Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut. One embodiment utilizes a secondary balloon and structure to support administration of a medication to the obstruction site.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An angioplasty device and particle trap for use in removal of a particle from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure is disclosed. One embodiment includes a catheter for insertion into a vessel-like structure, the catheter having a catheter wall and a movable member, a trap operably connected to the catheter wall and to the movable member, wherein relative motion between the catheter wall and the movable member actuates the trap. In one embodiment, the expanded trap is formed from struts in a spiral-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a waist to creates a pinch-point to trap particles. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a cocoon-like structure to further trap particles. In one embodiment, the angioplasty device includes a handle to actuate the trap from a contracted position to an expanded position and return to a contracted position. The handle provides rotational or longitudinal or both types of movement to actuate the trap.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An angioplasty device and particle trap for use in removal of a particle from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure is disclosed. One embodiment includes a catheter for insertion into a vessel-like structure, the catheter having a catheter wall and a movable member, a trap operably connected to the catheter wall and to the movable member, wherein relative motion between the catheter wall and the movable member actuates the trap. In one embodiment, the expanded trap is formed from struts in a spiral-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a waist to creates a pinch-point to trap particles. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a cocoon-like structure to further trap particles. In one embodiment, the angioplasty device includes a handle to actuate the trap from a contracted position to an expanded position and return to a contracted position. The handle provides rotational or longitudinal or both types of movement to actuate the trap.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An angioplasty device and particle trap for use in removal of a particle from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure is disclosed. One embodiment includes a catheter for insertion into a vessel-like structure, the catheter having a catheter wall and a movable member, a trap operably connected to the catheter wall and to the movable member, wherein relative motion between the catheter wall and the movable member actuates the trap. In one embodiment, the expanded trap is formed from struts in a spiral-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a waist to creates a pinch-point to trap particles. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a cocoon-like structure to further trap particles. In one embodiment, the angioplasty device includes a handle to actuate the trap from a contracted position to an expanded position and return to a contracted position. The handle provides rotational or longitudinal or both types of movement to actuate the trap.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An angioplasty device and particle trap for use in removal of a particle from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure is disclosed. One embodiment includes a catheter for insertion into a vessel-like structure, the catheter having a catheter wall and a movable member, a trap operably connected to the catheter wall and to the movable member, wherein relative motion between the catheter wall and the movable member actuates the trap. In one embodiment, the expanded trap is formed from struts in a spiral-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a waist to creates a pinch-point to trap particles. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a cocoon-like structure to further trap particles. In one embodiment, the angioplasty device includes a handle to actuate the trap from a contracted position to an expanded position and return to a contracted position. The handle provides rotational or longitudinal or both types of movement to actuate the trap.

Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: An angioplasty device and particle trap for use in medical, veterinary, non-medical or industrial applications where removal of an obstruction from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure could produce particles, which, if allowed to remain in the vessel, could cause undesirable complications and results. One angioplasty device embodiment comprises a catheter for insertion into a vessel-like structure and a trap operably connected to the catheter and to a rotatable member. Rotating the rotatable member relative to the catheter actuates the trap. One particle trap embodiment comprises a rotatable member that actuates a flexible strut between an arcuately expanded position and a helically twisted position, and a membrane operably connected to the flexible strut.

Abstract: A fluid pump with a rotary impeller is disclosed which comprises an electromagnetically-driven, bearing-free, seal-free rotary impeller levitated by localized opposed, magnetic forces and by fluid forces, or by localized opposed magnetic forces only. Levitation by localized opposed magnetic forces alone or by a combination of magnetic and fluid forces of an impeller driven by electromagnetic forces eliminates the need for bearings and seals in the driving mechanism. This avoids the heat build-up and leakage associated with other pumping mechanisms, which can be of importance in pumping of physiological fluids such as blood. The levitating forces of the present invention are applied both axially and radially with respect to the impeller. The magnetic forces are provided by a combination of diamagnets or solenoids, opposed by permanent magnets, solenoids or electromagnets.

Abstract: A fluid pump with rotary impeller is disclosed which comprises an electromagnetically-driven, bearing-free, seal-free rotary impeller levitated by localized opposed, repulsive, permanent magnetic forces and by fluid forces, or by localized opposed repulsive magnetic forces only. Levitation by localized opposed magnetic or magnetic and fluid forces of an impeller driven by electromagnetic forces eliminates the need for bearings and seals in the driving mechanism. This avoids the heat build-up and leakage associated with other pumping mechanisms, which can be of importance in pumping of physiological fluids such as blood. The levitating forces of the present invention are applied repulsively both axially and radially with respect to the impeller and are auto-adjusting, such that any attempted displacement of the impeller will automatically incur a corrective change in levitating forces.

Abstract: A fluid pump with rotary impeller is disclosed which comprises an electromagnetically driven rotary impeller levitated by localized opposed fluid forces. Levitation by localized opposed fluid forces of an impeller driven by electromagnetic forces eliminates the need for bearings and seals in the driving mechanism. This avoids the heat build-up and leakage associated with other pumping mechanisms, which can be of importance for pumping of physiological fluids such as blood. The levitating fluid forces of the present invention are auto-adjusting, such that any attempted displacement of the impeller will automatically incur a corrective change in levitating fluid forces. However, fluid force sensors and regulators could be incorporated into the present invention if desired. The invention should be of use in numerous medical and non-medical applications where the benefits of impeller levitation by localized fluid forces are apparent.

Abstract: A rotary pump mechanism is disclosed which comprises a coupling section that couples an impeller and drives the coupling section and, in turn, the impeller. The coupling section incorporates most of the components of the pump that wear out and are expensive. As a result, the impeller can be disposed of without disposing of other components. The coupling section can also be changed for continuous operation of a single impeller. Although the preferred application of the invention is in the area of pumping blood and other biological fluids, the disclosed invention has utility in any application where it is desirable to turn an "impeller-like" element.

Abstract: A rotary pump mechanism is disclosed which comprises a coupling section that couples an impeller and means for driving said coupling section and, in turn, said impeller. The coupling section incorporates most of the components of the pump that wear out and are expensive. As a result, the impeller can be disposed of without disposing of other components. The coupling section can also be changed for continuous operation of a single impeller. Although the preferred application of the invention is in the area of pumping blood and other biological fluids, the disclosed invention has utility in any application where it is desirable to turn an "impeller-like" element.

Abstract: An angioplasty device is disclosed for treatment of, or for compression and/or removal of an obstruction from, a vessel or vessel-like structure in medical, non-medical and industrial applications. The device incorporates a trap/barrier for trapping and removing particles that break away from the treatment site with traditional angioplasty devices including but not limited to balloons, cutting rotors, fiber meshes, lasers and the like. The device also provides means for removing the trapped particles from the treated vessel. An angioplasty device is also enclosed that incorporates only the trap/barrier and particles removal elements of the previously described device.A method for treatment of, or for removal or compression of an obstruction in, a vessel or vessel-like structure is disclosed that utilizes an angioplasty device of the instant invention.