Blood clot filtering

• US 6,273,900 B1
• Filed: 01/16/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifescreen Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Soun, Naroun, Nott, Sepideh H., Kim, Hannah S., Sandock, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/008,258
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/127, 606/113, 606/110, 606/158, 606/159, 606/198, 128/312, 128/319, 128/897, 128/898, 128/894
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0103 With centering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

A blood clot filter comprising: an anchoring portion comprising a generally cylindrical self-expanding body formed from resilient material, the generally cylindrical body having proximal and distal ends and defining an axial direction and having a structure of variable size diameter expandable from a low-profile compressed condition to a larger profile expanded condition, wherein the resilient material urges the generally cylindrical body to radially expand and to thereby apply anchoring radial force against the inner wall surface of the blood vessel; and a generally conical filtering portion axially aligned with the generally cylindrical body having an open proximal end coupled to the distal end of the anchoring portion and having an apical distal end. Also disclosed is a blood clot filter having one or more hooks fixedly coupled to the anchoring portion and formed from compliant material having an original shape that bends under stress yet returns to its original shape when unstressed. The hooks respectively tend to project from the anchoring portion at an acute angle with respect to the axial direction for engagement with a vessel wall. Also, the hooks are deflectable toward the anchoring portion for achieving a low-profile.

Claims

1. An anchoring apparatus for anchoring a cylindrical portion of an implantable blood clot filter device to a wall of a body vessel, comprising:

a tubular member attachable to said cylindrical portion of said device; and

an elongated member discrete and separate from said implantable device and adapted to be supported thereby, wherein the elongated member further terminates in ends extending from corresponding ends of the tubular member for engaging the wall of the vessel.

2. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ends of the elongated member extend in opposing directions.

3. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein each end of the elongated member includes a bend.

4. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises:

a first portion extending from an end of the tubular member and diverging from a longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and

a second portion extending from another end of the of the tubular member and diverging from the longitudinal axis.

5. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a compliant material.

6. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises nitinol.

7. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a wire.

8. The anchoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wire includes a substantially flat surface.

9. The anchoring apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wire comprises pointed ends for piercing the wall of the vessel.

10. The anchoring apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wire comprises a flat wire formed of compliant material, and includes a bend on each side of the tubular member.

11. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member has a length of about 5 mm, width of about 0.5 mm, and a thickness in a range of about 0.05 to about 0.15 mm.

12. The anchoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member comprises a cylindrical tube.

13. An implantable blood clot filter device for implantation in a body vessel having a wall, comprising:

an anchoring apparatus, including a tubular member, and a wire member extending through the tubular member and having an end portion extending out from an end of the tubular member for engaging the wall of vessel; and

a blood clot filter including an elongated strand for positioning in adjacent contact with said vessel wall and extending through the tubular member, said wire being descrete and separated from said elongated strand of said blood clot filter, wherein both the wire and the tubular member are fixed relative to the elongated strand.

14. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the end portion comprises a bend.

15. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the wire further includes a second end portion extending from another end of the tubular member.

16. The implantable device of claim 15, wherein the end portions of the wire extend in opposing directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

17. The implantable device of claim 15, wherein each wire end portion comprises a bend.

18. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the end portion of the wire diverges from a longitudinal axis of the tubular member, and wherein the wire further comprises a second end portion extending from another end of the tubular member and diverging from the longitudinal axis.

19. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the wire is formed of a compliant material.

20. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the wire includes a substantially flat side.

21. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the tubular member is cylindrical.

22. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein the device is formed by a process comprising:

extending the strand through the tubular member;

extending the elongated member through the tubular member; and

fixing the tubular member and the elongated member relative to the strand.

23. An implantable blood clot filter device comprising a generally cylindrical portion including an elongated strand attached to an anchoring means for anchoring the cylindrical portion to a wall of the vessel, wherein the anchoring means includes a tubular member oriented along a longitudinal axis and surrounding the elongated strand for positioning adjacent said vessel wall, and an elongated member extending through the tubular member, the elongated member being formed of a compliant material, having a substantially flat side, and having first and second end portions extending from corresponding ends of the tubular member for engaging the wall of the vessel, the first and second end portions of the elongated member diverging from the longitudinal axis, and wherein both the elongated member and the tubular member are fixed relative to the elongated strand.

24. An anchorable implantable device for anchoring within a blood vessel comprising:

a blood clot filter including a generally cylindrical section and a conical section axially aligned with said generally cylindrical section, and

an anchoring apparatus projecting from said blood clot filter so as to engage a wall of a blood vessel and anchor said blood clot filter within said blood vessel, wherein said anchoring apparatus includes a tubular member attached to said cylindrical section for positioning adjacent said vessel wall and an elongated member supported by and extending through said tubular member.

25. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said elongated member further comprises ends extending from corresponding ends of said tubular member for engaging the wall of the blood vessel.

26. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 25, wherein said ends of said elongated member extend in opposing directions.

27. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 25, wherein each of said ends of said elongated member includes a bend.

28. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said elongated member comprises:

a first portion extending from an end of said tubular member and diverging from a longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and

a second portion extending from another end of said tubular member and diverging from a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

29. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said filter includes a plurality of closed cells.

30. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said conical section includes a plurality of closed cells.

31. A blood clot filter as in claim 30, wherein said plurality of closed cells of said conical section form a series of circumferential rings.

32. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 31, wherein said series of circumferential rings of said conical section decrease in circumference along an axis of said conical section.

33. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said generally cylindrical section includes a plurality of closed cells forming a series of circumferential rings.

34. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said conical section includes a series of elongated strands tapering to form said conical section.

35. An anchorable implantable device as in claim 24, wherein said conical section is tapered toward a distal apical tip.

36. An anchorable inplantable device as in claim 24, wherein said filter is formed from material selected from the group consisting of polymeric material, plastically deformable material, metallic material and shape-memory material.

37. A blood clot filter as in claim 36, wherein said shape memory material is nitinol.

38. A blood clot filter as in claim 24, wherein said generally cylindrical portion is expandable from a low-profile compressed condition to a larger profile expanded condition.

39. A blood clot filter as in claim 38, wherein said generally cylindrical portion is self-expandable.

40. A blood clot filter as in claim 24, further comprising one or more hooks mounted on said generally cylindrical section.

41. A blood clot filter as in claim 40, wherein said hooks are fixedly coupled to said generally cylindrical portion.