Abstract: The invention provides for intra-luminal stents, especially stent having controlled fracture connection, as well as, methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, a stent for implantation into a vessel has a plurality of annular segments collectively forming tubular shape, characterized by at least first and second adjacent annular segments each defined by a plurality of struts and at least one joint interconnecting respective struts of the first and second segments on a non-permanent basis.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a drug delivery mechanism for use with a protection device. The protection device has an expandable filter. The drug delivery mechanism automatically delivers a drug to the filter without requiring the intervention of the operator of the protection device. The drug delivered to the filter facilitates continued filter patency during the medical procedure.

Abstract: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Abstract: A distal protection device for use in a body lumen. The device includes a functional element which may be a filter or an occlusive element. The device includes means for controlling the movement and placement of the functional element along a guidewire. Motion of the guidewire can be independent of the motion of the functional element.

Abstract: A method of coating a pre-formed trainable material, such as nitinol wire, with a heat resistant substance, heat treating, and cooling to form a desired shape. The substance can be removed by various methods after heat treatment, depending upon the composition of the substance. The method includes forming a trainable material around a mold that dissolves, vaporizes, or can otherwise be removed. The method is useful for forming complicated shapes that would be expensive or impossible to form by conventional methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a septal defect closure device (10) having a first occluding disk (30) having a first flexible membrane (32) attached to a first frame (34) and a second occluding disk (20) having a second flexible membrane (22) attached to a separate second frame (24). The first frame has at least two outwardly extending loops joined to one another by flexible joints. These loops are attached to the first membrane to define taut fabric petals when the first disk is in a deployed configuration. A central portion of the first membrane is joined to the central portion of the second membrane via a joining segment, which may comprise a conjoint disk. The flexible joints of the first frame are received within the joining segment. This septal defect closure device provides enhanced retrievability.

Abstract: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Abstract: Catheters, assemblies, and methods for delivering and recovering embolic protection devices. Catheters are provided that can be advanced over single length guide wires and which can be retracted over single length wire shafts of distal embolic protection devices. One catheter is a two-port catheter having two sidewall ports, a distal end port, and a proximal end port. The two-port catheter can be advanced over a guide wire threaded between the distal end port and the distal sidewall port. An embolic protection device wire shaft can be back loaded into the distal end port and out the proximal sidewall port. A three-port catheter includes a distal end port, and distal, intermediate, and proximal sidewall ports. The distal sidewall port can be dimensioned to accept passage of a filter body through the port. The distal end port can be dimensioned to accept only a guide wire to provide a smooth transition from the guide wire to the small profile distal end.

Abstract: The invention provides an embolic protection device for removing emboli from a blood vessel in a patient's body. The device comprises an elongate host element, an embolic protection element having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and a flexible tether connected to a distal end of the host element and to a proximal portion of the embolic protection element. The tether allows the host element to move axially and laterally relative to the embolic protection element over a limited range of motion when the embolic protection element is in an expanded configuration. The embolic protection device has a landing zone of 4 cm or less.

Abstract: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for removing emboli from a blood vessel in a patient's body. The device comprises a mesh element being expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration and an elongate tubular element having a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a lumen between the proximal and distal openings. The lumen has a diameter large enough to slideably accommodate a standard guidewire. The mesh element is disposed on the elongate tubular element.

Abstract: A distal protection device for use in a body lumen. The device includes a functional element which may be a filter or an occlusive element. The device includes means for controlling the movement and placement of the functional element along a guidewire. Motion of the guidewire can be independent of the motion of the functional element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a septal defect closure device (10) having a first occluding disk (30) having a first flexible membrane (32) attached to a first frame (34) and a second occluding disk (20) having a second flexible membrane (22) attached to a separate second frame (24). The first frame has at least two outwardly extending loops joined to one another by flexible joints. These loops are attached to the first membrane to define taut fabric petals when the first disk is in a deployed configuration. A central portion of the first membrane is joined to the central portion of the second membrane via a joining segment, which may comprise a conjoint disk. The flexible joints of the first frame are received within the joining segment. This septal defect closure device provides enhanced retrievability.

Abstract: A collapsible medical device for use, e.g., as a vascular filter. The device includes a mandrel having a distal end and a stop spaced proximally of the distal end. A proximal length of the mandrel extends proximally of the stop and a distal length of the mandrel extends distally of the stop. A functional element (e.g., a vascular filter) has a radially expandable body and includes a proximal slider and a distal slider. The proximal and distal sliders are slidable along the mandrel independently of one another such that the distance between the proximal slider and distal slider can be varied to effect different configurations of the functional element. In one method of using such a device, the functional element is urged distally to a treatment site by urging the mandrel distally.

Abstract: Catheters, assemblies, and methods for delivering and recovering embolic protection devices. Catheters are provided that can be advanced over single length guide wires and which can be retracted over single length wire shafts of distal embolic protection devices. One catheter is a two-port catheter having two sidewall ports, a distal end port, and a proximal end port. The two-port catheter can be advanced over a guide wire threaded between the distal end port and the distal sidewall port. An embolic protection device wire shaft can be back loaded into the distal end port and out the proximal sidewall port. A three-port catheter includes a distal end port, and distal, intermediate, and proximal sidewall ports. The distal sidewall port can be dimensioned to accept passage of a filter body through the port. The distal end port can be dimensioned to accept only a guide wire to provide a smooth transition from the guide wire to the small profile distal end.

Abstract: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Abstract: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Abstract: Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for filtering emboli from blood flowing through a lumen defined by the walls of a vessel in a patient's body comprising a filter element. The filter is expandable from a collapsed configuration when the filter element is restrained to an expanded configuration when the filter element is unrestrained, and the filter element comprises a self-expanding material having pores. When the filter element is in the expanded configuration, the average pore size is from 30 to 300 microns and the standard deviation of the pore size is less than 20 percent of the average pore size.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a fatigue resistant stent comprises a flexible tubular structure having an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a sidewall therebetween and having apertures extending through the sidewall. According to other aspects of the invention, processes for making a fatigue resistant stent are disclosed. According to further aspects of the invention, delivery systems for a fatigue resistant stent and methods of use are provided.