Patent ID: 6364895
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An intraluminal filter positionble within a lumen for separating particles from a fluid flowing within said lumen, said intraluminal filter comprising:a first plurality of filamentary members formed of a flexible, resilient material and interlaced in a relatively open mesh to form a basket, said first filamentary members elastically deforming 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 second shape state having a second diameter substantially larger than said first diameter and sized to allow said basket to sealingly interfit within said lumen, said basket being biased by internal elastic forces within said first filamentary members to assume said second shape state when released from said catheter; a second plurality of filamentary members interlaced with one another and with said first filamentary members to form a concave first portion of said basket, said basket having a second portion remaining unobstructed and arranged facing said concave first portion, said relatively open mesh having openings sized to allow said fluid and said particles to flow through said second portion into said concave first portion when said second portion is oriented upstream within said lumen, said concave first portion comprising a filter element having second openings of predetermined size smaller than the first named openings, said second openings being sized to capture entrained particles while allowing said fluid to flow therethrough.