Blood clot filter

A self-centering blood clot filter for use in a vascular lumen comprising:

• a multi-strut cylindrical positioning portion adapted to sit against the wall of a vascular lumen, and
• a filtering portion having a plurality of filter struts, each of said filter struts having a first end connected to said positioning portion and each of said filter struts having a second end centrally positioned,
• a frangible connecting element connected to said second ends of said filter struts to maintain said second ends in a central location within a vascular lumen,
• each of said filter struts biased so that when said frangible connector is disconnected, said filter struts will flex radially outward against the wall of a vascular lumen to thereby create an inactive state for said filter.

A blood clot filter comprising:

• a resilient peripheral tubular base having a plurality of positioning struts arranged to sit against the wall of a vascular lumen,
• a filter portion having a plurality of resilient filter struts, and
• a frangible connecting element having a central opening,
• each of said filter struts having a first end connected to at least one of said positioning struts and having a second end connected to said connecting element,
• each of said second ends of said filter struts being independently connected to said connecting element,
• said connecting element holding said second end of each of said filter struts in a central zone of the vascular lumen in which the blood clot filter is placed,
• whereby, when the blood clot filter is positioned in a vascular lumen, blood at the center of the lumen will flow through said central opening of said connecting element, and
• whereby disconnecting said connecting element will release said filter struts to flex radially outward to be positioned against the wall of the vascular lumen and thus disable the filter state of the blood clot filter.