The present invention is an inflatable balloon which is enclosed by an expandable cover which becomes increasingly porous/permeable during expansion. The balloon is coated or enclosed with a matrix which contains a pharmaceutically active agent. During expansion of the balloon, the pharmaceutically active agent is released or extruded through the expandable cover into a body cavity such as an artery or vein. The present invention also provides for a method of treating a disease or condition by delivering the inflatable balloon to a particular body cavity.

An apparatus, assembly and method for controlling release of a drug from a drug-eluting balloon during delivery of a drug-eluting balloon to a situs within a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a diametrically expandable sleeve having a first non-diametrically unexpanded state in which drug retained on or in a drug-eluting balloon is protected from release by a sleeve and a second diametrically expanded state in which drug retained on or in the drug-eluting balloon is exposed for focal release in the body by diametric expansion of the sleeve, exposing openings in the sleeve during diametric expansion and closing the openings in the sleeve when the sleeve is in its diametrically unexpanded state.

A method and device for modulating the autonomic nervous system adjacent a pericardial space to treat cardiac arrhythmia includes a treatment source arranged to supply a treatment medium, a catheter having an end sized for insertion into the pericardial space, a medium delivery assembly having a distal end arranged to be positioned by the catheter into the pericardium, with the distal end of the delivery assembly comprising a delivery tip arranged to extend away from the distal end of the catheter into the pericardial space. A connector operatively couples the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly to the treatment source, and the delivery tip of the medium delivery assembly including a plurality of delivery points for delivering the treatment medium at a plurality of treatment areas within the pericardial space. The device performs modulation or ablation of the autonomic nervous system at selected treatment areas within the pericardium.

A medical device includes a body defining an exterior surface, and a coating including a therapeutic agent-containing nanoparticle disposed on the exterior surface of the medical device. The nanoparticle may include a brush-arm star polymer. The therapeutic agent may be paclitaxel.

An apparatus, assembly and method for controlling release of a drug from a drug-eluting balloon during delivery of a drug-eluting balloon to a situs within a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a diametrically expandable sleeve having a first non-diametrically unexpanded state in which drug retained on or in a drug-eluting balloon is protected from release by a sleeve and a second diametrically expanded state in which drug retained on or in the drug-eluting balloon is exposed for focal release in the body by diametric expansion of the sleeve, exposing openings in the sleeve during diametric expansion and closing the openings in the sleeve when the sleeve is in its diametrically unexpanded state.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of treating a stricture in a nonvascular body lumen such as urethral strictures, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) strictures, ureteral strictures, esophageal strictures, sinus strictures, and biliary tract strictures. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for treating at least one of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The method can include delivering, for example, via drug coated balloon catheters, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative drugs (e.g., rapamycin, paclitaxel, and their analogues) and one or more additives.

The disclosure includes a vein ablation system, comprising a catheter having an elongated body. In some embodiments, the vein ablation system comprises an ablation device at a distal portion of the elongated body. According to some embodiments, the vein ablation system comprises a control device at a proximal portion of the elongated body. The control device may comprise an input mechanism configured to simultaneously control at least two of a longitudinal translation of the ablation device through a target vessel, a rotation of the ablation device about a central longitudinal axis, and an infusion of a chemical agent into the target vessel.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering therapeutic agents within the GI tract such as neutralizing proteins (NP) particularly antibodies which neutralize interleukins. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device e.g., a capsule for delivering various agents into the intestinal wall (IW). Embodiments also provide agent preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the IW and degrade to release the agent into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the IW. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of interleukin NP's (INP) for treatment of inflammatory conditions where such INP's are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

Medical devices and methods for delivering fluid. The medical devices include one or more needles for delivering fluid. The methods may optionally include expanding an expandable member such as an inflatable member to expand an expandable scaffold outward toward a lumen wall. The devices may include one or both of one or more spine securing members or one or more needle alignment members.

Balloon catheters that includes inner and outer elongate shafts, each of which is secured relative to an end of an inflatable member. The inner and outer elongate shafts are secured relative to one another at one more discrete connection locations. The balloon bonding locations are disposed radially inward relative to an outer dimension of the outer elongate shaft.