A bifunctional expandable stent delivery assembly having a bifunctional expandable stent, a breakable cover, and a balloon. The bifunctional expandable stent has a balloon-expandable body portion and a self-expandable trumpet portion. The breakable cover fits over only the self-expandable trumpet portion and prevents self-expansion. The balloon is used to expand the balloon-expandable portion, which breaks the breakable cover and allows the self-expandable trumpet portion to self-expand. A method of stenting a patient using the bifunctional expandable stent delivery assembly is also provided.

Exemplary arrangements relate to a method for producing an implant, in particular an implant configured to be inserted into a Schlemm's canal of an eye, which includes the steps of providing an implant blank, which implant blank is comprised of material that is permeable to laser radiation. The method further includes subjecting at least one region of the implant blank to laser radiation. Subsequent to subjecting the least one region to radiation, the method further includes removing material from the at least one region via fluid etching.

Disclosed herein is a unique family of medical implants which are engineered outside of a subject's body into a form which may be manipulated in vivo. The implants comprise a region of at least one weldable material which allows welding of the implant to a polymeric material introduced into the body prior to, together with or after the implant has been positioned.

Microbially-resistant materials are disclosed and described, along with devices, surfaces, and associated methods. Such materials can be coated onto device surfaces, system surfaces, structures, and the like.

The present invention relates to a medical instrument which comprises a porous metal layer. Also described are methods for producing such a medical instrument. The porous metal layer can serve as a marking for use in imaging radiological methods such as, for example, x-ray or ultrasound images.

Described are devices and methods that that include at least one sweat stimulating and collecting material, which can be a sweat stimulating and collecting iontophoresis material. In methods of stimulating and collecting sweat, the method may include (1) stimulating the production of sweat in a subject by delivering at least one sweat-stimulating substance out of a material and into contact with the skin of a subject, and (2) collecting at least a portion of the sweat in the material. Methods in accordance with principles of the present invention can also include transferring the material to a container, removing the material, and analyzing the sweat captured therein.

A high-nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel seamless thin-walled tube, a high-safety nickel-free metal-based drug-eluting vascular stent manufactured therefrom, and manufacturing methods therefor. In the process of manufacturing a stent tube, the nitrogen content of a material is further increased by means of stage-by-stage nitriding, so as to obtain a high-nitrogen nickel-free austenitic stainless steel seamless thin-walled tube having the nitrogen content of 0.8-1.2% as a metal stent platform material. By using rolling line contact type electrochemical polishing, the surface of the stent forms a micron-scale protrusion-recess structure by means of crystal grains having different orientations, thus improving a binding force between a metal stent material and a drug coating. The vascular stent has the characteristics of high fatigue life, high biological safety, and a high binding force between the drug coating and a substrate.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a multi-spiral, self-expanding stent. The disclosed stent is constructed from superposed individual spiral strands. Each spiral strand comprises a terminal bend that separates the strand into a first portion and a second portion. Particularly, the first portion of each strand bends in a first spiral direction to the terminal bend, and the second portion bends in the opposite direction after the terminal bend. Advantageously, the disclosed stent is able to change its shape, diameter. and length to accommodate the corresponding shape, diameter, and length of patient's diseased vessel.

A biodegradable in vivo supporting device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a coated stent device includes a biodegradable metal alloy scaffold made from a magnesium alloy, iron alloy, zinc alloy, or combination thereof, and the metal scaffold comprises a plurality of metal struts. The metal struts are at least partially covered with a biodegradable polymer coating. A method for making and a method for using a biodegradable in vivo supporting device are also disclosed.

A lumen stent preform is provided using a plasma nitriding technology, a preparation method thereof, a method for preparing a lumen stent by using the preform, and a lumen stent obtained according to the method. The preform is manufactured by using pure iron or an iron alloy containing no strong nitrogen compound, has a hardness of 160-250HV0.05/10, and has a microstructure that is a deformed structure having a grain size scale greater than or equal to 9 or a deformed structure after cold machining. Alternatively, the preform is an iron alloy containing a strong nitrogen compound, and has a microstructure that is a deformed structure having a grain size scale greater than or equal to 9 or a deformed structure after cold machining. The lumen stent preform meets the requirements of a conventional stent for radial strength and plasticity, so that plasma nitriding is applicable to commercial preparation of a lumen stent.