Variable thickness embolic filtering devices and method of manufacturing the same
First Claim
1. A strut assembly for an embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
- a plurality of struts arranged to create a desired composite strut structure which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the strut structure including;
flexing portions which flex when subjected to bending forces that may be developed when the strut assembly is being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature; and
stable portions that remain relatively stiff when being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A strut assembly to be used in conjunction with an embolic filtering device has varying strut thicknesses, with the thickness selected based at least in part on the flexing characteristics of the particular portion of the strut assembly. The strut assembly is formed with patterns having flexing portions and stable portions, with the flexing portions contributing to the flexibility of the strut assembly during delivery and recovery in the patient'"'"'s vasculature. The stable portions remain relatively unflexed and stiff when being delivered or recovered from the patient'"'"'s vasculature. The stable portions provide strength and increased radiopacity to the strut assembly which is needed when the strut assembly is deployed in the body vessel. The flexing portions act much like a mechanical hinges in providing the needed flexibility to resiliently bend when being delivered through tortuous anatomy of the patient.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A strut assembly for an embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
a plurality of struts arranged to create a desired composite strut structure which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the strut structure including;
flexing portions which flex when subjected to bending forces that may be developed when the strut assembly is being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature; and
stable portions that remain relatively stiff when being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A strut assembly for an embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
a plurality of struts arranged to create a desired composite strut assembly which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, each strut having an inner surface and an outer surface which defines a particular strut thickness, wherein portions of the composite strut assembly have strut thickness which are less that the strut thickness of the remaining struts to impart flexibility to the composite strut assembly to resiliently flex when being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
a filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto;
wherein the strut assembly is adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position and has flexing portions which flex when subjected to bending forces that may be developed when the filtering assembly is being passed through the patient'"'"'s vasculature and stable portions that remain relatively stiff when the filtering assembly is being passed through the patient'"'"'s vasculature.- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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46. An embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
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a filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto, the strut assembly being adapted to move between a first collapsed position and an expanded position and being formed from a plurality of struts arranged to create a desired composite strut structure, each strut having an inner surface and an outer surface which defines a particular strut thickness, wherein;
portions of the composite strut assembly have strut thickness which are less that the strut thickness of the remaining struts forming the strut assembly to impart flexibility to the composite strut assembly to allow the strut assembly to resiliently flex while being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature.
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51. A method of manufacturing a strut assembly having variable thickness, comprising:
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providing a generally tubular member with a desired thickness, the tubular member having a outer surface and an inner surface;
varying the thickness of selected portions of the tubular member; and
removing material from the tubular section to form a desired strut pattern which forms the strut assembly. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53)
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54. A method of manufacturing a strut assembly having variable thickness, comprising:
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selecting a strut pattern;
determining flexing portions and stable portions for the strut pattern;
forming a strut assembly with the desired strut pattern;
providing at least some flexing portions of the strut pattern of the strut assembly with a nominal thickness; and
providing at least some stable portions of the strut pattern of the strut assembly with a greater-than-nominal thickness. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification