Filter for filtering fluid in a bodily passageway

• US 6,059,814 A
• Filed: 08/29/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ave Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ladd, William Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/921,345
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/192, 606/159, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 604/104, 604/174, 604/106-109, 604/105
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• 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 2230/0076 ellipsoidal or ovoid

Abstract

A filter for filtering micro-emboli from a patient'"'"'s blood during an angioplasty procedure is disclosed which comprises a plurality of curved wires connected to a rod between a first connector fixed with respect to the rod and a second connector slidingly mounted on the rod. Two layers of filter material are connected to opposite sides of the wires, and each layer includes perforations which are offset from the perforations in the other layer. When the rod and the wires are disposed within a catheter, the inner wall of the catheter compresses the wires toward the rod and when the rod is extended from the catheter, the wires resume their curved shape and pull the sliding connector along the rod toward the fixed connector.

Claims

1. A filter apparatus for filtering blood downstream of an arterial narrowing during a procedure to widen the arterial narrowing, comprising:

a catheter having an inner wall and an open end;

a hollow rod having an outer surface and a first end and a second end slidingly disposed within said catheter;

a guide wire disposed within said hollow rod;

a first ring member fixedly connected to said outer surface of said rod;

a second ring member slidingly connected to said outer surface of said rod between said first ring member and said rod second end;

a plurality of flexible wires preformed into a curved shape and having first ends connected to said first ring member and second ends connected to said second ring member;

a first sheet of filter material having perforations and connected to said plurality of wires between said rod and said wires, said first sheet having a length less than the length of said plurality of wires;

a second sheet of filter material having perforations and connected to said plurality of wires, said second sheet perforations being offset from said first sheet perforations;

a safety wire connected between said first ring member and said second ring member and to said rod; and

,

a safety stop connected to said rod between said second ring member and said rod second end;

whereby said plurality of wires are compressed by said catheter inner wall when said rod is inside of said catheter and whereby said plurality of wires expand to assume their preformed shape and contact the wall of said artery when said rod second end and said wires are extended from said catheter.

2. A filter apparatus comprising:

a rod receivable over a guidewire,

a catheter slidingly disposed over said rod;

a flexible frame having a first end and a second end,

a first connector for connecting said first end of said flexible frame to said rod;

a second connector for connecting said second end of said flexible frame to said rod;

a stop mounted on said rod between said second connector and a distal end of said rod for preventing said second connector from sliding off of said rod distal end; and

a filter material connected to said flexible frame whereby extending said rod out of said catheter allows said flexible frame and said filter material to expand from said rod and drawing said rod into said catheter compresses said flexible frame and filter material toward said rod.

3. A filter apparatus comprising:

a rod receivable over a guidewire,

a catheter slidingly disposed over said rod;

a flexible frame having a first end and a second end,

a first connector for connecting said first end of said flexible frame to said rod;

a second connector for connecting said second end of said flexible frame to said rod;

a safety wire connected between said first connector and said second connector and to a point on said rod there between for limiting the movement of said second connector relative to said rod; and

a filter material connected to said flexible frame whereby extending said rod out of said catheter allows said flexible frame and said filter material to expand from said rod and drawing said rod into said catheter compresses said flexible frame and filter material toward said rod.

4. A vascular filter apparatus comprising:

a core wire having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;

a filter concentrically arranged around said core wire, said filter having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the filter being attached to the core wire adjacent its distal end and the proximal end of the filter being attached to the core wire wherein the proximal end of the filter is slidably attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band and the distal end of the filter is fixedly attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band; and

a sheath concentrically arranged around the core wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the sheath having a lumen of sufficient diameter to slide over the proximal portion of the filter.

5. A vascular filter apparatus comprising:

a core wire having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;

a filter concentrically arranged around said core wire, said filter having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the filter being attached to the core wire adjacent its distal end and the proximal end of the filter being attached to the core wire wherein the proximal end of the filter is fixedly attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band and the distal end of the filter is slidably attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band; and

a sheath concentrically arranged around the core wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the sheath having a lumen of sufficient diameter to slide over the proximal portion of the filter.

6. An apparatus for filtering fluid in a bodily passageway comprising:

a hollow tube having an open end;

a rod having a first end and a second end slidingly disposed within said tube;

a plurality of flexible strands preformed into a predetermined shape, each having a first end fixed to said rod at a first point and a second end moveably connected to said rod between said first point and said rod second end;

a first connector connecting said first ends of said plurality of strands to said rod said first connector fixed on said rod and a second connector connecting said second ends of said plurality of strands to said rod, said second connector moveable on said rod, such that drawing said rod into said tube and compressing said plurality of strands causes said second connector to move toward said rod second end and away from said first connector;

a stop mounted on said rod between said second connector and said rod second end for preventing said second connector from sliding off of said rod end;

a filter material made from a substantially flexible material connected to said plurality of strands, whereby extending said rod out of the open end of the hollow tube allows the plurality of strands to expand, which expands the filter material, and drawing said rod into said tube compresses the plurality of flexible strands toward the rod.

7. An apparatus for filtering fluid in a bodily passageway comprising:

a hollow tube having an open end;

a rod having a first end and a second end slidingly disposed within said tube;

a plurality of flexible strands preformed into a predetermined shape, each having a first end fixed to said rod at a first point and a second end moveably connected to said rod between said first point and said rod second end;

a first connector connecting said first ends of said plurality of strands to said rod said first connector fixed on said rod and a second connector connecting said second ends of said plurality of strands to said rod, said second connector moveable on said rod, such that drawing said rod into said tube and compressing said plurality of strands causes said second connector to move toward said rod second end and away from said first connector;

a safety wire connected between said first connector and said second connector and to a point on said rod there between for limiting the movement of said second connector relative to said rod;

a filter material made from a substantially flexible material connected to said plurality of strands, whereby extending said rod out of the open end of the hollow tube allows the plurality of strands to expand, which expands the filter material, and drawing said rod into said tube compresses the plurality of flexible strands toward the rod.

8. A filter apparatus comprising:

a rod receivable over a guidewire;

a catheter slidingly disposed over said rod;

a flexible frame having a first end and a second end;

a first connector for connecting said first end of said flexible frame to said rod;

a second connector for connecting said second end of said flexible frame to said rod;

a stop on said rod between said second connector and a distal end of said rod for preventing said second connector from sliding off of said rod distal end; and

a filter material connected to said flexible frame whereby extending said rod out of said catheter allows said flexible frame and said filter material to expand from said rod and drawing said rod into said catheter compresses said flexible frame and filter material toward said rod.

9. A vascular filter apparatus comprising:

a core wire having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;

a filter concentrically arranged around said core wire, said filter having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the filter being attached to the core wire adjacent its distal end and the proximal end of the filter being attached to the core wire wherein the proximal end of the filter is slidably attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band; and

a sheath concentrically arranged around the core wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the sheath having a lumen of sufficient diameter to slide over the proximal portion of the filter.

10. A vascular filter apparatus comprising:

a core wire having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;

a filter concentrically arranged around said core wire, said filter having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the filter being attached to the core wire adjacent its distal end and the proximal end of the filter being attached to the core wire wherein the distal end of the filter is fixedly attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band; and

a sheath concentrically arranged around the core wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the sheath having a lumen of sufficient diameter to slide over the proximal portion of the filter.

11. A vascular filter apparatus comprising:

a core wire having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;

a filter concentrically arranged around said core wire, said filter having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the filter being attached to the core wire adjacent its distal end and the proximal end of the filter being attached to the core wire wherein the proximal end of the filter is fixedly attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band; and

a sheath concentrically arranged around the core wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the sheath having a lumen of sufficient diameter to slide over the proximal portion of the filter.

12. A vascular filter apparatus comprising:

a core wire having proximal and distal ends and a lumen;

a filter concentrically arranged around said core wire, said filter having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the filter being attached to the core wire adjacent its distal end and the proximal end of the filter being attached to the core wire wherein the distal end of the filter is slidably attached to the core wire by a radiopaque marker or crimp band; and

a sheath concentrically arranged around the core wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the sheath having a lumen of sufficient diameter to slide over the proximal portion of the filter.