Intravascular filter and method

• US 20030181943A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• 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., Broome, Thomas E., Daniel, John, Slaker, Bradley F., Cassell, Robert, Arnold, John E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0108 Both ends closed, i.e. legs gathered at both ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• 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 2250/0023 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A filter disposed at the distal end of an elongate guidewire. Catheters are provided for delivering the filter to, and retrieving the filter from, a treatment site. The catheters can be over-the-wire or single operator exchange. The catheters include a housing for receiving the filter therein. The housing has an atraumatic distal end.

Claims

1. A filter assembly, comprising:

a catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a housing disposed at the distal end, the housing having a distal end;

an elongate wire extending at least in part through the catheter, the wire having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a filter connected to the wire proximate the distal end of the wire, and the filter being disposed in a position at least in part within the housing.

2. The filter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filter is moveable between the position at least in part inside the housing and a position outside the housing.

3. The filter in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a housing insert disposed within the housing and extending distally therefrom when the filter is in the position outside the housing.

4. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the insert tapers distally.

5. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the insert is releasably connected to the distal end of the housing.

6. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the insert includes a balloon.

7. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a manifold disposed at the proximal end of the shaft, the manifold including a positive prep port, a guidewire port and balloon inflation port.

8. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the insert includes a flap which extends transversely over the distal end of the housing.

9. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing is heat shrunk around the at least a portion of the filter.

10. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of the filter extends transversely of the distal end of the housing.

11. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing extends transversely inward toward the filter.

12. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing includes an elastomeric sheath which tapers distally.

13. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing is atraumatic.

14. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a collapsible shell connected to the wire and disposed substantially distally of the filter.

15. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wire extends distally of the filter.

16. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 15, further comprising a spring tip at the distal end of the wire.

17. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft includes at least one releasable coupling for coupling a distal portion of the shaft to a proximal portion of the shaft.

18. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 17, wherein the coupling includes a bayonet fastener.

19. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 17, wherein the coupling includes a threaded fastener.

20. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft includes a longitudinally collapsible member.

21. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 20, wherein the longitudinally collapsible member includes a braid.

22. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the catheter is a filter retrievable catheter.

23. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the catheter is a filter delivery catheter.

24. A guidewire assembly, comprising:

an elongate guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a filter disposed at the distal end of the wire, the filter including an expandable frame and a filter membrane.

25. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein the wire extends distally of the filter.

26. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 25, further comprising a spring tip at the distal end of the wire.

27. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein the frame includes a NiTi alloy.

28. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein the membrane surrounds a portion of the wire.

29. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein the filter membrane portion of the filter tapers distally.

30. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein the membrane includes polyurethane.

31. The guidewire assembly in accordance with claim 24, wherein the membrane defines a plurality of apertures.

32. A method of retrieving and deploying an intravascular filter, comprising the steps of:

providing a catheter having an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and a housing disposed at the distal end, and providing a filter disposed on an elongate wire;

placing the filter in the housing;

advancing the filter and housing to a treatment site;

removing the filter from the housing;

replacing the filter in the housing; and

withdrawing the filter and housing from the treatment site.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein the filter is placed in the housing by moving the housing distally to capture the filter.