Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided an implantable filter. The filter can include a first support member having a first end and a second end; a second support member positioned adjacent the first support member to form an open loop between the first end and the second end of the first support member; a wrapping material wrapped around a portion of the first support member and a portion of the second support member that forms the open loop; and a filtering structure attached to the open loop by the wrapping material.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a biodegradable implantable device. The biodegradable implant device can include one or more elongate spiral support structures that can be biodegradable. Some embodiments can further include a material capture structure that can be biodegradable. A pharmacological agent can also be incorporated into the elongate spiral support structures and/or the material capture structure.

Abstract: There is described an endoluminal filter having an end cap having a lumen sized to receive there through a guidewire used in the positioning of the filter within the vasculature. There is a first support member with a pre-formed counter clockwise spiral shape and a second support member with a pre-formed clockwise spiral shape positioned adjacent to one another to form a proximal support frame, a distal support frame with a crossover between the proximal support frame and the distal support frame with a proximal portion of the first and the second spiral support members being attached to the end cap. A material capture structure having a rim and an apex with the rim attached to the proximal support frame and the apex extending distally through without attaching to the distal support frame.

Abstract: There are described a number of different coated endoluminal filters. The filters include a support structure formed from two shape memory metal wires joined at a first end and a second end. There is a first loop formed by the two wires and positioned directly adjacent to the first end. There is a second loop formed by the two wires and positioned directly adjacent to the second end. A filtering structure is formed from a suture material and positioned across the two metal wires so as to be within one of the two loops. There is a coating over at least a portion of the wires forming one of the two loops of the support structure containing the filtering structure. In one aspect, the coating is used to secure the filtering structure to the at least one of the two loops of the support structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of providing protection during a procedure performed in the vasculature using an open loop filter device comprising two elongate support members positioned to form at least one crossover location between adjacent open loops of the device. The method may also include placing the open loop device down stream of a location in the vasculature performing a procedure to treat the vasculature in proximity to the location; and capturing debris released during the procedure in a material capture structure suspended between the elongate support members and across the vessel. Additionally, there can be a step of maintaining the open loop filter device downstream of the location along the wall of the vasculature while permitting movement along the wall of the vasculature of the two elongate support members adjacent the material capture structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filter includes a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end; a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form a loop between the first end and the second end; a material covering a portion of the first and the second spiral support members; and a structure attached to the loop.

Abstract: An endoluminal filter including a first support member and a second support member attached to the first support member to form a crossover. A material capture structure extends between the first and second support members, the crossover and the first end or the second end of the first support member. The filter includes at least one tissue anchor on the first support member and the second support member. There is a method of positioning a filter within a lumen including advancing a sheath containing a filter through the lumen. Next, deploying a retrieval feature against the lumen wall while maintaining substantially all of a material capture structure of the filter within the sheath. Next, deploying the material capture structure of the filter from the sheath to a position across the lumen along with engaging the lumen wall with fixation elements positioned along the filter.

Abstract: A method of delivering a stent-graft includes mounting the stent-graft on a pushrod; radially constraining the stent-graft within a sheath; securing a crown portion of the stent-graft to the pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system; retracting the sheath to expose the crown portion of the stent-graft; and further retracting the sheath to cause the retainer structure to release the crown portion from the pushrod thus deploying the stent-graft. The retainer structure releases the stent-graft automatically as a result of the retraction of the sheath.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end, a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form an open loop between the first end and the second end of the first spiral support member; and a filtering structure attached to the open loop. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end; a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form a loop between the first end and the second end; a material covering a portion of the first and the second spiral support members; and a structure attached to the loop.

Abstract: A filter and methods of use to provide distal protection during a vascular procedure is provided. The filter includes a first spiral shaped support member joined to a second spiral support member to form a crossover and to form a first generally planar support frame and a second generally planar support frame. A tether is on one of the first end or the second end and a capture structure is attached to the first support frame or the second support frame. The capture structure extends in a non-planar fashion relative to the generally planar first or second support frame to which the capture structure is attached. After use to capture debris, the filter is recovered in a manner to close while maintaining captured debris within the filter.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of filtering blood flow in a lumen by positioning an open loop filter support structure within a lumen; maintaining a position of the open loop filter support structure within the lumen using radial force generated by the open loop filter support structure; and filtering blood flow in the lumen using a filter supported by the open loop filter support structure. In one aspect, there is also applying radial force generated by the open loop filter support structure along the axial dimension of the lumen.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a filter having a first structural member extending along and clockwise about an axis, a second structural member extending along and counter clockwise about the axis and a material capture structure extending between the first and the second structural members and across the axis. In one aspect, the structural members may be joined to form two ends. In yet another aspect, there is provided a filter having a first spiral shaped support member having an end; a second support member positioned to cross the first spiral support member and form a loop between the end and the place where the second support member crosses the first spiral support member; and a material capture structure extending across and secured to the loop.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of positioning a filter within a lumen by positioning a filter within a lumen by exerting a radial force generated by a support structure against the lumen while suspending a material capture structure between opposing members of the support structure; and self adjusting the length of the filter support structure along the lumen wall in response to a change in the size of the lumen. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of providing protection during a procedure performed in the vasculature by placing an open loop device within a vessel down stream of a location in the vasculature; performing a procedure to treat the vasculature in proximity to the location; and capturing debris released during the procedure in a material capture structure suspended across the vessel and supported by the open loop device.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a coated endoluminal filter having a support structure; a filtering structure attached to the support structure; a coating over at least a portion of support structure. In another alternative embodiment, there is provided an endoluminal filter having a support structure; and a filtering structure attached to the support structure; wherein, the support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane that is orthogonal to the flow direction of the filter and contains a crossover point between two structural elements of the support structure. In another alternative embodiment, there is provided an endoluminal filter, having a support structure; and a filtering structure attached to the support structure; wherein, the support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane that is parallel to the flow direction of the filter and contains both ends of the support structure.

Abstract: A method of delivering a stent-graft includes mounting the stent-graft on a pushrod; radially constraining the stent-graft within a sheath; securing a crown portion of the stent-graft to the pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system; retracting the sheath to expose the crown portion of the stent-graft; and further retracting the sheath to cause the retainer structure to release the crown portion from the pushrod thus deploying the stent-graft. The retainer structure releases the stent-graft automatically as a result of the retraction of the sheath.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end, a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form an open loop between the first end and the second end of the first spiral support member; and a filtering structure attached to the open loop. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end; a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form a loop between the first end and the second end; a material covering a portion of the first and the second spiral support members; and a structure attached to the loop.

Abstract: A method of delivering a stent-graft includes mounting the stent-graft on a pushrod; radially constraining the stent-graft within a sheath; securing a crown portion of the stent-graft to the pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system; retracting the sheath to expose the crown portion of the stent-graft; and further retracting the sheath to cause the retainer structure to release the crown portion from the pushrod thus deploying the stent-graft. The retainer structure releases the stent-graft automatically as a result of the retraction of the sheath.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end, a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form an open loop between the first end and the second end of the first spiral support member; and a filtering structure attached to the open loop. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end; a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form a loop between the first end and the second end; a material covering a portion of the first and the second spiral support members; and a structure attached to the loop.

Abstract: Techniques for assessing a physiological profile of a patient include advancing a catheter shaft of a bifurcated renal catheter system into an aorta of the patient, deploying branches of the bifurcated renal catheter system into the renal arteries of the patient, detecting a renal arterial physiological parameter with a sensing mechanism, and assessing the physiological profile of the patient based on the physiological parameter. Related techniques include modifying or initiating pharmacological or surgical treatments for the patient based on the assessment.

Abstract: An endoluminal filter including a first support member having a first end and a second end and a second support member attached to the first end of the first support member or the second end of the first support member and forming a crossover with the first support member. The endoluminal filter also includes a material capture structure extending between the first and second support members, the crossover and the first end or the second end of the first support member and at least one tissue anchor on the first support member or the second support member. A method of positioning a filter within a lumen including advancing a sheath containing a filter through the lumen. Next, deploying a portion of the filter from the sheath into the lumen to engage the lumen wall while maintaining substantially all of a material capture structure of the filter within the sheath. Next, deploying the material capture structure of the filter from the sheath to a position across the lumen.