Abstract An apparatus (10) for filtering blood in a blood vessel of a patient comprises a catheter (30) which is introduced into the blood vessel and advanced to a desired location within the blood vessel, a positioning means (12) having a filter (13) distally attached thereto to be guided through the catheter. In use, the filter is positioned at a location beyond the distal end of the catheter within the blood vessel with the positioning means. The positioning means is then locked to the catheter. The catheter is then anchored to an object located outside of the blood vessel. Thereafter, an amount of blood is filtered within the blood vessel with the filter. The filter can be readily repositioned by unlocking the positioning means from the catheter, repositioning the filter within the blood vessel with the positioning means and then relocking the positioning means to the cather.
An apparatus for filtering blood in a blood vessel of a patient comprising: a filter; a positioning means connected to said filter for positioning said filter at a location within said blood vessel; means for guiding a portion of said positioning means within said blood vessel; means for anchoring said guiding means to an object outside of said blood vessel; and means for releasably locking said positioning means to said guiding means thereby allowing said filter to be readily repositioned from a certain location to another location within said blood vessel with the positioning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for deploying said filter to a desired shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a means for securing said filter at said desired shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a connection tube connected to the locking means whereby the sterility of said positioning means is maintained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter is collapsible.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the positioning means is locked to said guiding means with a Touhy-Borst fitting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the guiding means is a nontapered open-ended catheter.