Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first elongate member having a first section and a second section; a second elongate member having a first section and a second section; a first rounded frame formed by the first sections; a second rounded frame formed by the second sections; and a material removal structure supported by the first rounded frame. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter, having a first elongate member having a first spiral section and a second spiral section; a second elongate member having a first spiral section and a second spiral section; and a material capture structure extending between the first spiral sections.

Abstract: An endoluminal stent graft includes a healing-promoting material to enhance the “healing” of the proximal and/or distal neck(s) of the endoluminal stent graft and the vessel wall; the risk of migration and the occurrence of Type 1 endoleaks is reduced. The healing-promoting material is located within a proximal anchor region located near the proximal neck opening of the endoluminal stent graft and optionally within one or more distal anchor regions located near one or more distal neck openings of the endoluminal stent graft.

Abstract: An aneurysmal sac arterial wall electrostimulation system (11) comprises an array of electrical leads (4 and 5) placeable in contact with a portion of the arterial wall (12) to be electrostimulated and a source (3) of electrostimulation attached to the array of electrical leads. The source provides periodic electrostimulus to at least one of the array of leads in accordance with a treatment program and at least one of the array of leads senses the contraction condition of the aneurysmal sac arterial wall (10) which is provided as a feedback loop input signal to the treatment program. Repeated electrostimulation of a vascular passage using the system (11) provides increased muscle tone or pseudo permanent contraction of such vascular passage.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a second end, a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form an open loop between the first end and the second end of the first spiral support member; and a filtering structure attached to the open loop. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first spiral support member having a first end and a-second end; a second spiral support member positioned adjacent the first spiral support member to form a loop between the first end and the second end; a material covering a portion of the first and the second spiral support members; and a structure attached to the loop.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of filtering blood flow in a lumen by positioning an open loop filter support structure within a lumen; maintaining a position of the open loop filter support structure within the lumen using radial force generated by the open loop filter support structure; and filtering blood flow in the lumen using a filter supported by the open loop filter support structure. In one aspect, there is also applying radial force generated by the open loop filter support structure along the axial dimension of the lumen.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of positioning a filter within a lumen by positioning a filter within a lumen by exerting a radial force generated by a support structure against the lumen while suspending a material capture structure between opposing members of the support structure; and self adjusting the length of the filter support structure along the lumen wall in response to a change in the size of the lumen. In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of providing protection during a procedure performed in the vasculature by placing an open loop device within a vessel down stream of a location in the vasculature; performing a procedure to treat the vasculature in proximity to the location; and capturing debris released during the procedure in a material capture structure suspended across the vessel and supported by the open loop device.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a coated endoluminal filter having a support structure; a filtering structure attached to the support structure; a coating over at least a portion of support structure. In another alternative embodiment, there is provided an endoluminal filter having a support structure; and a filtering structure attached to the support structure; wherein, the support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane that is orthogonal to the flow direction of the filter and contains a crossover point between two structural elements of the support structure. In another alternative embodiment, there is provided an endoluminal filter, having a support structure; and a filtering structure attached to the support structure; wherein, the support structure is generally symmetrical about a plane that is parallel to the flow direction of the filter and contains both ends of the support structure.

Abstract: In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a filter having a first structural member extending along and clockwise about an axis, a second structural member extending along and counter clockwise about the axis and a material capture structure extending between the first and the second structural members and across the axis. In one aspect, the structural members may be joined to form two ends. In yet another aspect, there is provided a filter having a first spiral shaped support member having an end; a second support member positioned to cross the first spiral support member and form a loop between the end and the place where the second support member crosses the first spiral support member; and a material capture structure extending across and secured to the loop.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first support member having a first end and a second end; a second support member joined to the first support member at the first end and positioned adjacent the first support member to form a support frame; a material capture structure within the support frame; and a retrieval feature on the first end and on the second end. In one aspect, the first support member or the second support member has a spiral shape. In yet another alternative embodiment, there is provided a device having a first elongate spiral support element having a first end and a second end; a second elongate spiral support element attached to the first end and positioned opposite of a portion of the first elongate spiral support element between the first end and the second end; a filter attached to the second elongate spiral support element and the portion of the first elongate spiral support element; and a retrieval feature attached to the first end.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of deploying within a lumen a filter having a material capture structure and a support structure by positioning the filter within the wall of a lumen; and deploying the filter into contact with the lumen by placing the material capture structure across the lumen flow path as one support structure element extends in a clockwise manner along the lumen wall and another support structure element extends in a counter clockwise manner along the lumen wall.

Abstract: An aneurysmal sac arterial wall electrostimulation system (11) comprises an array of electrical leads (4 and 5) placeable in contact with a portion of the arterial wall (12) to be electrostimulated and a source (3) of electrostimulation attached to the array of electrical leads. The source provides periodic electrostimulus to at least one of the array of leads in accordance with a treatment program and at least one of the array of leads senses the contraction condition of the aneurysmal sac arterial wall (10) which is provided as a feedback loop input signal to the treatment program. Repeated electrostimulation of a vascular passage using the system (11) provides increased muscle tone or pseudo permanent contraction of such vascular passage.

Abstract: The methods and devices for delivering therapeutic agents to abdominal aortic or thoracic aortic aneurysms provide a coated stent graft and methods of using the same. The coated stent graft system 100 comprises a support 20 and graft material 40 attached to the support 20, with a coating 30, 35 including a therapeutic agent disposed on the support 20 and/or the graft material 40. The coated stent graft system 600 can also include a stent graft portion 605 with an agent delivery portion 655 disposed about the stent graft portion 605 and including a therapeutic agent. A stent graft drug delivery system can include an endovascular catheter 710 having a coated region 730 with a therapeutic agent, and a stent graft 705 disposed on the endovascular catheter 710. The endovascular catheter 710 can have a balloon for releasing the therapeutic agent. The therapeutic agent can be injected by endovascular catheter on carrier particles.

Abstract: A method of delivering a stent-graft includes mounting the stent-graft on a pushrod; radially constraining the stent-graft within a sheath; securing a crown portion of the stent-graft to the pushrod with a retainer structure of a stent-graft retainment system; retracting the sheath to expose the crown portion of the stent-graft; and further retracting the sheath to cause the retainer structure to release the crown portion from the pushrod thus deploying the stent-graft. The retainer structure releases the stent-graft automatically as a result of the retraction of the sheath.