Intravascular filter with centering member

• US 20060203769A1
• Filed: 03/11/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifescreen Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Saholt, Douglas R., Beulke, Mel R., Rassat, Jay, Peterson, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,998,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0103 With centering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence

Abstract

Devices and methods for centering an intravascular filter within a blood vessel are disclosed. A filter system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include an intravascular filter, a filter sheath adapted to contain the intravascular filter, and a centering member adapted to assume a preset shape when deployed within a blood vessel. The centering member may comprise an elongated wire having a hoop section adapted to radially expand against the inner wall of the blood vessel when deployed. In some embodiments, multiple centering members can be employed to facilitate centering of both the intravascular filter and the filter sheath within the blood vessel, if desired.

Claims

1. A filter system, comprising:

an intravascular filter including a plurality of elongated filter legs operatively coupled to an apical head;

a filter sheath having a first end, a proximal end, and an interior lumen adapted to contain the intravascular filter; and

a centering hoop including a first section adapted to assume a preset shape when deployed within a blood vessel.

2. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the centering hoop is slidably disposed within an interior lumen of the apical head.

3. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the centering hoop comprises an elongated wire having a first end and a proximal end.

4. The filter system of claim 3, wherein said preset shape of the elongated wire includes a radial section and the hoop section.

5. The filter system of claim 4, wherein, during deployment, the radial section of the elongated wire is adapted to extend outwardly in a direction substantially orthogonal to the interior wall of the blood vessel.

6. The filter system of claim 4, wherein, during deployment, the hoop section of the elongated wire is adapted to radially expand against the inner wall of the blood vessel.

7. The filter system of claim 4, wherein the hoop section of the elongated wire has a circular shape.

8. The filter system of claim 4, wherein the hoop section of the elongated wire has an elliptical shape.

9. The filter system of claim 3, wherein the first end of the elongated wire is curled.

10. The filter system of claim 1, further comprising a tubular member having an interior lumen adapted to contain the centering hoop in a substantially straight position.

11. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the tubular member is coupled to the apical head.

12. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the tubular member is movably disposed relative to the intravascular filter.

13. The filter system of claim 12, wherein the tubular member is coupled to the filter sheath.

14. The filter system of claim 10, wherein the tubular member comprises a hypotube.

15. The filter system of claim 1, wherein the centering hoop is formed from a flexible material.

16. The filter system of claim 15, wherein said flexible material is a linear elastic material.

17. The filter system of claim 15, wherein said flexible material is a shape-memory material.

18. The filter system of claim 1, further comprising a second centering hoop including a first section adapted to assume a preset shape when deployed within the blood vessel, said second centering hoop comprising a second elongated wire having a first end and a proximal end.

19. The filter system of claim 18, wherein the preset shape of the second elongated wire includes a radial section and the hoop section.

20. A filter system, comprising:

an intravascular filter including a plurality of elongated filter legs operatively coupled to an apical head;

a filter sheath having a first end, a proximal end, and an interior lumen adapted to contain the intravascular filter; and

an elongated wire slidably disposed within an interior lumen of the apical head and including a first end, a proximal end, and a first section adapted to assume a preset shape when deployed within a blood vessel, said preset shape including a radial section and a hoop section.

21. The filter system of claim 20, wherein, during deployment, the radial section of the elongated wire is adapted to extend outwardly in a direction substantially orthogonal to the interior wall of the blood vessel.

22. The filter system of claim 20, wherein, during deployment, the hoop section of the elongated wire is adapted to radially expand against the inner wall of the blood vessel.

23. The filter system of claim 20, wherein the hoop section of the elongated wire has a circular shape.

24. The filter system of claim 20, wherein the hoop section of the elongated wire has an elliptical shape.

25. The filter system of claim 20, wherein the distal end of the elongated wire is curled.

26. The filter system of claim 20, further comprising a tubular member having an interior lumen adapted to contain the centering member in a substantially straight position.

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

providing an intravascular filter and a centering member within an interior lumen of a filter sheath, said centering member including an elongated wire having a first end, an oppositely disposed second end, and a first section adapted to assume a preset shape when deployed within a blood vessel;

inserting the filter sheath into the patient'"'"'s body and advancing the filter sheath to a desired location within a blood vessel;

deploying the centering member within the blood vessel; and

deploying the intravascular filter within the blood vessel.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, during said step of advancing the filter sheath to a desired location within the blood vessel, the centering member is adapted to maintain a substantially straight position within a tubular member.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said step of deploying the centering member within the blood vessel includes the step of advancing the elongated wire distally out from within the tubular member.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said step of deploying the centering member within the blood vessel causes the distal section of the elongated wire to radially expand and engage an interior wall of the blood vessel.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said step of deploying the intravascular filter within the blood vessel includes the step of withdrawing the intravascular filter from within the interior lumen of the filter sheath.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of removing the centering member and filter sheath from the blood vessel.