Patent ID: 7261731
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A blood filter mechanism for use in a vascular lumen comprising: an implantable filter having a filtering portion capable of being positioned in a filtering state to intercept particles in blood flowing in the vascular lumen, said filtering portion having a downstream end and an upstream end relative to the blood flow, a filtering ring coupled to the filtering portion at the downstream end, said filtering ring being collapsible so as to be positioned inside a delivery catheter and expandable to a predetermined non-adjustable size central opening in said filtering state sized to pass through particles less than said predetermined size; said filtering portion being made of a unitary element and including a plurality of filtering legs, arranged in a zig-zag pattern the downstream end of each filtering leg being coupled to the filtering ring so as to restrain the downstream ends of the filtering legs from extending radially outward, wherein said filtering ring is adapted to receive a retention element and the upstream end of each filtering leg has a free terminating end such that a partially deployed blood filter mechanism is capable of being retracted into the delivery catheter by said retention element received by said filtering ring, moved and redeployed at a different location.