A method is disclosed for removing a vascular occlusion, such as a clot, from a blood vessel. A tubular sheath is inserted into the vessel and a self-expanding Nitinol mesh filter is deployed from a distal end of the tubular sheath at a location proximal to a clot. An inner catheter is advanced through the tubular sheath and through the mesh filter for contacting the clot. An expandable agitation element is provided along a distal end portion of the inner catheter for cutting or chopping the clot, thereby facilitating removal of the clot and improving blood flow through the vessel. Resulting clot particles are captured by the mesh filter. Negative pressure may be applied along a proximal end portion of the sheath for aspirating remaining particles. Certain embodiments of the method are well-suited for treating deep vein thrombosis and do not require the use of thrombolytic drugs.

Disclosed are methods and devices for isolating all three of the left subclavian, left common carotid and brachiocephalic arteries from embolic debris that might flow through the aortic arch, via a single access point. A system may include an elongate flexible tubular sheath, having a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner member extending through the sheath and moveable relative to the sheath. A left subclavian element may be supported by the inner member. A filter membrane may be configured to isolate the aorta from the brachiocephalic, left common carotid and left subclavian arteries when the left subclavian element is expanded within the left subclavian artery and the sheath is retracted to expose the membrane. The left subclavian element may include a self expandable frame, which may carry a left subclavian filter.

Methods and devices are provided for protecting the cerebrovascular circulation from embolic debris released during an index procedure. An embolic protection filter is delivered in a reduced profile configuration via an access catheter, and positioned in the aorta spanning the ostia to the three great vessels leading to the cerebral circulation. An index procedure catheter is thereafter advanced through the same access catheter to conduct the index procedure. The index procedure may be a transcatheter aortic valve replacement. A pore distribution in the filter blocks passage of debris greater than a predetermined threshold, minimizes total cumulative volume of debris passing through the filter and minimizes blood pressure drop across the filter.

A clot removal system comprises a catheter, a vacuum source, and a controller. The catheter comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and controller operating parameters and defines a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion. The vacuum source is configured to supply vacuum. The controller is configured to carry out a control pattern of turning on and off the vacuum based upon the controller operating parameters and is configured to receive the controller operating parameters in an automatic response to the catheter being operatively connected to at least one of the vacuum source and the controller and, responsive to the connection, to carry out the control pattern to change a level of vacuum at the distal end of the catheter.

Systems and methods for removal of thrombus from a blood vessel in a body of a patient are disclosed herein. The method can include: providing a thrombus extraction device including a proximal self-expanding member formed of a fenestrated structure, a substantially cylindrical portion formed of a net-like filament mesh structure having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the fenestrated structure; advancing a catheter constraining the thrombus extraction device through a vascular thrombus, deploying the thrombus extraction device by stacking a portion of the net-like filament mesh structure outside of the catheter by distally advancing the self-expanding member until the self-expanding member is beyond a distal end of the catheter; retracting the self-expanding member to unstack the portion of the net-like filament mesh structure and to capture the portion of the thrombus; and withdrawing the thrombus extraction device from the body.

Aspects described herein are directed to methods of evaluating an embolic filter. A method for evaluating an embolic filter includes positioning the embolic filter in a blood vessel. A measured quantity of radiopaque particulates is injected into the blood vessel upstream of the embolic filter. An efficacy of the embolic filter is determined via invitro imaging of the embolic filter and the radiopaque particulates.

A hybrid braided stent includes a stent body (20). The stent body (20) is a single-layer structure. The stent body (20) is a tubular structure formed by interweaving a plurality of filaments. The end areas of at least two of the plurality of filaments are different.

An embolic filter positioning system includes a vascular delivery sheath, a filter catheter, a self-expanding embolic filter attached to a distal end of the filter catheter, and an elongate dilator having a tapered dilator tip. The elongate dilator is slidably received in a central lumen of the filter catheter, and the filter catheter is slidably received in the open lumen of the vascular delivery sheath. The tapered dilator tip is positioned distally of the distal end of the vascular delivery sheath, and the self-expanding embolic filter is radially constrained in a proximal portion of the open lumen of the vascular delivery sheath. The tapered dilator tip has an expanded configuration where it covers the open distal end of the vascular delivery sheath and facilitates entry though an arteriotomy and a contracted configuration where it can be retracted through the central lumen of the filter catheter.

A clot removal system comprises a catheter, a vacuum source, and a controller. The catheter comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and controller operating parameters and defines a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion. The vacuum source is configured to supply vacuum. The controller is configured to carry out a control pattern of turning on and off the vacuum based upon the controller operating parameters and is configured to receive the controller operating parameters in an automatic response to the catheter being operatively connected to at least one of the vacuum source and the controller and, responsive to the connection, to carry out the control pattern to change a level of vacuum at the distal end of the catheter.

The invention is a device, system, and method for repairing heart valve function, which may include bisecting native valve leaflets for improved deployment of a prosthetic heart valve in the native valve annulus. The invention may include a catheter having a cutting element shaft with a cutting element configured to puncture a valve leaflet and/or make a controlled cut through the leaflet. The device may have an extendable foot configured to be positioned on an opposite side of the valve leaflet from the cutting element shaft. The device may include magnets to guide the cutting element and/or cutting element shaft in proper alignment with the extendable foot and to hold the elements in place during leaflet bisection.