St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.

Joel D Phillips

Peter Trexler Keith

Thomas V Ressemann

Steven S Hackett

Mark R Christianson

David J Blaeser

Scott A Olson

Jerome Kent Grudem, Jr

Dennis W Wahr

John R Drontle

Thomas F Janecek

Andrew Joseph Dusbabek

Kyle Thunstrom

Eric Stainbrook

Chad W Trembath

An evacuation sheath assembly and method of reducing or removing a blockage within a vessel without permitting embolization of particulate matter is provided. The evacuation sheath assembly includes a first elongate tubular member, having proximal and distal ends and a main lumen configured to be placed in fluid communication with a blood vessel. An expandable member is provided on a distal portion of the tubular member and is configured to form a seal with the blood vessel. The evacuation assembly further includes a second elongate tubular member having proximal and distal ends and an inflation lumen configured to be placed in fluid communication with the expandable member and a gas inflator. The gas inflator includes a high pressure gas source and a mechanism for regulating the pressure of the gas delivered by the gas inflator. The gas inflator is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the proximal end of the inflation lumen in order to provide a regulated pressure gas source for inflating the expandable member. A method of treatment of a blood vessel using the evacuation sheath assembly includes advancing the evacuation sheath assembly into the blood vessel through a guide catheter. The expandable member is inflated to provide form a seal between the blood vessel and the guide catheter and a vacuum is applied to the main lumen of the first elongate tubular member to cause retrograde blood flow and carry fluid into the main lumen of the evacuation sheath assembly.

Embolic protection device and methods of use

Devices and methods for sealing a passageway formed by a patent foramen ovale (PFO track) in the heart are provided. One method includes providing an abrading device to the PFO track and abrading the tissue within the PFO track. The abraded tissue forming the PFO track is then held together under pressure, either via lowering right atrial pressure or via applying suction to the septum primum to pull it into apposition against the septum secundum. After a sufficient period of time, the pressure is released and the abraded tissue heals to form a robust seal over the PFO track. Additionally, several devices are provided which can be placed into the PFO track to apply adhesive to the walls of the PFO track. The devices may or may not be left within the PFO track. If the devices are not left within the PFO track, the walls of the PFO track, covered with adhesive, are brought into apposition with one another and adhered together. If the device is left within the PFO track, the device is flattened from an expanded configuration to a flattened configuration, and the walls of the PFO track, adhering to the outer surface of the device, are pulled toward each other as the device flattens. The device may also include interior structure to hold the device in a flattened configuration.

PFO closure devices and related methods of use

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Joel D Phillips