Variable thickness embolic filtering devices and methods of manufacturing the same
First Claim
1. An embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
- a filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto, the strut assembly including a plurality of struts arranged to create a desired composite strut structure which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the strut structure including;
flexing portions which flex when subjected to bending forces that may be developed when the strut assembly is being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature, the struts forming the flexing portions being made from a first layer of material having a first wall thickness; and
stable portions that remain relatively stiff when being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature, the struts forming the stable portions being made from the first layer of material along with a second layer of material having a second wall thickness deposited on the first layer to form a composite wall thickness for the stable portions that is greater than the first wall thickness, wherein each strut has a particular strut width, the strut widths in the stable portions being generally greater than the strut widths in the flexing portions, the strut widths in the flexing portions defining a nominal strut width and the strut width in the stable portions defining a greater-than-nominal strut width.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A strut assembly to be used in conjunction with an embolic filtering device has varying strut thicknesses, with the thickness selected based at least in part on the flexing characteristics of the particular portion of the strut assembly. The strut assembly is formed with patterns having flexing portions and stable portions, with the flexing portions contributing to the flexibility of the strut assembly during delivery and recovery in the patient'"'"'s vasculature. The stable portions remain relatively unflexed and stiff when being delivered or recovered from the patient'"'"'s vasculature. The stable portions provide strength and increased radiopacity to the strut assembly which is needed when the strut assembly is deployed in the body vessel. The flexing portions act much like a mechanical hinges in providing the needed flexibility to resiliently bend when being delivered through tortuous anatomy of the patient.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An embolic filtering device for filtering embolic debris from a patient'"'"'s vasculature, comprising:
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a filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter element attached thereto, the strut assembly including a plurality of struts arranged to create a desired composite strut structure which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the strut structure including; flexing portions which flex when subjected to bending forces that may be developed when the strut assembly is being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature, the struts forming the flexing portions being made from a first layer of material having a first wall thickness; and stable portions that remain relatively stiff when being delivered through the patient'"'"'s vasculature, the struts forming the stable portions being made from the first layer of material along with a second layer of material having a second wall thickness deposited on the first layer to form a composite wall thickness for the stable portions that is greater than the first wall thickness, wherein each strut has a particular strut width, the strut widths in the stable portions being generally greater than the strut widths in the flexing portions, the strut widths in the flexing portions defining a nominal strut width and the strut width in the stable portions defining a greater-than-nominal strut width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification