Method and device for filtering body fluid

• US 7,404,820 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ev3, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ev3, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mazzocchi, Rudy, Claude, Timothy, Segermark, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Vy Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/098,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 606191-200, 606/108, 606/159, 606/127, 623 111- 112, 604190-192
• US Class Current: 606/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12177 comprising additional materials, e.g. thrombogenic, having filaments, having fibers or being coated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• 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 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/008 of medical instruments, e.g. stents, corneal rings medical science A61

Abstract

Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.

Claims

1. A method for capturing emboli from blood flowing through a body vessel during therapeutic treatment at a treatment site in the vessel comprising:

introducing a guidewire into the vessel;

advancing the guidewire distally through the vessel;

positioning a distal end of the guidewire at a location distal to the treatment site;

introducing an elongate introduction member into the vessel;

advancing the elongate introduction member distally through the vessel;

positioning a distal end of the elongate introduction member at a location distal to the treatment site;

removing the elongate introduction member from the vessel;

after the elongate introduction member has been removed introducing a treatment catheter into the vessel;

advancing the treatment catheter distally over the guidewire;

positioning the treatment catheter at the treatment site;

performing a therapeutic treatment at the treatment site with the treatment catheter;

capturing emboli released into the blood during the therapeutic treatment at a location between the treatment site and the distal end of the guidewire;

removing the treatment catheter from the vessel;

after the treatment catheter has been removed introducing a retrieval member into the vessel;

advancing the retrieval member distally over the guidewire; and

retrieving the captured emboli from the vessel with the retrieval member.

2. The method of claim 1 further including permitting distal flow of the blood beyond the distal end of the guidewire during the capturing step.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongate introduction member is an introduction catheter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongate retrieval member is a retrieval catheter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongate introduction member is an introduction catheter and the elongate retrieval member is a retrieval catheter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a therapeutic treatment comprises atherectomy.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment site includes a stenosis and wherein the step of performing a therapeutic treatment comprises urging the stenosis radially outwardly to squeeze the stenosis against a wall of the vessel.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the treatment catheter has a radially expandable treatment device associated with a distal region of the treatment catheter and wherein the treatment device is expanded radially outwardly during the urging step.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein performing a therapeutic treatment comprises angioplasty.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the angioplasty is balloon angioplasty.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein an intravascular device is carried adjacent a distal end of the guidewire and wherein the method further comprises advancing the intravascular device through the vessel to a location distal to the treatment site while the intravascular device is within a lumen of the elongate introduction member.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the intravascular device is mounted adjacent a distal end of the guidewire.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the intravascular device is a trap.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the trap is a filter.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the filter includes a filter mesh.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising expanding the filter within the vessel and wherein the filter is expanded before the treatment catheter is advanced over the guidewire.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising expanding the filter within the vessel end wherein the filter is expanded before the treatment catheter is introduced into the vessel.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the filter is self-expanding.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the filter is fixed to the guidewire.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the filter comprises a metal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the metal comprises nitinol.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the filter has proximal and distal ends and wherein the distal end of the filter is connected to a distal band which encircles the guidewire.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the distal band is connected in a fixed position on the guidewire.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein the filter has proximal and distal ends and wherein the proximal end of the filter is connected to a tube which encircles the guidewire.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the tube is slidably disposed about the guidewire.