Abstract: A retrieval medical device for entrapping and retaining an object located in a body for its extraction therefrom is described. The device includes a basket-filter constituted by a plurality of filaments extending from the proximal end towards the distal end. The filaments are bound together in the vicinity of the proximal end to form a plurality of main branches. Each main branch includes at least two filaments. The filaments are entangled together in the vicinity of the distal end. Each main branch has a ramification point at which it ramifies into at least two single filaments extending from the ramification point towards the basket distal end of the basket-filter. One of the single filaments extends in the form of a right spiral, whereas another single filament extends in the form of a left spiral. The filaments extending from the ramification points interlace with each other, thereby forming a mesh between the branching point and the basket proximal end having density greater than 5.

Abstract: A retrieval snare for entrapping and retaining a foreign object located in a body and a method for manufacturing of the snare are provided. The snare comprises a structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion and includes a plurality of filaments. The filaments extend from an end of the proximal portion towards the distal portion and return to the end of the proximal portion to form a plurality of loops. The loops are not interconnected at the distal portion, but each side of each loop are connected to a side of an adjacent loop in the proximal portion at more than one point, thereby providing structural rigidity and dilatation ability to the snare.

Abstract: A retrieval medical device for entrapping and retaining an object located in a body for its extraction therefrom is described. The device includes a basket-filter constituted by a plurality of filaments extending from the proximal end towards the distal end. The filaments are bound together in the vicinity of the proximal end to form a plurality of main branches. Each main branch includes at least two filaments. The filaments are entangled together in the vicinity of the distal end. Each main branch has a ramification point at which it ramifies into at least two single filaments extending from the ramification point towards the basket distal end of the basket-filter. One of the single filaments extends in the form of a right spiral, whereas another single filament extends in the form of a left spiral. The filaments extending from the ramification points interlace with each other, thereby forming a mesh between the branching point and the basket proximal end having density greater than 5.

Abstract: A method and a system for assisting a wire guide to cross obstructed ducts in mammalian body are described. The method and system is based on applying pulsed energy to occlusion obstructing the duct. The pulsed energy is applied by means of an auxiliary probe. The auxiliary probe is relatively displaceable with respect to the wire guide along a lumen provided within the probe. The distal region of the probe is provided with enhanced flexibility comparing with the reminder portion of the probe.

Abstract: A medical device and method for breaking a concretion in a body into smaller pieces are described. The device comprises a combined probe including a laser waveguide probe and a nanosecond electro-pulse lithotripter probe. The method includes applying the laser waveguide probe to the surface of the concretion, and treating the surface with laser radiation to create a defect. The method also includes applying the nanosecond electro-pulse lithotripter probe to the area of the defect created by the laser waveguide probe, to provide a spark electrical discharge through the concretion.

Abstract: A system for delivering and placement of a medical prosthesis into an ostium of a tract system of an organism is described. The system comprises a stent delivery device that includes a delivery catheter having one or more lumens extending between proximal and distal ends. The stent delivery device also includes an inflatable balloon mounted on the distal end of the delivery catheter for expanding and deploying the medical prosthesis placed on the balloon, and a stent deployment site locator configured for locating an exact place for positioning the medical prosthesis. The deployment site locator comprises an expandable flexible structure including a plurality of filament elements interconnected between a locator proximal end and a locator distal end; thereby forming a unitary structure. The filaments can extend from a locator proximal end towards a locator distal end and then return after winding to the proximal end to form a plurality of filament loops.

Abstract: A method and a system for destruction of an undesirable formation in a mammalian body are described. The invention is based on inserting a probe into mammalian body; said probe is electrically connectable to a control unit and upon bringing the probe in physical contact with the formation supplying pulses of energy from the control unit to the probe in order to destroy the formation. The invention further comprises counting amount of pulses being supplied to the probe and establishing a remaining service life of the probe by subtracting the amount of pulses being supplied to the probe from an amount of pulses corresponding to initial service life of the probe. The treatment session is automatically terminates as soon as amount of pulses being supplied to the probe approaches at least a fraction of the established remaining service life of the probe. The established remaining service life of the probe is stored for new treatment session.

Abstract: A retrieval snare for entrapping and retaining a foreign object located in a body and a method for manufacturing of the snare are provided. The snare comprises a structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion and includes a plurality of filaments. The filaments extend from an end of the proximal portion towards the distal portion and return to the end of the proximal portion to form a plurality of loops. The loops are not interconnected at the distal portion, but each side of each loop are connected to a side of an adjacent loop in the proximal portion at more than one point, thereby providing structural rigidity and dilatation ability to the snare.

Abstract: A retrieval snare for entrapping and retaining a foreign object located in a body and a method for manufacturing of the snare are provided. The snare comprises a structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion and includes a plurality of filaments. The filaments extend from an end of the proximal portion towards the distal portion and return to the end of the proximal portion to form a plurality of loops. The loops are not interconnected at the distal portion, but each side of each loop are connected to a side of an adjacent loop in the proximal portion at more than one point, thereby providing structural rigidity and dilatation ability to the snare.

Abstract: Electro-impulse intracorporeal lithotripsy comprises bringing electrodes of a probe in immediate electrical contact with the calculus and supplying to the electrodes of very short high voltage impulses capable to ignite electrical spark discharge and establish a discharge channel within the bulk of the calculus. The channel goes through the calculus and creates tensile stresses, destroying the calculus.

Abstract: A retrieval apparatus for entrapping and retaining an object located in a body for its extraction therefrom is described. The retrieval apparatus includes a snare and a snare control assembly. The snare has a proximal section and a distal section, and comprises a plurality of filaments extending from a proximal end of the proximal section towards the distal section, and then returning to the proximal end to form a plurality of loops. In the deployed state, the loops are interlaced to each other within the proximal section and are free and not interleaved within the distal section. Segments of the filaments of the distal section are bent with respect to segments of the filaments of the proximal section such that the retrieval snare in the contracted, state forms a hollow cavity extending from die distal section towards the proximal section.

Abstract: A cutting balloon assembly and a method for fabrication of the assembly is described. The cutting balloon assembly comprises a delivery catheter, an expandable balloon mounted on the catheter distal end, and a scoring mesh disposed around the expandable balloon. The scoring mesh comprises interlacing filaments that extend from a mesh proximal end towards a mesh distal end, form distal filament loops at said mesh distal end, and then return to the mesh proximal end. At least a part of the interlacing filaments forms one or more permanent links with neighboring filaments between the mesh proximal end and the mesh distal end.

Abstract: A medical device and method for breaking a concretion in a body into smaller pieces and removing the pieces from the body are described. The device comprises a dilator sheath, a lithotripsy probe, a tubular member, and a retrieval basket. The dilator sheath adapted to penetrate into a passage of the body to reach the location where the concretion is located. The lithotripsy probe is configured for shattering the concretion into smaller pieces. The tubular member is mounted within the dilator sheath adapted to permit the lithotripsy probe to be inserted into the tubular member. The retrieval basket is coupled to the tubular member, and configured for entrapping the concretion and the smaller pieces for their extraction from the body.

Abstract: A method and a system for destruction of an undesirable formation in a mammalian body are described. The invention is based on inserting a probe into mammalian body; said probe is electrically connectable to a control unit and upon bringing the probe in physical contact with the formation supplying pulses of energy from the control unit to the probe in order to destroy the formation. The invention further comprises counting amount of pulses being supplied to the probe and establishing a remaining service life of the probe by subtracting the amount of pulses being supplied to the probe from an amount of pulses corresponding to initial service life of the probe. The treatment session is automatically terminates as soon as amount of pulses being supplied to the probe approaches at least a fraction of the established remaining service life of the probe. The established remaining service life of the probe is stored for new treatment session.

Abstract: A radiopaque alloy based on titanium nickelide and having shape memory and superelastic properties includes, according to one embodiment, at least one radiopaque alloying element selected from among gold, platinum, and palladium at a concentration of from about 10 at. % to about 20 at. %, and at least one additional alloying element selected from among aluminum, chromium, cobalt, iron, and zirconium, where the additional alloying element has a concentration of from about 0.5 at. % to about 4 at. %. The alloy includes titanium at a concentration of from about 48 at. % to about 52 at. %, and the balance of the alloy is nickel. The radiopaque alloy preferably exhibits superelastic behavior suitable for medical device applications in the human body.

Abstract: A method and a system for destruction of an undesirable formation in a mammalian body are described. The invention is based on inserting a probe into mammalian body; said probe is electrically connectable to a control unit and upon bringing the probe in physical contact with the formation supplying pulses of energy from the control unit to the probe in order to destroy the formation. The invention further comprises counting amount of pulses being supplied to the probe and establishing a remaining service life of the probe by subtracting the amount of pulses being supplied to the probe from an amount of pulses corresponding to initial service life of the probe. The treatment session is automatically terminates as soon as amount of pulses being supplied to the probe approaches at least a fraction of the established remaining service life of the probe. The established remaining service life of the probe is stored for new treatment session.

Abstract: A method for fabrication of a cutting balloon assembly is described. The method includes providing a predetermined number of filaments having predetermined properties, diameter and length and fabricating a scoring mesh on a weaving jig having a plurality of pins disposed circumferentially about the jig's surface. The fabrication of the scoring mesh includes placing the filaments between the pins and interlacing the filaments to form a scoring mesh by interweaving and intertwining at least a part of filament to form one or more permanent links with neighboring filaments. The fabrication of the scoring mesh also includes forming distal and proximal filament loops that protrude from the mesh distal and proximal ends, respectfully. The scoring mesh is mounted on an expandable balloon mounted on a distal end of a delivery catheter.

Abstract: A retrieval apparatus for entrapping and retaining an object located in a body for its extraction therefrom is described. The retrieval apparatus includes a snare and a snare control assembly. The snare has a proximal section and a distal section, and comprises a plurality of filaments extending from a proximal end of the proximal section towards the distal section, and then returning to the proximal end to form a plurality of loops. In the deployed state, the loops are interlaced to each other within the proximal section and are free and not interleaved within the distal section. Segments of the filaments of the distal section are bent with respect to segments of the filaments of the proximal section such that the retrieval snare in the contracted, state forms a hollow cavity extending from die distal section towards the proximal section.

Abstract: A retrieval apparatus for entrapping and retaining an object located in a body for its extraction therefrom is described. The retrieval apparatus includes a snare and a snare control assembly. The snare has a proximal section and a distal section, and comprises a plurality of filaments extending from a proximal end of the proximal section towards the distal section, and then returning to the proximal end to form a plurality of loops. In the deployed state, the loops are interlaced to each other within the proximal section and are free and not interleaved within the distal section. Segments of the filaments of the distal section are bent with respect to segments of the filaments of the proximal section such that the retrieval snare in the contracted state forms a hollow cavity extending from the distal section towards the proximal section.

Abstract: A guide wire for guiding a medical device within a body lumen is described. The guide wire includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a mid section. The proximal section includes a proximal wire core tapered with contraction towards a proximal end of the proximal wire core. The distal section includes a distal wire core tapered with contraction towards a distal end of the distal wire core. The mid section includes a joint for joining the proximal wire core and the distal wire core. The guide wire also includes a safety wire extending along the mid section, and along at least parts of the proximal and distal sections. Moreover, the guide wire includes an outer tubing enveloping the overlapping joint and at least parts of the proximal and distal sections.