Multiple access vein filter

• US 20050080447A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: REX Medical LP
• Original Assignee: REX Medical LP
• Inventors: McGuckin, James F. Jr., Briganti, Richard T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0103 With centering means
• 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 2/012 Multiple filtering units
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section

Abstract

A vessel filter comprising first and second filtering portions and first and second anchoring portions. A transverse dimension of the first filtering portion in an expanded configuration is less than a transverse dimension of the anchoring portion in an expanded configuration, and a transverse dimension of the second filtering portion is less than a transverse dimension of the second anchoring portion. The first and second filtering portions are positioned closer to each other than the first and second anchoring portions, and the anchoring portions are formed on first and second opposite portions of the vessel filter. Preferably a sleeve is positioned between the first and second filter portions.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A method of implanting a vein filter in the inferior vena cava of a patient comprising:

inserting through a femoral vein, superior vena cava or an internal jugular vein a catheter having a filter positioned therein in a collapsed configuration so that a first, second and third wire of the filter are in a substantially elongated configuration;

delivering cold saline into the catheter to maintain the filter in the collapsed configuration;

releasing the filter from the catheter to enable the filter to move to an expanded configuration in response to warming by exposure to body temperature, in the expanded configuration a pair of mounting portions expand to a first diameter and a pair of filter portions expand to a second smaller diameter.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of opening a valve to enable infusion of cold saline into the catheter.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of releasing the filter initially ejects a first of the pair of mounting portions and a first of the pair of filter portions.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of releasing the filter comprises withdrawing the catheter to expose the filter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of releasing the filter comprises withdrawing the catheter to expose the filter.

19. A method of implanting a vein filter in the inferior vena cava of a patient comprising:

inserting intravascularly a catheter having a filter positioned therein in a collapsed configuration so that the filter is in a substantially elongated configuration, the filter composed of a shape memory material;

delivering cold saline into the catheter to maintain the filter in the collapsed configuration;

releasing the filter from the catheter to enable the filter to move to an expanded austenitic configuration in response to warming by exposure to body temperature, in the expanded configuration a mounting portion of the filter expands to a first diameter and a filter portion expands to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and having a converging region at an end opposite the mounting portion.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of opening a valve to enable infusion of cold saline into the catheter.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a rod within the catheter prevents proximal movement of the filter during the step of releasing the filter.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of releasing the filter comprises withdrawing the catheter to expose the filter.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of releasing the filter comprises withdrawing the catheter to expose the filter.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of releasing the filter enables anchoring members to engage a wall of the vena cava.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the converging region of the filter portion converges to a tubular portion, and in the step of releasing the filter a diameter of the tubular portion remains the same.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of releasing the filter enables anchoring members to engage a wall of the vena cava.