An emboli capturing system captures emboli in a body lumen. A first elongate member has a proximal end and a distal end. An expandable emboli capturing device is mounted proximate the distal end of the first elongate member, and is movable between a radially expanded position and a radially contracted position. When in the expanded position, the emboli capturing device forms a basket with a proximally opening mouth. A second elongate member has a proximal and a distal end with a lumen extending therebetween. The lumen is sized to slidably receive a portion of the first elongate member. An expandable delivery device is mounted to the distal end of the second elongate member and is movable from a radially retracted position to a radially expanded position. The delivery device has a receiving end configured to receive the emboli capturing device, and retains at least the mouth of the emboli capturing device in a radially retracted position.

Distal protection device and method

The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing means, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing means such that the contraction of the beating heart causes orgy minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing means in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing means may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically, or by human intervention. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing means is affixed to a semi-rigid support which is caused to become rigid, by any of a variety of techniques, such that the position of the stabilizing means becomes fixed by the support, and the heart remains substantially motionless for the duration of the procedure.

Surgical instrument for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

An intubation device is provided for use with a guide apparatus having a track that is adapted to be associated with an endoscope such that bending of the track is substantially decoupled from bending of the endoscope. The intubation device includes an elongated, flexible tube and a mating member attached to the tube and adapted to slidingly engage the track external of the endoscope. The intubation device further includes a tissue bolster disposed on the proximal portion of the tube and changeable between a collapsed and an expanded configuration. The tube is positionable inside the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient such that the proximal end of the tube is externalized through the gastric and abdominal walls of the patient, and wherein the tissue bolster is securable against the inner gastric wall when the tissue bolster is in the expanded configuration.

Intubation device for enteral feeding

An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter. A directed force is applied to the actuator in order to deploy the spreading member and displace a vascular occlusion creating a path to permit the passage of a guidewire or device therethrough.

Methods and apparatus for treating vascular occlusions

An injector instrument and a forceps tap for use with an endoscope. The injector instrument is provided with at least one needle formed of a synthetic resin and is further provided with a variety of stopper devices which limit the amount that the needle can extend from the endoscope. The injector instrument may be formed having a curved or easy-to-bend portion. The forceps tap is provided at the entrance to a forceps channel of the endoscope to accommodate at lease two injector instruments or other treatment accessories such that the treatment accessories can be inserted in a single forceps channel and such that substances (such as internal fluids from a human cavity) are held inside the forceps channel.

Treatment accessory for endoscope

A device for retrieving foreign bodies, such as a vaso-occlusive coil or other articles from within vessels such as those of the cardiovascular system. Two small snare coils (60, 62) are joined at their distal ends (68, 70) to form a loop. The proximal ends of the coils are attached to one or more elongated actuator members (20, 22). The loop size is adjusted by manipulation of one or more of the proximal ends (26, 44) of the elongated actuator members. This retrieval device may be used to ensnare and either reposition or remove foreign bodies within a vessel lumen.

Dual coil medical retrieval device

This invention is an implantable vaso-occlusive device. It is a helically wound coil having a central section along its longitudinal axis which is somewhat stiffer than at least one of its end regions.

Variable stiffness coils

This is an implantable vaso-occlusive device. It is a helically wound coil having a central section along its longitudinal axis which is somewhat stiffer than at least one of its end regions.

Gene Samson

Papers

Dual coil medical retrieval device

Variable stiffness coils

Vaso-occlusive coil with variable stiffness