Abstract: An introducer assembly (10) includes a catheter (12) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (16) extending to a distal tip of the introducer assembly, and an outer catheter wall. The catheter (12) includes a medical device holding portion (34) proximate the distal end, a guide wire lumen (100) extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a side opening (50) extending through the outer wall to the guide wire lumen. The side opening (50) and the guide wire lumen (100) are simultaneously open and the guide wire lumen and side opening are able to receive a guide wire therethrough. The catheter (12) is flexible at least in the location of the side opening, such that a guide wire (28) fed from the distal end (16) can pass through to the proximal end (14) when the catheter is substantially straight and can pass from the distal end through the side opening (50) when the catheter is curved at the location of the side opening.

Abstract: An introducer assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end extending to a distal tip of the introducer assembly, and an outer catheter wall. The catheter includes a medical device holding portion proximate the distal end, a guide wire lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a side opening extending through the outer wall to the guide wire lumen. The side opening and the guide wire lumen are simultaneously open and the guide wire lumen and side opening are able to receive a guide wire therethrough. The catheter is flexible at least in the location of the side opening. The catheter also includes a plurality of one stiffening mandrel lumens extending from the proximal end and a plurality of stiffening mandrels.

Abstract: A biodegradable device capable of producing a high radial force is described. Such a force will be created in devices made of relatively inelastic materials that are to be deployed to the vasculature or a body cavity in a patient. As the halves of the devices move together subject to a longitudinal force, at the point where they are in contact and unable to move closer together in the longitudinal direction, a radial force is created. The devices may have a tension element that assists in bringing the device halves together and which may partially and optionally remain within the body of the device.

Abstract: An introducer assembly (10) includes a catheter (12) having a proximal end (14), a distal end (16) extending to a distal tip of the introducer assembly, and an outer catheter wall. The catheter (12) includes a medical device holding portion (34) proximate the distal end, a guide wire lumen (100) extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a side opening (50) extending through the outer wall to the guide wire lumen. The side opening (50) and the guide wire lumen (100) are simultaneously open and the guide wire lumen and side opening are able to receive a guide wire therethrough. The catheter (12) is flexible at least in the location of the side opening, such that a guide wire (28) fed from the distal end (16) can pass through to the proximal end (14) when the catheter is substantially straight and can pass from the distal end through the side opening (50) when the catheter is curved at the location of the side opening.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for a medical device to be implanted in the vasculature and a method for treatment in the vasculature. The device has an outer layer of a first material and an inner layer of a second material attached to the outer layer. The inner layer further has a plurality of elastomeric tensioners. If the device experiences relaxation, resulting in a decreased radial force against the vessel wall, the elastomeric tensioners may provide a contraction force to the inner layer and the outer layer, resulting in a maintained radial force on the vessel wall.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems and system components useful for percutaneously delivering or retrieving vascular implant devices, such as filters, utilizing intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) imaging alone or in combination with external (e.g. transabdominal) ultrasound or other imaging technology. Implants deliverable by such systems, such as vena cava or other vascular filters, can have two or more echogenic markers spaced at such a distance that they are separately discernible by IVUS and/or external ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a double cone filter and a delivery apparatus for deploying the filter within the body. The filter may have superior and inferior rings connected to each other by a plurality of connectors. The rings may have a first degradation rate, and the connectors may have a second degradation rate. The second degradation rate may be faster than the first degradation rate, such that the connectors degrade faster than the rings. In this way, the filter has a filtering state when the connectors are present. After the connectors degrade or partially degrade, the rings may relax against the vessel wall in an open state. After a sufficient length of time, the rings also degrade such that the filter is completely removed from the body.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a processing method for a polymer material to create a medical device with improved mechanical properties. This method allows better tailoring of the material's mechanical properties, hence a device to withstand greater structural loads in vivo. The method comprises providing an extruded polymer tube having an initial diameter and an initial length along a longitudinal direction, and longitudinally, bi-directionally straining the extruded polymer tube in a mold from the initial length to an expanded or extended length. The mold comprises a plurality of stationary heating elements. After longitudinally straining the tube, it is radially expanding in the mold from the initial diameter to an expanded diameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a double cone filter and a delivery apparatus for deploying the filter within the body. The filter may have superior and inferior rings connected to each other by a plurality of connectors. The rings may have a first degradation rate, and the connectors may have a second degradation rate. The second degradation rate may be faster than the first degradation rate, such that the connectors degrade faster than the rings. In this way, the filter has a filtering state when the connectors are present. After the connectors degrade or partially degrade, the rings may relax against the vessel wall in an open state. After a sufficient length of time, the rings also degrade such that the filter is completely removed from the body.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a processing method for a polymer material to create a medical device with improved mechanical properties. This method allows better tailoring of the material's mechanical properties, hence a device to withstand greater structural loads in vivo. The method comprises providing an extruded polymer tube having an initial diameter and an initial length along a longitudinal direction, and longitudinally, bi-directionally straining the extruded polymer tube in a mold from the initial length to an expanded or extended length. The mold comprises a plurality of stationary heating elements. After longitudinally straining the tube, it is radially expanding in the mold from the initial diameter to an expanded diameter.

Abstract: A biodegradable device capable of producing a high radial force is described. Such a force will be created in devices made of relatively inelastic materials that are to be deployed to the vasculature or a body cavity in a patient. As the halves of the devices move together subject to a longitudinal force, at the point where they are in contact and unable to move closer together in the longitudinal direction, a radial force is created. The devices may have a tension element that assists in bringing the device halves together and which may partially and optionally remain within the body of the device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for a medical device to be implanted in the vasculature and a method for treatment in the vasculature. The device has an outer layer of a first material and an inner layer of a second material attached to the outer layer. The inner layer further has a plurality of elastomeric tensioners. If the device experiences relaxation, resulting in a decreased radial force against the vessel wall, the elastomeric tensioners may provide a contraction force to the inner layer and the outer layer, resulting in a maintained radial force on the vessel wall.

Abstract: A biodegradable device capable of producing a high radial force is described. Such a force will be created in devices made of relatively inelastic materials that are to be deployed to the vasculature or a body cavity in a patient. As the halves of the devices move together subject to a longitudinal force, at the point where they are in contact and unable to move closer together in the longitudinal direction, a radial force is created. The devices may have a tension element that assists in bringing the device halves together and which may partially and optionally remain within the body of the device.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems and system components useful for percutaneously delivering or retrieving vascular implant devices, such as filters, utilizing intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) imaging alone or in combination with external (e.g. transabdominal) ultrasound or other imaging technology. Implants deliverable by such systems, such as vena cava or other vascular filters, can have two or more echogenic markers spaced at such a distance that they are separately discernible by IVUS and/or external ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: A filter device is provided having a biodegradable features. The filter device comprises an elongate stent portion and a conical filter portion attached thereto that is preferably balloon expandable. The conical filter portion includes a plurality of struts extending between a holding ring and the stent portion to define the conical shape of the filter portion. The struts can be biodegradable so that they degrade over time. The struts and/or holding ring can be configured so that at least one of the struts remains attached to the holding ring after a predetermined period of time. The struts are biased toward the wall of the body vessel in which the filter device is installed, so that after the predetermined period of time, the struts, and the strut attached to the holding ring, will expand toward the body vessel wall for bioabsorption.

Abstract: This disclosure provides for a medical device to be implanted in the vasculature and a method for treatment in the vasculature. The device has an outer layer of a first material and an inner layer of a second material attached to the outer layer. The inner layer further has a plurality of elastomeric tensioners. If the device experiences relaxation, resulting in a decreased radial force against the vessel wall, the elastomeric tensioners may provide a contraction force to the inner layer and the outer layer, resulting in a maintained radial force on the vessel wall.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a removable vena cava filter for capturing thrombi in a blood vessel. The filter includes a plurality of primary struts having first ends attached together at their first ends. The filter also includes a plurality of secondary struts spaced between the primary struts and having third ends attached together along the longitudinal axis. Each secondary strut freely extends from the third end to a fourth end avoiding contact with other secondary struts and primary struts. The filter has an expanded configuration, in which the second arcs of the plurality of secondary struts may define a cavity having a hemiovoid shape, such that an ovoid formed from a reflection of the hemiovoid shape of the cavity does not extend beyond the end boundary of the filter defined by the second ends of the primary struts.

Abstract: The present embodiments describe a graft material suitable for use in a medical procedure. In one example, the graft material comprises a plurality of circumferential threads and achieves at least two unique physical states. Each thread is constructed such that during a first state, the threads are taut, inexpansible, and have a first diameter. Each thread is also constructed such that during a second state occurring after the first state, the threads are taut, inexpansible, and have a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The first and second diameters are predetermined. In another example, at least one thread is constructed from at least two interwoven fibers, at least one of which is biodegradable. Over time, at least one fiber biodegrades, allowing the remaining fiber(s) to elongate, thereby achieving the second inexpansible state having a greater diameter.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a filter includes a plurality of struts arranged in a generally conical form with each strut having a first end, a second end, and an operative length between the first and second ends. Each strut is able to flex along its operative length and includes a strut skeleton having a first flexural modulus and a reinforcement element extending along the operative length and attached to the strut skeleton. The reinforcement element and the strut skeleton together have a second flexural modulus greater than the first flexural modulus. One of the reinforcement element and the strut skeleton varies in one of amount and composition continuously along the operative length such that the second flexural modulus varies in a continuous manner along the operative length. The reinforcement element is biodegradable thereby changing the flexural modulus from the second flexural modulus to the first flexural modulus.

Abstract: A filter comprises an inner, anchoring basket arranged concentrically inside an outer, alignment basket. The anchoring basket comprises a plurality of anchoring struts terminating in barbs. The alignment basket includes a plurality of alignment struts, which terminate downstream of the anchoring struts. A lumen is provided through hubs of the filter so that the filter can be deployed over a guidewire.