Emboli extraction catheter and vascular filter system

Claim 1

An emboli extraction catheter and vascular filter system for insertion into a lumen of a vessel, said system comprising: a) a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a vascular filter attached near said distal end of said guidewire, said filter comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of struts extending therebetween, said filter further comprising a porous flexible filter membrane, with said porous flexible filter membrane connected to said filter distal portion and said plurality of struts, said porous filter membrane having a length less than the length of said plurality of struts, said vascular filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding to substantially equal the diameter of said lumen and to be placed in generally sealing relationship with said lumen; c) actuating means for causing said vascular filter to move from said smaller first diameter to said larger second diameter and back to said smaller first diameter; d) a flexible catheter having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an inner lumen, with said proximal end of said guidewire slidably insertable into said distal end of said catheter wherein said distal end of said catheter comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits; e) a radio-opaque tip near said distal end of said catheter; and f) a hub permanently attached to said proximal end of said catheter, said hub having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, said hub further comprising a sideport and means for maintaining a seal on the guidewire, said lumen of said hub being in fluid communication with said lumen of said catheter; wherein said vascular filter and said catheter slits engage one another upon retraction of said filter into said catheter during aspiration of said catheter.

Claim 12

A method for capturing embolic particulates within a vascular filter in the lumen of a vessel, and retrieving them at the end of the procedure, comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into said lumen, said guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a vascular filter attached near said distal end of said guidewire, said filter comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of struts extending therebetween, said filter further comprising a porous flexible filter membrane, said vascular filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding to substantially equal the diameter of said lumen and to be placed in generally sealing relationship with said lumen; b) advancing said guidewire until said distal end of said guidewire is positioned past a vascular occlusion in said vessel; c) deploying said filter in said lumen, distal to said vascular occlusion; d) advancing additional interventional devices over said guidewire, and positioning said devices at the site of said occlusion in said vessel; e) performing additional procedures to therapeutically treat said occlusion in said vessel; f) capturing embolic particulates generated by said procedures in said filter; g) removing said interventional devices from said guidewire; h) slidably inserting a flexible catheter over said guidewire, said flexible catheter comprising an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, a radio-opaque tip near said distal end of said catheter, and a hub permanently attached to said proximal end of said catheter, said hub having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, said lumen of said hub being in fluid communication with said lumen of said catheter, said hub further comprising a sideport and means for maintaining a seal on said guidewire; i) advancing said flexible catheter over said guidewire until said radio-opaque tip engages said proximal portion of said filter; j) attaching a syringe to said sideport of said hub; k) using said syringe to aspirate said embolic particulates from said filter; l) removing said catheter from said lumen; m) collapsing said filter in said lumen; and n) removing said guidewire and said filter from said lumen.

Claim 13

A method for capturing embolic particulates within a vascular filter in the lumen of a vessel, and retrieving them at the end of the procedure, comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into said lumen, said guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a vascular filter attached near said distal end of said guidewire, said filter comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of struts extending therebetween, said filter further comprising a porous flexible filter membrane, said vascular filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding to substantially equal the diameter of said lumen and to be placed in generally sealing relationship with said lumen; b) advancing said guidewire until said distal end of said guidewire is positioned past a vascular occlusion in said vessel; c) deploying said filter in said lumen, distal to said vascular occlusion; d) advancing additional interventional devices over said guidewire, and positioning said devices at the site of said occlusion in said vessel; e) performing additional procedures to therapeutically treat said occlusion in said vessel; f) capturing embolic particulates generated by said procedures in said filter; g) removing said interventional devices from said guidewire; h) slidably inserting a flexible catheter over said guidewire, said flexible catheter comprising an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, a radio-opaque tip near said distal end of said catheter, and a hub permanently attached to said proximal end of said catheter, said hub having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, said lumen of said hub being in fluid communication with said lumen of said catheter, said hub further comprising a sideport and means for maintaining a seal on said guidewire; i) advancing said flexible catheter over said guidewire until said radio-opaque tip engages said proximal portion of said filter; j) attaching a syringe to said sideport of said hub; k) using said syringe to aspirate said embolic particulates from said filter; l) removing said catheter from said lumen; m) collapsing said filter in said lumen; and n) removing said guidewire and said filter from said lumen.

Claim 14

A method for capturing embolic particulates within a vascular filter in the lumen of a vessel, and retrieving them during the procedure, comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into said lumen, said guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a vascular filter attached near said distal end of said guidewire, said filter comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of struts extending therebetween, said filter further comprising a porous flexible filter membrane, said vascular filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding to substantially equal the diameter of said lumen and to be placed in generally sealing relationship with said lumen; b) advancing said guidewire until said distal end of said guidewire is positioned past a vascular occlusion in said vessel; c) deploying said filter in said lumen, distal to said vascular occlusion; d) advancing additional interventional devices over said guidewire, and positioning said devices at the site of said occlusion in said vessel; e) performing additional procedures to therapeutically treat said occlusion in said vessel; f) capturing embolic particulates generated by said procedures in said filter; g) removing said interventional devices from said guidewire; h) slidably inserting a flexible catheter over said guidewire, said flexible catheter comprising an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, a radio-opaque tip near said distal end of said catheter; and a hub permanently attached to said proximal end of said catheter, said hub having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, said lumen of said hub being in fluid communication with said lumen of said catheter, said hub further comprising a sideport and means for maintaining a seal on said guidewire; i) advancing said flexible catheter over said guidewire until said radio-opaque tip engages said proximal portion of said filter; j) attaching a syringe to said sideport of said hub; k) using said syringe to aspirate said embolic particulates from said filter; l) removing said catheter from said lumen; and m) advancing additional interventional devices over said guidewire to complete therapeutic treatment of said occlusion in said vessel.

Claim 15

A method for capturing embolic particulates within a vascular filter in the lumen of a vessel, and retrieving them during the procedure, comprising the steps of: a) inserting a guidewire into said lumen, said guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a vascular filter attached near said distal end of said guidewire, said filter comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of struts extending therebetween, said filter further comprising a porous flexible filter membrane, said vascular filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding to substantially equal the diameter of said lumen and to be placed in generally sealing relationship with said lumen; b) advancing said guidewire until said distal end of said guidewire is positioned past a vascular occlusion in said vessel; c) deploying said filter in said lumen, distal to said vascular occlusion; d) advancing additional interventional devices over said guidewire, and positioning said devices at the site of said occlusion in said vessel; e) performing additional procedures to therapeutically treat said occlusion in said vessel; f) capturing embolic particulates generated by said procedures in said filter; g) removing said interventional devices from said guidewire; h) slidably inserting a flexible catheter over said guidewire, said flexible catheter comprising an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, a radio-opaque tip near said distal end of said catheter; and a hub permanently attached to said proximal end of said catheter, said hub having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and an inner lumen, said lumen of said hub being in fluid communication with said lumen of said catheter, said hub further comprising a sideport and means for maintaining a seal on said guidewire; i) advancing said flexible catheter over said guidewire until said radio-opaque tip engages said proximal portion of said filter; j) attaching a syringe to said sideport of said hub; k) using said syringe to aspirate said embolic particulates from said filter; l) removing said catheter from said lumen; and m) advancing additional interventional devices over said guidewire to complete therapeutic treatment of said occlusion in said vessel.