Patent ID: 6428559
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A removable vascular filter system for insertion into a lumen of a vessel, said vascular filter system comprising:a) a guidewire having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end; b) a generally solid core wire having an outer diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, with said distal end slidably insertable into said proximal end of said guidewire and advanced through said guidewire until said distal end of said core wire extends beyond said distal end of said guidewire; c) an end cap having a proximal end and a distal end, with said distal end of said end cap attached to said proximal end of said core wire; d) a spacer having a proximal end and a distal end, said spacer removably mounted onto said core wire in a longitudinal direction such that said proximal end of said spacer is substantially in contact with said distal end of said end cap; e) a filter comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of struts extending therebetween, and a porous covering permanently attached to said struts, with said proximal end of said filter attached to said distal end of said guidewire, and said distal end of said filter attached near said distal end of said core wire; f) said filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into a vessel, 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; g) said filter attaining said smaller first diameter when said spacer is removed, said core wire is coaxially disposed within said guidewire and said distal end of said core wire is positioned at its maximum distance from said distal end of said guidewire; h) said filter attaining said larger second diameter when said core wire is slidably retracted through said guidewire, and said spacer is mounted onto said core wire in a longitudinal direction such that said proximal end of said spacer is substantially in contact with said distal end of said end cap, and said distal end of said spacer is substantially in contact with said proximal end of said guidewire.