to an electrical power supply. A probe thermally coupled to the heater extends outward from the jacket. The self-limiting medical heating device can be used by touching the end of the probe to target tissue, such as skin, adipose tissue, nerves, glands, vascular tissue, or abnormal growths or tumors to effect the desired treatment, typically by thermally ablating, cutting, or shrinking the target tissue where touched by the probe or in the vicinity therein.

Medical heating device and method with self-limiting electrical heating element

A high frequency alternating current medical device and method of using such is disclosed. High frequency alternating current medical device comprises a power source, an electric field generator, a self-limiting conductive material electrical component, at least one probe or needle-type projection, and at least two conductive segments located on probe or needle-type projection. At least two conductive segments are electrically connected to electric field generator so that an electric field is created between conductive segments, which induces an electrical current, which generates heat, and causes a certain desired precise cell injury. Self-limiting conductive material electrical component allows such precise cell injury because it limits electrical current through target tissue. Invention may be used in medical, dental, or veterinary applications. Exemplary embodiments include cosmetic applications, treatment of wrinkles, remodeling of subcutaneous tissue, treatment of muscle spasms, and others. Medical device can be small, hand-held, and easily manipulated to perform surgery.

High frequency alternating current medical device with self-limiting conductive material and method

A combination of polymeric components provides desired characteristics in forming medical instruments such as catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters. For example, a balloon material is formed from a blend of polymeric components, including a first crystalline polymeric component and a second softening polymeric component. Where the first two components are generally incompatible, the balloon material can also include a third compatibilizing agent to facilitate blending the first two polymeric components together.

Polymer blends for use in making medical devices including catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters

A combination of polymeric components provides desired characteristics in forming medical instruments such as catheters and balloons for dilatation catheters. For example, a balloon material is formed from a blend of polymeric components, including a first crystalline polymeric component and a second softening polymeric component. Where the first two components are generally incompatible, the balloon material can also include a third compatibilizing agent to facilitate blending the first two polymeric components together. The first polymeric component can be a branched or straight chain polyamide having a molecular weight of at least about 5000, or a polyester prepared from aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 14 carbon atoms or aliphatic dicarboxylic acids having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, and at least one glycol having the formula HO(CH.sub.2).sub.n OH, where n is an integer from 2 to 10, neopentyl glycol and cyclohexane dimethanol. The second polymeric component can be a polyolefin, an ethylene copolymer, a polyester block copolymer, or a polyamide block copolymer. The third polymeric component is preferably an ethylene copolymer having the formula E/X/Y where E is ethylene; X is an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer derived from at least one of alkylacrylate, alkylmethacrylate, alkyl vinyl ether, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, or mixtures thereof, where the alkyl groups contain 1-12 carbon atoms; and Y is an .alpha., .beta.-ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with the first polymeric component. The polymeric blend can be irradiated to enhance the properties of the balloon material, including significantly increasing burst pressures.

Polymer blends for use in making medical devices including catheters and

Ionic compositions comprise an active ingredient absorbed within a network of internal pores defined by a plurality of polymeric particles. The particles are preferably crosslinked polymeric beads having a diameter in the range from about 5 to 100 microns and a surface charge density from about 0.1 to 10 meq/qm hydrogen ion capacity. The active ingredients are released from the ionic polymer beads over time when orally administered, applied to a keratinic material, typically human skin or hair or otherwise delivered to a target environment. The use of a cationic charge promotes adhesion of the beads to the keratinic material.

Ionic beads useful for controlled release and adsorption

A catheter and/or balloon for a medical catheter is formed from a blend of polymeric components, including a first crystalline polymeric component and a second softening polymeric component. The polymeric material can also include a third compatibilizing agent to facilitate blending the first two polymeric components together. The first polymeric component can be a polyester or a polyamide, and the second polymeric component can be a polyolefin, or an ethylene copolymer. The third polymeric component is preferably an ethylene copolymer containing a reactive group that forms a covalent bond with the first polymeric component. The polymeric material forming the balloon or catheter also can include a catalyst to catalyze a reaction between the compatibilizing ethylene copolymer and the second polymer component. The second, softening polymeric component can also include a silane coupling agent, to provide a reactive softening copolymer that bonds with the first strong polymeric component, to provide increased flexibility of catheters and balloons formed from the polymeric components. The properties of the balloon and catheter formed from the polymeric material can be enhanced by crosslinking by irradiation of the polymeric material.

Balloons for medical catheters

Ionic beads for controlled release and adsorption

A balloon dilatation having a relatively stiff proximal catheter shaft which is formed at least in part of an engineering thermoplastic polymer material with a tensile strength of at least about 10,000 psi, an elongation of at least 50% and a tensile modulus of at least 300,000 psi. The polymer is preferably an aromatic polymer, and particularly polyetheretherketone.

Intraluminal catheter with high strength proximal shaft

A conductive polymer composition exhibiting PTC behavior and the method of making the composition are disclosed. The composition includes a particulate conductive filler and a polymeric portion. The polymeric portion contains a volume-expansion-regulating high molecular weight polymer, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), that resists melting and causes an increase in the volume of the composition, upon heating, but migrates minimally within the composition. The high molecular weight polymer preferably has a linear thermal expansion coefficient of at least 200.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C. The polymeric portion also contains a melt-extrudable polyolefin matrix in which the conductive filler and the high molecular weight polymer are dispersed. The high molecular weight polymer is present in an amount which allows the final composition to be melt-extrudable. An electrical device containing a PTC element that utilizes the novel composition and at least two electrodes is also disclosed. The resulting materials are applicable to switch devices, self-limiting heaters, EMI, ESD, utility, and telecommunications components.

PTC conductive polymer compositions containing high molecular weight

This invention relates to novel compositions of a poly(imide) having phenylindane diamine and/or dianhydride moieties in the poly(imide) backbone and a polymeric component comprising:

Compositions of poly(imides) having phenylindane diamines and/or

Polymeric blends

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Tai Chun Cheng