×

Multi-lumen central access vena cava filter apparatus and method of using same

  • US 9,101,450 B2
  • Filed: 12/20/2012
  • Issued: 08/11/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method of capturing thrombus within a blood vessel, comprising the steps of:

  • introducing a multi-lumen catheter having a filter member coupled thereto, wherein the filter member is circumferentially coupled about a distal region of the multi-lumen catheter and has a first end coupled circumferentially in fixed relation to the multi-lumen catheter and a second end circumferentially moveably coupled to the multi-lumen catheter, the filter member consisting of;

    a plurality of struts configured to form a generally frustroconical proximal section of the filter member tapering proximally and having proximal interstitial openings, and a generally frustroconical distal section of the filter member tapering distally and having distal interstitial openings, the frustroconical proximal section having a length that is greater than or less than a length of the frustroconical distal section, each of the proximal interstitial openings having an open surface area either greater than or less than the open surface area of each of the distal interstitial openings;

    where the filter member is configured to expand in a patient'"'"'s blood vessel such that a transverse dimension of the filter decreases in the direction of the patient'"'"'s blood flow to collect thrombi, wherein the vena cava filter member centers the multi-lumen catheter within a blood vessel lumen;

    deploying the multi-lumen catheter within a blood vessel such that the filter member expands so that the larger interstitial openings between the frustroconical distal or proximal sections open facing a patient'"'"'s blood flow;

    inserting an ultrasound imaging system operable to detect a condition of the filter member into a lumen of the multi-lumen catheter and positioning the ultrasound imaging system in a region of the multi-lumen catheter bounded by the filter member; and

    imaging the filter member with the ultrasound imaging system, wherein the condition of the filter member is the presence of a thrombus in the filter member.

View all claims
  • 5 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×