EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICES WITH AN IMPROVED FILTER MEMBRANE

• US 20110054514A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Jim, Utke, Al, Arcand, Ben, Hendrikson, Kyle, Guest, Erin, Dallman, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 9,452,040 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 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Embolic protection filtering devices and methods for making and using the same. An example embolic protection filter device may include an elongate shaft. A filter may be coupled to the shaft. The filter may include a filter frame and a filter membrane having a plurality of apertures formed therein attached to the filter frame. The filter may be configured to shift between a first collapsed configuration and a second expanded configuration. The apertures may have a first shape when the filter is in the first configuration and a second shape when the filter is in the second configuration.

Claims

1. An embolic protection filter device, comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a filter coupled to the shaft, the filter including a filter frame and a filter membrane having a plurality of apertures formed therein attached to the filter frame;

wherein the filter is configured to shift between a first collapsed configuration and a second expanded configuration; and

wherein the apertures have a first shape when the filter is in the first configuration and a second shape when the filter is in the second configuration.

2. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the first shape of the apertures includes a slit-like shape.

3. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the first shape of the apertures includes an oval shape, a rectangular shape, a dumb-bell shape, an elliptical shape, or an hourglass shape.

4. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the second shape of the apertures is substantially round.

5. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged in longitudinally-aligned rows, radially-aligned columns, or both.

6. The filter device of claim 1, wherein at least some of apertures are offset with respect to one another.

7. The filter device of claim 1, wherein all of the apertures have the same first shape.

8. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the first shape of a first group of the apertures is different from the first shape of a second group of the apertures.

9. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged to provide auxetic properties to the filter membrane.

10. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the filter frame includes an umbrella-like frame.

11. The filter device of claim 1, wherein the filter frame includes a filter loop.

12. A method for manufacturing an embolic protection device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongate shaft;

providing a filter frame;

providing a filter membrane;

forming a plurality of apertures having a first shape in the filter membrane;

attaching the filter membrane to the filter frame;

wherein the step of attaching the filter membrane to the filter frame includes stretching the filter membrane and shifting the apertures from the first shape to second expanded shape; and

attaching the filter frame to the shaft.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first shape of the apertures includes a slit-like shape.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second shape of the apertures is substantially round.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of forming a plurality of apertures having a first shape in the filter membrane includes laser cutting.

16. An embolic protection filter device, comprising:

an elongate shaft;

a filter coupled to the shaft, the filter including a filter frame and a filter membrane;

wherein a plurality of slits are formed in the filter membrane;

wherein the filter is configured to shift between a first collapsed configuration and a second expanded configuration; and

wherein the slits open when the filter is in the second configuration.

17. The filter device of claim 16, wherein the apertures are arranged in longitudinally-aligned rows or radially-aligned columns.

18. The filter device of claim 16, wherein at least some of apertures are offset with respect to one another.

19. The filter device of claim 16, wherein the filter frame includes an umbrella-like frame.

20. The filter device of claim 16, wherein the filter frame includes a filter loop.