Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Timothy G Ehr

Graig Leonard Kveen

Roger Noel Hastings

Brian J Brown

David J Blaeser

Timothy J Ley

Michael J Urick

David L Friesen

A radiation source for inhibiting restenosis including a radiation delivery tube having a radioactive distal region, the tube being adapted to slide over a core wire within a radiation delivery catheter. The core wire is preferably in a slidable relation with the radiation delivery catheter. By withdrawing the core wire to a proximal position, the flexibility of a distal region of the radiation delivery catheter may be increased, thereby allowing the radiation delivery catheter to navigate more tortuous paths and reach more distal sites. Before the radiation delivery tube is advanced into the catheter distal region, the core wire is preferably slid distally to a distal position. With the core wire in the distal position, the core wire may provide a structure that can be used to rapidly advance the radiation source to the lesion site. The core wire may also help constrain lateral movement of the radiation delivery tube and help center the radiation delivery tube within the vessel to provide a more even radiation exposure to the vessel walls.

Catheter system having tubular radiation source with movable guide wire

The invention is directed to an expandable stent which is longitudinally flexible in both the unexpanded and expanded conditions. The stent includes spiral structures which at least partially unwind upon expansion of the stent to limit stent recoil. Regions of low strain in the stent during expansion are provided by the spiral structures.

Stent configurations including spirals

Improved stent configurations exhibiting limited recoil, resistance to compression and improved longitudinal flexibility.

Stent configurations

A catheter configured for use with a guidewire that includes operably connected, magnetically responsive material. The catheter comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. Magnetically active material is operably connected to the shaft and configured such that the shaft may be magnetically coupled to the guidewire, along a portion of the shaft. The magnetic couple may be sufficiently strong to hold the guidewire and shaft together along a portion of the shaft and a portion of the guidewire while allowing longitudinal sliding of the shaft relative to the guidewire. Rather than connecting the magnetically responsive material to the guidewire and the magnetically active material to the catheter, the magnetically responsive material may be connected to the catheter and the magnetically active material to the guidewire.

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Elk River, MN, United States of America

Timothy G Ehr