| abstract |
This invention is devices, and methods for diverting emboli away from the carotid arteries in the aorta. The devices are aortic diverters (10) that generally comprise a hollow tube (20) with a substantially cylindrical or conical wall (25), which is impermeable to emboli. The hollow tube has a proximal end (30), terminating in a substantially circular edge adapted to fill the lumen of the aorta, and a distal end (40). The proximal and distal ends are substantially open allowing blood to enter the proximal end, flow through the hollow tube, and exit the distal end. The hollow tube also has an anchoring mechanism (50) for securing the hollow tube to the lumen of the aorta. Additionally, snowshoe aortic diverters which are planar rather than cylindrical are also disclosed. |