Embolic protection filtering device

• US 8,337,519 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wasicek, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US10/616,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,456 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/159, 606/194, 606/200, 606/198, 604/96, 604/104, 604/105, 604/106
• 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 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Embolic protection devices and methods of making and using the same. An embolic protection device may include a shaft or filter wire having a filter coupled thereto. The filter wire may include a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal and distal sections may be coupled with a connector.

Claims

1. An embolic protection filtering device, comprising:

a filter wire including a core member and a covering disposed over at least a portion of the core member, the core member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a first flexibility and including a distal end, the distal portion having a second flexibility different from the first flexibility and including a proximal end;

a connector disposed over the distal end of the proximal portion and the proximal end of the distal portion, the connector fixedly secured to each of the proximal and distal portions of the core member; and

a filter assembly coupled to the filter wire, the filter assembly including a filter frame, a filter membrane coupled to the filter frame, and one or more struts extending between the filter frame and the filter wire.

2. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion comprises stainless steel.

3. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion comprises nickel-titanium alloy.

4. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a connector material that is compatible for bonding to both the proximal and distal portions.

5. The filtering device of claim 4, wherein the connector material comprises a nickel-chromium alloy.

6. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein a reduced cross sectional area is defined adjacent at least one of the distal end of the proximal portion and the proximal end of the distal portion.

7. The filtering device of claim 6, wherein the reduced size region or regions include a taper.

8. The filtering device of claim 6, wherein both the proximal portion and the distal portion include a reduced size region, and wherein the reduced size region of the proximal portion and the reduced size region of the distal portion overlap.

9. The filtering device of claim 6, wherein both the proximal portion and the distal portion include a reduced size region, and wherein the reduced size region of the proximal portion and the reduced size region of the distal portion have interlocking shapes.

10. The filtering device of claim 6, wherein both the proximal portion and the distal portion include a reduced cross sectional area, and wherein the reduced cross sectional area of the proximal portion and the reduced cross sectional area of the distal portion are joined together to define a butt joint.

11. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a polymer sheath.

12. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a coil.

13. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the distal region of the core member include a first section and a second section that are connected by a second connector.

14. The filtering device of claim 1, further comprising a bismuth alloy connector material disposed adjacent the distal end of the proximal portion and the proximal end of the distal portion.

15. The filtering device of claim 1, wherein the connector is welded to the proximal portion and to the distal portion.