Self-expanding filter for percutaneous insertion

Claim 2

A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of a living body, comprising: a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter; wherein said stent has a cranial end and caudal end defined by said bends; a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; wherein portions of said first wire segments overlap each other; a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; wherein portions of said second wire segments overlap each other; wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

Claim 3

The filter of claim 1 wherein said first wire segments are made form a single strand of wire, and said first wire segments are attached to one another by a series of wire bends.

Claim 4

The filter of claim 1 further comprising at least one barb attached to said stent for securing said filter to said passageway upon placement therein.

Claim 5

The filter of claim 1 wherein said bends at each end of said stent are consecutively arranged around a central axis; and each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends.

Claim 6

A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of a living body, comprising a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter; wherein said stent has a cranial end and a caudal end defined by said bends, which are consecutively arranged around a central axis; a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; wherein each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends; a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; and wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

Claim 7

A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of a living body, comprising a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter; wherein said stent has a cranial end and a caudal end defined by said bends, which are consecutively arranged around a central axis; a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; wherein each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends; a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; and wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

Claim 8

The filter of claim 5 wherein said first wire segments are made from a single strand of wire, and said first wire segments are attached to one another by a series of wire bends.

Claim 9

The filter of claim 5 further comprising at least one barb attached to said stent for securing said filter to said passageway upon placement therein.

Claim 10

A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of living body, comprising: a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter; wherein said stent has a cranial end and a caudal end defined by said bends; a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; wherein said first wire segments define a portion of a hemispherical surface; a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; and wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

Claim 11

A filter for placement within a fluid passageway of living body, comprising: a self-expanding stent having an endless series of wire sections joined by bends into a closed zig-zag configuration that is compressible to a reduced diameter but being resiliently self-expanding from said reduced diameter to an enlarged diameter; wherein said stent has a cranial end and a caudal end defined by said bends; a plurality of first wire segments attached across one end of said stent, each of said first wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; wherein said first wire segments define a portion of a hemispherical surface; a plurality of second wire segments attached across the other end of said stent, each of said second wire segments having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to a bend and said second end being attached to another different bend; and wherein said first wire segments define a first plurality of openings having a large filtration size; and said second wire segments define a second plurality of openings having a relatively smaller filtration size.

Claim 12

The filter of claim 8 wherein said first wire segments are made from a single strand of wire, and said first wire segments are attached to one another by a series of wire bends.

Claim 13

The filter of claim 8 further comprising at least one barb attached to said stent for securing said filter to said passageway upon placement therein.

Claim 14

The filter of claim 8 wherein said bends at each end of said stent are consecutively arranged around a central axis; and each of said first wire segments is attached between non-consecutive bends.