Patent ID: 6059814
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A filter apparatus for filtering blood downstream of an arterial narrowing during a procedure to widen the arterial narrowing, comprising:a catheter having an inner wall and an open end;a hollow rod having an outer surface and a first end and a second end slidingly disposed within said catheter;a guide wire disposed within said hollow rod;a first ring member fixedly connected to said outer surface of said rod;a second ring member slidingly connected to said outer surface of said rod between said first ring member and said rod second end;a plurality of flexible wires preformed into a curved shape and having first ends connected to said first ring member and second ends connected to said second ring member;a first sheet of filter material having perforations and connected to said plurality of wires between said rod and said wires, said first sheet having a length less than the length of said plurality of wires;a second sheet of filter material having perforations and connected to said plurality of wires, said second sheet perforations being offset from said first sheet perforations;a safety wire connected between said first ring member and said second ring member and to said rod; and,a safety stop connected to said rod between said second ring member and said rod second end;whereby said plurality of wires are compressed by said catheter inner wall when said rod is inside of said catheter and whereby said plurality of wires expand to assume their preformed shape and contact the wall of said artery when said rod second end and said wires are extended from said catheter.