Removable vascular filter and method of filter placement

A vascular filter system comprising:

• a resilient filter housing, the filter housing comprising:
• a plurality of longitudinal support struts connected by transverse angle braces;
• at least one filter holding member attached to one or more of the longitudinal support struts or transverse angle braces and extending toward a center of the filter housing;
• and
• at least one securing barb attached to one or more of the longitudinal support struts or transverse angle braces and extending outward from the filter housing;
• and
• a resilient filter element comprising:
• a first element end;
• a second element end;
• a plurality of limbs, each limb having at least one curve;
• and
• a retrieval hook;
• wherein the filter element is sized to fit within the filter housing and the filter element is suspended within the filter housing by each limb engaging at least one filter holding member.

A method for surgically implanting a vascular filter assembly comprising:

• accessing a vein and inserting a deployment sheath, wherein the deployment sheath has a vascular filter assembly comprising a filter element and a filter housing disposed within the sheath;
• advancing the deployment sheath to a predetermined location;
• advancing a deployment member within the deployment sheath until the deployment member contacts the vascular filter assembly;
• retracting the deployment sheath while maintaining the position of the deployment member at the predetermined location, wherein retracting the deployment sheath releases the vascular filter assembly allowing the vascular filter assembly to expand within the vein;
• removing the deployment sheath and deployment member from the vein.