A device and a method for increasing or restoring a flow in a body lumen are provided. The device and the method may treat conditions related to a stroke, such as an ischemic stroke, by removing an occlusion from a blood vessel and/or reopen a blood vessel. The device may comprise a tubing compartment, a central wire, and an engaging compartment. The engaging compartment may comprise a distal engaging element and a proximal engaging element. A clot or occlusion present in the body lumen such as an artery may be engaged in and/or between the distal and proximal engaging elements. Further, the positions of one or both of the engaging elements and the distance therebetween can be adjusted to ensure the engagement of the clot or occlusion.

Clot engagement element comprising bundle of unwoven fibers can be assembled to form an acute stroke treatment device. The device has the capability of forming a three dimensional filtration matrix comprising effective pores with a distribution of sizes. The bundle of fiber design allows the device to be effectively delivered into circuitous cerebral arteries to remove clot that causes stroke. The fiber bundle based filtration matrix offers the advantages of conforming to the changing inner perimeter of a blood vessel during a clot removal process and thus the capability to effectively retain and remove a clot in the vessel. The filtration matrix offers the additional advantage to trap any break-off of the clot during the removal process. A plurality of fiber bundles can be combined to form an effective clot engagement element. Supplemental engagement structure as well as mechanical treatment structure can be integrated into the stroke treatment device. The deployment of the fiber based elements can be facilitated by actuation tool. Aspiration can be employed during the clot removal process.

An apparatus and methods for use are provided, where the apparatus includes: (a) a filter, and (b) a frame having a first end and a second end, wherein the frame includes a first support and a second support extending between the first end and the second end, wherein at least the first support and the second support of the frame are coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the filter, wherein the frame and the filter together define a lumen, wherein the frame has shape memory and is movable between a first position in which the lumen has a first diameter and a second position in which the lumen has a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

A removable blood clot filter includes a number of locator members and anchor members disposed radially and extending angularly downward from a hub. The locator members include a number of linear portions having distinct axes configured to place a tip portion approximately parallel to the walls of a blood vessel when implanted to apply sufficient force to the vessel walls to position the filter near the vessel centerline. The anchor members each include a hook configured to penetrate the vessel wall to prevent longitudinal movement due to blood flow. The hooks may have a cross section sized to allow for a larger radius of curvature under strain so that the filter can be removed without damaging the vessel wall.

A blood filter extraction system for extracting a blood filter from within a blood vessel. The system includes an extraction wire, or plurality of such wires, positioned within an elongated tubular member. A plurality of extraction wires coupled to the distal end of the extraction member each include a hook for engaging filter members. Alternatively, the extraction wires may be one or more wires configured in a helical shape which engage filter members when the extraction member is rotated. The system may also include an elongated tubular member with the distal end having a conical shape. To extract a filter, the extraction wires are then pushed out of the tubular member and into the filter members. The extraction member is then withdrawn or rotated so the wires engage and draw in the filter members, after which the catheter is pushed over the conical portion of the tubular member.

In general, the invention features an intravascular device, a delivery system, and methods for filtering or deflecting emboli or other large objects from entering a protected secondary vessel or vessels The intravascular device of the invention may prevent passage of a particle in a blood vessel from passing through a filter supported by a frame, upper and lower stabilizers, and a wire. The wire may be used to stabilize the device upon its deployment and installation within a blood vessel. Further, in some embodiments, the invention features a delivery system and methods for introduction of the device into a blood vessel.

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 blood filter delivery system for delivering a filter into a vein includes an introducer and a push rod with a spline member disposed along the push rod. The spline member has a main body, and first and second boss portions spaced apart along the longitudinal axis to provide a gap for retaining anchor member of the filter during delivery via the introducer.

Flexible expandable treatment devices are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to an expandable tubular structure formed of an interwoven strand and configured to be positioned in a blood vessel. The interwoven strand may be arranged to form a plurality of cells and a plurality of joints between adjacent cells. At least one of the joints may include a first strand slidably interlocked with a second strand, and at least one of the first strand and the second strand may bend back on itself to form a restriction that limits disengagement of the first strand and the second strand at the joint.

An infusion filter design combines a fluid infusion device and a blood filtration device that filter blood during a thrombolysis procedure while allowing for complete filter removal on procedure completion. In one embodiment, a wire comprises a proximal, non-infusible length that extends partially outside of the patient and within the vein. The wire further comprises an infusible length distally from the non-infusible length that is extends within the vein so as to be placed at the section of the vein requiring medication. The wire also comprises a distal filter component at a distal end of the wire that is employed to filter the blood in the event that during the period that clot is dissolved it migrates toward the central circulation.