Flexible tube for cartridge filter

• US 20040164030A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eskuri, Alan D., Lowe, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,878,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/767
• 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 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

Embolic protection filtering devices and methods of making and using the same. The present invention may include an embolic protection filtering device including a filter cartridge that is slidable over medical devices, for example, guidewires. The filter cartridge may have a filter coupled thereto and may have desirable flexibility and trackability characteristics.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal region and a distal region;

the shaft including one or more stops coupled adjacent the distal region;

a tubular cartridge slidably disposed over the shaft;

the tubular cartridge including one or more notches defined therein; and

a filter coupled to the cartridge.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft is a guidewire.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the guidewire includes one or more stops coupled thereto.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein tubular cartridge comprises a polymer.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more notches include a spiral groove cut in the tubular cartridge.

6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a deployment sheath slidably disposed over the shaft.

7. The medical device of claim 6, further comprising a delivery sheath slidably disposed over the shaft.

8. An embolic protection filtering device, comprising:

an elongate guidewire;

a tubular filter cartridge slidably disposed over the guidewire, the cartridge having a length and a spiraling groove defined along at least a portion of the length; and

an embolic protection filter coupled to the filter cartridge.

9. The filtering device of claim 8, wherein the tubular filter cartridge comprises a polymer.

10. The filtering device of claim 8, wherein tubular filter cartridge includes a proximal region and a distal region, and wherein the distal region is more flexible than the proximal region.

11. An embolic protection filtering device, comprising:

an elongate guidewire;

a tubular filter cartridge slidably disposed over the guidewire, the cartridge having a length and including a coil disposed along at least a portion of the length; and

an embolic protection filter coupled to the filter cartridge.

12. The filtering device of claim 11, wherein the guidewire includes one or more stops coupled thereto.

13. The filtering device of claim 11, wherein the filter cartridge comprises polymer.

14. The filtering device of claim 11, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a metal.

15. The filtering device of claim 11, wherein the filter includes a filter frame, and wherein the filter frame is defined by a portion of the coil.

16. An embolic protection filtering device, comprising:

an elongate shaft

a filter cartridge slidably disposed over the shaft;

a filter coupled to the filter cartridge; and

means for increasing the flexibility of the filter cartridge.

17. A method of manufacturing an embolic protection filtering device, comprising the steps of:

providing a mandrel having an outer surface;

disposing a filter cartridge material on the outer surface of the mandrel to define a filter cartridge;

altering the flexibility of the filter cartridge; and

coupling a filter to the filter cartridge.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein outer surface of the mandrel includes a plurality of projections, and wherein the step of disposing a filter cartridge material on the outer surface of the mandrel to define a filter cartridge includes defining a filter cartridge with a plurality of projections.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein outer surface of the mandrel includes a plurality of dimples, and wherein the step of disposing a filter cartridge material on the outer surface of the mandrel to define a filter cartridge includes defining a filter cartridge with a plurality of dimples.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of disposing a filter cartridge material on the outer surface of the mandrel to define a filter cartridge includes spray molding the filter cartridge material onto the mandrel.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of disposing a filter cartridge material on the outer surface of the mandrel to define a filter cartridge includes dip molding the mandrel into the filter cartridge material.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of altering the flexibility of the filter cartridge includes forming a spiral groove in the filter cartridge.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of altering the flexibility of the filter cartridge include forming one or more slots in the filter cartridge.

24. A method of filtering embolic debris, comprising the steps of:

providing a guidewire;

providing a tubular filter cartridge having a filter coupled thereto, the filter cartridge including one or more notches defined therein to enhance the flexibility of the cartridge;

coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire;

advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel to a target location;

expanding the filter;

advancing a therapeutic device over the guidewire; and

filtering debris generated by the therapeutic device with the expanded filter.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire precedes the step of advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel to a target location.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire follows the step of advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel to a target location.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire includes sliding the filter cartridge over the guidewire to a suitable position and mechanically attaching the cartridge to the guidewire.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire includes sliding the filter cartridge over the guidewire to a position between two stops disposed on the guidewire.