# US 8,771,226 B2 · Vena cava filter catheter and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,226 B2 - Document ID: US8771226B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/031,037 - Filed: 2011-02-18 - Published: 2011-08-25 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-18 - Assignees: Bio2Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Paul Castella; Jeffrey N. Steinmetz - Inventors: Paul Castella; Jeffrey N. Steinmetz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771226B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/01: Filters implantable into blood vessels - A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked} - A61F 2/011: {Instruments for their placement or removal} - A61F 2002/016: {made from wire-like elements} - A61F 2230/0063: Three-dimensional shapes - A61F 2230/0067: conical - A61F 2230/0091: helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section - A61F 2230/0093: Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped - A61F 2250/0067: Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body - 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) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A vena cava filter catheter includes a catheter having a lumen disposed therethrough and at least one strand of biocompatible wire. The at least one strand has a first state in which the at least one strand has an elongate geometry suitable for traversing the lumen of the catheter and a second state in which the at least one strand assumes a pre-set geometry in which the at least one strand assumes a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vena cava filter catheter, comprising: a. a catheter having at least one lumen disposed therethrough; b. a collapsible vena cava filter disposed about a distal portion of the catheter, such that the collapsible vena cava filter is disposed proximal from an opening associated with the at least one lumen; and c. at least one strand of biocompatible wire having a first state in which the at least one strand has an elongate geometry suitable for traversing the at least one lumen of the catheter and exiting from the opening, and having a second state in which the at least one strand assumes a pre-set geometry in which the at least one strand assumes a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, further comprising a capture sheath disposed over the catheter such that withdrawal of the catheter into the capture sheath collapses the collapsible filter within the capture sheath. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 2, wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises at least one strand of hollow biocompatible wire having an interior lumen and a plurality of openings disposed through a wall of the hollow biocompatible wire to provide fluid communication between the interior lumen and external to the hollow biocompatible wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 3, further including a biologically active agent adapted to be delivered through the interior lumen to shower thrombus captured within the at least one strand deployed to the second state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, wherein the catheter has a plurality of lumens disposed therethrough and wherein the at least one lumen has an opening proximal to a distal end of the catheter and distal the collapsible vena cava filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises at least one strand of solid biocompatible wire. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group of cross-sectional shapes consisting of: generally circular; elliptical; oval; regular polygonal; and irregular polygonal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises a plurality of strands of biocompatible wires. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 8, wherein the plurality of strands of biocompatible wires is helically wound around one another in the first state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 8, wherein the plurality of strands of biocompatible wires is joined at proximal and distal ends and laid adjacent one another in the first state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, further comprising one or more barbs projecting outwardly from a central longitudinal axis of the at least one strand of biocompatible wire in the second state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 11, wherein the one or more barbs are adapted to engage with inner walls of the at least one lumen of the catheter, inner walls of a proximal hub in fluid communication with the catheter, or inner walls of a fluid line in fluid communication with the proximal hub to facilitate anchoring of the at least one strand in the second state in a fixed position relative to the lumen. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vena cava filter catheter of claim 1, further comprising a loop on a proximal end of the at least one strand of biocompatible wire, wherein the loop is adapted to be used as a snare for capturing the at least one strand of biocompatible wire. ### Claim 14 A method for implementing a vena cava filter catheter, wherein the vena cava filter catheter includes a catheter having at least one lumen disposed therethrough, a collapsible vena cava filter disposed about a distal portion of the catheter, such that the collapsible vena cava filter is disposed proximal from an opening associated with the at least one lumen, and at least one strand of biocompatible wire having a first state in which the at least one strand has an elongate geometry suitable for traversing the at least one lumen of the catheter and exiting from the opening, and having a second state in which the at least one strand assumes a pre-set geometry in which the at least one strand assumes a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava, the method comprising the steps of: a. advancing the at least one strand of biocompatible wire in the first state having an elongate geometry through the at least one lumen of the catheter; b. pushing the at least one strand out of the catheter through an opening therein such that the at least one strand deploys to the second state having a tortuous configuration adapted to occupy a space approximating a luminal diameter of an inferior vena cava. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one strand of biocompatible wire comprises at least one strand of hollow biocompatible wire having an interior lumen and a plurality of openings disposed through a wall of the hollow biocompatible wire to provide fluid communication between the interior lumen and external to the hollow biocompatible wire, and further comprising the step of introducing a biologically active agent through the interior lumen to shower thrombus captured within the at least one strand deployed to the second state with the biologically active agent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a capture sheath is disposed over the catheter, and further comprising the step of withdrawing the catheter into the capture sheath such that the collapsible filter collapses within the capture sheath. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising one or more barbs projecting outwardly from a central longitudinal axis of the at least one strand in the second state and adapted to engage with inner walls of the at least one lumen to facilitate anchoring of the at least one strand in the second state in a fixed position relative to the at least one lumen, and further comprising the step of anchoring the at least one strand to the at least one lumen with the one or more barbs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising a retrieval interface disposed on a proximal end of the at least one strand, wherein the retrieval interface is selected from the group of retrieval interfaces consisting of: a loop; threads; a detent ring; a detent nipple; and a magnet; and further comprising the steps of: inserting a capture member having a distal end that is adapted to capture the retrieval interface through the at least one lumen of the catheter; and capturing the retrieval interface with the capture member.