Intravascular filter with biodegradable force-reducing element

An intravascular filter for a vessel, comprising:

• a non-biodegradable proximal apical hub;
• a non-biodegradable distal apical hub;
• a plurality of non-biodegradable struts,
• each strut having a proximal section secured to the proximal apical hub,
• each strut having a distal section secured to the distal apical hub,
• each strut having a central section between the proximal section and the distal section, the central section coupled to the proximal section by a proximal joint and coupled to the distal section by a distal joint,
• a central portion of the central section extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis connecting the proximal and distal apical hubs,
• the central portions of the struts configured to be arranged circumferentially within an interior of the vessel,
• the central portions configured to exert an expansile force against the interior of the vessel;
• and
• wherein each strut includes a biodegradable element disposed at the proximal joint between the proximal and central sections and a biodegradable element disposed at the distal joint between the distal and central sections,
• the biodegradable elements maintaining the expansile force prior to degradation and reducing the expansile force after degradation, the distal section is non-unitary with and independent of the central section, the proximal section is non-unitary with and independent of the central section.

An intravascular filter for a vessel, comprising:

• a non-biodegradable apical hub;
• a plurality of non-biodegradable struts, each strut having a proximal section secured to the apical hub, and a distal section rotatably connected to the proximal section at a link, the distal section extending generally distally away from the apical hub and extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the apical hub, the respective distal sections of the struts configured to exert an expansile force against an interior of the vessel;
• and
• a plurality of biodegradable elements, each biodegradable element in the plurality disposed along a respective strut between the respective proximal section and the respective distal section and encapsulating the link,
• the biodegradable elements comprising a fixation material that, prior to degradation, fixes in place a link between the proximal section and the distal section, the link having strong resistance to longitudinal movement of the distal section with respect to the proximal section, the link having weak resistance to rotational movement of the distal section with respect to the proximal section;
• wherein the distal section is non-unitary with and independent of the proximal section.