2314results about "Blood vessel filters" patented technology

An introducer having an elongate tubular member and a device connector releasably attached to a proximal end of the tubular member. The introducer allows exchange of medical instruments, such as a blood filter and cardioplegia catheter, through a single lumen. An obturator having a retractable blade for making incision on a tissue is insertable through the lumen of the introducer. Methods of using the obturator and the introducer for introducing medical device(s) into body cavity, such as a vessel or cardiac tissue, are also disclosed.

Self-expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metals such as nitinol. The devices may also be formed from biodegradable materials. Delivery systems for the devices include two hollow tubes that operate coaxially. A device is secured to the tubes prior to the implantation and delivery of the device by securing one end of the device to the outside of the inner tube and by securing the other end of the device to the outside of the outer tube. The stents may be partially or completely covered by graft materials, but may also be bare. The devices may be formed from a single wire. The devices may be formed by either hand or machine weaving. The devices may be created by bending shape memory wires around tabs projecting from a template, and weaving the ends of the wires to create the body of the device such that the wires cross each other to form a plurality of angles, at least one of the angles being obtuse. The value of the obtuse angle may be increased by axially compressing the body.

Methods and systems for endovascular, endocardiac, or endoluminal approaches to a patient's heart to perform surgical procedures that may be performed or used without requiring extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass. Furthermore, these procedures can be performed through a relatively small number of small incisions. These procedures may illustratively include heart valve implantation, heart valve repair, resection of a diseased heart valve, replacement of a heart valve, repair of a ventricular aneurysm, repair of an arrhythmia, repair of an aortic dissection, etc. Such minimally invasive procedures are preferably performed transapically (i.e., through the heart muscle at its left or right ventricular apex).

Self-expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metals such as nitinol. The devices may also be formed from biodegradable materials. Delivery systems for the devices include two hollow tubes that operate coaxially. A device is secured to the tubes prior to the implantation and delivery of the device by securing one end of the device to the outside of the inner tube and by securing the other end of the device to the outside of the outer tube. The stents may be partially or completely covered by graft materials, but may also be bare. The devices may be formed from a single wire. The devices may be formed by either hand or machine weaving. The devices may be created by bending shape memory wires around tabs projecting from a template, and weaving the ends of the wires to create the body of the device such that the wires cross each other to form a plurality of angles, at least one of the angles being obtuse. The value of the obtuse angle may be increased by axially compressing the body.

The invention provides methods and systems for introducing a delivery device in the heart at or near the apex of the heart, wherein the delivery device includes a prosthesis, advancing the prosthesis to the target site, and disengaging the prosthesis from the delivery device at the target site for implantation. Specifically, the present invention provides valve replacement systems for delivering a replacement heart valve to a target site in or near a heart. The valve replacement system comprises a trocar or other suitable device to penetrate the heart at or near the apex of the heart, a delivery member that is movably disposed within the trocar, and a replacement cardiac valve disposed on the delivery member. The delivery member may further comprise mechanical or inflatable expanding members to facilitate implantation of the prosthetic valve at the target site.

Embolic protection filters and methods of making and using such devices are disclosed. An illustrative method of making a device for filtering embolic debris from a body may include the steps of molding a filter assembly that includes a distal tip and a filter portion, forming a plurality of apertures within the filter portion, and coupling a support member to the filter assembly that is adapted to shift the filter portion between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.

The filter device captures embolic material in a blood vessel and is placed in the blood vessel via a guide wire. The guide wire has a proximal end, a distal end and a stop near its distal end. The filter device includes an expandable frame of frame struts having a closed, radially compact form and an open, radially expanded form. The frame, in the radially expanded form, has frame struts forming a pair of facing frustoconical frame structures. Filter material is attached to one of the pair of frustoconical frame structures. In one embodiment, the filter material is a perforated membrane. The guide wire extends through the expandable frame and the expandable frame is freely movable over the guide wire (likewise, the guide wire is freely movable within the frame), both rotatably and longitudinally, except distally beyond the stop near the distal end of the guide wire. This mobility of the guide wire with respect to the expandable frame enables to guide wire to be guided by the operator through the blood vessel.

Apparatus and methods provide distal protection while accessing blood vessels within a patient's vasculature. A flexible sheath and distal protection element, e.g., a balloon or filter, are carried by a stiffening member. The sheath is lubricious and has a relatively thin wall, thereby providing a collapsible / expandable guide for delivering fluids and / or instruments. The sheath is advanced into a blood vessel in a contracted condition, expanded to an enlarged condition to define a lumen, and the distal protection element is deployed within the vessel beyond the sheath. Fluids and / or instruments are introduced into the vessel via the sheath lumen, the distal protection element retaining the fluids and / or capturing emboli released by the instruments. Upon completing the procedure, the sheath, distal protection element, and stiffening member are removed from the vessel.

An implantable prosthetic valve having an in situ formable support structure and methods of deploying such a valve are disclosed. In one arrangement, the valve has a base and at least one flow occluder. A first flexible component which is incapable of retaining the valve at a functional site in the arterial vasculature extends proximally of the base of the valve. A second flexible component which is incapable of retaining the valve at a functional site in the arterial vasculature extends distally of the base of the valve. At least one rigidity component combines with at least one of the first and second flexible components to impart sufficient rigidity to the first or second components to retain the valve at the site.

Methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve, the anchor having a braid, and expanding the braid to a deployed configuration against the patient's tissue. The braid may be fabricated from a single strand of wire and / or may comprise at least one the feature.

Apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient by means that are less invasive than conventional open-chest, open-heart surgery. The prosthetic valve may be collapsed while in a delivery device. When the valve reaches the desired implant site in the patient, the valve can be released from the delivery device, which allows the valve to re-expand to the configuration in which it can function as a heart valve. For example, the delivery device may be constructed to facilitate delivery of the prosthetic valve into the patient via the apex of the patient's heart.

Methods and systems for minimally invasive replacement of a valve. The system includes a collapsible valve and anchoring structure, devices and methods for expanding the valve anchoring structure, adhesive means to seal the valve to the surrounding tissue, a catheter-based valve sizing and delivery system, native valve removal means, and a temporary valve and filter assembly to facilitate removal of debris material. The valve assembly comprises a valve and anchoring structure for the valve, dimensioned to fit substantially within the valve sinus.

Bifurcated delivery assemblies provide bilateral access to first and second branch lumens extending from a main body space or lumen in a patient. One or more interventional devices are combined with the delivery assemblies for delivery s into one or both of the branch lumens. Bilateral renal stenting or embolic protection procedures are performed using the combination delivery / interventional device assemblies. Fluids may also be injected or aspirated from the assemblies. A bifurcated catheter has a first fluid port located on one bifurcation branch, a second fluid port located on a second branch of the bifurcation, and a third fluid port positioned so as to be located within a vena cava when the first and second ports are positioned bilaterally within first and second renal veins.

Methods and systems for minimally invasive replacement of a valve. The system includes a collapsible valve and anchoring structure, devices and methods for expanding the valve anchoring structure, adhesive means to seal the valve to the surrounding tissue, a catheter-based valve sizing and delivery system, native valve removal means, and a temporary valve and filter assembly to facilitate removal of debris material. The valve assembly comprises a valve and anchoring structure for the valve, dimensioned to fit substantially within the valve sinus.

Methods and systems for minimally invasive replacement of a valve. The system includes a collapsible valve and anchoring structure, devices and methods for expanding the valve anchoring structure, adhesive means to seal the valve to the surrounding tissue, a catheter-based valve sizing and delivery system, native valve removal means, and a temporary valve and filter assembly to facilitate removal of debris material. The valve assembly comprises a valve and anchoring structure for the valve, dimensioned to fit substantially within the valve sinus.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.

Apparatus for protecting a patient against embolization during endovascular replacement of the patient's heart valve is provided, the apparatus including a replacement valve configured for endovascular delivery and deployment, and an embolic filter configured for disposal downstream of the replacement valve during deployment of the valve. Apparatus including a delivery catheter having an expandable replacement valve disposed therein, and an embolic filter advanceable along the delivery catheter for diverting emboli released during endovascular deployment of the replacement valve is also provided. Furthermore, methods for protecting a patient against embolization during endovascular replacement of the patient's heart valve are provided, the methods including the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve to a vicinity of the patient's heart valve, endovascularly deploying an embolic filter downstream of the heart valve, and endovascularly deploying the replacement valve.

Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering a guidewire, agents, and the like through an occlusion in a body vessel or other body lumen. The apparatus includes a flexible catheter or other elongate member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a body lumen, and a first lumen extending from the proximal end to a distal region of the tubular member. An expandable sheath is provided on the distal region of the catheter that is expandable from a contracted condition to minimize a profile of the sheath to allow insertion along with the tubular member into a body lumen, to an enlarged condition wherein the sheath at least partially defines a lumen communicating with and extending distally from the first lumen of the tubular member.

The present invention provides systems and methods for the repair, removal, and / or replacement of heart valves. The methods comprise introducing a delivery system into the heart, wherein a prosthesis is disposed on the delivery member attached to the delivery system, advancing the prosthesis to the target site, and disengaging the prosthesis from the delivery member at the target site for implantation. The present invention also provides implant systems for delivering a prosthesis to a target site in or near the heart. In one embodiment of the present invention, the implant system comprises a delivery system, an access system, and a prosthesis.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for replacing a native aortic valve, the apparatus includes an expandable anchor adapted to be endovascularly delivered and secured at a site within the native aortic valve. The expandable anchor has a delivery length in a delivery configuration substantially greater than a deployed length in a deployed configuration. The apparatus may also include and a replacement valve configured to be secured within the anchor.

The present invention provides an aortic valvuloplasty catheter which, in one preferred embodiment, has a tapered distal balloon segment that anchors within the left ventricle outflow track of the patient's heart and a rounded proximal segment which conforms to the aortic sinuses forcing the valve leaflets open. In addition, this embodiment of the valvuloplasty catheter includes a fiber-based balloon membrane, a distal pigtail end hole catheter tip, and a catheter sheath.

An implantable medical device including a porous membrane that is treated with a hydrophilic substance to obtain rapid optimum visualization using technology for viewing inside of a mammalian body. These technologies include ultrasound echocardiography and video imaging such as that used during laparoscopic procedures.

Self-expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metals such as nitinol. The devices may also be formed from biodegradable materials. Delivery systems for the devices include two hollow tubes that operate coaxially. A device is secured to the tubes prior to the implantation and delivery of the device by securing one end of the device to the outside of the inner tube and by securing the other end of the device to the outside of the outer tube. The stents may be partially or completely covered by graft materials, but may also be bare. The devices may be formed from a single wire. The devices may be formed by either hand or machine weaving. The devices may be created by bending shape memory wires around tabs projecting from a template, and weaving the ends of the wires to create the body of the device such that the wires cross each other to form a plurality of angles, at least one of the angles being obtuse. The value of the obtuse angle may be increased by axially compressing the body.