Abstract: An implant delivery system has one or more interlock assemblies which connect the implant delivery catheter to the implant, an improved inner tubular member and an outer tubular member. The interlock assemblies, improved inner tubular member and outer tubular member cooperate to place the implant in tension during deployment, thereby reducing implant deployment force.

Abstract: An implant delivery system and method comprises an implant, for example, a stent, and a delivery catheter. The stent has a scaffold with a coating or a shell that retains the scaffold in a collapsed configuration. The coating or shell is made of a material that dissolves or biodegrades upon exposure to a dissolution or biodegradation media. The stent is used with an implant delivery system which has a catheter with a catheter, wherein the stent is mounted on the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is configured to be withdrawn through the patient's vessel when the scaffold is in its expanded configuration. Advantageously, the implant is thereby prevented from changing length during implant delivery and implant deployment.

Abstract: A stent for reducing the passage of emboli into body lumen once deployed includes a structural portion and a barrier portion. The structural portion, when expanded in a conduit, provides sufficient strength to maintain an open lumen in the conduit. The barrier portion reduces migration of emboli from the wall of the conduit through the structural portion and into the lumen. Stent delivery systems capable of delivering and deploying the stent are disclosed.

Abstract: Catheters, assemblies, and methods for delivering and recovering embolic protection devices. Catheters are provided that can be advanced over single length guide wires and which can be retracted over single length wire shafts of distal embolic protection devices. One catheter is a two-port catheter having two sidewall ports, a distal end port, and a proximal end port. The two-port catheter can be advanced over a guide wire threaded between the distal end port and the distal sidewall port. An embolic protection device wire shaft can be back loaded into the distal end port and out the proximal sidewall port. A three-port catheter includes a distal end port, and distal, intermediate, and proximal sidewall ports. The distal sidewall port can be dimensioned to accept passage of a filter body through the port. The distal end port can be dimensioned to accept only a guide wire to provide a smooth transition from the guide wire to the small profile distal end.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprising an expandable structure and a catheter. The catheter has a distal region and a working channel dimensioned to slideably receive an interventional device. The expandable structure is attached to the distal region of the catheter. The expandable structure has an expandable working channel extension and a working channel opening, the expandable working channel extension has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the working channel extension is attached to a distal end of the working channel, and the distal end of the working channel extension forms the working channel opening. The working channel opening is disposed proximate an exterior surface of the expandable structure when the expandable structure is expanded. The working channel, working channel extension, and the working channel opening form a continuous lumen.

Abstract: A collapsible medical device for use, e.g., as a vascular filter. The device includes a mandrel having a distal end and a stop spaced proximally of the distal end. A proximal length of the mandrel extends proximally of the stop and a distal length of the mandrel extends distally of the stop. A functional element (e.g., a vascular filter) has a radially expandable body and includes a proximal slider and a distal slider. The proximal and distal sliders are slidable along the mandrel independently of one another such that the distance between the proximal slider and distal slider can be varied to effect different configurations of the functional element. In one method of using such a device, the functional element is urged distally to a treatment site by urging the mandrel distally.

Abstract: A vascular device includes a body having a first, collapsed configuration and a second, expanded configuration. The body includes a plurality of heat-set strands that are braided such that when the body is in the second configuration, the strands form a plurality of pores and one or more apertures between the strands. The apertures are generally disposed at a longitudinal center region of the body. When the body is in the second configuration, the pores at proximal and distal portions of the body are generally uniform in size and smaller in size than the apertures. The pores and the apertures are substantially the same size when the body is in the first configuration.

Abstract: An implant delivery system and method comprises an implant, for example, a stent, and a delivery catheter. The stent has a scaffold with a coating or a shell that retains the scaffold in a collapsed configuration. The coating or shell is made of a material that dissolves or biodegrades upon exposure to a dissolution or biodegradation media. The stent is used with an implant delivery system which has a catheter with a catheter, wherein the stent is mounted on the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is configured to be withdrawn through the patient's vessel when the scaffold is in its expanded configuration. Advantageously, the implant is thereby prevented from changing length during implant delivery and implant deployment.

Abstract: Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.

Abstract: A vascular device includes a body having a first, collapsed configuration and a second, expanded configuration. The body includes a plurality of heat-set strands that are braided such that when the body is in the second configuration, the strands form a plurality of pores and one or more apertures between the strands. The apertures are generally disposed at a longitudinal center region of the body. When the body is in the second configuration, the pores at proximal and distal portions of the body are generally uniform in size and smaller in size than the apertures. The pores and the apertures are substantially the same size when the body is in the first configuration.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for filtering emboli from blood flowing through a lumen defined by the walls of a vessel in a patient's body, comprising a filter element and a self-expanding radial element associated with the filter element. The filter element is expandable from a collapsed configuration when the filter element is restrained to an expanded configuration when the filter element is unrestrained. The filter element comprises a self-expanding material having pores. The filter element has proximal and distal portions and a central portion, and has a shape in the expanded configuration which defines a cavity having a proximal facing opening. The self-expanding radial element is distal of the filter element, and the self-expanding radial element is adapted to maintain the filter element centered in the lumen.

Abstract: An implant delivery system has one or more interlock assemblies which connect the implant delivery catheter to the implant, an improved inner tubular member and an outer tubular member. The interlock assemblies, improved inner tubular member and outer tubular member cooperate to place the implant in tension during deployment, thereby reducing implant deployment force.

Abstract: Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.

Abstract: A collapsible medical device for use, e.g., as a vascular filter. The device includes a mandrel having a distal end and a stop spaced proximally of the distal end. A proximal length of the mandrel extends proximally of the stop and a distal length of the mandrel extends distally of the stop. A functional element (e.g., a vascular filter) has a radially expandable body and includes a proximal slider and a distal slider. The proximal and distal sliders are slidable along the mandrel independently of one another such that the distance between the proximal slider and distal slider can be varied to effect different configurations of the functional element. In one method of using such a device, the functional element is urged distally to a treatment site by urging the mandrel distally.

Abstract: Catheters, assemblies, and methods for delivering and recovering embolic protection devices. Catheters are provided that can be advanced over single length guide wires and which can be retracted over single length wire shafts of distal embolic protection devices. One catheter is a two-port catheter having two sidewall ports, a distal end port, and a proximal end port. The two-port catheter can be advanced over a guide wire threaded between the distal end port and the distal sidewall port. An embolic protection device wire shaft can be back loaded into the distal end port and out the proximal sidewall port. A three-port catheter includes a distal end port, and distal, intermediate, and proximal sidewall ports. The distal sidewall port can be dimensioned to accept passage of a filter body through the port. The distal end port can be dimensioned to accept only a guide wire to provide a smooth transition from the guide wire to the small profile distal end.

Abstract: Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.

Abstract: An embolic protection device comprising an expandable structure and a catheter. The catheter has a distal region and a working channel dimensioned to slideably receive an interventional device. The expandable structure is attached to the distal region of the catheter. The expandable structure has an expandable working channel extension and a working channel opening, the expandable working channel extension has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the working channel extension is attached to a distal end of the working channel, and the distal end of the working channel extension forms the working channel opening. The working channel opening is disposed proximate an exterior surface of the expandable structure when the expandable structure is expanded. The working channel, working channel extension, and the working channel opening form a continuous lumen.

Abstract: An implant delivery system and method comprises an implant, for example, a stent, and a delivery catheter. The stent has a scaffold with a coating or a shell that retains the scaffold in a collapsed configuration. The coating or shell is made of a material that dissolves or biodegrades upon exposure to a dissolution or biodegradation media. The stent is used with an implant delivery system which has a catheter with a catheter, wherein the stent is mounted on the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is configured to be withdrawn through the patient's vessel when the scaffold is in its expanded configuration. Advantageously, the implant is thereby prevented from changing length during implant delivery and implant deployment.

Abstract: Everting filter devices and methods for using the devices, including using the devices as intra-vascular filters to filter thrombus, emboli, and plaque fragments from blood vessels. The filter devices include a filter body nominally tubular in shape and having a large proximal opening. The filter body can extend from a proximal first end region distally over the non-everted exterior surface of the filter, further extending distally to a distal-most region, then converging inwardly and extending proximally toward the filter second end region, forming a distal everted cavity. The degree of eversion of the filter can be controlled by varying the distance between the filter first end region near the proximal opening and the closed second end region. Bringing the filter first and second end regions closer together can bring filter material previously on the non-everted filter exterior to occupy the distal-most region.

Abstract: An implant delivery system and method comprises an implant, for example, a stent, and a delivery catheter. The stent has a scaffold with a coating or a shell that retains the scaffold in a collapsed configuration. The coating or shell is made of a material that dissolves or biodegrades upon exposure to a dissolution or biodegradation media. The stent is used with an implant delivery system which has a catheter with a catheter, wherein the stent is mounted on the catheter shaft. The catheter shaft is configured to be withdrawn through the patient's vessel when the scaffold is in its expanded configuration. Advantageously, the implant is thereby prevented from changing length during implant delivery and implant deployment.