EMBOLUS BLOOD CLOT FILTER DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20090318951A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Chanduszko, Andrzej J., Kashkarov, Alexander Germanovich
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/200
• 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 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

A blood filter delivery system for delivering a blood filter into a vein includes a push rod for pushing the blood filter through and out of a catheter, the push rod having a filter positioning assembly on one end. The filter positioning assembly includes positioner members, which retain anchor members of the filter. The filter positioning assembly can position the end of the delivery catheter near the blood vessel centerline before releasing the filter'"'"'s anchor members, thereby helping to align the blood filter along the centerline of the blood vessel.

Claims

1. A blood filter delivery apparatus for delivering a blood filter into a blood vessel, the blood filter including a plurality of anchor members, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter;

a filter positioning assembly situated within the catheter, the filter positioning assembly including a plurality of positioner members coupled to the assembly, each of the plurality of positioner members having an end that cooperates with and retains the plurality of anchor members within the catheter when the ends of the positioner members are disposed within the catheter.

2. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hub coupled to the plurality of positioner members.

3. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hub includes a radio-opaque material.

4. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hub includes at least one spline configured to retain the plurality of anchor members.

5. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hub, spline and plurality of positioner members are formed integrally.

6. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hub defines a central lumen.

7. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioner members are configured to extend radially to define a centerline as the filter positioning assembly and filter exit an end of the catheter such that the plurality of positioner members can press against a wall of the blood vessel.

8. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 7, wherein positioner members locate the end of the catheter substantially along the centerline so as to further locate the end of the catheter centrally within the blood vessel.

9. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of anchor members are unconstrained by the catheter after the end of the catheter is positioned substantially along the centerline.

10. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioner members comprise Nitinol.

11. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the filter positioning assembly has a longitudinal axis, and further comprises an extension member oriented along the longitudinal axis and configured to contact a hub of the filter when the plurality of anchor members are retained by the plurality of positioner members.

12. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an elongated push rod coupled to the filter positioning assembly.

13. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioner members each have a constant cross section over a majority of its length.

14. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioner members each have a proximal end and a distal end to define a length therebetween, at least one positioner member having a variable cross section over a majority of the length.

15. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one position member has a cross section at the proximal end greater than the cross section at the distal end.

16. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one position member has a cross section at the proximal end less than the cross section at the distal end.

17. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioner members are curved with a constant radius of curvature over a majority of their length.

18. A blood filter delivery assembly for delivering a blood filter to a blood vessel, comprising:

a storage tube;

a blood filter positioned within the storage tube, the blood filter including a plurality of anchor members;

a filter positioning assembly positioned within the storage tube, the filter positioning assembly including a plurality of positioner members that retain the plurality of anchor members.

19. The blood filter delivery assembly of claim 18, further comprising an elongated push rod coupled to the filter positioning assembly.

20. A push rod assembly for use in delivering into a blood vessel via a catheter a blood filter having a plurality of anchor members, the push rod assembly comprising:

a push rod extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end;

a handle disposed proximate the first end; and

a filter positioning assembly disposed proximate the second end, the filter positioning assembly having a longitudinal axis and including

a hub; and

a plurality of positioner members coupled to the hub, wherein each of the plurality of positioner members is curved and oriented so that the positioner members extend away from the longitudinal axis when unconstrained, and are configured to extend toward the longitudinal axis so as to retain the plurality of anchor members when the positioner members and blood filter are positioned within the catheter.

21. The push rod assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of positioner members are configured to press against a wall of the blood vessel as the filter positioning assembly and filter exit an end of the catheter.

22. The push rod assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of positioner members comprise Nitinol material.

23. The push rod assembly of claim 20, further comprising an extension member oriented along the longitudinal axis and configured to contact the hub of the filter when the plurality of anchor members are retained by the plurality of positioner members.

24. The push rod assembly of claim 20, wherein the hub of the positioning assembly includes a radio-opaque material.

25. The push rod assembly of claim 20, further comprising a storage tube encompassing the filter positioning assembly and the blood filter.

26. The push rod assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of positioner members have a constant cross section over a majority of their length.

27. The push rod assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of positioner members have a variable cross section over a majority of their length.

28. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of positioner members are curved with a constant radius of curvature over a majority of their length.

29. A blood filter delivery apparatus for delivering a blood filter to a blood vessel, the blood filter including a plurality of anchor members. the apparatus comprising:

a push rod; and

means, coupled to the push rod, for positioning a blood filter near a blood vessel centerline and retaining anchor members.

30. The blood filter delivery apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

means for releasing the anchor members after a hub of the blood filter has been positioned near the blood vessel centerline.

31. A method of packaging a blood filter having a plurality of anchor members coupled to a hub and disposed about a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

folding the plurality of anchors generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;

enclosing the plurality of anchors with a plurality of positioner members coupled to a push rod assembly; and

enclosing the filter and the positioner members in a generally tubular member.

32. A method of delivering a blood filter into a blood vessel via a catheter positioned with an end in the blood vessel, comprising:

pressing against a wall of the blood vessel with a plurality of positioner members;

retaining anchor members of the blood filter until the plurality of positioner members exit the catheter; and

preventing the anchor members of the blood filter from engaging the blood vessel wall until the catheter is positioned in near alignment with a centerline of the blood vessel.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the pressing comprises urging locator members connected to the filter against the wall of the blood vessel.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the urging comprises biasing positioner members separate from any portions of the blood filter against the wall of the blood vessel.

35. A blood filter delivery apparatus for delivering a blood filter into a blood vessel, the blood filter including a plurality of anchor members, the apparatus comprising:

a catheter;

a filter positioning assembly situated within the catheter, the filter positioning assembly including a hub defining a plurality of splines, each of the splines being configured to cooperate with and retain the plurality of anchor members within the catheter when the ends of the positioner members are disposed within the catheter.