Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of temporarily filtering embolic material from the blood in a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: providing an insertion device having a proximal end adapted to receive a modular filter apparatus and a distal end adapted to enter an artery; providing a modular filter apparatus which is slideably insertable into the insertion device, said filter apparatus having an adjustable filter frame, a frame sizing mechanism, a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a filter mesh therein, the adjustable filter frame capable of being enlarged and contracted; introducing the distal end of the insertion device into a blood vessel; inserting the modular filter apparatus into the insertion device; advancing the adjustable filter through the insertion device into the blood vessel; adjusting the frame sizing mechanism to conform the frame to the size of the vessel; and removing the adjustable filter from the vessel, wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the expandable filter is removed from the vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of temporarily filtering embolic material from the blood in a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: providing an insertion device having a proximal end adapted to receive a modular filter apparatus and a distal end adapted to enter an artery; providing a modular filter apparatus which is slideably insertable into the insertion device, said filter apparatus having an adjustable filter frame, a frame sizing mechanism, a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a filter mesh therein, the adjustable filter frame capable of being enlarged and contracted; introducing the distal end of the insertion device into a blood vessel; inserting the modular filter apparatus into the insertion device; advancing the adjustable filter through the insertion device into the blood vessel; adjusting the frame sizing mechanism to conform the frame to the size of the vessel; and removing the adjustable filter from the vessel, wherein embolic material is generated and filtered before the expandable filter is removed from the vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the insertion device is an arterial cannula having a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, a lumen which extends from said proximal end to said distal end, and a port for receiving a modular filter apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of removing the modular filter apparatus from the port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of inserting a second modular filter into the port of the cannula after the step of removing the modular filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the insertion device is an introducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the modular filter apparatus further comprises a tubular cartridge for slideably receiving the filter shaft and frame and mesh coupled thereto, the cartridge slideably insertable into the insertion device.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of temporarily filtering and aspirating embolic material from the blood in a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: providing a hollow vessel insertion device having a proximal end adapted to slideably receive a modular filter apparatus and a distal end adapted to enter an artery; providing a modular filter apparatus which is slideably insertable into an insertion device, the filter apparatus having an adjustable filter frame capable of assuming enlarged and a contracted conditions, a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen which extends from an opening in said proximal end to an opening in said distal end, and a filter mesh therein having an inner surface; providing an elongated aspiration tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from an opening in said proximal end to an opening in said distal end, the proximal end adapted to connect to an aspiration source and the distal end slideably insertable into the proximal end of the filter shaft; introducing the distal end of the insertion device into a blood vessel; inserting the modular filter apparatus into the insertion device; advancing the adjustable filter through the insertion device into the blood vessel; deploying the adjustable filter the vessel; slideably inserting the aspiration tube through the shaft of the filter until the distal end of the tube lies near the inner surface of the filter mesh; applying negative pressure to the proximal end of the aspiration tube and drawing embolic debris away from the inner surface of the mesh and into the tube; and removing the aspiration tube from the vessel, wherein embolic debris is generated and removed before the aspiration tube is removed from the shaft.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
286 words
A method of temporarily filtering and aspirating embolic material from the blood in a blood vessel, said method comprising the steps of: providing a hollow vessel insertion device having a proximal end adapted to slideably receive a modular filter apparatus and a distal end adapted to enter an artery; providing a modular filter apparatus which is slideably insertable into an insertion device, the filter apparatus having an adjustable filter frame capable of assuming enlarged and a contracted conditions, a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen which extends from an opening in said proximal end to an opening in said distal end, and a filter mesh therein having an inner surface; providing an elongated aspiration tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending from an opening in said proximal end to an opening in said distal end, the proximal end adapted to connect to an aspiration source and the distal end slideably insertable into the proximal end of the filter shaft; introducing the distal end of the insertion device into a blood vessel; inserting the modular filter apparatus into the insertion device; advancing the adjustable filter through the insertion device into the blood vessel; deploying the adjustable filter the vessel; slideably inserting the aspiration tube through the shaft of the filter until the distal end of the tube lies near the inner surface of the filter mesh; applying negative pressure to the proximal end of the aspiration tube and drawing embolic debris away from the inner surface of the mesh and into the tube; and removing the aspiration tube from the vessel, wherein embolic debris is generated and removed before the aspiration tube is removed from the shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said insertion device is a cannula having a proximal end adapted to receive blood from a bypass-oxygenator machine, a lumen which extends from said proximal end to said distal end, and a port for receiving a modular filter apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said insertion device is an introducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of re-inserting the aspiration tube into the filter shaft near the inner surface of the mesh after the step of removing the tube from the vessel and repeating the step of aspiration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of adjusting the frame size to conform to the lumen of the vessel into which the filter apparatus is introduced.