Method and device for filtering body fluid

• US 7,410,492 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• 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:
  US11/120,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20050203570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606191-200, 623/1.11
• 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 of protecting a patient from embolization during therapeutic treatment at a treatment site in a vessel comprising:

introducing an introduction catheter into the vessel;

advancing an intravascular device carried adjacent a distal end of a guidewire through the vessel to a location distal to the treatment site while the intravascular device is contained within a lumen of the introduction catheter;

removing the introduction catheter from the vessel;

after the introduction catheter has been removed introducing the distal end of a treatment catheter into the vessel;

advancing the treatment catheter over the guidewire to the treatment site;

performing a therapeutic treatment at the treatment site, the therapeutic treatment including urging a stenosis radially outwardly to squeeze the stenosis against a wall of the vessel;

capturing emboli released into blood during the therapeutic treatment with the intravascular device;

after the therapeutic treatment has been performed introducing the distal end of a retrieval catheter into the vessel;

advancing the retrieval catheter over the guidewire to retrieve the intravascular device; and

removing the retrieval catheter, guidewire and intravascular device from the vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the intravascular device is a filter and wherein capturing emboli comprises filtering emboli from blood flowing through the vessel with the filter.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the filter comprises a metal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the metal comprises nitinol.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the filter includes a filter mesh.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising expanding the filter within the vessel and wherein the filter is expanded before the treatment catheter is advanced over the guidewire.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising expanding the filter within the vessel and wherein the filter is expanded before the treatment catheter is introduced into the vessel.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the filter is self-expanding.

9. The method of claim 1 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.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the filter is fixed to the guidewire.

11. The method of claim 2 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.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the distal band is connected in a fixed position on the guidewire.

13. The method of claim 2 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.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the tube is slidably disposed about the guidewire.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the filter is fixed to the guidewire.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein the filter mesh comprises a metal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the metal comprises nitinol.