Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Tim J Mickley

Wendy Naimark

Toby Freyman

Samuel J Epstein

Maria Palasis

Matt Heidner

Ruth Cheng

Michael Sean Owens

Medical devices and methods for delivering a therapeutic agent to a heart valve.

Methods and devices for local therapeutic agent delivery to heart valves

The present invention is directed to methods, systems, devices, and kits for coating portions of a medical device or other work piece as well as to medical devices that have themselves been coated in accord with the invention. Under methods of the invention, portions of a medical device may be selectively coated. The method may include providing a medical device, an applicator, and a spreader. A layer of coating having a thickness may then be applied to a target surface of the medical device with the applicator. When the coating is applied, the spreader can be positioned in contact with the coating to reduce the coating thickness by spreading the coating over a larger surface area of the target surface.

Spread coating a medical device

The present invention relates to the direct delivery of therapeutic to a target tissue. In one embodiment a method for direct injection of plug forming material into a body tissue is provided. The method may comprise providing a catheter including an injection tube having a first channel, a second channel and a piercing tip. The first and second channels can be in fluid communication with a pressure source and a plug forming material. The injection tube may be slidably positioned in a pressure apron and moved from a first position to a second position so that the piercing tip extends beyond the tissue-mating surface in the second position to deliver the plug forming material.

Methods for directly injecting plug forming materials from a catheter

A pressure apron for insitu plug formation is provided. In one embodiment an injection tube having a first channel and a piercing tip is provided, the first channel in fluid communication with a pressure source. In this embodiment, the injection catheter may also include a pressure apron with a tissue-mating surface. In another embodiment a medical kit for delivering a therapeutic is provided. This medical kit may include a catheter having a channel and a piercing tip, the piercing tip in fluid communication with a pressure source and slidably placed in the channel. The catheter in this embodiment may include a pressure apron with a tissue-mating source while a therapeutic may be included with the kit.

Pressure apron direct injection catheter

Injection devices are provided, which reduce potential outflow of therapeutic agents from an injection site. Devices are provided having at least a first lumen containing one or more therapeutic agents and a second lumen containing a second material for injection into tissue. Other devices are provided having an inner lumen with an injection needle to inject a therapeutic agent and an outer lumen that provides a vacuum seal between the injection needle and the needle track. Further provided are methods of delivering a therapeutic agent to tissue.

Injection devices that provide reduced outflow of therapeutic agents and methods of delivering therapeutic agents

An improved method for high-volume production of coated stents with highly uniform stent coatings using a roll coating technique is provided. In a first embodiment, uncoated stents are placed onto rotating stent holders with automated stent handling equipment. The holders are mounted on an endless conveyer belt which advances the stents toward a stent coater. As the stents advance through the coater, the holders rotate, thereby rolling the stents about their longitudinal axes as coating material is sprayed toward them, ensuring the stents are uniformly coated on their exterior and interior surfaces. After the conveyer turns to carry the coated stents back toward the loading area, the rotating stents pass again through the coating spray, downstream of the initial coating location, thereby increasing the efficient utilization of the coating material. The conveyer then advances the coated stents to an unloading area for removal before the holders return to the stent loading area to receive new stents.

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Elk River, MN, United States of America

Tim J Mickley