Abstract: A closure device for an arteriotomy includes an elongate tube having a distal opening. The elongate tube has least two opposing longitudinal slots and a pair of opposing corners defined where each slot meets the distal opening. A staple is disposed within the tube, the staple having at least two opposing legs aligned with the at least two slots. Each slot is pinched together adjacent the distal opening such that the opposing corners of each slot converge to cover the tip of the respective staple leg to guard the staple tips against contact with the tissue track. The corners of each slot are separable to permit the respective staple leg to pass there between.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for moving an intraluminal filament, such as a shaft or hypotube. The actuator includes a housing having a channel therein, the channel having at least a first inclined surface. The actuator also includes a pivotable actuator assembly coupled to the housing and having first and second spaced-apart jaws extending into the channel. The first and second jaws define an opening of a first dimension therebetween. The actuator assembly pivots for urging at least one of the first and second jaws against at least the first inclined surface to transition the first dimension to a second dimension. The method comprises aligning the intraluminal filament between spaced-apart jaws of a pivotable actuator assembly, pivoting the actuator assembly to urge said jaws against at least one surface causing said jaws to grip the intraluminal filament, and further pivoting the actuator assembly to move the intraluminal filament.

Abstract: Medical catheters adapted for use within a body vessel and methods of manufacturing are presented herein. The medical catheter comprises a tubular catheter shaft having a distal end that fits within the body vessel. The tubular catheter shaft comprises an unfilled or low-loaded inner liner and/or outer shell. The medical catheter also comprises a radiopaque segment that comprises a radiopaque material embedded between the inner liner and outer shell. The radiopaque material can be in the form of an ink, powder, or paste.

Abstract: A system for treating a vascular condition comprises a catheter having at least one lumen, a stem received within a distal portion of the lumen, a sealing member positioned on the stem, and a balloon operably attached to a distal portion of the catheter. The stem includes a proximal body portion, a sealing portion, and a shoulder portion. The sealing member is movable with hydrodynamic force from an initial air-release position on the proximal body portion of the stem to a sealed position on the sealing portion of the stem. A method for purging a balloon catheter prior to use comprises injecting a liquid into a proximal end of a balloon catheter lumen. The injected liquid forces air through a gap between the lumen wall and a sealing member. The liquid then contacts the sealing member and repositions it to a sealed position.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. Wire having enhanced radiopacity is included in the filter to provide visualization under fluoroscopy.

Abstract: A steerable guidewire apparatus for use during percutaneous catheter interventions such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A protection element comprising a filter or an occluder is mounted near the distal end of the steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. The guidewire comprises a hollow shaft movably disposed about a core wire. The shaft and core wire control separation of the ends of the protection element, causing transformation of the protection element from a deployed configuration to a collapsed configuration. Farther separation of the ends of the protection element, after it has been collapsed, causes deflection in a distal region of the apparatus.

Abstract: A system for treating a vascular condition, including a hollow guidewire, a core wire inserted through the hollow guidewire, and an embolic containment device. The core wire includes a tapered undulating section carried within the hollow guidewire. The embolic containment device is coupled between a distal end of the hollow guidewire and a distal end of the core wire. The tapered undulating section of the core wire provides frictional control of the embolic containment device based on a direction of core wire translation within the hollow guidewire. A method of treating a vascular condition and a guidewire-based embolic filter system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guiding catheter includes an elongate shaft with a central lumen and a mechanically expandable sealing membrane mounted about the distal end of the shaft. An expansion wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the catheter, the expansion wire having an expandable distal portion with a pre-formed expanded shape capable of expanding the sealing membrane into sealing engagement with the wall of an artery to provide occlusion of blood flowing through the artery. In one embodiment, a steering wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the catheter and is fixed adjacent the shaft distal end. Pushing or pulling the steering wire deflects the distal end of the catheter. In another embodiment, the guiding catheter has a pre-formed curve adjacent the distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A control handle for an intraluminal device includes a handle housing having a first end and a second end, the handle housing having a lumen. A roller assembly is disposed at a first end of the lumen. The roller assembly comprises a first roller and a base. The lumen is interposed between the first roller and the base. A clamp assembly is disposed at the second end of the lumen. The clamp assembly comprises a first clamp element and a second clamp element. The lumen is interposed between the first clamp element and the second clamp element. A closure mechanism is configured to effect movement between the first clamp element and the second clamp element and between the first roller and the base. The control handle further includes a turn device operably connected to the roller assembly.

Abstract: A catheter having one or more radially expanded portions that comprise a guidewire lumen. The guidewire lumen and the main lumen of the catheter are not separate and share the same fluid space. The catheter maintains a large, circular lumen for aspiration or delivery. The catheter is made by lacing a guidewire lumen mandrel through openings made in the catheter shaft and then forcing the shaft to expand radially to create a guidewire lumen.

Abstract: A filter for filtering micro-emboli from a patient's blood during an angioplasty procedure is disclosed which comprises a plurality of curved wires connected to a rod between a first connector fixed with respect to the rod and a second connector slidingly mounted on the rod. Two layers of filter material are connected to opposite sides of the wires, and each layer includes perforations which are offset from the perforations in the other layer. When the rod and the wires are disposed within a catheter, the inner wall of the catheter compresses the wires toward the rod and when the rod is extended from the catheter, the wires resume their curved shape and pull the sliding connector along the rod toward the fixed connector.

Abstract: A tubular medical catheter having a least one region of selectively varied lamination is provided herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing flexibility of joints between areas of plastic materials, and in particular the joint between a catheter shaft and a balloon neck involving welding the overlapping portions to create a joint region and applying a tensile force to the joint region, the force being of sufficient strength to elongate the joint region, thus thinning the joint region.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In several embodiments, the guidewire distal to the filter has a fixed tip length. Other embodiments of the invention include a mechanism for damping longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention is a temporary device for capturing and removing embolic material during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A self-closing, tubular capture element, which may be either a filter or an occluder, is mounted near the distal end of a guidewire. The guidewire is capable of guiding a therapeutic catheter. Relative displacement of the capture element ends causes transformation of the capture element between a closed configuration and a deployed configuration that spans the vessel to be treated. A latch fixed to the guidewire temporarily retains the capture element in the deployed configuration. A first hollow rod slides over the guidewire to deploy the capture element and engage the capture element proximal end with the latch. A second hollow rod slides over the guidewire to release the latch and close the capture element.

Abstract: A rotary valve for a balloon catheter, including a hollow guidewire with a central lumen and a portion of a rotary shaft disposed within a guidewire proximal end. Rotating the rotary shaft of the rotary valve controls flow of an inflation fluid into and through the guidewire central lumen.

Abstract: An elongate distal protection device includes an intraluminal filter-occluder combination positioned at a distal end thereof. An expandable occluder is disposed within an expandable filter such that the filter and occluder are independently deployable. During use, the expanded occluder may be used first to stop embolic particles for aspiration thereof. Then, the occluder may be collapsed, leaving the filter expanded to capture any remaining embolic particles.

Abstract: A stent balloon assembly wherein the balloon has been blow molded inside the stent. Segments of the balloon at least partially fill gaps in the stent, even after the assembly is compressed, to retain the stent on the balloon during delivery. The stent balloon assembly may also be mounted on a catheter.

Abstract: A catheter and guide wire exchange system including a catheter having a guide wire lumen with a guide way extending along the length of a stiffened proximal shaft portion, and a guide member slidably disposed about the proximal shaft for directing a guide wire into or out of the guide way and the guide wire lumen. The guide member may be slid along the proximal shaft portion and the guide wire in zipper-like fashion so that the guide wire is contained within the guide wire lumen distal to the guide member and with the guide wire and catheter being separated proximal of the guide member.

Abstract: The present invention is a distal protection device for use during a vascular treatment, such as angioplasty or atherectomy. A filter assembly located on the distal end of a delivery member is deployed distally of the vascular region to be treated to capture emboli released during and immediately after the procedure. The filter is then retracted to retain any captured emboli and then removed from the patient.