Abstract: A sheath catheter used to compress and/or retrieve a filter from a body lumen. The sheath catheter includes an elongate proximal shaft and a distal recovery sheath. The proximal shaft includes a central lumen that accommodates a shaft portion of a solid core wire to provide the catheter with better pushability. The solid core wire further includes a coiled portion that extends within the recovery sheath from a distal end of the proximal shaft. The coiled portion of the core wire provides a transition in flexibility from the stiffer proximal shaft to the more flexible recovery sheath. The recovery sheath further includes a sheath lumen that is sized to receive the filter therein.

Abstract: A filtering device having an embolic filter for collecting debris in a body lumen during an intravascular procedure includes a filter proximal neck portion attached to a proximal shaft and a filter distal neck portion attached to a distal support shaft. The proximal shaft is slidably disposed about a core wire and the distal support shaft is attached to the core wire. Relative longitudinal movement between the proximal shaft and the core wire moves the filter ends closer together to expand the filter or moves the filter ends farther apart to collapse the filter. The proximal and distal neck portions comprise wires of the braided filter with interstices there between. A radiopaque polymer marker band is disposed about the proximal neck portion of the filter and is melt bonded to the proximal shaft through the interstices between the wires, thereby securing the proximal neck portion.

Abstract: The present invention is an intraluminal filtering device for collecting debris in a body lumen. The filter includes a proximal filter portion for receiving debris attached to a distal filter portion for collecting debris. The proximal filter portion includes a plurality of non-overlapping components that are joined together to form openings that allow the passage of embolic debris into an interior of the filter. The proximal filter portion is preferably cylindrically shaped in a compressed state and substantially tapered shaped in an uncompressed state. The distal filter portion is formed by braiding wires and is joined at a proximal end to the proximal filter portion, such as by spot welding or soldering. The filtering device is self-expanding and is adaptable to be positioned and expanded or collapsed by a push-pull mechanism or sheath assembly.

Abstract: A sheath catheter used to compress and/or retrieve a filter from a body lumen. The sheath catheter includes an elongate proximal shaft and a distal recovery sheath. The proximal shaft includes a central lumen that accommodates a shaft portion of a solid core wire to provide the catheter with better pushability. The solid core wire further includes a coiled portion that extends within the recovery sheath from a distal end of the proximal shaft. The coiled portion of the core wire provides a transition in flexibility from the stiffer proximal shaft to the more flexible recovery sheath. The recovery sheath further includes a sheath lumen that is sized to receive the filter therein.