Vascular filter

• US 6,443,972 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Switzerland 515 GmbH (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Europa NV (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Breedveld, Hendrik G., Bosma, Gjalt, Duerig, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, VY Q
• Application Number:
  US09/530,535
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/110, 606/113, 606/127, 606/114, 623/1, 604/96, 604/104
• 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 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vascular filter (1) which can beplaced in a blood vessel, and which comprises at least one passage with a circumference suitable for the purpose of intercepting thrombus, wherein the filter (1) comprises a longitudinal body member (6) with, in a position of use, a circumference corresponding to the internal diameter of the blood vessel transverse to the longitudinal direction thereof. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing vascular filter (1).

Claims

1. A vascular filter, which can be placed inside a blood vessel and which comprises:

in a radially compressed state, a tubular metal cylinder having a first and second integral cylindrical end collar at a proximal and distal end of the vascular filter;

a plurality of ribs arranged in a preselected pattern and extending between the first and second end collar in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vascular filter;

in radially expanded deployed state, the ribs tend to resiliently expand in radial directions, thereby causing the first and second end collars to move toward each other;

each of the ribs tending to spread apart, such that the vascular filter defines a plurality of central parallel hexagon shapes arranged adjacently around a central circumference of the vascular filter, each of the ribs defining each hexagon shape extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vascular filter;

the vascular filter further defining a first and second end filter portion connecting the central hexagons with the end collars, wherein the end filter portions each define a plurality of diamond shaped sections having four sides;

each of the diamond shapes being formed by a first and second rib each forming a portion of a first and second of the central hexagon shapes, and by a first and second conical rib directly connecting an apex of the first and second of the central hexagon shapes with the end collars respectively;

the conical ribs all extending along a first and second end cone;

whereby the first and second filter sections enhance the effectiveness of the vascular filter.

2. The vascular filter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the construction is such that it has been formed out of one single unitary metal element.

3. The vascular filter as claimed in claim 1, adapted for use in the vena cava.

4. The vascular filter as claimed in claim 1, characterized by anchors formed on at least one surface of the vascular filter directed outward in a radical direction.

5. A method for manufacturing a vascular filter comprising forming an cylindrical elongated body member out of one single element having a first and second unitary cylindrical end collar, and a plurality of structural ribs formed by a series of longitudinal cuts in the cylindrical body member with, in a position of use, a circumference corresponding to the internal diameter of the blood vessel and having a first and second conical end filter section for collecting and trapping thrombus.