Abstract: A guide wire introduction device for positioning at least one guide wire around a heart valve. The device includes a first catheter provided with a distal deflection system, a second catheter inserted inside the first catheter, at least one lumen capable of causing a guide wire to slide therein and provided with a distal deflection system for deflecting the end thereof through an angle greater than 90°, and a third catheter inserted inside the first catheter. The third catheter has a guide wire capturing device therein and is provided with a distal deflection system.

Abstract: A guide wire introduction device for positioning at least one guide wire around a heart valve. The device includes a first catheter provided with a distal deflection system, a second catheter inserted inside the first catheter, at least one lumen capable of causing a guide wire to slide therein and provided with a distal deflection system for deflecting the end thereof through an angle greater than 90°, and a third catheter inserted inside the first catheter. The third catheter has a guide wire capturing device therein and is provided with a distal deflection system.

Abstract: A device for implanting a heart prosthesis including a central body, a containment portion having one or more sub-components, and a release device for the central body capable of being inserted into a catheter. A device for assisting the connection operation between the central body and the sub-components of the containment portion includes an assembly of catheters, of which there are at least two catheters for each sub-component of the containment portion, the catheters being joined to each other over a portion thereof and having at least one free end for each catheter.

Abstract: A device for implanting a heart prosthesis including a central body, a containment portion having one or more sub-components, and a release device for the central body capable of being inserted into a catheter. A device for assisting the connection operation between the central body and the sub-components of the containment portion includes an assembly of catheters, of which there are at least two catheters for each sub-component of the containment portion, the catheters being joined to each other over a portion thereof and having at least one free end for each catheter.

Abstract: A guide wire introduction device for positioning at least one guide wire around a heart valve. The device includes a first catheter provided with a distal deflection system, a second catheter inserted inside the first catheter, at least one lumen capable of causing a guide wire to slide therein and provided with a distal deflection system for deflecting the end thereof through an angle greater than 90°, and a third catheter inserted inside the first catheter. The third catheter has a guide wire capturing device therein is provided with a distal deflection system.

Abstract: A delivery system for deploying an implantable sensor assembly at an implantation site in a patient, the sensor assembly including a sensor element and an anchor. The delivery system includes an outer catheter, an elongate, tubular first inner member movable within the outer catheter, and a retaining element disposed within the first inner member and adapted to releasably engage the sensor assembly during delivery. In one embodiment, the first inner member has a distal end portion including a sheath sized to receive the sensor assembly and retain the anchor in a collapsed delivery configuration. In another embodiment, the first inner member includes a distal end portion including a socket sized to releasably retain a portion of the sensor during delivery.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The expandable frame and filtering element can be mounted on a filter support structure, such as a coiled wire, and mounted on a guide wire. The expandable frames includes an articulation region which helps to distribute the strain which can be developed when the frame moves between an expanded and deployed position. The expandable frame may include further strain distributing bends which help distribute strain and increase the bendability of the frame.

Abstract: A filtering device for capturing and removing embolic debris from a body vessel and a system for insertion and removal of the filtering device to facilitate an interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a body vessel. The filtering device is adapted to be expandable in the body vessel, allowing blood to pass therethrough while maintaining apposition with the body vessel wall and capturing embolic material released into the bloodstream during the interventional procedure, and to be collapsible to remove the captured embolic material from the body vessel. The filtering device includes a guidewire, an expandable cage assembly secured to the guide wire, filter material secured to the expandable cage assembly, and at least one hinge, the hinge allowing the expandable cage assembly to bend independent from the guide wire.