Filter retrieval catheter

• US 20020120286A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lowe, Brian J., DoBrava, Eric M., Vogel, Jeffrey H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,974,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular

Abstract

Methods and devices for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel are disclosed. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft and a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof. A tip member is slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the tip member is configured such that the housing is substantially centered about the guidewire. In another preferred embodiment, the tip member is slidingly disposed within the housing, and the tip member may be moved between a first position and a second position.

Claims

1. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel, comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof;

a tip member slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing; and

wherein the tip member is configured such that the guidewire is substantially centered within the housing.

2. The catheter of claim 1, further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member.

3. The catheter of claim 1, further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member;

and

wherein the inner tubular member extends through a shaft lumen defined by the elongate shaft.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent that is generally greater than an outer radial extent of the inner tubular member.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip member has an outer diameter that is generally greater than an outer diameter of the inner tubular member.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent comprising an outer diameter;

and

the outer diameter of the tip member is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the cavity defined by the housing.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member;

and

the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the guidewire.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member;

and

the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guidewire.

10. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip member includes a distal portion having a generally tapered shape.

11. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns, and adjacent turns contact each other across substantially their entire length.

13. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns, and the turns are configured such that the housing has a high level of longitudinal pushability and a high level of a lateral flexibility.

15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the housing and the tip member are configured such that the housing may accept the filter when the tip member is in the second position.

16. The catheter of claim 14, further including a first stop means for stopping the movement of the tip member and the inner tubular member when the tip member is in the first position.

17. The catheter of claim 16, further including:

a shaft hub disposed about the elongate shaft proximate a proximal distal end thereof;

an ancillary hub disposed about the inner tubular member proximate a proximal end thereof; and

wherein the second stop means comprises a distal surface of the ancillary hub and a proximal surface of the shaft hub.

18. The catheter of claim 14, further including a second stop means for stopping the movement of the tip member and the inner tubular member when the tip member is in the second position.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the second stop means comprises a trailing surface of the tip member and a mating surface of the housing.

20. The catheter of claim 14, further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member.

21. The catheter of claim 14, further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member;

and

wherein the inner tubular member extends through a shaft lumen defined by the elongate shaft.

22. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent that is generally greater than an outer radial extent of the inner tubular member.

23. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the tip member has an outer diameter that is generally greater than an outer diameter of the inner tubular member.

24. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent comprising an outer diameter;

and

the outer diameter of the tip member is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the cavity defined by the housing.

25. The catheter of claim 15, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member.

26. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member;

and

the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the guidewire.

27. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member;

and

the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guidewire.

28. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns.

29. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns and adjacent turns contacts each other across substantially their entire length.

30. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns, and the turns are configured such that the housing has a high level of longitudinal pushability and a high level of lateral flexibility.

14. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough;

a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate the distal end thereof;

a tip member slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing;

the tip member having a first position and a second position; and

wherein a tapered portion of the tip member extends distally from the housing when the tip member is in the first position.

31. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel, comprising:

an elongate shaft; and

a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns.

32. The catheter in accordance with claim 31, further comprising a tip member slidably disposed within a cavity defined by the housing, and wherein the tip member is configured such that a guide wire is substantially centered within the housing.

33. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member.

34. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member wherein the inner tubular member extends through a shaft lumen defined by the elongate shaft.

35. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent that is generally greater than an outer radial extent of an inner tubular member.

36. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the tip member has an outer diameter that is generally greater than the outer diameter of the inner tubular member.

37. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent including an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the tip member being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity defined by the housing.

38. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member.

39. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member, the guidewire lumen having a guidewire lumen diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the guidewire.

40. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending to the tip member and the inner tubular member, the guidewire lumen having a guidewire lumen diameter that is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guidewire.

41. The catheter in accordance with claim 32, wherein the tip member includes a distal portion having a generally tapered shape.