Abstract: Medical methods and devices for treating aortic dissections. A catheter-based cutting device permits cutting a septum of acute or chronic aortic dissections, in a retrograde manner. The catheter includes a base section having a central lumen therethrough and two flexible arms extending from a distal end thereof. The flexible arms can each have a guide wire channel therethrough. With distal ends of the two flexible arms separated, the two arms form a Y-shape with the base section. In one embodiment, with distal ends of the two flexible arms together, the two arms have a longitudinal profile, about a periphery thereof, identical to a longitudinal profile of the base section. A cutting component resides between the two arms. The cutting component can face distally outward between the two arms with the distal ends of the two flexible arms separated.

Abstract: Medical methods and devices for treating aortic dissections. A catheter-based cutting device permits cutting a septum of acute or chronic aortic dissections, in a retrograde manner. The catheter includes a base section having a central lumen therethrough and two flexible arms extending from a distal end thereof. The flexible arms can each have a guide wire channel therethrough. With distal ends of the two flexible arms separated, the two arms form a Y-shape with the base section. In one embodiment, with distal ends of the two flexible arms together, the two arms have a longitudinal profile, about a periphery thereof, identical to a longitudinal profile of the base section. A cutting component resides between the two arms. The cutting component can face distally outward between the two arms with the distal ends of the two flexible arms separated.

Abstract: Medical methods and devices for treating aortic dissections. A catheter-based cutting device permits cutting a septum of acute or chronic aortic dissections, in a retrograde manner. The catheter includes a base section having a central lumen therethrough and two flexible arms extending from a distal end thereof. The flexible arms can each have a guide wire channel therethrough. With distal ends of the two flexible arms separated, the two arms form a Y-shape with the base section. In one embodiment, with distal ends of the two flexible arms together, the two arms have a longitudinal profile, about a periphery thereof, identical to a longitudinal profile of the base section. A cutting component resides between the two arms. The cutting component can face distally outward between the two arms with the distal ends of the two flexible arms separated.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods utilize an intraluminal fastener applier having a guide body with a longitudinal axis. The guide body is sized and configured for intraluminal deployment in a hollow body organ. An actuated assembly is carried by the guide body that is selectively operable to generate an implantation force to implant at least one fastener into tissue within the hollow body organ. The actuated assembly includes a driven member extending generally along the longitudinal axis, which is sized and configured to engage a selected fastener. The actuated assembly also includes a drive member coupled to the driven member to impart the implantation force to the driven element in a direction that is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying a prosthesis in a tissue region in a hollow body organ or blood vessel provide a first prosthesis and a second prosthesis, each having a prosthetic material and a scaffold that supports the prosthetic material. The first prosthesis has a proximal neck region, and the second prosthesis has an end region. The end region is sized and configured to telescopically fit with the proximal neck region to form a composite prosthesis. The systems and methods manipulate a fastener attachment assembly to implant at least one fastener to secure the composite prosthesis in the tissue region.

Abstract: Medical methods and devices for treating aortic dissections. A catheter-based cutting device permits cutting a septum of acute or chronic aortic dissections, in a retrograde manner. The catheter includes a base section having a central lumen therethrough and two flexible arms extending from a distal end thereof. The flexible arms can each have a guide wire channel therethrough. With distal ends of the two flexible arms separated, the two arms form a Y-shape with the base section. In one embodiment, with distal ends of the two flexible arms together, the two arms have a longitudinal profile, about a periphery thereof, identical to a longitudinal profile of the base section. A cutting component resides between the two arms. The cutting component can face distally outward between the two arms with the distal ends of the two flexible arms separated.

Abstract: Medical methods and devices for treating aortic dissections. A catheter-based cutting device permits cutting a septum of acute or chronic aortic dissections, in a retrograde manner. The catheter includes a base section having a central lumen therethrough, two flexible arms extending from a distal end thereof, where each arm has a channel therethrough for a passage of a guide wire. With distal ends of the two flexible arms separated, the two arms form a Y-shape with the base section. With distal ends of the two flexible arms together, the two arms have a longitudinal profile, about a periphery thereof, identical to a longitudinal profile of the base section. A non-mechanically actuated cutting component resides between the two arms in a vicinity of the distal end of the base section. The cutting component faces distally outward between the two arms with the distal ends of the two flexible arms separated.

Abstract: Medical methods and devices for treating aortic dissections. A catheter-based cutting device permits cutting a septum of acute or chronic aortic dissections, in a retrograde manner. The catheter includes a base section having a central lumen therethrough, two flexible arms extending from a distal end thereof, where each arm has a channel therethrough for a passage of a guide wire. With distal ends of the two flexible arms separated, the two arms form a Y-shape with the base section. With distal ends of the two flexible arms together, the two arms have a longitudinal profile, about a periphery thereof, identical to a longitudinal profile of the base section. A non-mechanically actuated cutting component resides between the two arms in a vicinity of the distal end of the base section. The cutting component faces distally outward between the two arms with the distal ends of the two flexible arms separated.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting stroke in an individual, and in particular a sleeping individual. The individual has sensors on a least one hand or wrist for detecting electrical and/or muscular activity. The sensors may be included in or on a glove or bracelet worn by the individual. The absence of electrical and/or muscular activity is indicative of a stroke, and when such absence is detected, an alert is raised. Absence of detecting electrical and/or muscular activity can be detected in only one hand and/or wrist to avoid false alarms from REM sleep which results in the absence of electrical and/or muscular activity in both hands.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods utilize an intraluminal fastener applier having a guide body with a longitudinal axis. The guide body is sized and configured for intraluminal deployment in a hollow body organ. An actuated assembly is carried by the guide body that is selectively operable to generate an implantation force to implant at least one fastener into tissue within the hollow body organ. The actuated assembly includes a driven member extending generally along the longitudinal axis, which is sized and configured to engage a selected fastener. The actuated assembly also includes a drive member coupled to the driven member to impart the implantation force to the driven element in a direction that is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide body.

Abstract: A system to limit cerebral ischemia occurring as a consequence of aortic valve replacement includes an aortic valve having proximal and distal ends, a sleeve having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the sleeve disposed at the distal end of the aortic valve, and a filter attached to the distal end of the sleeve to receive blood and particles passing from the proximal end of the sleeve to the distal end of the sleeve and to separate the particles from the blood. A related method includes introducing a system into a heart of a patient, the system comprising an aortic valve having proximal and distal ends and a sleeve having a proximal end disposed at the distal end of the valve, implanting the valve in an aortic valve annulus, and filtering blood that has passed through the valve into the sleeve.

Abstract: An implantable endograft device having a graded compliance. The endograft contains at least two portions having different compliance values. In some configurations, the endograft has three, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a central portion, with the proximal and distal end portions having a higher compliance than the central portion. The difference in compliance can be achieved, for example, by using wire struts of different gauges, varying the spacing of the struts in the different portions, varying the geometry of the struts, using struts of different alloys, or using struts of differing elasticity.

Abstract: Systems and methods suture within a body organ region. The systems and methods advance into the body organ region a catheter tube having a distal region that carries a suture applicator. The systems and methods operate the suture applicator from a location external to the body to apply a suture to an interior wall in the body organ region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying a prosthesis in a tissue region in a hollow body organ or blood vessel provide a first prosthesis and a second prosthesis, each having a prosthetic material and a scaffold that supports the prosthetic material. The first prosthesis has a proximal neck region, and the second prosthesis has an end region. The end region is sized and configured to telescopically fit with the proximal neck region to form a composite prosthesis. The systems and methods manipulate a fastener attachment assembly to implant at least one fastener to secure the composite prosthesis in the tissue region.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods utilize an intraluminal fastener applier having a guide body with a longitudinal axis. The guide body is sized and configured for intraluminal deployment in a hollow body organ. An actuated assembly is carried by the guide body that is selectively operable to generate an implantation force to implant at least one fastener into tissue within the hollow body organ. The actuated assembly includes a driven member extending generally along the longitudinal axis, which is sized and configured to engage a selected fastener. The actuated assembly also includes a drive member coupled to the driven member to impart the implantation force to the driven element in a direction that is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the guide body.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treatment of stroke are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention disposes at least one catheter having a distal occlusive member in the common carotid artery of the hemisphere of the cerebral occlusion. Retrograde flow may be provided through the catheter to effectively control cerebral flow characteristics. Under such controlled flow conditions, a thrombectomy device may be used to treat the occlusion, and any emboli generated are directed into the catheter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treatment of stroke are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention disposes at least one catheter having a distal occlusive member in either the common carotid artery (CCA) or both the vertebral artery (VA) and the CCA on the hemisphere of the cerebral occlusion. Blood flow in the opposing carotid and/or vertebral arteries may be inhibited. Retrograde or antegrade flow may be provided through either catheter independently to effectively control cerebral flow characteristics. Under such controlled flow conditions, a thrombectomy device may be used to treat the occlusion, and any emboli generated are directed into the catheter(s).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods implant a fastener in a targeted body region, e.g., a hollow body cavity or an intraluminal space. The apparatus and methods deploy in the targeted body region a fastener attachment assembly that carries an actuated member. The actuated member is selectively operable to generate an implantation force to implant a fastener into tissue within the targeted body region. The fastener can be implanted, e.g., to secure a prosthesis, e.g., an endovascular graft. The systems and apparatus apply a resolution force at or near the actuated member, thereby making possible a stable and dependable catheter-based fastening platform.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for removing emboli during an angioplasty, stenting or surgical procedure comprising a catheter having an occlusion element, an aspiration lumen, and a blood outlet port in communication with the lumen, a guide wire having a balloon, a venous return sheath with a blood inlet port, and tubing that couples the blood outlet port to the blood inlet port. Apparatus is also provided for occluding the external carotid artery to prevent reversal of flow into the internal carotid artery. The pressure differential between the artery and the vein provides reverse flow through the artery, thereby flushing emboli. A blood filter may optionally be included in-line with the tubing to filter emboli from blood reperfused into the patient.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for removing emboli during an angioplasty, stenting or surgical procedure comprising a catheter having an occlusion element, an aspiration lumen, and a blood outlet port in communication with the lumen, a guide wire having a balloon, a venous return catheter with a blood inlet port, and tubing that couples the blood outlet port to the blood inlet port. Apparatus is also provided for occluding the external carotid artery to prevent reversal of flow into the internal carotid artery. The pressure differential between the artery and the vein provides reverse flow through the artery, thereby flushing emboli. A blood filter may optionally be included in-line with the tubing to filter emboli from blood reperfused into the patient.