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 minimized.

Abstract: A collapsible filter element for a transcatheter embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter body 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. A proximal inlet portion of the filter body has one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body and a distal outlet portion of the filter body has a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body. The filter body is at least partially of laminate construction comprising a membrane coated with a coating which is biocompatible, the thickness of the coating being from 4% to 40% of the thickness of the membrane. The coating may be of hydrophilic material.

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 medical guidewire (1) suitable for advancement through a vasculature comprises a core element (2), a collar element (3), a distal outer element (4), a proximal outer element (5), and a distal end cap (6). The collar element (3) is fixedly attached to the core element (2) proximally of the distal end of the guidewire (1), and extends radially outwardly from the core element (2). The collar element (3) acts as a stop to limit distal movement of a medical device over the guidewire (1).

Abstract: A medical guidewire (1) suitable for advancement through a vasculature comprises a core element (2) extending along the length of the guidewire (1), a first coil (6), and a distal end cap (7). The core element (2) comprises a proximal portion (3), an intermediate portion (4), and a distal portion (5). The distal portion (5) is plastically deformable to facilitate steering of the guidewire (1). The first coil (6) is located radially outwardly of the core element (2). The first coil (6) extends along the distal portion (5) and part of the intermediate portion (4).

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 medical guidewire assembly comprises a guidewire having a flexible tip. A medical device such as a collaptible filter for use as an embolic protection device is mounted on the guidewire. The filter is advanced through a body lumen with the guidewire tip extending distally. At a first location the filter is advanced relative to the tip to a location which is distally advanced from the first location. Placement of the filter in an optimal distal location is thereby achieved.

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 medical guidewire assembly comprises a guidewire having a flexible tip. A medical device such as a collapsible filter for use as an embolic protection device is mounted on the guidewire. The filter is advanced through a body lumen with the guidewire tip extending distally. At a first location the filter is advanced relative to the tip to a location which is distally advanced from the first location. Placement of the filter in an optimal distal location is thereby achieved.

Abstract: A collapsible filter element for a transcatheter embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter body 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. A proximal inlet portion of the filter body has one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body and a distal outlet portion of the filter body has a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body. The filter body is at least partially of laminate construction comprising a membrane coated with a coating which is biocompatible, the thickness of the coating being from 4% to 40% of the thickness of the membrane. The coating may be of hydrophilic material.

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: 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 (105) for a transcatheter embolic protection device (100) comprises a collapsible filter body (30) 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 (105). A proximal inlet portion of the filter body (30) has one or more inlet openings (117) sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body (30) and a distal outlet portion of the filter body (30) has a plurality of outlet openings (119) sized to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body (30). The filter body (30) is at least partially of laminate construction comprising a membrane (31) coated with a coating (32, 33) which is biocompatible, the thickness of the coating (32, 33) being from 4% to 40% of the thickness of the membrane (31).

Abstract: A medical catheter for the transvascular deployment of a collapsible medical device such as a filter has a tubular body formed by an inner tubular core surrounded by an outer thin-walled tube which is fixed to the core. The outer thin-walled tube extends outwardly beyond a distal end of the core to form a fixed thin-walled medical device embracing pod. The filter is carried on a guidewire which is slidably engagable within a central lumen of the core and the filter can be collapsed against the guidewire for loading within the pod. With the filter thus loaded within the pod the distal end of the catheter can be maneuvered through a patient's vascular system to a desired deployment site where the filter is discharged from the pod allowing the filter to expand within the blood vessel for use filtering blood flowing through the blood vessel.

Abstract: An embolic protection system 1 comprises a guidewire 99 for advancing through a vasculature, the guidewire 99 having a distal end and a proximal end; an embolic protection filter 1 having a filter body 41 with a distal end and a proximal end, the filter body 41 providing for a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The embolic protection filter body 41 has a guidewire path for slidably receiving the guidewire 99 to permit movement of the filter 1 relative to the guidewire 99 when the filter 1 is in the collapsed configuration and the expanded deployed configuration. A delivery catheter 2 is advanceable over the guidewire 99 for delivery of the embolic protection filter 1; the delivery catheter 2 having a proximal end and a distal end. The filter 1 is deployed from the distal end of the delivery catheter 2 into the expanded deployed configuration.

Abstract: An embolic protection system 1 comprises a guidewire 99 for advancing through a vasculature, the guidewire 99 having a distal end and a proximal end; an embolic protection filter 1 having a filter body 41 with a distal end and a proximal end, the filter body 41 providing for a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The embolic protection filter body 41 has a guidewire path for slidably receiving the guidewire 99 to permit movement of the filter 1 relative to the guidewire 99 when the filter 1 is in the collapsed configuration and the expanded deployed configuration. A delivery catheter 2 is advanceable over the guidewire 99 for delivery of the embolic protection filter 1; the delivery catheter 2 having a proximal end and a distal end. The filter 1 is deployed from the distal end of the delivery catheter 2 into the expanded deployed configuration.

Abstract: A retrieval catheter 1 comprises a distal tubular sheath 2 with a reception space 5 into which an embolic protection filter 10 may be retrieved. An elongate connector 10 extends proximally from the sheath 2 to allow a clinician to control movement of the sheath 12. The sheath 2 is backloaded over a procedural catheter such as a balloon catheter 20, for example for post dilatation of a stent 55. The procedure is more efficient and procedure time is reduced because a catheter system is provided which allows a procedural step to be carried out and a filter 50 to be retrieved.

Abstract: A collapsible filter element (105) for a transcatheter embolic protection device (100) comprises a collapsible filter body (30) 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 (105). A proximal inlet portion of the filter body (30) has one or more inlet openings (117) sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body (30) and a distal outlet portion of the filter body (30) has a plurality of outlet openings (119) sized to allow through-passage of blood, but to retain embolic material within the filter body (30). The filter body (30) is at least partially of laminate construction comprising a membrane (31) coated with a coating (32, 33) which is biocompatible, the thickness of the coating (32, 33) being from 4% to 40% of the thickness of the membrane (31).

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.