Flexible tube for cartridge filter

• US 20050126979A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eskuri, Alan D., Lowe, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,459,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/321.670
• 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

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A filter assembly, comprising:

a filter cartridge having a first end, a second end and a lumen extending therethrough and adapted to receive an elongate shaft, wherein the filter cartridge includes an undulating outer surface;

a filter frame coupled to the filter cartridge; and

a filter membrane for trapping emboli coupled to the filter frame.

30. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the first end and the second end of the filter cartridge define the longitudinal extents of the filter assembly.

31. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the filter cartridge is concentrically coupled to the filter frame.

32. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the filter cartridge is eccentrically coupled to the filter frame.

33. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a braid.

34. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a coil.

35. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a tubular member having a helical groove.

36. The filter assembly of claim 29, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a tubular member having a plurality of slots.

37. An embolic protection device, comprising:

a filter including a frame and a membrane coupled to the frame, and

a tubular filter cartridge coupled to the frame, the tubular filter cartridge having a first end, a second end and a lumen extending therethrough and adapted to receive a guide wire, wherein the tubular filter cartridge includes one or more notches for increased flexibility defined thererin.

38. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the one or more notches include a spiral groove cut in the tubular filter cartridge.

39. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the one or more notches include a plurality of slots cut in the tubular filter cartridge.

40. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the tubular filter cartridge includes a proximal region and a distal region, and wherein the distal region is more flexible than the proximal region.

41. The embolic protection device of claim 40, wherein the distal region of the tubular filter cartridge has an outer diameter and the proximal region of the tubular filter cartridge has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the distal region.

42. The embolic protection device of claim 40, wherein the distal region of the tubular filter cartridge has a first material composition having a first flexibility and the proximal region of the tubular filter cartridge has a second material composition having a second flexibility greater than the first flexibility.

43. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the tubular filter cartridge comprises a polymer.

44. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the tubular filter cartridge comprises a metal.

45. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the tubular filter cartridge includes a hydrophilic coating.

46. The embolic protection device of claim 37, wherein the tubular filter cartridge includes a hydrophobic coating.