Devices and methods are discussed herein for protection from embolisms and microembolisms in a subject undergoing catheter-based intravascular procedures. The embolic protection devices have an expandable support frame comprising U-shaped members and leg members which facilitate proper placements in a defective valve annulus. The filtering devices expand in the vessels and allow blood flow to continue through the vessels, thereby catching and removing debris of the flowing blood. Also disclosed are embolic protection devices for use with a sutureless valve prosthesis which is implanted via catheter-based methods.

An embolic protection device comprises a tubular filter body attached to a sheath. The tubular filter body has an open upstream end and a generally closed downstream end for capturing emboli. A self-opening passage through the emboli capture end of the tubular filter body allows multiple catheters to be advanced from the sheath or otherwise into the filter body simultaneously or sequentially. The sheath is attached to a peripheral support structure near the emboli capture end of the filter body to facilitate deployment and retrieval of the filter body through a restraining delivery catheter.

A method for treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) utilizes an RF ablation electrode needle system that has an RF ablation generator, and an electrode needle. The distal end of the electrode needle is introduced to puncture within myocardium after piercing through epicardium and then advanced along an intramyocardial pathway between endocardia at two lateral sides of the interventricular septum to reach a hypertrophic area of an interventricular septum. The RF ablation generator is then turned on to implement single-point or multi-point ablation on the hypertrophic area of the interventricular septum, and then the RF electrode needle is withdrawn from the patient.

Embolic material capture catheters and related devices and methods constrain a distal end portion of an embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration. A method of deploying an embolic material capture element in a blood vessel includes constraining a distal end portion of the embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration via engagement with a dilator assembly. The embolic material capture element, in the insertion configuration, is advanced through the blood vessel. A deployment cap of the dilator assembly is distally advanced relative to a dilator sheath of the dilator assembly to release the distal end portion of the embolic material capture element from engagement with the dilator assembly to reconfigure the embolic material capture element from the insertion configuration to a fully deployed configuration via self-expansion of the embolic material capture element.

An intravascular filter for blocking passage of embolic debris into the cerebral and aortic circulation upon removal of the cross clamp from the aorta during open heart surgery. The filter comprises a self expandable tubular wire frame, having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen defined within a tubular sidewall. A tubular porous membrane is carried by the sidewall and extends across the proximal or distal end, so that debris entering the other end can be captured within the lumen, the membrane having a distribution of pore sizes. A control wire extends proximally from the filter. In use, the aorta may be cross clamped over the control wire or over the filter. Following removal of the cross clamp, blood is allowed to perfuse through the membrane in the direction of the descending aorta while retaining embolic debris therein for subsequent removal, and the filter and debris may be proximally retracted using the control wire.

A catheter for intraluminal lithotripsy including a first lumen, an energy delivery member supported by the catheter body. The energy delivery member includes a passageway, a valve positioned in the passageway and an energy emitter configured to communicate energy to target tissue. A method for performing intraluminal lithotripsy is also disclosed.

Provided is an embolic protection device with dual-layer filter meshes, including an elastic base frame, a first filter mesh and a second filter mesh. The two ends of the first filter mesh are the first open end and the first closed end respectively. The distance between the first closed end and the elastic base frame is greater than the distance between the first open end and the elastic base frame. The first open end is connected with the elastic base frame, and the first filter mesh is provided with a plurality of first filtering holes. The second filter mesh is provided with a plurality of second filtering holes.

Embolic material capture catheters and related devices and methods constrain a distal end portion of an embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration. A method of deploying an embolic material capture element in a blood vessel includes constraining a distal end portion of the embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration via engagement with a dilator assembly. The embolic material capture element, in the insertion configuration, is advanced through the blood vessel. A deployment cap of the dilator assembly is distally advanced relative to a dilator sheath of the dilator assembly to release the distal end portion of the embolic material capture element from engagement with the dilator assembly to reconfigure the embolic material capture element from the insertion configuration to a fully deployed configuration via self-expansion of the embolic material capture element.

A system and method for guiding invasive medical devices relative to other medical devices is disclosed. An imaging device can generate images of the invasive medical device within a body. A trained model for the invasive medical device can be trained on annotated images of the invasive medical device with at least one of orientation and position information. An imaging computer system can apply the trained model to unannotated images of the invasive medical device to determine at least one of a current orientation and a current position of the invasive medical device relative to another medical device within the body. At least one of visual orientation information representing the current orientation of the invasive medical device relative to the other medical device and visual position information representing the current position of the invasive medical device relative to the other medical device within the body can be outputted.

An embolic filter is disclosed and can include a head. A plurality of bent legs can extend from the head. Each bent leg can be configured to engage an inner wall of a vein and prevent the embolic filter from migrating in a cranial direction. A plurality of straight legs can also extend from the head. Each straight leg can be configured to prevent the embolic filter from migrating in a caudal direction.