Vascular filter with sleeve

Abstract

A covered vascular filter can be placed in a blood vessel, for the purpose of intercepting thrombus. The filter may be introduced to a desired site for medical treatment through a catheter which defines a lumen or passage and a distal port or opening. The filter tends to resiliently expand from a compressed shape when it is inside the catheter lumen, to an expanded shape when the filter is pushed from the catheter lumen. A cover or sleeve over those portions of the filter that would otherwise contact the vessel wall tends to reduce pressure on the vessel wall. The sleeve also tends to resist growth of the vessel wall among the elements of the filter, called endothelialization. In other words, the sleeve resists incorporation of the filter elements into the vessel wall, enabling the filter to be retrievable for a longer time. The various features of the present invention may be used singly or in any combination, as desired in a particular vascular filter.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Technical Background [0002] The present invention relates to a vascular filter with a sleeve covering, which can be temporarily or permanently placed inside a blood vessel for the purpose of intercepting thrombus. [0003] 2. Discussion [0004] Some basic types of vascular filters are generally known, wherein a single filter element, mesh or member extends across the direction of flow inside a blood vessel. Several features may be desirable for vascular filters, including non-surgical or “percutaneous” delivery of the filter to a desired site, and expansion from a preferably small initial size to an expanded working size that matches the vascular anatomy at the desired site. Also, a vascular filter should preferably capture a sufficient percentage of thrombus, while allowing blood to flow freely through the filter. [0005] Another desirable feature is a capability to remain reliably in the desired position in a patient's anatomy, referre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In the temporal sense, there are three type of filters: (i) permanent filters, intended for permanent implantation; (ii) temporary filters, intended for removal within a time period; and (iii) retrievable filters, in which the physician has the option to implant the filter permanently or to remove the filter after some time. In the case of a retrievable filter, the filter may be designed so that the physician can choose whether to retrieve the filter at a later date, after the filter has been in place for a while. This way, the physician can evaluate the performance of the filter and the patient's condition, before deciding whether to retrieve the filter or not.

[0021] The filter sections, as arranged according to an embodiment described above on either side of the tubular body section, may be identical in shape, thereby enhancing the simplicity of the vascular filter according to the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, a vascular filter should preferably have a design whereby the filter is self-centering and stable in the vessel, such that the filter has a tendency not to “tilt”, which might result in less effective capturing of thrombus.

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