EMBOLIC PROTECTION FILTER HAVING AN IMPROVED FILTER FRAME

• US 20070060947A1
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Horng-Ban, Beulke, Mel, Kostur, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,875,051 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 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 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

An embolic protection filter having an improved filter frame and method of making the same. In at least some embodiments, the present invention includes an embolic protection filter coupled to an elongate shaft. The filter may include a filter frame assembly having one or more frame members. The frame members may include a filter mouth defining portion.

Claims

1. An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising:

a first frame member comprising a first elongate member having a first end and a second end, the first elongate member including a first shaft-engaging portion proximate the first end and a first arcuate mouth portion proximate the second end;

a second frame member comprising a second elongate member having a first end and a second end, the second elongate member including a second shaft-engaging portion proximate the first end and a second arcuate mouth portion proximate the second end;

wherein the first mouth portion and the second mouth portion collectively define a filter mouth;

a filter material coupled to the first and second frame members adjacent the first and second mouth portions; and

an elongate shaft extending through the filter mouth, wherein the first end of each of the first and second elongate members is coupled to the elongate shaft, and the second end of each of the first and second elongate members is spaced radially away from the elongate shaft.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a guidewire.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a tube adapted and configured for being slidably disposed over an elongate wire.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter mouth has a generally circular shape spanning 360 degrees.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second filter mouth portions includes one or more legs configured to span about 180 degrees of the filter mouth.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first and second filter mouth portions each span different proportions of the filter mouth.

7. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a third frame member having a third shaft-engaging portion and a third mouth portion.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein each of first, second, and third mouth portions include one or more legs configured to span about 120 degrees of the filter mouth.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first, second, and third filter mouth portions span different proportions of the filter mouth.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mouth portion is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mouth portion is skewed at an angle relative to an axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the angle is acute relative to the axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second mouth portions are connected by a bridging portion of the filter material disposed between the mouth portions.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first frame member includes a circular region having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a flattened region having a generally oval cross-sectional shape.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the flattened region is disposed adjacent the first filter mouth portion.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the flattened portion is split to include a first leg and a second leg.

37. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter mouth collectively defined by the first mouth portion and the second mouth portion is a circular filter mouth.

38. The assembly of claim 37, wherein the elongate shaft extends concentrically through the circular filter mouth.

39. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the first and second mouth portions are each a semi-circular portion together forming the circular filter mouth.

17. An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising:

a first frame member having a first shaft-engaging portion and a first mouth portion, the first mouth portion include a proximal end and a distal end;

a second frame member having a second shaft-engaging portion and a second mouth portion, the first mouth portion include a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the first mouth portion and the second mouth portion define a filter mouth;

a filter material coupled to the first and second frame members;

wherein a filtering portion of the filter material is coupled to and extends distally from the first and second mouth portions;

a first bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the first mouth portion and the distal end of the second mouth portion;

a second bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the second mouth portion and the distal end of the first mouth portion; and

an elongate shaft coupled to the first and second shaft-engaging portions.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the shaft comprises a guidewire.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the shaft comprises a tube adapted and configured for being slidably disposed over an elongate wire.

20. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the filter mouth has a generally circular shape.

21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second filter mouth portions each span different proportions of the filter mouth.

22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second filter mouth portions includes one or more legs and are each have a semicircular shape.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the semicircular shapes of the first and second filter mouth portions are skewed relative to one another.

24. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mouth and second mouth portions are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

25. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second mouths portions are skewed at an angle relative to an axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

26. The assembly of claim 25, wherein the angle is acute relative to the axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

27. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first frame member includes a circular region having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a flattened region having a generally oval cross-sectional shape.

28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the flattened region is disposed adjacent the first filter mouth portion.

29. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the flattened portion is split to include a first leg and a second leg.

30. An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis and a perpendicular axis;

a first frame member having a first shaft-engaging portion coupled to the shaft and a first semi-circular portion, the first semi-circular portion being semi-circular in shape and including a proximal end and a distal end;

a second frame member having a second shaft-engaging portion coupled to the shaft and a second semi-circular portion, the second semi-circular portion being semi-circular in shape and including a proximal end and a distal end;

wherein the first and second semi-circular portions are skewed at an angle relative to the perpendicular axis;

a filter material coupled to the first and second frame members;

a filtering portion of the filter material coupled to and extends distally from the first and second semi-circular portions;

a first bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the first semi-circular portion and the distal end of the semi-circular mouth portion; and

a second bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the second semi-circular portion and the distal end of the first semi-circular portion.

31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the shaft comprises a guidewire.

32. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the shaft comprises a tube adapted and configured for being slidably disposed over an elongate wire.

33. The assembly of claim 30, wherein each of the first and second semi-circular portions includes one or more legs.

34. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the first and second frame members each includes a circular region having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a flattened region having a generally oval cross-sectional shape.

35. The assembly of claim 34, wherein the flattened regions are disposed adjacent the first and second semi-circular portions.

36. The assembly of claim 34, wherein at least one of the flattened portions is split to include a first leg and a second leg.