Flexible and conformable embolic filtering devices

• US 7,972,356 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Papp, John E., Huter, Scott J., Boyle, William J., Huter, Benjamin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US11/767,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 606/127, 606/159, 606/194, 606/200, 606/128, 604/96.01, 604104-107
• 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 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 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal

Abstract

A self-expanding cage for use in conjunction with an embolic filtering device includes one or more circumferential members adapted to expand from an unexpanded position to a expanded position within the patient'"'"'s body vessel. At least one proximal strut and at least one distal strut are attached to the circumferential member to form the basket. The circumferential member may include a plurality of bending regions which enhance the ability of the circumferential member to move between the unexpanded and expanded positions. The proximal and distal struts can be attached to one of the bending regions. When two or more circumferential members are utilized, each member may be connected by a connecting strut which may be connected at a bending region. The connecting strut can be a straight segment or may have a non-linear shape to provide additional flexibility. The expandable cage can be mounted to a elongated member, such as a guide wire, and can be either permanently mounted or rotatably mounted thereto.

Claims

1. A system including an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel, the system comprising:

a guide wire having a pair of stop fittings attached thereto;

an expandable cage including;

a proximal circumferential member adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the proximal circumferential member forming a closed loop which includes a plurality of bending regions formed therein;

a distal circumferential member adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the distal circumferential member forming a closed loop which includes a plurality of bending regions formed therein, the proximal circumferential member being connected to the distal circumferential member by at least one connecting strut, the at least one connecting strut being attached at one of the bending regions of the proximal and distal circumferential members;

a proximal strut having one end attached to the bending region of the proximal circumferential member and another end attached to a collar disposed between the pair of stop fittings on the guide wire;

a distal strut attached to the bending region of the distal circumferential member; and

a filter member attached to the expandable cage.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of proximal struts attached to bending regions located on the proximal circumferential member.

3. The system of claim 2, further including a plurality of distal struts attached to bending regions located on the distal circumferential member.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of connecting struts connecting to bending regions formed on the proximal and distal circumferential members.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting strut is made from a different material than the proximal strut and distal strut.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting strut is independently capable of expanding or contracting when subjected to a certain amount of force.

7. An expandable cage for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel, the cage comprising:

a first circumferential member adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the first circumferential member forming a closed loop which includes a first bending region and a second bending region, the first and second bending regions being diametrically opposed on the first circumferential member, the first bending region and the second bending region of the first circumferential member having a U-shaped configuration, the U-shape of the first bending region having an opening which faces the interior of the first circumferential member and the U-shape of the second bending region having an opening facing the interior of the circumferential member;

a proximal strut coupled to the first bending region of the first circumferential member;

a distal strut coupled to the second bending region of the first circumferential member;

a second circumferential member coupled to the first circumferential member, the second circumferential member being adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the second circumferential member forming a closed loop which includes a first bending region and a second bending region, the first and second bending regions being diametrically opposed on the second circumferential member; and

a filter member attached to the one or both of the first and second circumferential members.

8. The cage of claim 7, wherein the first bending region of the first circumferential region is attached to the first bending region of the second circumferential member and the second bending region of the first circumferential region is attached to the second bending region of the second circumferential member.

9. The cage of claim 8, further including a strut which attaches the first bending region of the first circumferential region to the first bending region of the second circumferential member and a strut which attaches the second bending region of the first circumferential region to the second bending region of the second circumferential member.

10. The cage of claim 8, wherein the first bending region and the second bending region of the second circumferential member have a U-shaped configuration.

11. The cage of claim 10, wherein the U-shape of the first bending region of the second circumferential member has an opening which faces the interior of the second circumferential member and the U-shape of the second bending region of the second circumferential member has an opening facing the interior of the second circumferential member.

12. An expandable cage for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel, the cage comprising:

a proximal circumferential member adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the proximal circumferential member forming a closed loop which includes a first bending region and a second bending region, the first and second bending regions being diametrically opposed to each other on the proximal circumferential member, each of the first bending region and the second bending region of the proximal circumferential member having a U-shaped configuration;

a distal circumferential member adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the distal circumferential member forming a closed loop which includes a first bending region and a second bending region, the first and second bending regions being diametrically opposed to each other on the distal circumferential member, each of the first bending region and the second bending region of the distal circumferential member having a U-shaped configuration the proximal circumferential member being coupled to the distal circumferential member;

a single proximal strut coupled to one of the bending regions of the proximal circumferential member;

a single distal strut coupled to one of the bending regions of the distal circumferential member, wherein the first bending region of the proximal circumferential member is coupled to the first bending region of the distal circumferential member and the second bending region of the proximal circumferential member is coupled to the second bending region of the distal circumferential member; and

a filter member attached to one or both of the proximal and distal circumferential members.

13. The cage of claim 12, wherein the U-shape of the first bending region of the proximal circumferential member has an opening which faces the interior of the proximal circumferential member and the U-shape of the second bending member of the proximal circumferential member has an opening facing the interior of the proximal circumferential member and the U-shape of the first bending region of the distal circumferential member has an opening which faces the interior of the distal circumferential member and the U-shape of the second bending member of the distal circumferential member has an opening facing the interior of the distal circumferential member.

14. The cage of claim 13, wherein the proximal and distal circumferential members lie is a parallel plane when placed in their expanded position.

15. The cage of claim 12, wherein the cage is adapted to be deployed in a body vessel having a longitudinal axis and the planes of the proximal and distal circumferential members lie at a non-perpendicular angle with the longitudinal axis of the body vessel when deployed therein.