An anchor device to simplify catheterization procedures, particularly for insertion and maneuvering of large catheters in tortuous arteries, vessels, or other lumen is disclosed. In some embodiments, the anchor device includes an anchor stent formed from a plurality of zig-zag shaped wire elements that are coupled together. The device further includes a plurality of connector struts attached at a proximal end of the anchor stent, the connector struts coalescing to form a strut tip. A guide device, such as a guidewire, is attached to the anchor stent at the strut tip and may be used to guide the anchor stent into the arteries or other vessels and toward a target treatment site.

Methods for removing blockages and preventing thromboembolic injuries, by advancing to a blockage a first tubular, endovascular device receiving irrigating fluid through a proximal opening, having a circumferential wall, lumen, at least one distal side hole oriented angularly to a distal opening; ejecting fluid from the side hole(s) to irrigate a blockage; introducing a second catheter for aspiration, comprising a circumferential wall having a proximal and distal opening, a flared, semi-permeable filter at the distal end for removal of emboli through the second lumen; advancing the second device to a blood vessel receiving blood from the blocked vessel, aspirating the blockage, axially rotating the first endovascular device having at least one half-loop to macerate an obstruction, capturing and removing emboli from the blockage through the second endovascular device which prevents emboli from causing further blockage of blood vessels. Variants of said method including a third rotatable device.

An implant delivery system is described. The implant delivery system utilizes an implant, implant wire, delivery sheath, and a torque device. The torque device may include a cutting element to slit the delivery sheath and a clamp device to fix the position of the implant delivery wire.

A method of removing clot from a vessel, including delivering a clot retrieval device across the clot, wherein the clot retrieval device includes an inner body having a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration; and an outer body extending along a longitudinal axis and at least partially overlying the inner body. The outer body includes a first scaffolding section, a second scaffolding section hingedly connected distal of the first scaffolding section; the first and second scaffolding sections of the outer body being expandable to a radial extent which is greater than the radial extent of the inner body in the deployed configuration to define a clot reception space between the inner and outer bodies. The method also includes expanding the clot retrieval device; and urging, by the expanding of the first and second scaffolding sections, at least a portion of the clot therebetween.

Described herein are flexible implantable occluding devices that can, for example, navigate the tortuous vessels of the neurovasculature. The occluding devices can also conform to the shape of the tortuous vessels of the vasculature. In some embodiments, the occluding devices can direct blood flow within a vessel away from an aneurysm or limit blood flow to the aneurysm. Some embodiments describe methods and apparatus for adjusting, along a length of the device, the porosity of the occluding device. In some embodiments, the occluding devices allows adequate blood flow to be provided to adjacent structures such that those structures, whether they are branch vessels or oxygen-demanding tissues, are not deprived of the necessary blood flow.

The invention generally relates to co-axial stent and catheter systems and medical procedures utilizing these systems. The co-axial stent system is characterized by two-coaxial stents, including an outer resorbable stent and an inner metal stent used to effect deployment of the resorbable stent. The stents may use for treatment of unstable plaque and/or thrombus at the carotid bifurcation and particularly those that are not causing any significant stenosis. The stents may also be used for treatment of cerebral aneurysms. The invention further describes related, equipment, uses and kits for the treatment of unstable plaque and/or thrombus and/or aneurysms.

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.

Vascular access devices, systems, and methods of their use are provided. In one embodiment, a vascular access device includes a catheter, a balloon, and an inflation lumen. The catheter includes an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a primary lumen therethrough. The balloon is disposed about the distal end of the catheter. The inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the balloon and extends toward the proximal end of the shaft of the catheter. The balloon is inflatable into a shape having a first open end, a second open end, a sidewall between the first and second open ends, and a passageway therethrough, which, when the balloon is deployed and inflated within a vessel, permits blood flowing in the vessel to flow through the passageway. The balloon further includes a balloon lumen which is coupled at its first end to the primary lumen of the catheter and which extends to an aperture in the sidewall of the balloon, thereby providing a hemostatic connection and luminal access to a wall of the vessel via the primary lumen of the catheter.

A distal protection device for use in a body lumen includes a functional element, which may be a filter or an occlusive element. The device includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member carried by the first elongate member, and the functional element carried by the second elongate member. Motion of the first elongate member can be independent of the motion of the functional element.

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 5.1 crossover points per inch.