Filter frame

• US 20030176885A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, James M., Vogel, Jeffrey H., Broome, Thomas E., Cassell, Robert L., Slaker, Bradley F., Chandrasekaran, Verivada (Chandru), Daniel, John M.K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0097 Harpoon-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49604 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Distal protection filter frame and method for using and manufacturing the same. A distal protection filter frame may include one or more struts, a mouth, and a filter coupled to the mouth.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a distal protection filter assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a filter frame having a plurality of struts and a mouth;

providing a mandrel having a proximal region, a middle region, and a distal region, the middle region include a groove;

coupling the filter frame to the mandrel wherein the mouth is at least partially disposed within the groove;

coupling a filter to at least a portion of the filter frame.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of uncoupling the filter frame from the mandrel and the step of coupling the struts to a guidewire.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mandrel includes one or more strut channels and a guidewire channel, and wherein the step of coupling the filter frame to the mandrel includes passing the struts through the strut channels and into the guidewire channel.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mandrel includes a screw dip rod, and wherein the step of coupling the filter frame to the mandrel includes actuating the screw dip rod.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of heat setting the frame.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mandrel includes a collar slidably disposed about the mandrel, and further comprising the step of disposing the collar over a portion of the filter frame.

7. A mandrel for assembling a distal protection filter, comprising:

a mandrel body having a proximal region, a distal region, and a middle region;

wherein the distal region is tapered; and

wherein the middle region includes one or more grooves adapted and configured to receive a strut from a distal protection filter.

8. The mandrel in accordance with claim 7, wherein the proximal region is tapered.

9. The mandrel in accordance with claim 7, wherein the mandrel body further comprises a central lumen.

10. The mandrel in accordance with claim 9, wherein the mandrel body includes an exterior surface and wherein the mandrel body includes one or more channels extending between the exterior surface and the central lumen.

11. The mandrel in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a collar slidably disposed along at least a portion of the mandrel body.

12. The mandrel in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a screw dip rod coupled to the mandrel body.

13. The mandrel in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a filter frame coupled to the mandrel, wherein a portion of the filter frame is disposed adjacent the grooves.

14. A mandrel for assembling a distal protection filter, comprising:

a mandrel body having a proximal region, a distal region, a middle region, and a central lumen;

wherein the distal region is tapered;

wherein the middle region includes a plurality of grooves and a plurality openings extending between the grooves to the central lumen; and

a filter frame coupled to the mandrel body, the frame including a portion disposed adjacent the grooves and a plurality of struts extending through the openings and into a location adjacent the central lumen.

15. A distal protection filter, comprising:

a filter frame including one or more struts and a mouth, the mouth having a proximal end and one or more of points;

wherein the struts are coupled to an elongate shaft and wherein the struts further comprise a first curved region having a constant radius;

the mouth including a second curved region; and

a filter material coupled to the mouth.

16. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the filter frame is comprised of nickel-titanium alloy.

17. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the frame includes two struts.

18. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the frame includes three struts.

19. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the frame includes four struts.

20. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 15, wherein the mouth has an exterior geometry that is substantially circular.

21. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 20, wherein the filter is adapted for circumferential contact with the wall of a blood vessel.

22. The distal protection filter in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a plurality of distally-oriented struts coupled to the points.