Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a clip to close an opening through tissue includes a sheath and a carrier assembly including a clip therein that is slidable on the sheath. An actuator assembly is connectable to the sheath, and telescoping actuator members extend from the handle that are connectable to the carrier assembly for advancing the carrier assembly along the sheath. An obturator on the actuator assembly includes splines that may be deployed beyond a distal end of the sheath, and expanded to a transverse expanded configuration for positioning the sheath before deploying the clip. The actuator members include cooperating detents that selectively release the actuator members as the carrier assembly reaches predetermined positions along the sheath for deploying the clip from the carrier assembly, and that collapse the splines to allow removal of the apparatus after deploying the clip.

Abstract: A filter device for temporary placement of a filter in an artery or vein is disclosed. The devices include (1) an elongate tubular member having a single or double side-wire loop, (2) an elongate member having a filter bonded to a circular rim joined by a plurality of tethers and an independently moveable tether, and (3) an elongate member having a parachute filter joined by a plurality of flexible struts. The filter conforms to the interior of a vessel wall when expanded and contracts to a consistent diameter without bunching when stowed. The filter devices may act as guidewires for guiding a therapeutic catheter to a region of interest within a vessel. Methods of using the filter device to entrap and remove embolic material from a vessel during endovascular procedures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a drive cable disposed therein, the drive cable having a proximal end and a distal end, and rotatable relative to the catheter body. A first electro-magnetic element is disposed proximate the distal end of the catheter, and a second electro-magnetic element disposed proximate the distal end of the drive cable and in electrical communication with an operative element mounted at the end of the drive cable, the first and second electro-magnetic elements forming an inductive coupler. The catheter assembly can include various other distal operative elements, which are in communication with corresponding proximal operative elements via transmission lines embedded within the wall of the catheter body.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging guidewire, that is inserted into a patient's body. The guidewire has a static central core and an imaging guidewire body comprising an acoustical scanning device. The acoustical scanning device can be rotated to obtain 360 degree acoustical images of a site of interest in the patients body. Furthermore, the imaging guidewire includes a connector that permits the imaging guidewire body to be disengaged from the static central core tip so that the imaging guidewire body can be axially translated to obtain multi-position imaging. The imaging guidewire body is axially translated without losing the original guidewire positioning because the static central core maintains its position in the patient's body.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging guidewire is provided that can accomplish longitudinal translation of an imaging plane allowing imaging of an axial length of a region of interest without moving the guidewire. The imaging guidewire comprises a body in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member. An elongate flexible imaging core is slidably received within the body. The imaging core includes a shaft having an imaging device mounted on its distal end. The body and the imaging core are cooperatively constructed to enable axial translation of the imaging core and imaging device relative to the body. The body has a substantially transparent portion extending an axial length over which axially translatable imaging may be performed. The imaging guidewire has a maximum diameter over its entire length sized to be received within a guidewire lumen of an intravascular catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a closure element into a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes an introducer sheath, and a locator member disposed within the sheath, the locator member having a distal portion extending distally beyond the distal end of the sheath. A plurality of splines are provided on the distal portion of the locator member, the splines being selectively expandable between an axial collapsed configuration and a transverse expanded configuration. An actuator is coupled to the locator member for controllably expanding the splines. A housing is slidably disposed on the sheath for deploying a closure element, such as a vascular clip. The locator actuator may automatically collapse the splines upon advancement of the housing.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging guidewire, that is inserted into a patient's body. The guidewire has a static central core and an imaging guidewire body comprising an acoustical scanning device. The acoustical scanning device can be rotated to obtain 360 degree acoustical images of a site of interest in the patients body. Furthermore, the imaging guidewire includes a connector that permits the imaging guidewire body to be disengaged from the static central core tip so that the imaging guidewire body can be axially translated to obtain multi-position imaging. The imaging guidewire body is axially translated without losing the original guidewire positioning because the static central core maintains its position in the patient's body.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treating a spinal disc are disclosed. An opening is created in the annulus fibrosis, and nucleus pulposus is removed from the interior of the disc. The interior is lined with a nonporous, bioabsorbable liner, and filled with a fill material, such as nucleus pulposus, to cause the liner to expand to engage tissue surrounding the interior. The liner may be a sheet of extra-cellular matrix material that is introduced into the interior, or a bladder of extra-cellular matrix material including a neck communicating with an interior region of the bladder. The sheet or bladder may be carried by a delivery device, e.g., a catheter or rod. After the interior region is filled, the opening is closed using a plug or other closure device. The plug may include threads on its external surface for securing the plug in the opening.

Abstract: A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.

Abstract: A vascular clip includes a peripheral body defining a plane, and tines extending from the body transversely with respect to the plane, the tines biased towards a planar configuration. The clip includes expandable elements disposed along its periphery that are biased to expand from compressed to expanded states for increasing a diameter of the clip upon deployment. The clip is provided within a housing slidably mounted on an introducer sheath. The sheath is introduced through a puncture into a blood vessel, and after a procedure is performed via the sheath, the housing is advanced into the puncture and the clip deployed until the tines engage tissue adjacent the opening in the vessel wall. The sheath is withdrawn from the patient, leaving the clip in place. The tines at least partially move towards the planar configuration to pull the engaged tissue together and close the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an introducer sheath includes a sheath having a distal end including first and second ports, the second port being located distally from the first port. An obturator is slidable within the sheath that includes a distal region that sealingly engages an interior surface of the sheath. The obturator includes first and second openings in the distal region that are alignable with the first and second ports in the sheath. A housing is slidable on the exterior of the sheath that releasably holds a closure element. The sheath may be inserted into an incision communicating with a blood vessel, the first and second ports providing backbleed indication of the depth of the insertion of the sheath into the vessel. The housing is actuated to deploy the closure element to engage and close the incision.

Abstract: A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.

Abstract: A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging guidewire, that is inserted into a patient's body. The guidewire has a static central core and an imaging guidewire body comprising an acoustical scanning device. The acoustical scanning device can be rotated to obtain 360 degree acoustical images of a site of interest in the patients body. Furthermore, the imaging guidewire includes a connector that permits the imaging guidewire body to be disengaged from the static central core tip so that the imaging guidewire body can be axially translated to obtain multi-position imaging. The imaging guidewire body is axially translated without losing the original guidewire positioning because the static central core maintains its position in the patient's body.

Abstract: A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an introducer sheath includes a sheath having a distal end including first and second ports, the second port being located distally from the first port. An obturator is slidable within the sheath that includes a distal region that sealingly engages an interior surface of the sheath. The obturator includes first and second openings in the distal region that are alignable with the first and second ports in the sheath. A housing is slidable on the exterior of the sheath that releasably holds a closure element. The sheath may be inserted into an incision communicating with a blood vessel, the first and second ports providing backbleed indication of the depth of the insertion of the sheath into the vessel. The housing is actuated to deploy the closure element to engage and close the incision.

Abstract: A clip for engaging tissue includes a generally annular-shaped body defining a plane and disposed about a central axis extending normal to the plane. The body includes alternating inner and outer curved regions, defining a zigzag pattern about a periphery of the clip. The body is biased towards a planar configuration lying in the plane and deflectable towards a transverse configuration extending out of the plane. Tines extend from the inner curved regions, the tines being oriented towards the central axis in the planar configuration, and parallel to the central axis in the transverse configuration. The tines may include primary tines and secondary tines that are shorter than the primary tines. The primary tines may be disposed on opposing inner curved regions and oriented towards one another such that they overlap in the planar configuration.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging guidewire, that is inserted into a patient's body. The guidewire has a static central core and an imaging guidewire body comprising an acoustical scanning device. The acoustical scanning device can be rotated to obtain 360 degree acoustical images of a site of interest in the patients body. Furthermore, the imaging guidewire includes a connector that permits the imaging guidewire body to be disengaged from the static central core tip so that the imaging guidewire body can be axially translated to obtain multi-position imaging. The imaging guidewire body is axially translated without losing the original guidewire positioning because the static central core maintains its position in the patient's body.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging guidewire which can accomplish longitudinal translation of an imaging plane allowing imaging, by acoustic or light energy, of an axial length of a region of interest without moving the guidewire. The imaging guidewire comprises a body in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member. An elongate flexible imaging core is slidably received within the body. The imaging core includes a shaft having an imaging device mounted on its distal end. The body and the imaging core are cooperatively constructed to enable axial translation of the imaging core and imaging device relative to the body. The body has a transparent distal portion extending an axial length over which axially translatable imaging may be performed. The imaging guidewire has a maximum diameter over its entire length sized to be received within a guidewire lumen of an intravascular catheter.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging guidewire which can accomplish longitudinal translation of an imaging plane allowing imaging, by acoustic other high quality imaging energy, of an axial length of a region of interest without moving the guidewire. The imaging guidewire comprises a body in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member. An elongate flexible imaging core is slidably received within the body. The imaging core includes a shaft having an imaging device mounted on its distal end. The body and the imaging core are cooperatively constructed to enable axial translation of the imaging core and imaging device relative to the body. The body has a transparent distal portion extending an axial length over which axially translatable imaging may be performed. The imaging guidewire has a maximum diameter over its entire length sized to be received within a guidewire lumen of an intravascular catheter.