Methods and devices for filtering fluid flow through a body structure
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Abstract
An intravascular filter having a filament which expands a filter element. The filament is a coil which is stretched to reduce the diameter of the coil for introduction. The filter element is preferably biased toward the closed position and is opened by the coil when tension is released on the coil. The filament slides along the internal surface of the filter element so that the filter element may assume intermediate positions.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A device for filtering fluid flow through a body structure, comprising:
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a filter element movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the filter element being biased toward the collapsed position; and a coil operatively coupled to the filter element, the coil having an expanded shape and a collapsed shape, the coil also being movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the coil sliding along the interior surface of the filter element when the coil expands to the expanded position. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of filtering blood flow through a vessel, comprising the steps of:
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providing a filter device having a filter element and an expandable element, the filter element having an interior surface, the filter element being configured to permit blood flow therethrough while filtering embolic material when in the expanded position; introducing the filter device into a blood vessel of a patient; advancing the filter device to a desired location; and expanding the expandable element after the advancing step, the expanding element sliding along the interior surface of the filter element. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification