Vascular filter having articulation region and methods of use in the ascending aorta

• US 20060116715A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amr Salahieh, Farhad Khosravi, Jackson F. Demond, Jeff A. Krolik, L. N. Hopkins
• Original Assignee: Amr Salahieh, Farhad Khosravi, Jackson F. Demond, Jeff A. Krolik, L. N. Hopkins
• Inventors: Khosravi, Farhad, Demond, Jackson F., Salahieh, Amr, Krolik, Jeff A., Hopkins, L. N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• 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 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for use in filtering emboli from a vessel such as the ascending aorta, wherein a vascular device comprises a support hoop having an articulation region connected near a distal end of an elongated member, a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop so that the support hoop forms a mouth of the blood permeable sac, a guide wire, and a delivery sheath. The articulation region comprises a reduced thickness region of the support hoop that prevents kinks from forming in the support hoop when the apparatus is contracted to its delivery state, and curved regions that close the mouth of the sac to prevent material escaping from the sac when the apparatus is collapsed for removal.

Claims

1. Apparatus suitable for filtering emboli, comprising:

an elongate member;

a non-inflatable support hoop attached to the elongate member, the support hoop having an articulation region; and

a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop, the support hoop forming a distally facing mouth of the blood permeable sac.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guidewire slideably attached to the elongate member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blood permeable sac comprises a biocompatible material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support hoop comprises a super-elastic material.

5. Apparatus suitable for filtering emboli, comprising:

an elongate member;

a non-inflatable support hoop attached to the elongate member, the support hoop having an articulation region;

a blood permeable sac affixed to the support hoop, the support hoop forming a distally-facing mouth of the blood permeable sac; and

a delivery sheath having a proximally facing cavity for accepting the support hoop.

6. A method of filtering emboli, comprising:

providing a guidewire;

providing a blood permeable sac having a distally facing mouth slideably disposed on the guidewire, and further having an expanded position and a contracted position;

providing a delivery sheath having a proximally facing cavity for accepting the mouth of the blood permeable sac;

positioning the mouth of the blood permeable sac within the delivery sheath such that the blood permeable sac is in the contracted position;

advancing the guidewire to a desired location within a patient'"'"'s vessel;

advancing the blood permeable sac and the delivery sheath along the guidewire; and

deploying the blood permeable sac from the delivery sheath so that the sac expands to the expanded position.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of providing a blood permeable sac having a distally facing mouth further includes the step of providing a support hoop attached to the distally facing mouth.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of providing a support hoop further includes the step of providing an articulation region on the support hoop.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of retracting the blood permeable sac into the delivery sheath and folding the support hoop at the articulation region to close the blood permeable sac.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of deploying the blood permeable sac from the delivery sheath further comprises the step of advancing the delivery sheath distally from the blood permeable sac.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of deploying the blood permeable sac from the delivery sheath further comprises the step of advancing the blood permeable sac proximally from the delivery sheath.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of retracting the blood permeable sac into the delivery sheath.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of removing the guidewire, delivery sheath and blood permeable sac from the patient'"'"'s vessel.