A system used to entrap clots in arteries, such as cerebral arteries, between the artery wall and an external surface of a stent to provide restoration of blood flow therethrough that includes a stent forming an annular wall that defines a set of openings, and an expansion member extendable through the stent to place a distal portion thereof distal to the stent. The stent is advanced into a clot disposed within a vessel and transitioned to an expanded configuration such that the annular wall engages the clot. The expansion member extends through the stent and is transitioned to an expanded state such that a diameter of the distal portion is greater than a diameter of a proximal portion thereof. The expanded distal portion is sized to fill a portion of the vessel to prevent clot fragments from flowing distal to the expansion member.

A catheter for intraluminal lithotripsy including an outer wall, at least one balloon extending from the outer wall, the balloon having a first portion, a second portion proximal of the first portion and an intermediate portion between the first and second portions such that a transverse dimension of the intermediate portion is less than a transverse dimension of the first and second portions. The catheter includes a first lumen, at least one energy emitter mounted on the balloon for emitting energy to break down or soften calcium and a connector connecting the at least one energy emitter to an external energy source, the connector extending through the catheter.

A method for mechanically capturing and removing a thrombus from a blood vessel includes contacting the thrombus with an inner catheter. A self-expanding body is advanced toward the thrombus, wherein the self-expanding body has a proximal end fixed to a distal end of an elongate catheter. The self-expanding body is preferably made from nickel-titanium and includes a tapered proximal end portion and an open distal end. The self-expanding body preferably has a mesh structure. The self-expanding body is allowed to self-expand in the blood vessel. At least a portion of the thrombus is captured by the self-expanding body and the captured thrombus is then retrieved into a lumen of an aspiration catheter. Negative pressure is applied through the lumen of the aspiration catheter during retrieval of the captured thrombus. A thrombolytic drug may be delivered into the blood vessel before capturing and removing the thrombus.

The invention relates to a safety cartridge (1) for a removable vena cava filter (20), having a proximal end (2) and a distal end (3) and having an inner channel (4) extending between the ends. The cartridge is characterized in that it comprises, on the distal end (3) thereof, a linking device (5) for forming a link with a catheter (30) and, in the inner channel thereof, a projection (6) having a limited size in the axial direction of the cartridge (1) so as to locally reduce the cross-section of the channel (4).

A device for retrieval of a vena cava filter is provided. The retrieval device has, approximately, an umbrella shape and consists of a central shaft; a plurality of frame struts, attached to frame strut attachment points on the central shaft and disposed radially about the central shaft; and a plurality of snare wires. The retrieval device has a collapsed configuration for insertion and removal from a blood vessel of a patient and an expanded state for capturing an intravascular filter in the blood vessel of the patient. The plurality of snare wires provides multiple points at which a vena cava filter, particularly one that has become misaligned during deployment or treatment, can be caught. The frame struts can be substantially sinusoidal in shape and made of shape memory metal, such as Nitinol. The snare wires can be made of a biocompatible material such as silk, polyester, polypropylene, or nylon.

A system and method is disclosed for augmenting image data of an invasive medical device using optical imaging. An optical imaging sensor, separate from the invasive medical device, can generate images of the medical device within a patient. A trained model for the invasive medical device can be trained on annotated images of the invasive medical device with orientation and distance information of the invasive medical device. An imaging computer system can apply the trained model to images of the invasive medical device within the patient to determine a current orientation and a current distance of the invasive medical device. The images of the invasive medical device as captured by the optical imaging sensor, visual orientation information representing the current orientation of the invasive medical device, and visual distance information representing the current distance of the invasive medical device within the patient can be displayed.

A filter device insertable into a biological lumen includes a shaft portion and an elastically deformable portion interlocked with the shaft portion, the deformable portion having a plurality of wires braided in a mesh shape. The wires include wires of a first type, each having a diameter d. A sum of d.sup.3 of all of the wires is 0.08 to 0.25 mm.sup.3.

A vascular filter system for deploying a vascular filter utilizes a plurality of tensors that extend radially outward from a deployment sheath. The ends of the tensors are coupled with an attachment ring of the vascular filter and a plurality of attachment barbs are coupled with the attachment ring for securing the filter to the vessel wall. A method for retrieving the vascular filter from the vessel utilizes a reverse curve catheter, a guidewire that extends therethrough and an intravascular snare. The guidewire is advanced around the filter and into the snare which secures the guidewire around the filter for retrieval. A vessel distention device utilizes one or more distention tensors having a distention feature on the extended end, such as a blunt tip, to press on the inside vessel wall. The distention tensors extend out radially from a sheath to press on the vessel wall.

An implanted device, such as an inferior vena cava filter, that is partially embedded in soft tissue is retrieved by coupling a vibration device to the implanted device. The implanted device is disembedded from the soft tissue at least in part by generating a vibration with a vibration generator, transmitting the vibration along the vibration transmission apparatus to the implanted device, and vibrating the implanted device. The implanted device is then moved away from the embedding site. A medical device assembly includes the vibration generator, the implantable device and the vibration transmission apparatus.

Filtration systems with integrated filter element(s) forming portions of the wall of the filtration catheter are disclosed. The filtration catheters disclosed herein are designed to be used alone or in conjunction with another filter device to provide embolic protection of both carotid arteries. Occlusive element such as balloon is placed on the exterior of the filtration catheter to redirect blood flow in the vessels during the filtration process as well as to help anchor the filtration catheter inside the vessel. The integrated filter element(s) does not require collapsing thus significantly reduces the complexity of the filtration system retrieval process and the chances of releasing emboli back into the blood stream. The compact design of the filtration systems makes them particularly suitable for embolic protection during endovascular procedures on or close to the heart.