Embolic filter frame having looped support strut elements

• US 20050101989A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Cully, Edward H., Vonesh, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• 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: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An improved embolic filter frame having looped support struts. The frame configuration provides enhanced longitudinal compliance, improved sealing against a vessel wall, low profile delivery, and a short deployed length. The looped support struts have a high degree of “radial” stiffness with a low degree of “longitudinal” stiffness. In the deployed state, the frame exerts a relatively high stress onto a vessel wall to maintain an effective seal, yet remains compliant in the longitudinal direction. Minor displacements of the support wire or catheter are therefore not translated to the filter. The looped support struts elongate when tensioned and assume a compressed and essentially linear form. While constrained in this linear state by a delivery catheter, the support struts exert minimal stress onto the delivery system. The overall delivery profile and stiffness are therefore reduced. When the delivery catheter constraint is removed during deployment, the struts “snap open” and assume a looped configuration which exert a high degree of force onto the vessel wall, creating an enhanced filter to vessel wall seal. In addition, the looped struts and the central collar connecting the support struts to the support wire, are positioned essentially within the plane of the filter opening. The overall deployed length of the embolic filter is therefore reduced.

Claims

1. An embolic filter comprising:

a support wire;

an embolic filter frame having a filter support portion and multiple support struts mounted to the support wire;

the support struts extending radially from the support wire;

at least one support strut having a looped configuration when not in tension in a deployed state; and

a filter element attached to the filter support portion.

2. The embolic filter of claim 1 wherein the multiple support struts have looped configurations.

3. The embolic filter of claim 1 wherein at least one support strut projects a looped configuration in two orthogonal views.

4. The embolic filter of claim 1 wherein at least one support strut has an a “

s”

shape.

5. An embolic filter comprising:

a support wire;

an embolic filter frame including multiple struts mounted to the support wire;

the struts having a constrained delivery state and a non-tensioned deployed state;

the struts having an essentially linear configuration while in the constrained delivery state and an essentially looped configuration while in the non-tensioned deployed state;

wherein the struts are adapted to transform from the straight configuration to the looped configuration during deployment.

6. The embolic filter of claim 5 further comprising at least three looped support struts.

7. The embolic filter of claim 5 wherein at least one support strut projects a looped configuration in two orthogonal views.

8. An embolic filter comprising:

a support wire;

an embolic filter frame including multiple support struts mounted to the support wire and extending radially therefrom;

the struts having a constrained delivery state and a non-tensioned deployed state;

at least one strut having a loop configuration when in the non-tensioned deployed state; and

a filter element attached to the frame.

9. The embolic filter of claim 8 further comprising at least three looped support struts.

10. The embolic filter of claim 8 wherein at least one support strut projects a looped configuration in two orthogonal views.

11. An embolic filter comprising:

a movable support wire having a maximum total displacement;

a frame having multiple looped support struts and an unconstrained diameter;

wherein a ratio of the frame unconstrained diameter divided by the support wire total displacement is greater than about 2.

12. The embolic filter of claim 11 wherein at least one support strut projects a looped configuration in two orthogonal views.

13. An endoluminal filter assembly comprising

a filter element;

a support wire;

a filter frame comprising at least two “

s”

shaped support struts attaching the filter element to the support wire.

14. The endoluminal filter assembly of claim 13 wherein the filter frame is slidably attached to the support wire.