Multiple membrane embolic protection filter

• US 20040082967A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Vrba, Anthony C., Broome, Thomas E., Beulke, Mel, Voeller, Virgil
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,823 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 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 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09183 having tools at the distal tip

Abstract

An embolic protection filter having a plurality of filter membranes for collecting embolic debris within a body lumen is disclosed. An embolic protection filter in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, and an actuator mechanism for actuating the embolic protection filter within a vessel.

Claims

1. An embolic protection filter comprising:

a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member; and

a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane.

2. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, wherein said elongated member is a guidewire.

3. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, wherein said elongated member is a hypo-tube.

4. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, wherein said elongated member is a catheter.

5. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a microporous membrane.

6. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a woven or braided mesh screen.

7. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, wherein the first filter membrane includes a first set of openings, and wherein the second filter membrane includes a second set of openings.

8. The embolic protection filter of claim 7, wherein the size of the first set of openings is the same as the size of the second set of openings.

9. The embolic protection filter of claim 7, wherein the size of the first set of openings is larger than the size of the second set of openings.

10. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, further comprising a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a body lumen.

11. The embolic protection filter of claim 10, wherein said filter frame comprises a plurality of support struts.

12. The embolic protection filter of claim 11, wherein said plurality of support struts are biased in an outward direction.

13. The embolic protection filter of claim 11, wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts and a second set of support struts.

14. The embolic protection filter of claim 11, wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts, a second set of support struts, and a connecting member.

15. The embolic protection filter of claim 11, wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a metal.

16. The embolic protection filter of claim 15, wherein said metal is stainless steel.

17. The embolic protection filter of claim 11, wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a shape-memory material.

18. The embolic protection filter of claim 17, wherein said shape-memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy.

19. The embolic protection filter of claim 1, further comprising an actuator mechanism.

20. The embolic protection filter of claim 19, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a first set of retrieval members configured to engage the first filter membrane, and a second set of retrieval members configured to engage the second filter membrane.

21. The embolic protection filter of claim 20, wherein each of said first and second sets of retrieval members comprise one or more wires.

22. The embolic protection filter of claim 20, wherein said elongated member includes a first opening configured to receive the first set of retrieval members, and a second opening configured to receive the second set of retrieval members.

23. The embolic protection filter of claim 19, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having a reduced inner diameter portion adapted to engage a barb attached to the embolic protection filter.

24. The embolic protection filter of claim 19, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a holding tube.

25. The embolic protection filter of claim 19, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having several reduced inner diameter portions configured to engage several recesses formed on the embolic protection filter.

26. An embolic protection filter comprising:

a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member;

a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane;

a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a vessel; and

an actuator mechanism.

27. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said elongated member is a guidewire.

28. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said elongated member is a hypo-tube.

29. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said elongated member is a catheter.

30. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a microporous membrane.

31. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein each of said first and second filter membranes comprise a woven or braided mesh screen.

32. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein the first filter membrane includes a first set of openings, and wherein second filter membrane includes a second set of openings.

33. The embolic protection filter of claim 32, wherein the size of the first set of openings is the same as the size of the second set of openings.

34. The embolic protection filter of claim 32, wherein the size of the first set of openings is larger than the size of the second set of openings.

35. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said filter frame comprises a plurality of support struts.

36. The embolic protection filter of claim 35, wherein said plurality of support struts are biased in an outward direction.

37. The embolic protection filter of claim 35, wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts and a second set of support struts.

38. The embolic protection filter of claim 35, wherein said plurality of support struts comprise a first set of support struts, a second set of support struts, and a connecting member.

39. The embolic protection filter of claim 35, wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a metal.

40. The embolic protection filter of claim 39, wherein said metal is stainless steel.

41. The embolic protection filter of claim 35, wherein said plurality of support struts are formed of a shape-memory material.

42. The embolic protection filter of claim 41, wherein said shape-memory material is a nickel-titanium alloy.

43. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a first set of retrieval members configured to engage the first filter membrane, and a second set of retrieval members configured to engage the second filter membrane.

44. The embolic protection filter of claim 43, wherein each of said first and second sets of retrieval members comprise one or more wires.

45. The embolic protection filter of claim 43, wherein said elongated member includes a first opening configured to receive the first set of retrieval members, and a second opening configured to receive the second set of retrieval members.

46. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having a reduced inner diameter portion adapted to engage a barb attached to the embolic protection filter.

47. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a holding tube.

48. The embolic protection filter of claim 26, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises a tubular member having several reduced inner diameter portions configured to engage several recesses formed on the embolic protection filter.

49. An embolic protection filter comprising:

a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member;

a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane;

a filter frame adapted to support the first and second filter membranes within a body lumen, said filter frame comprising a first set of filter supports coupled to the first filter membrane, and a second set of filter supports coupled to the second filter membrane; and

an actuator mechanism for selectively engaging the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen.

50. A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, and an actuator mechanism;

inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis;

deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen;

collecting embolic debris within the first filter membrane;

engaging the actuator mechanism to collapse the first filter membrane at least in part within the body lumen; and

collecting embolic debris within the second filter membrane.

51. A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, said first and second filter membranes each having a number of openings thereon;

inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis;

deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen such that the openings on the first filter membrane are misaligned with the openings on the second filter membrane;

collecting embolic debris within the embolic protection filter;

providing an actuator mechanism configured to rotate the first filter membrane relative to the second filter membrane;

engaging the actuator mechanism such that the openings on the first filter membrane are aligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; and

continuing to collect embolic debris within the embolic protection filter.

52. A method of filtering embolic debris within a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

providing an embolic protection filter having a first filter membrane coupled to an elongated member, and a second filter membrane coupled to the elongated member distal the first filter membrane, the first and second filter membranes each having a number of openings thereon, wherein the openings on the first filter membrane are larger than the openings on the second filter membrane;

inserting the embolic protection filter into the body lumen distal a lesion or stenosis;

deploying the first and second filter membranes within the body lumen such that the openings on the first filter membrane are misaligned with the openings on the second filter membrane;

collecting embolic debris within the embolic protection filter;

providing an actuator mechanism configured to rotate the first filter membrane relative to the second filter membrane;

engaging the actuator mechanism such that the openings on the first filter membrane are aligned with the openings on the second filter membrane; and

continuing to collect embolic debris within the embolic protection filter.