Vein filter

• US 20080039891A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Argon Medical Devices
• Original Assignee: REX Medical LP
• Inventors: Thinnes, John, McGuckin, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,211,140 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 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region wherein the filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. A first region has a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter and the second region is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The second region includes a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion. The second region includes a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined.

Claims

1. A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region, the filter movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, the first region having a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter, the first region including a plurality of struts extending longitudinally through the first region and being unconnected in the first region, the second region being flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the second region including a vessel engaging portion at the second end portion and including a plurality of spaced apart struts with adjacent struts being joined, the adjacent struts joined at a terminal end of the second end portion to thereby join a distal end of the struts, and vessel engaging hooks at the terminal end of the second end portion to secure the filter within the vessel.

2. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein the adjacent struts are joined by two connecting struts, each of the two connecting struts extending inwardly toward the other connecting strut.

3. The vessel filter of claim 2, wherein the connecting struts converge at their ends to form a substantially V-shaped configuration.

5. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein the struts divide widthwise at an end portion to form two connecting struts which extend away from each other, each connecting strut extending toward a connecting strut of an adjacent strut.

6. The vessel filter of claim 5, wherein the connecting struts of adjacent struts are joined at an intermediate region and further extend away from each other to join the connecting strut emanating from the same strut.

7. The vessel filter of claim 6, wherein the connecting struts form a closed oval like region.

8. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein the filter is formed from a laser cut tube and composed of shape memory material.

9. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein the filter includes at the first end portion multiple recesses axially spaced from one another and configured to receive a removing instrument to remove the filter.

10. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein adjacent struts are interconnected by strut portions extending towards one another to form a V-like section.

11. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein adjacent struts are interconnected by strut portions which initially extend away from each other and then extend towards one another, forming a closed geometric configuration.

4. (canceled)

12. A vessel filter comprising a first region at a first end of the filter and a second region at a second opposite end of the filter, the second end of the filter having a transverse dimension greater than a transverse dimension of the first end, the filter being movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, the filter being substantially bell-shaped in the expanded position, the first region of the filter having a filter portion having a converging region at a first end portion, the second region of the filter having a mounting portion for mounting the vessel filter within the vessel, the mounting portion including a flared region extending along a length of the filter wherein the second region includes a plurality of struts extending from the filter portion, the struts having a first widthwise dimension and dividing at a first end into oppositely directed struts of a second widthwise dimension smaller widthwise dimension than the first widthwise dimension and then converging with an oppositely directed strut of an adjacent strut.

13. The vessel filter of claim 12, wherein the mounting portion includes vessel engaging members to enhance retention of the filter.

14. The vessel filter of claim 12, wherein oppositely directed struts emanating from the strut are rejoined to each other at a second end.

15. The vessel filter of claim 12, wherein one or more of the struts terminates in vessel engaging hooks.

16-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A vessel filter comprising first and second end portions, a first region at the first end portion and a second region at the second end portion, the first region including a filtering section for capturing particles and having a first transverse dimension at a first terminal end of the filter, the second region including a mounting section at a second terminal end of the filter for mounting the filter within the vessel, the mounting section having a second transverse dimension at the second terminal end of the filter, the second dimension being greater than the first transverse dimension and including vessel engaging structure to retain the filter, the first region further including a retrieval region, the retrieval region including only one hook, the hook having a cutout extending greater than 180°

exposing an internal annular surface, the hook dimensioned to fit within a retrieval sheath, the hook having a single ear, the annular surface dimensioned to receive an outer circumferential portion of a retrieval sheath.

27. The vessel filter of claim 26, wherein the retrieval region includes a radiused region having first and second curved surfaces spaced axially from the hook extending distally inwardly toward the hook to provide first and second camming surfaces.

28. A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region, the first region including a filtering section for capturing particles and having a first transverse dimension, the second region including a mounting section for mounting the filter within the vessel, the mounting section having a second transverse dimension greater than the first transverse dimension and including vessel engaging structure to retain the filter, the first region further including a retrieval region having a longitudinal axis, the retrieval region including only one hook, the hook being on only one side of the longitudinal axis at a proximal end thereof and a curved wall spaced axially from the hook to provide a camming surface to facilitate entry into a retrieval sheath, the hook by having a cutout extending over a 180°

exposing an inner surface and dimensioned to receive a portion of a retrieval device.

29. The vessel filter of claim 28, further comprising vessel engaging hooks, the vessel engaging hooks extending from the mounting section to be positioned at a terminal end of the filter.