# US 10,368,974 B2 · Gallbladder implants and systems and methods for the delivery thereof

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,368,974 B2
- Document ID: US10368974B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/147,080
- Filed: 2016-05-05
- Published: 2016-08-25
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-27
- Assignees: LithiBlock Ltd.
- Applicants: LithiBlock Ltd.
- Inventors: Shmuel Ben Muvhar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368974B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95)
- 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)}
- A61F 2/844: folded prior to deployment
- A61F 2/848: having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
- A61F 2/86: Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
- A61F 2/90: characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
- A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
- A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop}
- A61F 2002/041: {Bile ducts}
- A61F 2002/0817: {Structure of the anchor}
- A61F 2002/8486: {provided on at least one of the ends}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A filter device for implantation in a gallbladder, including: a filtering portion configured to filter gallstones of a certain minimum size to prevent them from exiting the gallbladder through an opening of the gallbladder; a tail extending from the filtering portion away from the opening of the gallbladder and towards a distal wall of the gallbladder; and, a stopper located at a distal end of the tail, near the distal wall of the gallbladder when the filter device is implanted; wherein the filtering portion, stopper and the tail are configured to be of sufficient overall length within the gallbladder that they, when taken together, prevent migration of the filtering portion away from the opening of the gallbladder.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for implanting a filter device in a gallbladder, comprising:
navigating a catheter including the filter device wrapped around a guiding rod through an opening to the gallbladder for implantation, the filter device including at least a filtering portion, a tail and a stopper which spans a cross-sectional space of the gallbladder;
withdrawing at least partially said catheter, through which the guiding rod and filter device are inserted, from the implantation site;
expanding the stopper of the filter device at least partially by withdrawing at least partially the catheter, then pushing gall stones towards a distal wall of the gallbladder opposite the opening using the stopper while advancing the filter device;
expanding the filtering portion by introducing the filtering portion into the gallbladder while continuing to withdraw the catheter, wherein upon expansion, the filtering portion is disposed proximal to the opening of the gallbladder and the stopper is disposed near the distal wall of the gallbladder opposite the opening; and
withdrawing the guiding rod from the implantation site, leaving the expanded filter device entirely within the gallbladder and substantially uncompressed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the expanding includes expanding the stopper prior to expanding of the filtering portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, where the pushing is performed by at least one of the guiding rod and the stopper.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the filter device is implanted such that an attachment between two loose ends of the filter device does not abut a wall of the gallbladder.