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: An embolic protection filter system comprises a collapsible embolic protection filter 62 having a collapsed configuration for delivery of the filter, and a deployed configuration and a temporary lumen defining member 60. The lumen defining member 60 is used for loading a filter-containing delivery catheter 63 onto a guidewire 65. After loading, the member 60 can be removed by pulling on a tab 61.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position.

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 retrieval catheter for retrieving a medical device deployed in a vasculature. The catheter comprises an outer catheter body and an inner coupling member having means for coupling to a medical device deployed in a vasculature. The catheter body is movable distally relative to the coupling member to retrieve a coupled medical device into the catheter body.

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: An embolic protection filter system comprises a collapsible embolic protection filter 62 having a collapsed configuration for delivery of the filter, and a deployed configuration and a temporary lumen defining member 60. The lumen defining member 60 is used for loading a filter-containing delivery catheter 63 onto a guidewire 65. After loading, the member 60 can be removed by pulling on a tab 61.

Abstract: A catheter (1) for transvascular deployment of a radially compressible medical device (16) has a tubular outer body (2) within which is slidably mounted an inner tubular sheath (3) which in turn houses a guide wire (4) which is axially movable through the sheath (3). The medical device (6) is mounted on the guide wire (4) and can be collapsed within the sheath (3) and body (2) for deployment. An outer distal end of the sheath (3) is provided with circumferentially spaced-apart axial slits (7) extending proximally from the distal end of the sheath (3) which sub-divide the distal end of the tubular side wall of the sheath (3) into a number of complementary tube sections (8) which are movable apart when the sheath (3) is pushed out of the distal end of the body (2) to engage or deploy the medical device (6).

Abstract: A catheter 1 suitable for advancement through a body passageway of a patient. The catheter 1 comprises a catheter body 4 which is flexible to provide the necessary trackability for the catheter 1 to advance through a body passageway, and two stainless steel reinforcement wires 5 extending along the catheter body 4 which provide the necessary pushability to advance the catheter 1 through the passageway. The reinforcements 5 are positioned diametrically opposed to one another by approximately 180 degrees on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the catheter 1, and the catheter body 4 is relatively soft and twistable. This configuration enables the entire catheter 1 to spontaneously twist during advancement so that the reinforcements 5 orientate themselves along a plane of neutral bending during advancement of the catheter 1. In this way, any resistance to the trackability of the catheter 1 due to the stiff reinforcements 5 is minimised.

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: A filter retrieval catheter for retrieving an embolic protection filter (50) from a vasculature. The catheter comprises a catheter shaft (2) having a rapid exchange guidewire opening (4) in a sidewall of the catheter shaft (2) to facilitate rapid exchange of the catheter over a guidewire (5). To prevent buckling or kinking of the catheter shaft (2) in the region of the guidewire opening (4) during retrieval of the embolic protection filer (50), the catheter comprises two elongate reinforcement elements (6, 3) extending along the catheter shaft (2). The first reinforcement element (6) comprises an elongate wire element extending from a proximal end located proximally of the guidewire opening (4) to a distal end located distally of the guidewire opening (4). The second reinforcement element (3) comprises an elongate tubular element extending from a proximal end located adjacent to and distally of the guidewire opening (4) to a distal end (9) located further distally of the guidewire opening (4).

Abstract: An embolic protection device (2000) comprises a collapsible filter body (102), a filter support (103) for supporting the filter body (102), and a tubular member (108) to which the filter support (103) is mounted. The filter support (103) comprises two round wires (116). Each wire (116) has a “M”-shaped curve (120) in the wire (116) which acts as a strain distributing linking element. In an extended configuration, the concave portion of each curve (120) faces longitudinally in the distal direction. In a collapsed configuration, the concave portion faces radially inwardly towards the tubular member (108) and wraps around part of the tubular member (108) to define a compact, low-profile filter support (103). Tethers (500, 501) extend between the curves (120) and a sleeve (201) slidably mounted to the tubular member (108). The distal end of each tether (500, 501) is fixedly attached to the sleeve (201) and to the filter body (102).

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 patent. 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 retrieval catheter (200) comprises a catheter shaft (2) and a retrieval catheter tip at the distal end of the shaft (2). The tip comprises an expandable tip body (201) and two reinforcement columns (6, 7) extending along the tip body (201) embedded within the tip body (201). The tip body (201) comprises a stiff, distal, radiopaque segment (203) and a soft, proximal segment (202). The distal segment (203) has a distal nose part (205) extending distally of the reinforcement columns (6, 7). Along the distal nose part (205), the wall thickness of the tip body (201) tapers distally from a smaller wall thickness to a larger wall thickness, and the internal diameter tapers distally from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter.

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.