Abstract: A guidewire for use with an embolic protection filter and a method of deploying an embolic protection filter are provided. The guidewire includes a core wire; a core wire tip disposed at a distal end of the core wire; and a hypo shaft, coaxially disposed around the core wire, wherein the hypo shaft is moveable proximally and distally along the core wire with the core wire tip limiting a distal movement of the hypo shaft.

Abstract: A collapsible filter element (40) for a transcatheter embolic protection device (1). The filter element (40) comprises a collapsible filter body (41) which is movable between a collapsed stored position for movement through a vascular system and an expanded position for extension across a blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element (40). A proximal inlet portion of the filter body (41) has two inlet openings (50) sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body (41), and a distal outlet portion of the filter body (41) has a plurality of small outlet openings (51) to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body (41). The filter body (41) is of an oriented polymeric material.

Abstract: A catheter (2) is used in medical applications, for example for the retrieval of a sample from a patient or the insertion or retrieval of medical devices such as filters, stents (3) to and from the patient. The catheter (2) includes an expandable tip (6) at a leading portion of a catheter tube portion (5). This expandable tip (6) can retrieve or deliver samples, medical devices, etc. (3), which are slightly larger than the dimensions of a main catheter tube (5) inserted into the patient. The expandable tip (6) can also include extension members (10) which provide axial support to the expandable tip (6) but which still allow expansion in the radial direction.

Abstract: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval.

Abstract: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval.

Abstract: A collapsible filter element (40) for a transcatheter embolic protection device (1). The filter element (40) comprises a collapsible filter body (41) which is movable between a collapsed stored position for movement through a vascular system and an expanded position for extension across a blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element (40). A proximal inlet portion of the filter body (41) has two inlet openings (50) sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body (41), and a distal outlet portion of the filter body (41) has a plurality of small outlet openings (51) to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body (41). The filter body (41) is of an oriented polymeric material.

Abstract: A transvascular embolic protection system for safely capturing and retaining embolic material released during an interventional procedure comprises an embolic protection device (1) and a delivery catheter (2) for delivery of the embolic protection device (1) to a desired location in the vascular system. A pack (4) is provided to safely store and prepare the embolic protection system for use. The pack (4) comprises a tray (5) with a channel (6) extending in a looped configuration around the tray (5) for receiving the delivery catheter (2). A loading device (7) is mounted in the tray (5) adjacent to the delivery catheter (2). The embolic protection device (1) is mounted in an expanded configuration in a well (90) in the tray (5). A pushing device (8) for loading the collapsible embolic protection device (1) into the delivery catheter (2) is mounted in the tray (5) adjacent to the embolic protection device (1).

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient The filter element comprises a collapsible filter body 2 and a filter support 3 for the filter body. The filter body has an inlet end 4 and an outlet end 5, the inlet end 4 of the filter body has one or more inlet openings 6 sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body 2 and the outlet end 5 of the filter body has a plurality of outlet openings 107 sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body 2. The filter support 3 is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system, and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in an expanded position The filter support 3 comprises a generally tubular support frame defined by at least one wire 16.

Abstract: A catheter for delivery or retrieval of a medical device such as a filter 10 or a stent 16 has an outer shaft 1 with a pod 2 providing a medical device reception space at the distal end. An inner shaft 3 includes a solid pod with a longitudinally extending surface pathway 4 for a guidewire 7. The inner shaft 3 defines an abutment surface 9 at its distal end for deployment of the device 10, 16. The outer shaft 1 has an exit port 8 at which the guidewire 7 exits the catheter in a rapid exchange manner.

Abstract: An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval.

Abstract: An assembly for loading a collapsible embolic protection filter 1 into a catheter 2, comprises a catheter 2 defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter 2 for receiving a collapsed embolic protection filter 1; and a separate removable pushing device 8 for delivering the embolic protection filter 1 into the reception space. The pushing device 8 comprises an elongate stem 71 with a proximal stop 72 for engagement with the filter 1. A separate loading device 7 to collapse the embolic protection filter 1 is also provided. The loading device 7 defines an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being configured for co-operative alignment with the reception space.

Abstract: A delivery catheter 200 for rapid exchange delivery of an embolic protection filter 301 over a guidewire 22, and rapid exchange deployment of the filter 301 at a desired site in a vasculature. The delivery catheter 200 comprises a catheter body 2, a restraining sheath 10 and an elongate pull wire 9. The catheter body 2 comprises a proximal hypotube portion 5 and a radially offset distal spring pusher 6. The restraining sheath 10 is movable in a sliding manner relative to the catheter body 2 upon retraction of the wire 9, and the distal end of the pusher 6 is engageable with the filter 301 in a reception space 11 upon retraction of the sheath 10 to deploy the filter 301 out of the reception space 11. The pusher 6 has a guidewire lumen 16 and a proximal guidewire opening 17 for passage of the guidewire 22 through the lumen 16 and out through the proximal guidewire opening 17 in a rapid exchange manner.

Abstract: A delivery and deployment system for a self-expanding stent comprises a proximal handle having a rotatable thumbscrew and a sliding component which is attached to a distal stent restraining sheath. A rigid open coil spring is provided for converting rotation of the thumbscrew into translation of the sliding component). The spring is attached to the thumbscrew. The sliding component is located between adjacent coils of the spring. Rotation of the thumbscrew twists the spring and slowly slides the sliding component and hence the distal sheath in the proximal direction to uncover the stent, removing the constraint on the stent which is accurately deployed at the site of interest. The handle has a guide elongate channel which constrains the sliding component so that it cannot move in a rotational direction.

Abstract: A distal access embolic protection system and methods of using the same for the capture and removal of embolic material from a blood vessel during an interventional procedure are provided. A distal access embolic protection system is inserted through the wall of the blood vessel at a position distal to a stenosis and a distal access filter device is deployed at the point of insertion. After the filter is deployed and is filtering blood that is flowing across the treatment site, an interventional procedure can be performed at the treatment site. After the procedure, the filter device can be collapsed and removed from the blood vessel. A further method is provided wherein a second embolic protection system including a second filter is advanced to the treatment site using a transcatheter technique after the distal access filter has been deployed. A distal access embolic protection system is also provided.

Abstract: A device and method for filtering emboli from blood has been formed. The device includes an expandable filter capable of being delivered and retrieved from a treatment site in a low-profile, collapsed position without the use of a delivery catheter or a retrieval catheter.

Abstract: A transvascular embolic protection system for safely capturing and retaining embolic material released during an interventional procedure comprises an embolic protection device (1) and a delivery catheter (2) for delivery of the embolic protection device (1) to a desired location in the vascular system. A pack (4) is provided to safely store and prepare the embolic protection system for use. The pack (4) comprises a tray (5) with a channel (6) extending in a looped configuration around the tray (5) for receiving the delivery catheter (2). A loading device (7) is mounted in the tray (5) adjacent to the delivery catheter (2). The embolic protection device (1) is mounted in an expanded configuration in a well (90) in the tray (5). A pushing device (8) for loading the collapsible embolic protection device (1) into the delivery catheter (2) is mounted in the tray (5) adjacent to the embolic protection device (1).

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing emboli formation during medical procedures. In accordance with the present invention a first medical device is passed through a stenosed area and activated to block fluid flow through the lumen, a second medical device including a filter is passed through the stenosed area and deployed. The first medical device is then deactivated to restore fluid flow through the lumen.

Abstract: A device and method for liberating plaque from a lumen after a medical procedure has been formed. The device includes a catheter having a first expandable member and a second expandable member.

Abstract: An embolic protection device has a filter assembly having a collar and a collapsible filter element mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire. The filter element has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end and a filter support frame. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic materiel to enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow the passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body.

Abstract: An embolic protection system comprises an embolic protection filter 1 having a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The filter 1 is housed in the collapsed configuration in a reception space of a delivery catheter 20. The delivery catheter 20 containing the filter 1 is housed in a sealed sterile pouch 35. The filter 1 may be coated with a non-thrombogenic coating and an adhesion preventer 9 such as a silicon gel is used to substantially prevent adhesion of adjacent folds of the filter 1 when the filter is in the collapsed configuration in the delivery catheter 20.