An embolic protection device for use in a patient's blood vessel, such as the aorta, has an approximately cylindrical outer structure made of a filter mesh material and an approximately conical inner structure also made of a filter mesh material. On the downstream end of the embolic protection device, the wider end of the conical inner structure is joined to the cylindrical outer structure. The upstream end of the embolic protection device is open for blood to flow between the conical inner structure and the cylindrical outer structure. The space between the conical inner structure and the cylindrical outer structure defines a collection chamber for captured emboli. The narrow upstream end of the conical inner structure has a catheter port with a resilient seal that is sized for passage of a catheter shaft. The filter mesh material may be self-supporting or it may be supported on a resilient-framework or an inflatable framework.

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.

Described embodiments are directed toward an embolic filter system. The embolic filter system generally includes a filter and an elongated element that can be articulated relative to one another. In some examples, the filter includes an articulation element that facilitates articulation between a proximal and distal end of the filter. In some examples, an articulation element is positioned between the filter and the elongate element.

A filter (10) includes a proximal end (1), a distal end (2) and a main filter body connected between the proximal end (1) and the distal end (2). The main filter body has a first filter unit (3) and a second filter unit (4), both being conical mesh structures, as well as multiple intermediate connection posts (5) connecting the first filter unit and the second filter unit. The intermediate connection posts (5) have provided thereon support posts (6). A support post (6) includes a transition segment (61) extending from an intermediate connection post (5) to a blood vessel wall, and a support segment bent and extending from the transition segment (61), and at least partially abutting the blood vessel wall. The support segment has a main body (62) bent and extending from the end of the transition segment (61) and a flexible segment (63) bent and extending from the main body (62). A diameter of at least a portion of the flexible section (63) along a length thereof is smaller than a diameter of the main body (62), thereby increasing flexibility of the support section and preventing the support section from puncturing the blood vessel wall.

The present invention provides devices for removing an embolus or thrombus. The device includes an elongate member configured for insertion into the vasculature, an expandable member that extends from the distal end of the elongate member, and a flow restrictor associated with a proximal portion of the expandable member. The expandable member is configured to transition from a compacted state to an expanded state, in which the expandable portion engages with the embolus. The flow restrictor is configured to restrict blood flow and generate a low pressure zone at a location in the vasculature that is distal to the flow restrictor.

A vascular graft configured for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a biocompatible polymeric textile structure formed of a plurality of filaments spaced to enable blood flow through spaces between the filaments. The textile structure forms a tubular body having a first longitudinally extending opening. An inner element has a proximal end and a distal end, the inner element composed of an open pitched metal coil having a second longitudinally extending opening and is positioned within the longitudinally extending opening of the textile structure.

The present invention provides a filter device, including a filtering part, a constraining part, a stent part, and a connecting part. The filtering part has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The constraining part is degradable and at least configured to constrain the first end of the filtering part. The stent part has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the stent part is connected to the second end of the filtering part, and disposed coaxial with the filtering part. The connecting part is disposed on one or more of the first end of the filtering part and the second end of the stent part, and is configured to connect to an external mechanism, and the constraining part is further configured to constrain the second end of the stent part when the connecting part is disposed at the second end of the stent part. The present invention can be taken out from the human body and can also be partially degraded in the human body so that the occurrence rate of long-term complications is reduced, and secondary surgery can thus be avoided.

The invention provides a filter assembly including a string or wire such that a lasso type cincture is effected, said filter being openable and closeable while in deployed within a bodily vessel. A string lengthen or shorting adjustment mechanism, such as a ratchet or reel allows more length of string into the device or alternatively to shorten the length of available string in the system. The described invention, when used to ameliorate venous clots and most arterio-venous dialysis grafts, a filter-tipped aspirator is used downstream from the clot to capture and remove dislocated emboli. A method of using same is disclosed.

A valve-delivery-assist tool (20, 120, 220, 320) is provided for use during a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure on a native aortic valve. The valve-delivery-assist tool (20, 120, 220, 320) includes a delivery catheter (22); an aortic-valve cusp guide (24), which deflects laterally upon being released from the delivery catheter (22); and a conduction-tissue protector (26, 126), which includes a sheet (28, 128) and expands upon being released from a distal end (29) of the delivery catheter (22). The valve-delivery-assist tool (20, 120, 220, 320) is configured such that after lateral deflection of the aortic-valve cusp guide (24) and expansion of the conduction-tissue protector (26, 126), the released conduction-tissue protector (26, 126) and the released aortic-valve cusp guide (24) are axially stationary with respect to each other such that a distal-most point (30) of the released conduction-tissue protector (26, 126) is disposed distal to a distal-most point (32) of the released aortic-valve cusp guide (24). Other embodiments are also described.

A method for deploying a medical device such as a heart valve to a desired location in a blood vessel comprising first deploying a tubular filter adjacent to at least one tributary vessel location with a filter deployment member, disengaging said deployment member and removing it, inserting an expandable sheath into the blood vessel, passing a medical device through said sheath to deploy its removing said sheath and removing said filter.