Temporary intraluminal filter guidewire

• US 20040220609A1
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Crittenden, James F., Douk, Nareak, Rafiee, Nasser, Strickler, Peter G., Brin, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12095 Threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22045 fixed to the catheter; guiding tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• 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 2230/0071 spherical

Abstract

The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. In several embodiments, the guidewire distal to the filter has a fixed tip length. Other embodiments of the invention include a mechanism for damping longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A device for temporarily filtering bodily fluid, the device comprising:

an elongate flexible guidewire having a proximal end and distal region having a flexible tubular element fixed there about;

a generaly tubular, self-expanding filter mounted coaxially about the guidewire, the filter having distal and proximal tapered ends slidingly disposed about the guidewire, wherein relative longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter accompanies a transformation of the filter between a closed configuration and an open configuration;

a stop element fixed to the guidewire distal region, the stop element being disposed between and limiting longitudinal movement of the distal and proximal ends of the filter;

an actuator fixed to the proximal end of the filter, the actuator forming an annular space around the guidewire and being slidably disposed there along;

an elongate hollow rod having a lumen and a distal end releasably engageable with the actuator, the hollow rod being slidably disposed about the guidewire and being operable, when the distal end of the rod is engaged with the actuator, to draw the proximal end of the filter in a proximal direction; and

a mechanism for damping the relative longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the filter.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the annular space is capable of containing a volume of bodily fluid to effectuate the mechanism for damping.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the mechanism for damping comprises a viscous material being applied to the actuator and/or the guidewire to at least partially fill the annular space there between.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein the mechanism for damping comprises a distal opening of the actuator being funnel-shaped such that distal movement of the actuator through bodily fluid collects and forces the fluid into the annular space.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein the mechanism for damping further comprises the actuator and the distal end of the hollow rod being designed and arranged such that the releasable engagement there between is effectuated by applying a partial vacuum through the lumen of the hollow rod, whereby controllably releasing the partial vacuum slowly disengages the distal end of the hollow rod from the tubular actuator.