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: Intravascular devices and systems useful for blocking the opening of an aneurysm or a vessel branch are disclosed. In some aspects, the disclosure provides arrangements that align a covering material of a stent graft with an opening in the vessel wall before, during, and/or after expansion of the stent graft within the vasculature of a patient. In some instances, systems and devices include a sheath with a side aperture arranged to align a portion of the sheath and/or a portion of a stent graft contained within the sheath with the mouth of an aneurysm. Similarly, the present disclosure also provides embodiments in which the stent graft comprises an aligning member arranged to align the stent graft and/or a sheath with the mouth of an aneurysm. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A clot retrieval device, for example to be used in a thrombectomy, is provided including a catheter, an elongated member, and a knitted basket with a proximal end coupled to the catheter and a distal end coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position relative to the catheter and is configured so that the knitted basket expands radially and compresses as the elongated member is moved to the compressed position. The knitted basket is comprised of a plurality of wires coupled together by a plurality of windings. Each winding comprises one of the plurality of the wires twisted about another of the plurality of wires.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material through a catheter into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack in a patient's vessel. In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly includes a chamber having a spherical carrier onto which filamentary material is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly filamentary material unwinds from the spherical carrier and is pulled through the catheter to be dispensed from the distal end of the catheter. The apparatus includes a pressure sensitive valve disposed at the inlet or the outlet of the receptacle, the pressure sensitive valve being closed when the pressure of driving fluid is below a threshold and open when the pressure of driving fluid is above the threshold. The pressure sensitive valve, when open, allows fluid flow through the chamber and dispensation of filamentary material from the outlet.

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: A guide wire includes a plurality of segments which can interlock rotatably relative to one another. A locking element extends through a lumen of the segments. When the locking element is in an unlocked condition the segments are able to rotate relative to one another. In this mode, the guide wire is very flexible. The locking element can be tightened to cause the segments to lock in engagement with one another and to fix the guide wire in position. In practice, the guide wire can be fixed in a curved or bent configuration, which enables the guide wire to provide a rigid support for a microcatheter or other element of an introducer assembly. The guide wire therefore can exhibit both extreme flexibility and stiffness.

Abstract: A medical filler delivery assembly includes a micro catheter for delivering filler material such as filamentary material into an aneurysm in a vessel, the assembly also including a positioning mechanism which includes a support element made of knitted wires, as well as an expansion mechanism for expanding the support element within the vessel. The wires form an array of polygonal, preferably rhomboidal cells, the wires being intertwined at their junctions by at least one turn around one another, the intertwined regions extending in the longitudinal direction of the support element. The support element is able to trap the micro catheter in position and in practice such that its distal end is disposed within the aneurysm sac.

Abstract: A wire guide for feeding a medical catheter through the body passage of a patient to a distant target site within the body has a variably flexible distal portion. The distal portion facilitates threading the guidewire in a tortuous path through acute bends at branch junctions in the body passages of the patient. The wire guide end is able to feed into very delicate vessels such as ventricles of the brain and the spinal canal without puncturing the wall or damaging organs.

Abstract: A neuro-surgery assembly includes a neuro-catheter slidably received over a wire guide. The wire guide includes an inner tube positioned within an elongate hollow tube that includes a pattern of openings at its distal segment to provide an atraumatic tip for reaching sensitive locations in a brain. The wire guide is changeable between a stiff condition in which the inner tube is pressurized and a soft condition in which the inner tube is depressurized. The user may switch between the stiff and soft conditions to negotiate the tortuous pathway to a brain treatment site without a need to swap out to a different wire guide to support advancement of the neuro-catheter.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material through a catheter into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack in a patient's vessel. In one embodiment the assembly includes a conical material carrier which is substantially aligned with the dispensing direction, thereby avoiding the need to have a rotating carrier. Another embodiment has a carrier which is at least partially cylindrical. The carrier provides for efficient dispensation of filamentary material at substantial dispensing speeds.

Abstract: A guide wire assembly for medical use includes at least a portion which is formed of a plurality of inter-cooperating elements forming a flexible section of the guide wire assembly, and specifically a section that can have varying flexibility. A control device passes through a lumen extending for the whole length of the guide wire and is typically fixed at a distal end of the assembly. The control device is used to change the flexibility of the guidewire assembly and in some embodiments to lock it in position. The elements have tapering internal lumens for accommodating the control device, particularly when the guide wire is bent.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material (24) through a catheter (12) into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack (20) in a patient's vessel (22). In one embodiment the assembly (100) includes a conical material carrier (150) which is substantially aligned with the dispensing direction, thereby avoiding the need to have a rotating carrier. Another embodiment has a carrier (340) which is at least partially cylindrical. The carrier (150, 340) provides for efficient dispensation of filamentary material at substantial dispensing speeds.

Abstract: A clot retrieval device, for example to be used in a thrombectomy, is provided including a catheter, an elongated member, and a knitted basket with a proximal end coupled to the catheter and a distal end coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position relative to the catheter and is configured so that the knitted basket expands radially and compresses as the elongated member is moved to the compressed position. The knitted basket is comprised of a plurality of wires coupled together by a plurality of windings. Each winding comprises one of the plurality of the wires twisted about another of the plurality of wires.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material (24) through a catheter (12) into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack (20) in a patient's vessel (22). In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly (30) includes a chamber having a spherical carrier (50) onto which filamentary material (24) is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly (30) filamentary material (24) unwinds from the spherical carrier (50) and is pulled through the catheter (12) to be dispensed from the distal end (18) of the catheter.

Abstract: A clot retrieval device, for example to be used in a thrombectomy, is provided including a catheter, an elongated member, and a knitted basket with a proximal end coupled to the catheter and a distal end coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member is movable between an expanded position and a compressed position relative to the catheter and is configured so that the knitted basket expands radially and compresses as the elongated member is moved to the compressed position. The knitted basket is comprised of a plurality of wires coupled together by a plurality of windings. Each winding comprises one of the plurality of the wires twisted about another of the plurality of wires.

Abstract: A magnetic guidance system (20) for guiding a guidewire (70) or other elongate medical device includes a magnet unit (20) disposed in one implementation adjacent a head end of a patient table (30). The magnet unit is disposed on a magnet support which enables the magnet unit (20) to move in a periodic motion substantially around a single plane. The preferred motion is a rotary motion about a patient's head, which creates a repetitive repulsive force at the distal end of the medical device, causing the distal end of the medical device to move in different directions within the patient's vasculature, useful in assisting the guidance of the medical device through tortuous vessel structures. The repetitive alternating medical field makes guidance of a medical device within a patient's vasculature a relatively simple task.

Abstract: A guide wire includes a plurality of segments which can interlock rotatably relative to one another. A locking element extends through a lumen of the segments. When the locking element is in an unlocked condition the segments are able to rotate relative to one another. In this mode, the guide wire is very flexible. The locking element can be tightened to cause the segments to lock in engagement with one another and to fix the guide wire in position. In practice, the guide wire can be fixed in a curved or bent configuration, which enables the guide wire to provide a rigid support for a microcatheter or other element of an introducer assembly. The guide wire therefore can exhibit both extreme flexibility and stiffness.

Abstract: There are disclosed various dispensing mechanisms for dispensing filamentary material through a catheter into a treatment site of a patient, for example into an aneurysm sack in a patient's vessel. In one embodiment, the dispensing assembly includes a chamber having a spherical carrier onto which filamentary material is wound. Upon injecting driving fluid into the dispensing assembly filamentary material unwinds from the spherical carrier and is pulled through the catheter to be dispensed from the distal end of the catheter. The apparatus includes a pressure sensitive valve disposed at the inlet or the outlet of the receptacle, the pressure sensitive valve being closed when the pressure of driving fluid is below a threshold and open when the pressure of driving fluid is above the threshold. The pressure sensitive valve, when open, allows fluid flow through the chamber and dispensation of filamentary material from the outlet.

Abstract: A medical filler delivery assembly includes a micro catheter for delivering filler material such as filamentary material into an aneurysm in a vessel, the assembly also including a positioning mechanism which includes a support element made of knitted wires, as well as an expansion mechanism for expanding the support element within the vessel. The wires form an array of polygonal, preferably rhomboidal cells, the wires being intertwined at their junctions by at least one turn around one another, the intertwined regions extending in the longitudinal direction of the support element. The support element is able to trap the micro catheter in position and in practice such that its distal end is disposed within the aneurysm sac.