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 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 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: In a method for filtering embolic material, a guide catheter (5) is advanced through a vasculature. A delivery catheter (4), a guidewire (2) and a collapsed filter are advanced together through the guide catheter (5) to a point distally of the distal end of the guide catheter (5). The guidewire (2) is then advanced across the lesion. During this advancement of the guidewire (2), the delivery catheter (4) and the collapsed filter remain substantially stationary. When the guidewire (2) has crossed the lesion, the delivery catheter (4) and the collapsed filter are then advanced across the lesion until the collapsed filter is distal of the lesion. The delivery catheter (4) is then withdrawn to facilitate deployment of the filter at the location distal of the lesion to ensure that any embolic material released during performance of an interventional procedure at the lesion will be captured and safely retained within the filter.

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 support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103 in circumferential apposition with the interior wall of the vasculature. The wires 116 may have a strain distributing linkage element in the form of a loop 120. The loop 120 acts as a diameter or circumference adjuster allowing an embolic protection device to adapt to different Bessel contours and sizes whilst maintaining apposition with the vessel wall. The strain relieving geometry of the loops enhances the compliance of the bend points without creating a weakened hinge point, thus ensuring that there is no discontinuity in the circumferential seal against the vessel wall.

Abstract: A support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103 in circumferential apposition with the interior wall of the vasculature. The wires 116 may have a strain distributing linkage element in the form of a loop 120. The loop 120 acts as a diameter or circumference adjuster allowing an embolic protection device to adapt to different Bessel contours and sizes whilst maintaining apposition with the vessel wall. The strain relieving geometry of the loops enhances the compliance of the bend points without creating a weakened hinge point, thus ensuring that there is no discontinuity in the circumferential seal against the vessel wall.

Abstract: A support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103 in circumferential apposition with the interior wall of the vasculature. The wires 116 may have a strain distributing linkage element in the form of a loop 120. The loop 120 acts as a diameter or circumference adjuster allowing an embolic protection device to adapt to different Bessel contours and sizes whilst maintaining apposition with the vessel wall. The strain relieving geometry of the loops enhances the compliance of the bend points without creating a weakened hinge point, thus ensuring that there is no discontinuity in the circumferential seal against the vessel wall.

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 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 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: 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 filter for deployment in a vasculature, the filter having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter, and the outlet end of the filter having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter. The filter is movable between a collapsed configuration for movement through a vasculature, and an outwardly extended configuration for deployment in a vasculature. The filter at least in the collapsed configuration was a guidewire lumen defined at least partially therethrough for passing the filter over a guidewire. The guidewire lumen is defined by a lumen-defining member which is spaced proximally of the distal end of the filter.

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 alone 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 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.