Self-expanding filter for percutaneous insertion

• US 5,350,398 A
• Filed: 05/28/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dusan Pavcnik, Kenneth C. Wright, Sidney Wallace
• Original Assignee: Dusan Pavcnik, Kenneth C. Wright, Sidney Wallace
• Inventors: Pavcnik, Dusan, Wallace, Sidney, Wright, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US08/068,594
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/198, 606/191, 606/195, 623/1, 623/12
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0103 With centering means
• 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 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical

Abstract

A flexible vena cava filter comprises a flexible stent having a plurality of flexible wire segments attached across the ends of the stent. The filter is resiliently compressible for percutaneous insertion into a fluid passageway and expands against the passageway upon placement therein. The filter includes different levels of filtration.

Claims

1. A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of a living body, comprising:

a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter;

wherein said stent has a cranial end and caudal end defined by said bends;

a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend;

wherein portions of said first wire segments overlap each other;

a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend;

wherein portions of said second wire segments overlap each other;

wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and

said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

2. The filter of claim 1 wherein said first wire segments are made form a single strand of wire, and said first wire segments are attached to one another by a series of wire bends.

3. The filter of claim 1 further comprising at least one barb attached to said stent for securing said filter to said passageway upon placement therein.

4. The filter of claim 1 wherein said bends at each end of said stent are consecutively arranged around a central axis;

and

each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends.

5. A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of a living body, comprising

a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter;

wherein said stent has a cranial end and a caudal end defined by said bends, which are consecutively arranged around a central axis;

a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend;

wherein each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends;

a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; and

wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and

said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

6. The filter of claim 5 wherein said first wire segments are made from a single strand of wire, and said first wire segments are attached to one another by a series of wire bends.

7. The filter of claim 5 further comprising at least one barb attached to said stent for securing said filter to said passageway upon placement therein.

8. A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of living body, comprising:

a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter;

wherein said stent has a cranial end and a caudal end defined by said bends;

a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend;

wherein said first wire segments define a portion of a hemispherical surface;

a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; and

wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and

said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

9. The filter of claim 8 wherein said first wire segments are made from a single strand of wire, and said first wire segments are attached to one another by a series of wire bends.

10. The filter of claim 8 further comprising at least one barb attached to said stent for securing said filter to said passageway upon placement therein.

11. The filter of claim 8 wherein said bends at each end of said stent are consecutively arranged around a central axis;

and

each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends.