Removable thrombus filter
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsHannah Kim, Isaac Ostrovsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thrombus filter configured for placement within a blood vessel lumen defined by a blood vessel wall. The thrombus filter includes a body member, and a plurality of wires. Each wire has a joined end and a free end. The joined end of each wire is fixedly attached to the distal portion of the body member. Each wire radiates away from the body member along a generally helical path of expanding diameter. The shape of each wire may be generally described as a spiral, or a helix of expanding diameter. The wires radiate away from the body member to form a generally conical filtering portion which includes a plurality of open cells. The thrombus filter may be removed using minimally invasive methods when such removal becomes desirable. A method of removing the thrombus filter is disclosed.
Claims17
A thrombus filter configured for placement within a blood vessel lumen defined by a blood vessel wall, comprising:
- a body member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a plurality of wires, each wire having a joined end, a free end and an outer surface;
- the joined end of each wire being fixedly attached to the body member;
- each wire radiating away from the body member to form a helix of expanding diameter;
- each wire being configured so that the wire travels along the wall of the blood vessel at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the blood vessel,
- wherein each wire is generally tapered so that a free end of each wire is generally smaller than other portions thereof.
A thrombus filter configured for placement within a blood vessel lumen defined by a blood vessel wall, comprising:
- a body member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a plurality of wires, each wire having a joined end, a free end and an outer surface;
- the joined end of each wire being fixedly attached to the body member;
- each wire radiating away from the body member at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the blood vessel to define a filtering portion of the thrombus filter;
- each wire having a portion extending beyond the filtering portion of the thrombus filter to define a wall engaging portion of the thrombus filter;
- and
- the portion of each wire defining the wall engaging portion of the thrombus filter radiating at a second angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the blood vessel, wherein each wire is generally tapered so that a free end of each wire is generally smaller than other portions thereof.
A method of removing a thrombus filter from a blood vessel lumen defined by a blood vessel wall, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a thrombus filter comprising;
- a body member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a plurality of wires, each wire having a joined end, a free end and an outer surface;
- the joined end of each wire being fixedly attached to the distal portion of the body member;
- each wire radiating away from the body member along a generally helical path of expanding diameter;
- connecting a retrieval catheter to the thrombus filter;
- and
- applying a twisting force to the thrombus filter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.