Abstract: The present invention is a collapsible blood filter for use during a vascular procedure, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A filter made of braided filaments is located on the distal end of a delivery member, and the filter is deployed downstream of the vascular treatment site to capture emboli released during and immediately after the procedure. Optimal braid geometry of the filter ensures that captured emboli will be retained during collapse and removal of the filter following the procedure.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for placement within a living anatomy, such as the human coronary arterial system, comprises a proximal portion, a first arcuate portion, a second arcuate portion, and a distal tip. The catheter is shaped so that with the distal tip engaged in the coronary ostium, the ellipsoidal shaped second arcuate portion is in contact with the contralateral wall of the aorta, the catheter thus resisting forces tending to displace the distal tip from the ostium.

Abstract: A therapeutic catheter and used in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with the catheter comprising a shaft (5) a soft tip assembly. The assembly consists of a transition tube (15), a soft tip tube (20), and plug tube (25). The assembly is surrounded by a shrink wrap means. An infrared source (45) is applied to the interface of the shaft (5) and transition tube (15) with the heat being propagated to the transition tube (15) and the soft tip tube (20). The transition tube (15) is formed of materials having a tensile strength of at least 150% of the materials comprising the soft tip tube (20).

Abstract: The invention includes an exchange system, a guidewire anchoring means and a method of use for catheters exchangeable over a guidewire (55). The guidewire anchoring means restricts movement between the guidewire (55) and the anchoring means. The anchoring means comprises a shaft (35) with a longitudinal lumen (80) therethrough, the lumen (80) being in fluid communication with a balloon (25 or 30) disposed on the distal end of the shaft (35). A tubular split housing (5 or 10) surrounds the distal end of the shaft (35) and adheres to the balloon (25 or 30), the balloon (25 or 30) being sized to expand to a larger size than the inside diameter of the split housing (5 or 10). The inside diameter of the split housing (5 or 10) is sized to slidably receive a catheter, while the outside diameter of the split housing (5 or 10) is sized to slidably fit within a guide catheter (50 ).