Filter and method of making a filter

• US 20040199199A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Vo, Hoa Vinh, Krolik, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US10/405,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

An embolic protection filtering device and method of making the same. In at least some embodiments, a method of making an embolic protection filter includes providing a mandrel and a filter material, advancing the mandrel toward the filter material and stretching the filter material, and drilling a plurality of holes in the filter material.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an embolic protection filter, comprising the steps of:

providing a mandrel;

providing a filter material;

bringing the mandrel and the filter material into contact such that the filter material stretches and so that at least a portion of the filter material generally conforms to the shape of the mandrel; and

forming a plurality of holes in the filter material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of bringing the mandrel and the filter material into contact includes heating the filter material with a heat source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of bringing the mandrel and the filter material into contact further includes heat sealing a portion of filter material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming a plurality of holes in the filter material includes laser drilling holes in the filter material.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step coupling the filter material to an elongate guidewire.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of measuring the thickness of the filter material adjacent the stretched portion thereof that generally conforms to the shape of the mandrel.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of annealing the filter material.

8. A method of manufacturing an embolic protection filter, comprising the steps of:

providing an embolic protection filter manufacturing assembly, the assembly including a base member, a shaft extending from the base member, a first arm coupled to the shaft and including a mandrel member, and a second arm coupled to the shaft and including a filter material holding member;

coupling a filter material to the filter material holding member;

bringing the mandrel member into contact with the filter material such that the filter material stretches to define a stretched filter-shaped member;

disassociating the mandrel member from the filter-shaped member;

coupling the filter-shaped member to a stretch frame;

disposing the filter-shaped member and stretch frame adjacent a drilling apparatus;

drilling a plurality of holes in the filter-shaped member with the drilling apparatus; and

annealing the filter-shaped member.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the filter material holding member includes a filter hoop having an opening and wherein the step of coupling a filter material to the filter material holding member includes disposing the filter material adjacent the filter hoop so that at least a portion of the filter material is disposed within the opening.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of heating the filter material.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of heat sealing a portion of filter material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the drilling apparatus includes a laser drilling apparatus, and wherein the step of drilling a plurality of holes in the filter-shaped member with the drilling apparatus includes laser drilling holes in the filter material.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of annealing the filter-shaped member enlarges the holes.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step coupling the filter-shaped member to an elongate guidewire.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of measuring the thickness of the filter-shaped member.

16. An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising:

an embolic protection filter forming assembly, the assembly including a moveable mandrel member and a filter material holding member;

a filter material coupled to the filter material holding member; and

means for drilling one or more holes in the filter material.

17. An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising:

an embolic protection filter forming assembly, the assembly including a mandrel, a stretch frame having a proximal end and a tapered distal end, and a filter material holding member;

a filter material coupled to the filter material holding member;

a support member for moving the mandrel into contact with the filter material;

wherein contact between the mandrel and the filter material results in stretching of the filter material and at least a portion of the filter material conforming to the shape of the mandrel; and

a drilling apparatus for drilling a plurality of holes into the filter material.