Percutaneous retrievable vascular filter

• US 8,795,318 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hallisey, Michael J., Snow, Jeremy W.
• Primary Examiner(s): EASTWOOD, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US12/722,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/159, 606/200, 604104-107, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 606/200
• 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: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/012 Multiple filtering units
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/061 provided with means for allowing access to secondary lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0076 ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

Retrievable vena cava filters for the temporary or permanent prevention of Pulmonary embolism (PE) are disclosed. A filter in accordance with the present invention has a tube-within-tube structure with overlapping semi-spheres. The semi-spheres comprise a plurality of expandable legs. The first tube may have a plurality of slots allowing for deployment of a first or second sets of expandable legs on the second tube. The free end of each leg in the first set of expandable legs may be oriented in a direction the same as or opposite to the free end of each leg in the second set. The filter may also be formed from a single tube. In certain embodiments, the filter of the present invention can be retrieved from either end.

Claims

1. A filter comprising,

a proximal end member comprising a first cylindrical portion;

a first notch extending inwardly from a wall of the first cylindrical portion;

a distal end member comprising a second cylindrical portion;

a second notch extending inwardly from a wall of the second cylindrical portion;

a first plurality of expandable legs, wherein each leg of the first plurality of expandable legs extends from a proximal end coupled to the proximal end member to an apex of a first plurality of apices such that the first plurality of legs forms a first generally conical shape between the proximal end member and the first plurality of apices;

a second plurality of expandable legs, wherein each leg of the second plurality of expandable legs extends from a distal end coupled to the distal end member to an apex of a second plurality of apices such that the second plurality of legs forms a second generally conical shape between the distal end and the second plurality of apices;

a plurality of connectors, each connector coupled to, and extending between, an apex of the first plurality of apices and an apex of the second plurality of apices, wherein the apices of the first plurality of apices and the apices of the second plurality of apices all have substantially the same radial displacement from a longitudinal axis of the filter;

a first barb extending from a first leg of the first plurality of legs from a position proximal to a first apex of the first plurality of apices; and

a second barb extending from a second leg of the second plurality of legs from a position distal to a second apex of the second plurality of apices;

wherein a connector of the plurality of connectors is coupled to the first leg and the second leg and wherein the first barb is disposed on an opposite lateral side of the connector from the second barb.

2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter is encased in a catheter in an undeployed state.

3. The filter of claim 1, wherein each connector extends a distance along the longitudinal axis of the filter creating a longitudinal offset between the first plurality of apices and the second plurality of apices.

4. The filter of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first barb and a portion of the second barb extend longitudinally toward each other.

5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the number of expandable legs in the first plurality is five, and the number of legs in the second plurality is five.

6. The filter of claim 1, wherein the first barb extends from a position radially inward from the first apex and wherein the second barb extends from a position radially inward from the second apex.

7. The filter of claim 6, wherein a free end of the first barb extends to a position radially outward from the first apex and wherein a free end of the second barb extends to a position radially outward from the second apex.

8. A filter comprising:

a proximal end member, a distal end member, and a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal end members;

a first set of expandable legs, each leg of the first set of legs having a proximal end coupled to the proximal end member of the filter;

a second set of expandable legs, each leg of the second set of legs having a distal end coupled to the distal end member of the filter;

the filter configured such that the legs of the first set extend toward the second set of legs and the legs of the second set extend toward the first set of legs, and each leg of the first set of legs continuously extends radially and longitudinally from the proximal end of the filter to a first set of apices such that the first set of legs forms a first generally conical shape and each leg of the second set of legs continuously extends radially and longitudinally from the distal end of the filter to a second set of apices such that the second set of legs forms a second generally conical shape and wherein the apices of the first set of apices and the apices of the second set of apices all have substantially the same radial displacement from the longitudinal axis of the filter, and

a plurality of connectors, each connector disposed between, and coupled to, one leg of the first set of legs and one leg of the second set of legs wherein each connector extends a distance along the longitudinal axis of the filter creating a longitudinal offset between the first set of apices and the second set of apices, and

a first barb coupled to a first leg of the first set of legs at a position proximal to a first apex of the first set of apices and a second barb coupled to a second leg of the second set of legs at a position distal to a second apex of the second set of apices wherein a first connector of the plurality of connectors is coupled to the first leg and the second leg and wherein the first barb and the second barb are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the first connector, and

wherein the filter is integrally formed.

9. The filter of claim 8, wherein the connectors are coupled to distal ends of the first set of legs and to proximal ends of the second set of legs.

10. The filter of claim 8, wherein the filter is integrally formed from a single tube of material.

11. The filter of claim 8, wherein the legs of the second set of legs are circumferentially offset from the legs of the first set of legs.

12. The filter of claim 8, wherein the proximal end member comprises a cylindrical portion and the filter further comprises a notch extending radially inward from a wall of the cylindrical portion.

13. The filter of claim 8, wherein a cage is formed comprising expandable legs from the first and second sets of legs.

14. The filter of claim 8, wherein the number of expandable legs in the first set is five, and the number of legs in the second set is five.

15. The filter of claim 8, wherein the first barb and the second barb extend longitudinally toward each other.

16. The filter of claim 8, wherein a free end of the first barb extends to a position distal of the first apex and wherein a free end of the second barb extends to a position proximal of the second apex.