Vascular filter with sensing capability

• US 8,267,954 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Decant, Leonard J. Jr., Kalis, Robert W., Graves, David Micky, Spilka, David G., Mukherjee, Avijit, Almazan, Daniel O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Kevin T
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLM, JONATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/051,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 606/158, 606/191, 606/200, 600/202, 600/594, 600/300, 600/301, 600/464, 600/465, 600/468, 600/469, 600/480, 600/485, 604/6.09
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0105 Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side
• 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 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0076 ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer

Abstract

An implantable vessel filter having an integrated sensing capability for monitoring the condition of the vessel filter. In one variation, the vessel filter comprises a plurality of legs that would themselves perform as a sensor device for detecting distention, which would indicate the presence of a clot or thrombus therein. A passive electrical circuit may be implemented on the vessel filter to receive electromagnetic energy and transmit signals indicative of the condition of the implanted vessel filter. In another variation, a miniaturized sensor is adapted for measuring the strain and/or other physical parameters of the filter legs.

Claims

1. An implantable particle capturing device comprising:

a vessel filter adapted for implantation into a body vessel, including a plurality of elongated appendages with proximal ends and free distal ends;

a sleeve enclosing the proximal ends of the elongated appendages;

a hub connected to the sleeve by a spring, the spring maintaining a first distance between the hub and the sleeve in an unstressed state and a second distance less than the first distance between the hub and the sleeve in a stressed state, the stressed state created by application of an external force;

a sensing member coupled to the hub and movably displaceable with respect to the sleeve; and

an electronic circuit between the hub and the sleeve, measuring a displacement therebetween.

2. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit measures a strain.

3. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said electronic circuit is configured to transmit information regarding said strain to a remote monitor.

4. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said electronic circuit is configured to transmit information regarding a distribution of said strain on said vessel filter to a remote monitor.

5. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is configured to transmit information regarding a parameter to a remote monitor.

6. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 5, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a passive electronic circuit.

7. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is within the sleeve.

8. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a strain gauge coupled to the hub, wherein the electronic circuit measures the strain gauge.

9. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a strain gauge coupled between the sensing member and a second sensing member coupled to the hub, wherein the electronic circuit measures the strain gauge.

10. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, further comprising a microelectromechanical sensor coupled to the sensing member.

11. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 10, wherein the microelectromechanical sensor detects a movement of the sensing member.

12. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing member is looped to complete the electronic circuit.

13. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the hub is movably displaceable inside the sleeve.

14. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 13, wherein the hub is movably displaceable with respect to the sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the implantable particle capturing device.

15. The implantable particle capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the spring biases the hub away from the sleeve during use, and is compressed when an object contacts the sensing member.