Abstract: An implantable device for positioning in the vicinity of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) into the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the external carotid artery (ECA), comprises a deflecting element suitable to deflect the flow of embolic material flowing in the CCS toward the ICA, into the ECA, without filtering.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a distance between a first location and a second location within a body lumen. The method includes providing a guidewire having radiopaque elements of predetermined dimensions and spacings, inserting the guidewire into the body lumen, imaging the guidewire as it progresses through the body lumen, positioning the radiopaque markers in the vicinity of the first and second locations, and determining a distance from the predetermined dimensions and spacings.

Abstract: A diverting filter for implantation in the bifurcation of the human common carotid artery (CCA) with the external carotid artery (ECA) and the internal carotid artery (ICA), comprising: a tubular body expandable from an initial small-diameter state for manipulation through the CCA to an expanded larger-diameter state for implantation in said bifurcation, the tubular body having an at rest state wherein the tubular body exhibits a diameter greater than the expanded larger-diameter state; the tubular body including a proximal region for implantation in the CCA, a distal region for implantation in the ECA, and a middle filtering region for alignment with the orifice of the ICA for diverting relatively-large emboli in the CCA blood flow to the ECA while minimizing interference to blood flow through both the ICA and the ECA; constituted of between 48 and 56 braided filaments exhibiting an average porosity index of at least 80%.

Abstract: An implantable device for positioning about a blood vessel bifurcation zone to control flow of embolic material around said bifurcation. The device comprises an anchoring element extending within said zone of bifurcation to anchor said device therein, and a deflecting element, associated with said anchoring element, said deflecting element comprising a mesh having a mesh size sufficient to allow passage of blood without hindrance while occluding passage of embolic material exceeding a predetermined size.

Abstract: An implantable filtering device for implanting within an artery supplying blood to the brain, the device being made of bio-compatible material and comprising a filtering unit for entrapping plaque debris, and an anchoring member engageable with the walls of the carotid artery for anchoring said filtering unit at a fixed location with the artery. The filtering unit has a tapering shape extending between a wide inlet portion and a narrower outlet portion extending downstream, and a tap element fitted at the outlet portion for entrapping plaque debris.

Abstract: An implantable device particularly useful for implantation in the common carotid artery at its bifurcation with the internal carotid artery and the external carotid artery for reducing the risk of a stroke, includes a base element for anchoring the device in the artery, and a deflector element for covering the inlet of the internal carotid artery. The deflector element is formed with openings of a size and configuration to deflect emboli in the blood to the external carotid artery without blocking blood flow through the external or internal carotid arteries. The deflector element is attached to a supporting portion of the base element to produce a composite construction. In one described embodiment, the base element is a coil having two opposing ends which overlap to permit expansion for deployment in the artery, and in a second described embodiment the base element is a tube expandable for deployment in the artery.

Abstract: A device implantable in an artery at a bifurcation into a first branch supplying blood to a vital region having a high sensitivity to emboli in the blood, and a second branch supplying blood to a less vital region having a lower sensitivity to emboli in the blood. The implantable device is initially of a small diameter for facilitating its introduction into and deployment through the artery to the bifurcation, and is expandable to a larger diameter for implantation in the artery at the bifurcation. The implantable device includes a base element for anchoring in the artery at the bifurcation; and a deflector element for covering the inlet of the first branch at the bifurcation. The deflector element is formed with openings of a size and configuration to deflect emboli in the blood to the second branch without blocking blood flow through the second branch or through the first branch.

Abstract: An implantable device for positioning in the vicinity of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) into the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the external carotid artery (ECA) comprises a deflecting element suitable to deflect the flow of embolic material flowing in the CCA toward the ICA, into the ECA.

Abstract: An intraluminal device implantable in a body lumen having an atheroma therein in the vicinity of a side-branch vessel includes a mesh-like tube of bio-compatible material formed with liquid-permeable window openings. The mesh-like tube has an expanded condition in which the tube diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the body lumen in which it is to be implanted, and the tube length is sufficient to cover the atheroma and the side-branch orifice, and to be anchored to the body lumen around the periphery of the atheroma, and a contracted condition wherein it is sufficiently flexible so as to be easily manipulatable through the body lumen to the site of the atheroma.

Abstract: A delivery appliance for delivering an expandable annular device, particularly an expandable intravascular device, to a desired location in a lumen, includes an annular array of supporting strips extending from a proximal end of the annular array to a distal end of the annular array, to define an annular supporting surface for the expandable annular device. Each of the supporting strips is laterally deformable to radially expand or radially contract the annular array and the annular supporting surface defined thereby. A connecting stem passes through the annular array of supporting strips and has a distal end coupled to the supporting strips at the distal end of the annular array for axial movement therewith, and a proximal end passing through the proximal end of the annular array of supporting strips for axial movement with respect thereto.

Abstract: An intraluminal device implantable in a blood vessel having an aneurysm therein in the vicinity of a perforating vessel and/or of a bifurcation leading to a branch vessel. The intraluminal device includes a mesh-like tube of bio-compatible material having an expanded condition in which the tube diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the blood vessel in which it is to be implanted, and the tube length is sufficient to straddle the aneurysm and to be anchored to the blood vessel on the opposite sides of the aneurysm. The mesh-like tube also has a contracted condition wherein it is sufficiently flexible so as to be easily manipulatable through the blood vessel to straddle the aneurysm.

Abstract: An implantable device for positioning in the vicinity of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) into the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the external carotid artery (ECA) comprises a deflecting element suitable to deflect the flow of embolic material flowing in the CCA toward the ICA, into the ECA.