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Expandable blood clot filter

  • US 4,494,531 A
  • Filed: 12/06/1982
  • Issued: 01/22/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A blood clot filter for positioning within the fluid passageway of a blood vessel in a human body, comprising:

  • a shape memory wire, said wire contractible from a first position wherein said wire is substantially straightened to permit insertion of the filter within the lumen of an angiography catheter, to a second position wherein said wire is contracted along its length to form a curly wire mesh, the potential energy stored in said wire in its first position being sufficient to force said wire into its second position and into urging contact with the intimal wall of said blood vessel at a multiplicity of contact points, thereby aiding the anchoring of said filter at a desired body location within said blood vessel and encouraging endothelization and fibrotic encasement at said contact points, said wire having a sufficiently small diameter to prevent substantial occlusion of said blood vessel when said filter is implanted therein; and

    anchoring means on said wire for anchoring said filter at a determined body location within said blood vessel, said anchoring means including a plurality of sharp projections for penetrating into said intimal wall of said blood vessel;

    said projections being positioned at the opposite ends of said filter, said projections at the forward end of said filter each including a barb sharpened at both ends, said barbs being adapted to pierce the intimal wall of said blood vessel and to hook in place to resist extraction.

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