Intravenous deep vein thrombosis filter and method of filter placement

• US 20080183206A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Batiste
• Original Assignee: Stanley Batiste
• Inventors: Batiste, Stanley
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,062 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 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

A vascular filter system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the filter system comprises a dispensing needle releasably attached to a filter dispenser which stores a length of filter wire. The filter wire dispenser has a guide tube which guides the filter wire into the needle and then into a vein during surgical implantation. The filter wire is configured to coil into a predetermined shape as it is deployed from the needle. The shape of the filter wire captures blood clots in the blood stream. Once the filter wire is deployed, the needle may be removed and a portion of the filter wire may be left protruding from the patient'"'"'s skin surface to allow the filter wire to be secured by a fixation device. A syringe may be used to draw blood to confirm that the needle is properly positioned within a vein before the filter wire is deployed.

Claims

1. A vascular filter system comprising:

a dispensing needle having a delivery end and a filter wire dispenser connection end; and

a filter wire dispenser for storing a length of filter wire, wherein the filter wire dispenser comprises a guide tube, the guide tube sized for connection to the filter wire dispenser connection end of the dispensing needle;

filter wire configured to coil within or around the filter wire dispenser and further configured for deployment from the filter wire dispenser to a patient.

2. The vascular filter system of claim 1, wherein the length of filter wire includes residual stresses, surface tensions, or both configured to coil the length of filter wire into a predetermined shape.

3. The vascular filter system of claim 1, wherein the filter wire has a first end with a flexible rounded tip.

4. The vascular filter system of claim 1, wherein the length of filter wire is stored in a spool within the filter wire dispenser.

5. The vascular filter system of claim 1 further comprising a fixation device configured to attach to a patent and to a portion of the filter wire to thereby secure the filter wire.

6. A vascular filter system comprising:

a dispensing needle, the dispensing needle having a delivery end and a coupling end;

a length of filter wire, the filter wire configured to coil upon deployment from the delivery end of the needle;

a filter wire dispenser for storing the length of filter wire, the filter wire dispenser having a;

a storage housing configured to store the filter wire prior to dispensing in a patient;

a coupling end configured to releasably attach to the coupling end of the dispensing needle;

a guide tube between the storage housing and the coupling end configured to guide the filter wire from the storage housing to the coupling end.

7. The vascular filter system of claim 6, further comprising a fixation device configured to attach to a portion of the filter wire which protrudes from the patient when in use.

8. The vascular filter system of claim 6, wherein the length of filter wire includes residual stresses, surface tensions, or both configured to coil the length of filter wire into a predetermined shape.

9. The vascular filter system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined shape consists of one of the following shapes:

a helix shape, a vortex shape, nested, shape and a tangled web shape.

10. The vascular filter system of claim 6, wherein the length of filter wire is stored in a spool within the filter wire dispenser.

11. The vascular filter system of claim 6, wherein the length of filter wire is stored linearly within the filter wire dispenser.

12. A method for surgically implanting a vascular filter in a patient comprising:

accessing a blood vessel with a dispensing needle;

attaching a filter wire dispenser to the needle, wherein the dispenser has a length of filter wire stored therein, the filter wire comprising a first end, a second end, and fabricated such that the filter wire coils upon deployment from a delivery end of the needle;

advancing the first end of the filter wire into the needle from the filter wire dispenser such that the first end exits the delivery end of the needle and forms a substantial filter wire coil within the blood vessel;

removing the needle and the dispenser, wherein the filter wire remains within the blood vessel and a portion of the filter wire extends out of the patient; and

securing the second end of the filter wire to a fixation device, the fixation device generally covering an exit passage from the patient for the filter wire.

13. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12, further comprising the step of verifying the needle is accurately located within the blood vessel.

14. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12 further comprising:

attaching a syringe to the needle, wherein the syringe is releasably attached to the needle;

drawing blood from the blood vessel into the syringe to confirm that the needle is accurately located within the blood vessel; and

detaching the syringe from the needle while leaving the needle located in the blood vessel.

15. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12, wherein the length of filter wire is fabricated such that the filter wire coils into a shape consisting of the following shapes:

helix shape, a vortex shape, a flat coil, a nested coil, and a tangled web shape, after deployment from the delivery end of the needle.

16. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12, wherein the first end of the filter wire has a flexible tip.

17. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12, wherein the length of filter wire is stored in a spool within the filter wire dispenser.

18. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12, wherein the length of filter wire is stored linearly within the filter wire dispenser.

19. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12 wherein advancing the filter wire comprises pushing the filter wire into the blood vessel.

20. The method for surgically implanting a vascular filter of claim 12, wherein accessing the blood vessel comprises penetrating a skin layer of the patient at an acute angle in relation to the blood vessel.