Balloon actuated apparatus having multiple embolic filters, and method of use
First Claim
1. An apparatus for filtering embolic material, comprising:
- a plurality of arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end;
a expandable member located near the distal end of each of the arms, wherein the expandable member causes the plurality of arms to move radially outward;
a first filter located at a first segment point near the proximal end and the distal end of each of the arms; and
a unidirectional barrier located adjacent to the first filter at the proximal end of each of the arms such that the unidirectional barrier allows embolic material to pass in a flow direction toward the first filter, and not in an opposite flow direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus having multiple filters for capturing embolic material released from a lesion in an occluded body vessel being treated with an interventional procedure. The filters are placed downstream from the lesion, and the porosity of the filters decreases for each succeeding filter downstream from the lesion. Before encountering the filters, the embolic material passes a unidirectional barrier acting as a one-way valve to prevent backflow. The unidirectional barrier and filters are positioned along a plurality of arms. The arms may be fabricated from a memory metal, and the memory position of the plurality of arms is a collapsed position surrounding a common longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes an expansion member, such as a balloon, which inflates to move the plurality of arms radially outward to deploy the filters. Embolic material passes through the unidirectional barrier and is trapped between the layers of filters. When the balloon is deflated, the plurality of arms return to the memory position, collapse the unidirectional barrier and the filters, and embolic material remains trapped between the layers of filters.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for filtering embolic material, comprising:
-
a plurality of arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end;
a expandable member located near the distal end of each of the arms, wherein the expandable member causes the plurality of arms to move radially outward;
a first filter located at a first segment point near the proximal end and the distal end of each of the arms; and
a unidirectional barrier located adjacent to the first filter at the proximal end of each of the arms such that the unidirectional barrier allows embolic material to pass in a flow direction toward the first filter, and not in an opposite flow direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An apparatus for filtering embolic material, comprising:
-
a first filter having a first porosity;
a unidirectional barrier arranged to allow embolic material to pass in the direction toward the first filter, and not in the opposite direction; and
means for deploying the first filter and the unidirectional barrier from a collapsed position to an expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
14. A method of filtering embolic material, comprising:
-
inserting an embolic filter device into a body vessel, wherein the embolic filter device includes a plurality of arms having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first segment point between the proximal end and the distal end, a expandable member located at the distal end of the plurality of arms, a first filter located at the first segment point of the plurality of arms, and a unidirectional barrier located at the proximal end of the plurality of arms;
advancing the embolic filter device to a position downstream of the lesion to be treated in the blood vessel;
expanding the expandable member to move the plurality of arms radially outward and deploy the first filter; and
capturing, in the embolic filter device, embolic material produced during treatment of the lesion, wherein embolic material passes the unidirectional barrier in the direction toward the first filter, and not in the opposite direction, and the first filter screens embolic material of a certain size.
-
Specification