Embolus blood clot filter removal system and method

A blood filter and removal apparatus for removing a blood filter from a vessel wall comprising:

• a) a blood filter adapted to be secured to a blood vessel wall, the filter having a proximally positioned hub and a plurality of distally positioned circumferentially spaced legs separated by gaps extending distally from the hub, each leg having a vessel wall engaging anchor that anchors the filter to a vessel wall in a deployed position of said filter spaced distally of the hub wherein said legs define a first diameter;
• b) a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, catheter lumen and a central longitudinal axis;
• c) an elongate extraction device configured to be positioned within the catheter lumen defining a first position, the elongate extraction device being moveable longitudinally and rotationally with respect to the catheter central longitudinal axis;
• d) an elongated tubular member comprising an open conical member on a distal end;
• e) the extraction device having a plurality of wires coupled to a distal end of the elongated extraction device, each wire having a distal end with a coupler that includes a bend, the extraction device being movable longitudinally relative to the open conical member and the wires being movable axially relative to the open conical member and each wire being movable independently of the other wires;
• f) wherein each of the couplers are configured to connect with a said leg of the blood filter by entering a said gap distally of the hub, and proximally of the said anchor wherein the plurality of wires are configured to diverge approximately conically when the plurality of wires extend beyond the distal end of the catheter;
• g) wherein the extraction device wires and filter legs define an initial leg removal position in which the couplers connect with the legs distally of the hub and proximally of the bend and the wall engaging anchors are anchored to the vessel wall;
• h) a final leg removal position wherein the wall engaging anchors are not anchored to the vessel wall;
• i) rotation of the extraction device and filter legs effecting movement from the initial leg removal position to the final leg removal position;
• j) a storage position of the filter defined by the wires collapsing into the conical member of the elongated tubular member wherein the couplers are connected to the filter legs and the legs are collapsed to a second diameter that is smaller than said first diameter.

A blood filter removal system for removing a blood filter from a vessel wall comprising:

• a) a blood filter configured to be located in a blood vessel, the filter having proximal and distal ends and multiple spaced apart legs with gaps between legs, each leg having a vessel wall hook-shaped anchor that anchors the distal end of the filter to the blood vessel in a filter deployed position;
• b) an assembly for removing the blood filter from the blood vessel, the assembly including a catheter having an inner surface surrounding a catheter lumen, said lumen extending through the catheter;
• c) the assembly including an elongated tubular member comprising an internal tubular member lumen and an open conical member on a distal end of said tubular member, the elongated tubular member configured to be inserted into and moved longitudinally with respect to the catheter lumen and wherein the tubular member has an outer surface that engages the catheter inner surface;
• d) the assembly including an elongate extraction member configured to be positioned in the tubular member lumen defining a storage position, said extraction member configured to move longitudinally and rotationally with respect to the tubular member, the extraction member having a distal end and a plurality of coupler wires coupled to the distal end the coupler wires having different lengths;
• e) a plurality of hook-shaped couplers, at least one of the plurality of hook-shaped couplers being attached to a respective one of the plurality of coupler wires, each of the hook-shaped couplers connecting with a said one of the legs in between the leg proximal and distal ends by entering a said gap to define an initial leg removal position wherein the anchors are anchored to the vessel wall;
• f) a final leg removal position wherein the anchors are not anchored to the vessel wall;
• g) wherein movement from the initial leg removal position to the final leg removal position includes rotation of the wires and couplers;
• h) the conical member being collapsible within the catheter when the catheter pushes over the conical member and wherein the extraction member, filter and conical member occupy the catheter lumen;
• and
• i) wherein there is no tubular structure in between the catheter and the tubular member, the elongate extraction member being movable longitudinally relative to the conical member and the coupler wires being movable axially relative to the conical member and each coupler wire being movable independently of the other coupler wires.