Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacture includes a helical wire coil body having a proximal body end portion and a distal body end portion that extend along a longitudinal coil axis. The apparatus also includes a non-extensible, core wire assembly configured to inhibit longitudinal elongation of the helical wire coil body along the longitudinal coil axis. The core wire assembly has a first core wire and a second core wire respectively extending from the proximal body end portion toward the distal body end portion. The second core wire proximally terminates relative to the first core wire such that the distal body end portion is more flexible than the proximal body end portion. The first and second core wires transversely overlap to provide a collective column strength to the helical wire coil body along the longitudinal coil axis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a dilation catheter and a guide catheter. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator that is configured to transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The guide catheter includes a hollow shaft and a malleable portion. The hollow shaft and the malleable portion together define a lumen in which the dilation catheter is slidably disposed. The malleable portion is configured to selectively bend relative to the hollow shaft from a first angular configuration to a second angular configuration. The malleable portion is configured to be coaxial with the longitudinal axis in the first angular configuration. The malleable portion is configured to define an angle that is oblique or perpendicular with the longitudinal axis in the second angular configuration. The malleable portion rigid enough to maintain a selected bend angle relative to the hollow shaft while inserted within a nasal cavity.

Abstract: A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Abstract: A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Abstract: A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Abstract: A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Abstract: A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes an elongated introducer navigable through body vessels of a human subject and a pusher component for incorporation within the introducer. The pusher component includes a tubular portion with a slotted section. A radiopaque marker is secured to at least a portion of the slotted section such that an outer surface of the radiopaque marker is substantially flush with an outer surface of the tubular portion immediately proximal and/or immediately distal the radiopaque marker. According to a method of manufacturing such a component, the slotted section is formed by a laser cutting operation and a pre-assembly radiopaque marker member is crimped onto the slotted section.

Abstract: An implantable medical device delivery system is provided with a carrier member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a frangible portion intermediate the proximal and distal portions. The frangible portion includes at least one notch providing a break hinge. A locking member is fixedly secured to the proximal portion of the carrier member and is releasably connected to an implantable medical device at or adjacent to the distal portion of the carrier member. In use, the implantable medical device is positioned generally adjacent to a target location of a body vessel and the frangible portion is broken about the break hinge. The proximal portion of the carrier member is then moved away from the distal portion to retract the locking member, thereby deploying the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes an elongated introducer navigable through body vessels of a human subject and a pusher component for incorporation within the introducer. The pusher component includes a tubular portion with a spiral ribbon. A radiopaque marker is secured to at least a portion of the spiral ribbon such that an outer surface of the radiopaque marker is substantially flush with an outer surface of the tubular portion immediately proximal and/or immediately distal the radiopaque marker. According to a method of manufacturing such a component, the spiral ribbon is formed by a spiral cutting operation and a pre-assembly radiopaque marker member is crimped onto the spiral ribbon. According to another method of manufacturing such a component, the spiral ribbon is formed by winding a filament and a pre-assembly radiopaque marker member is crimped onto the spiral ribbon.

Abstract: Stents implantable within a body vessel include a strut with a receiving surface. The receiving surface has two openings passing through this surface. A radiopaque marker has a first prong received at least in part by one of the openings and a second prong received at least in part by the other opening. Approaches and methods are provided for enhancing engagement of the marker to the strut to prevent unintentional removal or dissociation of the marker from the strut.

Abstract: An implantable medical device detachment system is provided with a carrier member having a compressible portion at a distal end thereof. The compressible portion is moved to a compressed condition to allow an engagement member of the system to releasably engage an implantable device, such as an embolic coil. The carrier member and associated implantable device are fed through a body vessel to a target location, where the device is disengaged from the engagement member. The compressible portion then moves from the compressed condition to an elongated condition to completely separate the implantable device from the engagement member.

Abstract: A component for use as or incorporation within a medical instrument navigable through body vessels of a human subject is provided. The component includes a tubular portion with an interrupted spiral defined by alternating cut and uncut sections. The interrupted spiral has a rigidity between that of a continuous cut spiral and an uncut tube. The rigidity of the interrupted spiral along its length may be varied by changing its pitch or the number of bridge members or the length of each bridge member. According to a method of manufacturing such a component, a tubular member and a cutting member are provided. At least one of the tubular member and the cutting member is moved though an angle defining a helical path with respect to the other, while the cutting member is alternated between cutting and not cutting the tubular member to form an interrupted spiral.

Abstract: A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Abstract: An interventional medical device system operable while within a body vessel is provided with a generally hollow tubular proximal portion, distal portion, and intermediate portion. The proximal portion and at least part of the distal portion remains outside of the body in use, with the remainder of the distal portion positioned within the body. The intermediate portion includes a spiral ribbon having adjacent turns, with at least one frangible bridge member between two adjacent turns. The proximal and distal portions are movable away from each other by elongating the spiral ribbon and, eventually, breaking the frangible bridge member. According to a method of using such a system to deploy an implantable medical device, such as an embolic coil, an actuation member is moved proximally with the proximal portion to disengage a bond or joint between the actuation member and the implantable medical device.