FLEXIBLE TUBE FOR CARTRIDGE FILTER

• US 20100300956A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Eskuri, Alan D., Lowe, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/359
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• 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 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

Embolic protection filtering devices and methods of making and using the same. The present invention may include an embolic protection filtering device including a filter cartridge that is slidable over medical devices, for example, guidewires. The filter cartridge may have a filter coupled thereto and may have desirable flexibility and trackability characteristics.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal region and a distal region;

the shaft including one or more stops coupled adjacent the distal region;

a tubular cartridge slidably disposed over the shaft;

the tubular cartridge having an interior surface with a plurality of dimples defined therein; and

a filter coupled to the cartridge.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of dimples defined in the interior surface is distributed uniformly.

4. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of dimples defined in the interior surface is not distributed uniformly.

5. The medical device of claim 2, wherein tubular cartridge comprises a polymer.

6. The medical device of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of the plurality of dimples defined in the interior surface of the tubular cartridge is elongated in one dimension thereby forming a groove.

7. The medical device of claim 2, further comprising a delivery sheath slidably disposed over the shaft.

8. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the exterior surface of the tubular cartridge is smooth.

9. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the exterior surface of the tubular cartridge includes a plurality of projections.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein said projections included in the exterior surface are radially aligned with dimples defined in the interior surface.

11. A method of manufacturing a tubular embolic filter cartridge comprising:

providing a mandrel having a base surface, wherein the base surface includes one or more projections extending therefrom;

molding a filter cartridge about the mandrel;

disassociating the molded filter cartridge the from mandrel; and

coupling a filter to the molded filter cartridge.

12. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the mandrel is formed from a material which may be removed from the molded filter cartridge by dissolving the mandrel.

13. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the one or more projections are rounded projections.

14. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the one or more projections are rectangular projections.

15. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the one or more projections are uniformly distributed.

16. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the one or more projections are not uniformly distributed.

17. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the sizes of the one or more projections are varied along the length of the mandrel.

18. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the shapes of the one or more projections are varied along the length of the mandrel.

19. The manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the coupling step occurs before the molding step.

20. The manufacturing method of claim 11, further comprising the step of altering the flexibility of the molded filter cartridge.

21. The manufacturing method of claim 19, wherein the altering step results in the formation of one or more of notches, slots, or spiral grooves in the filter cartridge.