# US 10,765,502 B2 · Blood filter devices, systems, and methods of using the same to detect the presence of a thrombus within said filter devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,502 B2 - Document ID: US10765502B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/724,216 - Filed: 2017-10-03 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-03 - Assignees: 3DT Holdings, LLC - Applicants: 3DT Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Ghassan S. Kassab - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765502B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/0105: {Open ended, i.e. legs gathered only at one side} - A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body - A61B 5/02158: {provided with two or more sensor elements} - A61B 5/0538: invasively, e.g. using a catheter - A61B 5/4851: {Prosthesis assessment or monitoring} - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6876: {Blood vessel} - A61F 2/0077: {Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth (A61F2/30767 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/011: {Instruments for their placement or removal} - A61F 2002/0091: {Having cellular growth inhibitors} - A61F 2002/016: {made from wire-like elements} - A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes - A61F 2250/0002: for data transfer - 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 Blood filter devices, systems, and methods of using the same to detect the presence of a thrombus within said filter devices. A device of the present disclosure for detecting a thrombus or other blood particulate matter of a threshold size within a vessel can comprise a filter having a head and a plurality of legs extending distally therefrom, configured to capture the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size, and at least one impedance element positioned distal to the head and configured to detect a presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the filter by obtaining data within a bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting a thrombus or other blood particulate matter of a threshold size within a vessel, comprising: a filter having a head and a plurality of legs extending distally therefrom, configured to capture the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size; at least one impedance element positioned distal to the head and configured to detect a presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the filter by obtaining data within a bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream; and a sheath having a distal balloon positioned thereon, the sheath configured to be positioned around at least part of the filter within a blood vessel, wherein the balloon is configured for inflation within the blood vessel, wherein the inflation causes the balloon to inflate both outwardly toward a blood vessel wall, and proximally along the sheath and wherein the balloon at least partially surrounds the filter when inflated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one impedance element comprises an excitation electrode configured to generate an electric field within the bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream of a vessel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one impedance element comprises a detection electrode configured to detect conductance data within the bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream of a vessel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one impedance element comprises a combination excitation and detection electrode configured to both excite an electric field and detect conductance data within the electric field in the bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream of a vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least one pressure sensor configured to obtain pressure data within a bloodstream, and wherein the pressure data indicates presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least one fiber-optic sensor configured to obtain light data within a bloodstream, and wherein the light data indicates presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is at least partially coated with a coating comprising one or more fibroblast growth factor inhibitors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the legs form a generally conical configuration and further comprise barbs on the distal ends thereof, the barbs configured for detachable engagement with vessel walls to hold the filter in place within the bloodstream of the vessel. ### Claim 9 A system for detecting a thrombus or other blood particulate matter of a threshold size within a vessel, comprising: a device, comprising: a filter having a head and a plurality of legs extending distally therefrom, configured to capture the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size; and at least one impedance element positioned distal to the head and configured to detect a presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the filter by obtaining data within a bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream; and a console operably coupled to the device, configured to wirelessly obtain data from the device, based the data received from the at least one impedance element positioned within the bloodstream of a vessel; wherein the system further comprises a sheath having a distal balloon positioned thereon, the sheath configured to be positioned around at least part of the filter within a blood vessel, wherein the balloon is configured for inflation within the blood vessel, wherein the inflation causes the balloon to inflate both outward toward the blood vessel, and proximally along the sheath, and wherein the balloon at least partially surrounds the blood filter device when inflated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the device may further comprise a filter transmitter/receiver, and wherein the console may further comprise a console transmitter/receiver, the filter transmitter/receiver operably coupled to the console transmitter/receiver to both transmit and receive the data detected by the at least one impedance element to and from the console. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the filter transmitter/receiver and the console transmitter/receiver are operably coupled via a bidirectional radio frequency link. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a display operably coupled to the console, the display configured to visually or audibly provide the data received from the at least one impedance element positioned within the bloodstream of a vessel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a remote computer operably coupled to the console, wherein the remote computer, the console, and the device can communicate with one another through a wireless network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the device is at least partially coated with a coating comprising a fibroblast growth factor inhibitor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one impedance element comprises a combination excitation and detection electrode configured to both excite an electric field and detect conductance data within the electric field in the bloodstream when the filter is positioned within the bloodstream of a vessel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises at least one sensor configured to obtain data within a bloodstream, and wherein the sensor data indicates presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the filter. ### Claim 17 A method for safely removing a blood filter device from within a blood vessel, comprising the steps of: surrounding at least part of the blood filter device with a sheath retrieval device, the blood filter device configured to capture a thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size, the blood filter device comprising: a head and a plurality of legs extending therefrom, and at least one impedance element positioned distal to the head and configured to detect a presence of the thrombus or other blood particulate matter of at least a threshold size within the blood filter device by obtaining data within a bloodstream when the blood filter device is positioned within the bloodstream; and inflating a balloon positioned on a distal end of the sheath retrieval device, wherein inflating the balloon within the blood vessel causes the balloon to inflate both outwardly toward blood vessel walls, and proximally along the sheath, wherein the balloon at least partially surrounds the blood filter device when inflated; and retracting the blood filter device up into the sheath retrieval device while the balloon provides continuous pressure against the blood vessel walls to safely detach the legs of the blood filter device from the blood vessel walls of a patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein surrounding at least part of the blood filter device further comprises inserting a catheter having a sheath retrieval device into the blood vessel of the patient.