Vein filter

• US 7,909,847 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Argon Medical Devices
• Original Assignee: REX Medical LP
• Inventors: McGuckin, James F. Jr., Thinnes, John H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Anhtuan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZPIRA, JULIE ANN
• Application Number:
  US11/219,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 606/198, 606/200
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/012 Multiple filtering units
• 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 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped

Abstract

A vessel filter having a first region having a first set of struts forming a mounting portion and a filter portion having a converging region at a first portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter. The mounting portion is flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second portion opposite the first portion. A second set of struts forms a second mounting portion flared in the expanded position. A plurality of spaced apart struts extend between the first and second regions.

Claims

1. A vessel filter comprising a first region and a second region, the filter movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, the first region having a first set of struts forming a first mounting portion and a first filter portion opening in a first direction, the filter portion having a first converging region at a first portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter, the mounting portion being flared in the expanded position to have a transverse dimension increasing toward a second portion opposite the first portion, the second region having a second set of struts forming a second mounting portion being flared in the expanded position and opening in the first direction, a plurality of spaced apart struts extending between the first and second regions and being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the filter in the collapsed and expanded positions of the filter and remaining in the same configuration in the collapsed and expanded positions of the filter, the spaced apart struts having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including a first tubular portion and the proximal portion including a second tubular portion, the second set of struts integral with and extending from the second tubular portion and the first set of struts integral with and extending from the first tubular portion.

2. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein the filter is formed from a laser cut tube and composed of shape memory material.

3. The vessel filter of claim 2, wherein at least two adjacent struts of the first set of struts are interconnected by strut portions extending towards one another.

4. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts terminate in a vessel engaging hook.

5. The vessel filter of claim 4, wherein each of the vessel engaging hooks lies in a common plane with the respective strut.

6. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein struts of the second set of struts terminate in a vessel engaging hook.

7. The vessel filter of claim 6, wherein struts of the first set of struts terminate in a vessel engaging hook.

8. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein at least two adjacent struts of the first set of struts are interconnected by strut portions extending towards one another.

9. The vessel filter of claim 8, wherein the at least two adjacent struts interconnect at a first joining region and then bifurcate into two interconnecting struts, wherein interconnecting struts of adjacent struts join at a second joining region.

10. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein the second region further includes a retrieval region, the retrieval region including a hook having a cutout exposing an internal annular surface, the annular surface dimensioned to receive a portion of a retrieval sheath.

11. The vessel filter of claim 10, wherein the retrieval region includes a radiused region having first and second curved surfaces extending distally inwardly.

12. The vessel filter of claim 1, wherein adjacent struts of the first set of struts are interconnected to form a series of closed cells in one region such that the number of closed cells corresponds to the number of first struts extending from the first tubular portion.

13. A vessel filter comprising a body cut from a tube, the body having a first integral region and a second integral region and being movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, the first region of the filter having a first set of spaced apart struts forming a first filter portion having a first converging region and a first mounting region for mounting the filter, the second region formed by a second set of spaced apart struts forming a second mounting region for mounting the filter, the second set of struts being positioned proximal of the first set of struts, the first and second set of struts being connected by a plurality of longitudinally extending struts and both sets of spaced apart struts being oriented in a first direction, the longitudinally extending struts being spaced apart to form longitudinally extending gaps therebetween formed by cuts in the tube, the longitudinally extending struts being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the filter in the collapsed and expanded positions of the filter and remaining in the same configuration in the collapsed and expanded positions of the filter.

14. The vessel filter of claim 13, wherein adjacent struts of the first set of struts are joined by a connecting strut.

15. The vessel filter of claim 14, wherein struts of the second set of struts include vessel engaging members to enhance retention of the filter.

16. The vessel filter of claim 15, wherein struts of the first set of struts include vessel engaging members to enhance retention of the filter.

17. The vessel filter of claim 14, wherein struts of the first set of struts include vessel engaging members to enhance retention of the filter.

18. A vessel filter comprising a first region at a distal portion of the filter and a second region at a proximal portion of the filter, the filter movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel, the first region having a first set of struts and having a first mounting portion and a first filter portion opening in a first direction and having a first converging region at a first portion to direct particles toward the center of the filter, the first converging region converging to a first tubular portion and the first set of struts extending integrally and distally from the first tubular portion, the first tubular portion positioned proximal of the first set of struts, the second region having a second tubular portion and a second set of struts extending integrally and distally from the second tubular portion, the second tubular portion positioned proximally of a proximalmost portion of the second set of struts, and adjacent struts of the first set of struts are interconnected by strut portions extending towards one another, in the collapsed position and expanded position a longitudinally extending set of struts having a first configuration extending longitudinally between the first and second tubular portions, the longitudinally extending set of struts remaining in the same first configuration in the collapsed and expanded positions of the filter.

19. The vessel filter of claim 18, wherein struts of the first set of struts terminate in vessel engaging members.

20. The vessel filter of claim 18, wherein adjacent struts of the first set of struts are interconnected to form a series of closed cells in one region such that the number of closed cells corresponds to the number of first struts extending from the first tubular portion.