Abstract: A guide wire introduction device for positioning at least one guide wire around a heart valve. The device includes a first catheter provided with a distal deflection system, a second catheter inserted inside the first catheter, at least one lumen capable of causing a guide wire to slide therein and provided with a distal deflection system for deflecting the end thereof through an angle greater than 90°, and a third catheter inserted inside the first catheter. The third catheter has a guide wire capturing device therein and is provided with a distal deflection system.

Abstract: A guide wire introduction device for positioning at least one guide wire around a heart valve. The device includes a first catheter provided with a distal deflection system, a second catheter inserted inside the first catheter, at least one lumen capable of causing a guide wire to slide therein and provided with a distal deflection system for deflecting the end thereof through an angle greater than 90°, and a third catheter inserted inside the first catheter. The third catheter has a guide wire capturing device therein and is provided with a distal deflection system.

Abstract: A device for implanting a heart prosthesis including a central body, a containment portion having one or more sub-components, and a release device for the central body capable of being inserted into a catheter. A device for assisting the connection operation between the central body and the sub-components of the containment portion includes an assembly of catheters, of which there are at least two catheters for each sub-component of the containment portion, the catheters being joined to each other over a portion thereof and having at least one free end for each catheter.

Abstract: A guide wire introduction device for positioning at least one guide wire around a heart valve. The device includes a first catheter provided with a distal deflection system, a second catheter inserted inside the first catheter, at least one lumen capable of causing a guide wire to slide therein and provided with a distal deflection system for deflecting the end thereof through an angle greater than 90°, and a third catheter inserted inside the first catheter. The third catheter has a guide wire capturing device therein is provided with a distal deflection system.

Abstract: A device for implanting a heart prosthesis including a central body, a containment portion having one or more sub-components, and a release device for the central body capable of being inserted into a catheter. A device for assisting the connection operation between the central body and the sub-components of the containment portion includes an assembly of catheters, of which there are at least two catheters for each sub-component of the containment portion, the catheters being joined to each other over a portion thereof and having at least one free end for each catheter.

Abstract: Suture anchoring devices include retention features that will hold the anchoring devices in place and resist displacement when tension is applied to an attached suture in a direction opposite direction of placement. The anchors may be deployed by a needle shaft in a placement direction (which may be straight, curved, or a combination of both), and the needle shaft may have a sharpened or a blunt tip depending on the nature of the anchor. The anchors will find use when a distal end of the suture attached to the anchor is to be left in place in solid tissue so that it cannot be tied off.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement. The outer member may include an anti rotation member adapted to engage with a longitudinal slot formed on the inner member so as to maintain rotational alignment between inner member and outer member. The inner member can be made with a proximal portion made from a tubing such as hypotubing or a coil tubing. The inner member also may be made with a proximal portion made with a support mandrel. A coil tubing can be utilized to form the guide wire receiving member which is attached to the inner member.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region to capture any embolic material which may be created and released into the bloodstream during the procedure. The device includes a filtering assembly having a self-expanding strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto. In one embodiment, the filtering assembly is attached to the distal end of a guide wire and is deployed within the patient's vasculature as the guide wire is manipulated into the area of treatment. A restraining sheath placed over the filtering assembly in a coaxial arrangement maintains the filtering assembly in its collapsed position until it is ready to be deployed by the physician. Thereafter, the sheath can be retracted to expose the filtering assembly which will then self-expand within the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in a blood vessel when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region to capture any embolic material which may be created and released into the bloodstream during the procedure. The device includes a filtering assembly having a self-expanding strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto. In one embodiment, the filtering assembly is attached to the distal end of a guidewire and is deployed within the patient's vasculature as the guidewire is manipulated into the area of treatment. A restraining sheath placed over the filtering assembly in a coaxial arrangement maintains the filtering assembly in its collapsed position until it is ready to be deployed by the physician. Thereafter, the sheath can be retracted to expose the filtering assembly which will then self-expand within the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The lengths and positioning of the first and second control arms of each half frame can be varied to create an expandable frame which conforms to the size and shape of the body vessel in which the filtering device is deployed. Additionally, the radius of the partial loops, along with the length of the arc of the partial loops, can be varied on each of the frames to create a composite filtering assembly that can easily adapt to the size and shape of the body vessel.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The expandable frame and filtering element can be mounted on a filter support structure, such as a coiled wire, and mounted on a guide wire. The expandable frames includes an articulation region which helps to distribute the strain which can be developed when the frame moves between an expanded and deployed position. The expandable frame may include further strain distributing bends which help distribute strain and increase the bendability of the frame.

Abstract: An embolic protection recovery catheter assembly configured for retrieval of medical devices from vasculature. The catheter includes a distal end portion adapted for effectively retrieving devices. In one aspect, the distal end portion is collapsible and in another aspect it is expandable. In other aspects, the catheter includes sub-structure supporting the distal tip or a tear-away tip configured to aid in the recovery process.

Abstract: An expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as an artery, is disclosed. The stent consists of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting links placed so that the stent is flexible in the longitudinal direction. The link pattern is optimized to reduce strain on the links and enhance longitudinal flexibility and security of the stent. The stent includes a distal end ring and a proximal end ring that have a length that is shorter than the length of the body rings.

Abstract: A system for enabling the insertion and removal of an embolic protection device, for capturing and retaining embolic debris which can be created during the performance of a therapeutic interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a blood vessel. The system, in an embodiment thereof, is capable of enabling at least one operator to control the delivery and removal of an embolic protection device to a position in a patient's vasculature distal to an interventional procedure site, to enable the exchange of the delivery and recovery system. The system, in another embodiment thereof, includes a delivery system and a recovery system which are capable of enabling the delivery and recovery of an embolic protection device so as to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility through the patient's vasculature.

Abstract: An embolic filtering device for use in a bifurcated vessel includes delivery device having a first guide wire and a second guide wire. The second guide wire diverges from the distal-end region of the first guide wire. The filter device also includes a filter support having a first deployment member and a second deployment member. These deployment members can be formed as a first loop and a second loop. A bifurcated filter element is coupled to the filter support. The distal-end region of the first guide wire extends through a first leg of the filter element and the second guide wire extends through a second leg of the filter element. During use, the first leg of the filter element is deployed within a first branch of the bifurcated vessel and the second leg of the filter element is deployed within a second branch of the bifurcated vessel.

Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided having an inner member and an outer member extending along a longitudinal axis, the inner member and the outer member having a coaxial configuration and dimensioned for relative axial movement. The outer member may include an anti rotation member adapted to engage with a longitudinal slot formed on the inner member so as to maintain rotational alignment between inner member and outer member. The inner member can be made with a proximal portion made from a tubing such as hypotubing or a coil tubing. The inner member also may be made with a proximal portion made with a support mandrel. A coil tubing can be utilized to form the guide wire receiving member which is attached to the inner member.

Abstract: A system for enabling the insertion and removal of an embolic protection device, for capturing and retaining embolic debris which may be created during the performance of a therapeutic interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a blood vessel. The system, in a version of an embodiment thereof, enables the device to expand upon deployment thereof so as to seal off the inner surface of a blood vessel, to inhibit the forming of a gap therein, for inhibiting embolic material from passing therethrough. The system, in another version of the embodiment thereof, enables the device to navigate through confined spaces in tortuous anatomy.