Intravascular filter and method

• US 6,171,327 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Daniel, John, Cassell, Robert, Lowe, Brian J., Broome, Thomas E., Slaker, Bradley F., Arnold, John E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, William W.
• Application Number:
  US09/256,865
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/108, 606/191, 606/194, 606/198, 606/200, 623/1, 623/12, 623/1.1, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0108 Both ends closed, i.e. legs gathered at both ends
• 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 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0023 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A filter disposed at the distal end of an elongate guidewire. Catheters are provided for delivering the filter to, and retrieving the filter from, a treatment site. The catheters can be over-the-wire or single operator exchange. The catheters include a housing for receiving the filter therein. The housing has an atraumatic distal end.

Claims

1. A filter assembly, comprising:

a catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a housing disposed at the distal end, the housing having a distal end;

an elongate wire extending at least in part through the catheter, the elongate wire having a proximal end and a distal end;

a filter connected to the elongate wire proximate the distal end of the elongate wire, the filter is moveable from a position outside the housing to a position at least in part inside the housing; and

a housing insert disposed within the housing and extending distally therefrom when the filter is in the position outside the housing.

2. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insert tapers distally.

3. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insert is releasably connected to the distal end of the housing.

4. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insert includes a balloon.

5. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a manifold disposed at the proximal end of the shaft, the manifold including a positive prep port, a guidewire port and balloon inflation port.

6. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the insert includes a flap which extends transversely over the distal end of the housing.

7. A filter assembly, comprising:

a catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a housing disposed at the distal end, the housing having a distal end;

an elongate wire extending at least in part through the catheter, the elongate wire having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a filter connected to the elongate wire proximate the distal end of the elongate wire, and the filter being disposed in a position at least in part within the housing, wherein the distal end of the housing is heat shrunk around at least a portion of the filter.

8. A filter assembly, comprising:

a catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a housing disposed at the distal end, the housing having a distal end;

an elongate wire extending at least in part through the catheter, the elongate wire having a proximal end and a distal end;

a filter connected to the elongate wire proximate the distal end of the elongate wire, and the filter being disposed in a position at least in part within in the housing; and

a generally conically shaped nose connected to the elongate wire and disposed distally of the filter.

9. A filter assembly, comprising:

a catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a housing disposed at the distal end, the housing having a distal end;

an elongate wire extending at least in part through the catheter, the wire having a proximal end and a distal end;

a filter connected to the wire proximate the distal end of the wire, and the filter being disposed in a position at least in part within the housing, wherein the elongate shaft includes at least one releasable coupling for coupling the distal portion of the shaft to a proximal portion of the shaft.

10. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the coupling includes a bayonet fastener.

11. The filter assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein the coupling includes a threaded fastener.