Method and device for filtering body fluid

• US 6,949,103 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ev3, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ev3, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mazzocchi, Rudy, Claude, Timothy, Segermark, James
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, VY Q
• Application Number:
  US10/051,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 606/200, 606/108, 606/110, 606/114, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12177 comprising additional materials, e.g. thrombogenic, having filaments, having fibers or being coated
• 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 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• 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 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/008 of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings medical science A61

Abstract

Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a patient from embolization during a percutaneous procedure on a vessel, comprising:

providing a guidewire having proximal and distal ends, a proximal and a distal region, an expandable filter carried by the guidewire at the distal region such that the expandable filter is advanced by advancing the guidewire and retracted by retracting the guidewire, and a removable sheath which covers the expandable filter and is slidable over the guidewire;

providing a balloon catheter having an inflatable balloon associated with a distal region of the balloon catheter;

introducing the distal end of the guidewire into the patient'"'"'s vessel with the sheath covering the expandable filter, and positioning the filter downstream of a treatment site, wherein the sheath and guidewire cross the treatment site;

sliding the sheath toward the proximal end of the guidewire and removing the sheath from the vessel, wherein the expandable filter is uncovered;

deploying the filter;

advancing over the guidewire a balloon catheter to the treatment site; and

inflating the balloon at the treatment site, wherein embolic material is generated and captured before the expandable filter is removed from the patient'"'"'s vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the expandable filter includes a filter mesh.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter is deployed before the balloon catheter is advanced over the guidewire.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter is deployed after the balloon catheter is advanced over the guidewire.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the filter is deployed before the balloon is inflated.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the filter is deployed before the balloon is inflated.

7. A percutaneous system having filter and balloon catheter deployment capabilities, comprising:

a guidewire having proximal and distal ends, a proximal and distal region, and an expandable filter carried by the guidewire at the distal region such that the expandable filter is advanced by advancing the guidewire and retracted by retracting the guidewire;

a sheath which is shaped to receive the guidewire and retain the filter in a contracted condition, and to slidably release the filter to an expanded condition when the sheath moves toward the proximal end of the guidewire;

a balloon catheter having a proximal and a distal end, a proximal and a distal region, and a lumen which slidably receives the guidewire, the balloon catheter having an inflatable balloon associated with the distal region, the balloon having a first diameter which permits intraluminal delivery of the balloon catheter into a vessel, and having a second expanded diameter adapted to substantially engage a wall of the vessel; and

wherein, during use, the guidewire is positioned across a region of stenosis within the vessel, the filter is expanded, the balloon is inflated within the region of stenosis and wherein embolic material is generated and captured before the expandable filter is removed from the vessel.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the filter is self-expanding.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the filter comprises nitinol material.