Filter delivery system
First Claim
1. A vessel filter delivery system, comprising:
- a) an elongated flexible tube having a central, longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends, and a tube wall with an outer surface and an inner surface surrounding a tube lumen that extends from the proximal end to the distal end;
b) an expandable vessel filter stored within the tube lumen in a compressed state, the filter including a head and multiple legs extending distally of the head, at least some legs having a distal hook, each distal hook having a hook free end;
c) wherein the filter is movable between the compressed state wherein the filter is contained in the tube lumen and an expanded state wherein the filter is positioned distally of the distal end of the elongated flexible tube;
d) the tube wall including a plurality of slots that each communicate with the distal end of the flexible tube, wherein the slots are circumferentially spaced apart about the tube wall inner surface and lumen, the slots extending longitudinally along the tube wall inner surface, each slot terminating proximally at a radially extending ledge;
e) wherein in said compressed state each of the slots receiving at least a portion of a hook of a vessel filter leg, wherein the hook free end of each leg engages the ledge to prevent the vessel filter from migrating beyond the ledge in a proximal direction; and
f) a pusher that engages the filter head proximally and opposite the hooks, wherein the pusher is movable within the tube lumen from a proximal position to a distal position which proximal to distal movement of the pusher enables discharge of the filter from the tube and to the expanded state, wherein the hooks exit the tube before the head exits the tube.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A filter delivery device for implanting a vessel filter within a blood vessel of a patient'"'"'s body. The filter delivery device includes a mechanism for preventing hooks and/or legs on a vessel filter from entangling with each other while the vessel filter is loaded within the delivery device. In one variation, the filter delivery device includes a delivery catheter with grooves at the distal end lumen opening. When a vessel filter with radially expanding legs is compressed and inserted into the distal end of the delivery catheter, the hooks on the distal end of the legs are received and separated by the corresponding grooves on the delivery catheter. In another variation, a pusher rod, with a receptacle for receiving the hooks, is positioned within a delivery catheter to prevent the entanglement of the hooks and/or legs of a filter loaded within the delivery catheter.
383 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vessel filter delivery system, comprising:
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a) an elongated flexible tube having a central, longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends, and a tube wall with an outer surface and an inner surface surrounding a tube lumen that extends from the proximal end to the distal end; b) an expandable vessel filter stored within the tube lumen in a compressed state, the filter including a head and multiple legs extending distally of the head, at least some legs having a distal hook, each distal hook having a hook free end; c) wherein the filter is movable between the compressed state wherein the filter is contained in the tube lumen and an expanded state wherein the filter is positioned distally of the distal end of the elongated flexible tube; d) the tube wall including a plurality of slots that each communicate with the distal end of the flexible tube, wherein the slots are circumferentially spaced apart about the tube wall inner surface and lumen, the slots extending longitudinally along the tube wall inner surface, each slot terminating proximally at a radially extending ledge; e) wherein in said compressed state each of the slots receiving at least a portion of a hook of a vessel filter leg, wherein the hook free end of each leg engages the ledge to prevent the vessel filter from migrating beyond the ledge in a proximal direction; and f) a pusher that engages the filter head proximally and opposite the hooks, wherein the pusher is movable within the tube lumen from a proximal position to a distal position which proximal to distal movement of the pusher enables discharge of the filter from the tube and to the expanded state, wherein the hooks exit the tube before the head exits the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A vessel filter assembly, comprising:
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a) a vessel filter including a head and a plurality of elongated legs extending distally from said head; b) said plurality of elongated legs being configured to expand radially from an initial stored position to an expanded position; c) each of said plurality of legs having a hook located at a distal end thereof such that when said legs are moved to the expanded position the hooks engage an inner wall of the vessel, each hook having a hook free end; d) an elongated catheter having a central, longitudinal axis and including an inner surface surrounding a lumen that extends from a proximal catheter end to a distal catheter end, the lumen being configured to receive said vessel filter and maintain said vessel filter in a first compressed configuration that defines said stored position; e) a plurality of grooves being provided on the distal end of the catheter and communicating with the inner surface, said grooves being circumferentially spaced apart and configured for receiving said hooks; f) a transverse surface that transversely intersects each groove proximally of said groove; g) wherein in the first compressed, stored position, the hooks engage the catheter wall at said grooves to prevent said plurality of legs from entangling with each other; and h) wherein in the first compressed, stored position, each hook free end engages a said transverse surface; j) a filter delivery portion that comprises a rod slidably positioned within said elongated catheter for applying pressure when said vessel filter is to be moved from the stored position to a deployed position exiting from the distal end of said elongated catheter. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vessel filter delivery device for implanting an expandable vessel filter in a hollow body organ in a human, comprising:
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a) an elongated flexible tube having proximal and distal tube ends, an outer surface, an inner circumferential surface, a tube lumen extending from the proximal tube end to the distal tube end; b) an expandable filter contained within said tube lumen in a first, stored position, said filter including a plurality of filter legs, each leg having a distal hook with a hook free end; c) a plurality of slots positioned at said distal end of the tube and each slot communicating with the inner circumferential surface thereof and tube lumen; d) wherein in said stored position, each of said slots being configured to receive one of a plurality of said hooks on said expandable vessel filter; e) a distal end of said slots opening at the tube distal end to allow said hooks to move distally of the tube lumen; and f) a proximal end of each said slot including a radially extending ledge to prevent the vessel filter from migrating towards said proximal end of said tube, wherein each hook free end engages a said radially extending ledge in the stored position; g) an elongated flexible wire slidably disposed within the lumen of said elongated flexible tube, wherein a distal end of said elongated flexible wire is configured to apply a force on said vessel filter to deploy said vessel filter from the lumen of said tube. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification