Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Timothy G J Ehr

Graig Leonard Kveen

Brian J Brown

Bruce Howard Asmus

Timothy J Ley

David L Friesen

Roger Noel Hastings

Michael J Urick

Matthew J Miller

Arthur L Rosenthal

Craig L Kveen

Brian R Butler

Ray Adney

A pressure sensing device is provided that can monitor and measure pressure at two points in a vessel or artery without moving the outer sheath or catheter of the device. The outer sheath or catheter includes two spaced apart openings that may be positioned in a vessel or artery on opposing sides of an occlusion. The device also includes an inner elongated tube with at least one opening. The inner elongated tube is slidable with respect to the outer sheath or catheter thereby permitting the opening of the elongated tube to be moved into selective registration with one of the openings of the outer sheath. A pressure measurement may be taken through one of the openings in the outer sheath by aligning the opening of the elongated tube with said opening and, then, a second pressure reading may be taken by sliding the elongated tube within the outer sheath so that the opening of the elongated tube is in registry with the other opening of the tubular sheath. As a result, pressure measurements at two points in a vessel or artery may be taken without moving the outer sheath or catheter.

Pressure-sensing guidewire and sheath

A radially expandable stent comprising a plurality of spaced band-like elements and intersecting links is disclosed. The band-like elements have a generally serpentine configuration to provide continuous waves of generally sinusoidal character to each band-like element. The waves are characterized by a plurality of peaks and troughs taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder such that the waves in the band-like elements open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter. The intersecting links are substantially U-shaped and terminate in first and second shanks. The first shank of a link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on a band-like element and the second shank of the link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on an adjacent band-like element.

Stent

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

Methods of heating and cooling during a crimping process are disclosed. One method includes providing a cooling source to cool the stent and/or drug eluting coating of the stent while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and providing a heating source to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon. Another method includes introducing a cooling fluid through a passage in one or more of the plurality of crimping elements of the crimping apparatus to cool the crimping elements while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and introducing a heating fluid through the elongate shaft of the balloon catheter to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon.

Systems and methods for heating and cooling during stent crimping

Improved stent configurations exhibiting limited recoil, resistance to compression and improved longitudinal flexibility are disclosed. The stent comprised of a plurality of annular elements aligned to form a cylindrical stent body. The annular elements are comprised of a plurality of open, generally boomerang-shaped segments interconnected top-to-bottom around each of the annular elements. Adjacent annular elements are interconnected by interconnecting element.

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

This invention relates generally to a stent comprising a plurality of struts and a plurality of projecting elements integral with the struts. At least some of the struts and some of the projecting elements comprise a biologically active material. The struts are configured in a tubular shape or tubular sidewall having two ends. One end of at least one of the projecting elements defines an end of the stent when the stent is expanded. The invention is also directed to a method for delivering the biologically active material to body tissue of a patient by inserting such an expandable stent into body of the patient. The invention is further directed to a system comprising the expandable stent and a balloon catheter for expanding the stent.

Medical device for delivering biologically active material

A guidewire having a marker member and method of manufacturing the same. In some embodiments, the invention includes a marker member disposed around the longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft and embedded within an outer sheath.

Growing community of inventors

Elk River, MN, United States of America

Timothy G J Ehr