Single wire intravascular filter

• US 20060036279A1
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifescreen Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Tracee E.J., Brooks, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 7,794,472 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 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 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical

Abstract

Single-wire intravascular filters for use in filtering blood clots within the body are disclosed. An intravascular filter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention can include a single filter wire defining a first end section, a second end section, and one or more filter loops adapted to collect blood clots contained within a blood vessel. Each of the filter loops can be configured to slope outwardly at an angle away from a central longitudinal axis of the filter to form a conical-shaped structure having an apex section and a base section.

Claims

1. An intravascular filter, comprising:

a single filter wire defining a first end section, a second end section, and one or more filter loops adapted to collect blood clots contained within a blood vessel;

the one or more filter loops forming a conical-shaped structure having an apex section and a base section.

2. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more filter loops slopes outwardly at an angle away from a central longitudinal axis of the intravascular filter.

3. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein the first end section of the filter wire is oriented in a direction substantially collinear with a central longitudinal axis of the intravascular filter.

4. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein the second end section of the filter wire is oriented in a direction substantially collinear with a central longitudinal axis of the intravascular filter.

5. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more filter loops has a wide configuration.

6. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more filter loops has a narrow configuration.

7. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein said one or more filter loops are open-ended filter loops.

8. The intravascular filter of claim 1, further comprising a retrieval member disposed on the first and second end sections of the filter wire.

9. The intravascular filter of claim 8, wherein said retrieval member comprises a rounded bead.

10. The intravascular filter of claim 8, wherein said retrieval member comprises a hook.

11. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein said filter wire is formed of a superelastic material.

12. The intravascular filter of claim 11, wherein said superelastic material comprises nickel-titanium alloy.

13. The intravascular filter of claim 1, further comprising an anchoring member coupled to at least one of said one or more filter loops.

14. The intravascular filter of claim 13, wherein said anchoring member comprises a barb.

15. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein said intravascular filter is retrievable via a jugular approach.

16. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein said intravascular filter is retrievable via a femoral approach.

17. The intravascular filter of claim 1, wherein said intravascular filter is a vena cava filter.

18. An intravascular filter, comprising:

a single filter wire defining a first end section, a second end section, and one or more filter loops adapted to collect blood clots contained within a blood vessel;

each of the one or more filter loops sloping outwardly at an angle away from a central longitudinal axis of the intravascular filter and forming a conical-shaped structure having an apex section and a base section.

19. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein the first end section of the filter wire is oriented in a direction substantially collinear with the central longitudinal axis.

20. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein the second end section of the filter wire is oriented in a direction substantially collinear with the central longitudinal axis.

21. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein each of said one or more filter loops has a wide configuration.

22. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein each of said one or more filter loops has a narrow configuration.

23. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein said one or more filter loops are open-ended filter loops.

24. The intravascular filter of claim 18, further comprising a retrieval member disposed on the first and second end sections of the filter wire.

25. The intravascular filter of claim 24, wherein said retrieval member comprises a rounded bead.

26. The intravascular filter of claim 24, wherein said retrieval member comprises a hook.

27. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein said filter wire is formed of a superelastic material.

28. The intravascular filter of claim 27, wherein said superelastic material comprises nickel-titanium alloy.

29. The intravascular filter of claim 18, further comprising an anchoring member coupled to at least one of said one or more filter loops.

30. The intravascular filter of claim 29, wherein said anchoring member comprises a barb.

31. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein said intravascular filter is retrievable via a jugular approach.

32. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein said intravascular filter is retrievable via a femoral approach.

33. The intravascular filter of claim 18, wherein said intravascular filter is a vena cava filter.

34. An intravascular filter, comprising:

a single filter wire defining a first end section, a second end section, and one or more filter loops adapted to collect blood clots contained within a blood vessel, said first and second end sections being oriented in a direction substantially collinear with a central longitudinal axis of the intravascular filter; and

wherein each of the one or more filter loops slopes outwardly at an angle away from the central longitudinal axis to form a conical-shaped structure having an apex section and a base section.

35. An intravascular filter system, comprising:

an intravascular filter including a single filter wire defining a first end section, a second end section, and one or more filter loops adapted to collect blood clots contained within a blood vessel, said one or more filter loops forming a conical-shaped structure having an apex section and a base section; and

a retrieval device for engaging a retrieval member formed on the first and second end sections of the filter wire.

36. The intravascular filter system of claim 35, wherein the retrieval device includes an elongated member having a proximal section, a distal section, and an interior lumen equipped with a number of inwardly projecting tabs or fingers.

37. The intravascular filter system of claim 35, wherein said retrieval member comprises a rounded bead.

38. The intravascular filter system of claim 35, wherein the retrieval device includes an elongated member having a proximal section, a distal section, and a hook.

39. The intravascular filter system of claim 38, wherein said retrieval member comprises a hook.

40. The intravascular filter system of claim 35, further comprising a retrieval sheath having a proximal section, a distal section, and an interior lumen adapted to receive at least a portion of the intravascular filter.

41. The intravascular filter system of claim 35, wherein the retrieval device is adapted to retrieve the intravascular filter via a jugular approach.

42. The intravascular filter system of claim 35, wherein the retrieval device is adapted to retrieve the intravascular filter via a femoral approach.

43. A method of retrieving an intravascular filter disposed within a patient'"'"'s blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

providing an intravascular filter including a single filter wire defining a first end section, a second end section, and one or more filter loops adapted to collect blood clots contained within the blood vessel;

providing an elongated retrieval device having a proximal section and a distal section;

inserting the distal section of the retrieval device into the patient'"'"'s body and advancing the retrieval device to the site of the intravascular filter;

coupling the retrieval device to the intravascular filter;

inserting a retrieval sheath or catheter into the patient'"'"'s vasculature and advancing the retrieval sheath or catheter to the site of the intravascular filter;

loading the intravascular filter into an interior lumen of the retrieval sheath or catheter; and

removing the intravascular filter from the patient'"'"'s body.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the retrieval device includes a number of inwardly projecting tabs or fingers, and wherein the step of coupling the retrieval device to the intravascular filter includes the step of engaging the inwardly projecting tabs or fingers against a rounded bead of the filter wire.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the retrieval device includes a hook, and wherein the step of coupling the retrieval device to the intravascular filter includes the step of grasping a hook portion of the filter wire.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said step of inserting the retrieval device into the patient'"'"'s body and advancing the retrieval device to the site of the intravascular filter is accomplished via a jugular approach.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein said step of inserting the retrieval device into the patient'"'"'s body and advancing the retrieval device to the site of the intravascular filter is accomplished via a femoral approach.