Patent ID: 6375670
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An intraluminal filter positionable within a lumen for separating entrained particles from a fluid flowing within said lumen, said intraluminal filter comprising a plurality of filamentary members interlaced to form a basket having an upstream portion and a concave portion arranged to face said upstream portion, said upstream portion having openings sized to allow said fluid and said entrained particles to flow through and into said concave portion when said upstream portion is oriented upstream within said lumen, said concave portion comprising a filter element having openings of predetermined size smaller than the first named openings, the openings of said concave portion being sized to capture said entrained particles while allowing said fluid to flow therethrough, said intraluminal filter further comprising a means for biasing said basket from a first shape state having a first diameter sized to allow said basket to slidingly fit within the bore of a catheter positionable within said lumen, to a biased second shape state having a second diameter substantially larger than said first diameter, said biasing means biasing said basket into said second shape state upon release of said basket from said bore, said biased second shape state being sized to allow said basket to sealingly interfit within said lumen.