Abstract: Disclosed is a guidewire stop configured to lock a medical device onto a guidewire. The guidewire stop comprises a locking element, an actuator coupled to the locking element and a locking tube, wherein at least a section of the guidewire and at least part of the locking element or actuator pass through the locking tube. Further disclosed is that the locking tube comprises an unlocking element configured to unlock the medical device from the guidewire. The disclosed guidewire stop has at least the following three configurations:—an initial unlocked configuration in which the guidewire stop and the medical device are movable relative to the guidewire;—a first locked configuration in which the guidewire stop and the medical device are not movable relative to the guidewire; and—a first unlocked configuration in which the guidewire stop and the medical device are movable relative to the guidewire.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for anchoring an elongated object, for example a wire, in tubular body vessel, such as arteries, veins, the colon, bile ducts, etc. are disclosed. The wire may be a catheter, a guide wire, a tube or an electrical lead. In one embodiment, a fixation device is advanced over the wire and, upon external actuation, either deforms the wire or deploys an anchoring mechanism so as to secure the wire against the vessel wall. The anchoring mechanism can be easily removed from the vessel even in the presence of vessel occlusion. In another embodiment, a wire tensioned between two locations on a distal section of the wire deforms the wire and urges the wire into wall apposition.

Abstract: An embolism filter adapted to selectively stop an embolism filter along a length of guidewire, including a filter adapted to encircle a guidewire and at least one self-deploying stop attached to the filter and which selectively stops movement of said filter.

Abstract: A user-actuatable guidewire stop is disclosed which can be used to stop and/or lock a medical device on a guidewire advanced through a body lumen. The guidewire stop is configured as a coil spring having an inner lumen configured to slideably and rotationally receive the guidewire in an unlocked configuration, and to frictionally engage the guidewire in a locked configuration. The coil spring is composed of turns having at least one protrusion disposed on a turn of the coil spring and adapted for engagement with a corresponding recess disposed on an adjacent turn of the coil spring, wherein the at least one protrusion interlocks with the corresponding recess to maintain the coil spring in the unlocked configuration. The coil spring transitions into the unlocked configuration by disengaging the at least one protrusion from the corresponding recess.

Abstract: An embolism filter adapted to selectively stop an embolism filter along a length of guidewire, including a filter adapted to encircle a guidewire and at least one self-deploying stop attached to the filter and which selectively stops movement of said filter.

Abstract: A user-actuatable guidewire stop is disclosed which can be used to stop and/or lock a medical device on a guidewire advanced through a body lumen. The guidewire stop is configured as a coil spring having an inner lumen configured to slideably and rotationally receive the guidewire in an unlocked configuration, and to frictionally engage the guidewire in a locked configuration. The coil spring is composed of turns having at least one protrusion disposed on a turn of the coil spring and adapted for engagement with a corresponding recess disposed on an adjacent turn of the coil spring, wherein the at least one protrusion interlocks with the corresponding recess to maintain the coil spring in the unlocked configuration. The coil spring transitions into the unlocked configuration by disengaging the at least one protrusion from the corresponding recess.

Abstract: A delivery catheter includes a constraining sheath coupled to a distal end of the catheter, and a medical device, such as an embolic protection device (EPD) or a stent, constrained by the sheath. A wire may extend proximally from the constraining sheath and be coupled thereto. A proximal pulling force on the wire causes the wire to tear the constraining sheath, thereby releasing the medical device from a constrained configuration to an expanded configuration.

Abstract: A method of deploying multiple filtering elements within selected vasculature includes the steps of delivering and deploying a first filtering element over a primary guidewire to a first vessel branching off a main vessel, locking the first filtering element onto the primary guidewire at a desired location within the first branching vessel, delivering a secondary guidewire to a second vessel branching off the main vessel, delivering a second filtering element over the secondary guidewire to the second branching vessel, deploying the second filtering element at a desired location within the second branching vessel, and locking the second filtering element onto the primary guidewire at the desired location associated with the second branching vessel.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter for retrieving deployed medical devices includes a first guidewire lumen and a second guidewire lumen spaced radially from the first guidewire lumen. The first guidewire lumen has a distal end portion configured to recapture a medical device, such as a collapsed embolic protection device, deployed in a body lumen and secured to a guidewire extending through the first guidewire lumen. The second guidewire lumen receives a second guidewire which may be advanced past a first interventional site to perform a second procedure. The retrieval catheter may be provided with a soft tip to reduce trauma to the body tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for anchoring an elongated object, for example a wire, in tubular body vessel, such as arteries, veins, the colon, bile ducts, etc. are disclosed. The wire may be a catheter, a guide wire, a tube or an electrical lead. In one embodiment, a fixation device is advanced over the wire and, upon external actuation, either deforms the wire or deploys an anchoring mechanism so as to secure the wire against the vessel wall. The anchoring mechanism can be easily removed from the vessel even in the presence of vessel occlusion. In another embodiment, a wire tensioned between two locations on a distal section of the wire deforms the wire and urges the wire into wall apposition.

Abstract: A guidewire stop is disclosed which can be positioned and frictionally locked to a bare guidewire at a user-defined location. The guidewire stop can be used to stop and/or lock a medical device, such as an embolic filter, at a treatment site inside a body lumen. The medical device may be attached to the guidewire stop.

Abstract: A user-actuatable guidewire stop is disclosed which can be used to stop and/or lock a medical device on a guidewire advanced through a body lumen. The guidewire stop is configured as a coil spring having an inner lumen configured to slideably and rotationally receive the guidewire in an unlocked configuration, and to frictionally engage the guidewire in a locked configuration. The coil spring is composed of turns having at least one protrusion disposed on a turn of the coil spring and adapted for engagement with a corresponding recess disposed on an adjacent turn of the coil spring, wherein the at least one protrusion interlocks with the corresponding recess to maintain the coil spring in the unlocked configuration. The coil spring transitions into the unlocked configuration by disengaging the at least one protrusion from the corresponding recess.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter for retrieving deployed medical devices includes a first guidewire lumen and a second guidewire lumen spaced radially from the first guidewire lumen. The first guidewire lumen has a distal end portion configured to recapture a medical device, such as a collapsed embolic protection device, deployed in a body lumen and secured to a guidewire extending through the first guidewire lumen. The second guidewire lumen receives a second guidewire which may be advanced past a first interventional site to perform a second procedure. The retrieval catheter may be provided with a soft tip to reduce trauma to the body tissue.

Abstract: A delivery catheter includes a constraining sheath coupled to a distal end of the catheter, and a medical device, such as an embolic protection device (EPD) or a stent, constrained by the sheath. A wire may extend proximally from the constraining sheath and be coupled thereto. A proximal pulling force on the wire causes the wire to tear the constraining sheath, thereby releasing the medical device from a constrained configuration to an expanded configuration.

Abstract: An embolism filter adapted to selectively stop an embolism filter along a length of guidewire, including a filter adapted to encircle a guidewire and at least one self-deploying stop attached to the filter and which selectively stops movement of said filter.

Abstract: A guidewire stop is disclosed which can be positioned and frictionally locked to a bare guidewire at a user-defined location. The guidewire stop can be used to stop and/or lock a medical device, such as an embolic filter, at a treatment site inside a body lumen. The medical device may be attached to the guidewire stop.

Abstract: A user-actuatable guidewire stop is disclosed which can be used to stop and/or lock a medical device on a guidewire advanced through a body lumen. In one embodiment, the guidewire stop is configured as a coil spring having an inner lumen configured to slideably and rotationally receive the guidewire in an unlocked configuration, and to frictionally engage the guidewire in a locked configuration, wherein in the inside diameter of the coil spring in the locked configuration is smaller than the diameter in the unlocked configuration. A restraining member maintains the coil spring in the unlocked configuration during deployment and is removed at the interventional site causing the coil spring to collapse onto the guidewire. The guidewire stop can be employed with an embolic filter or another intravascular device.

Abstract: An embolism filter adapted to selectively stop an embolism filter along a length of guidewire, including a filter adapted to encircle a guidewire and at least one self-deploying stop attached to the filter and which selectively stops movement of said filter.