# Patent

## Title
Embolic protection device including a Z-stent waist band

## Abstract

An embolic protection device for capturing emboli in a body vessel having a frame and a z-stent waist band. The frame includes a plurality of struts configured to open radially to define an expanded state of the device for capturing emboli and to fold along the longitudinal axis to define a collapsed state of the device for deployment and retrieval. The waist band has an open and a closed state and is attached to within the frame between a proximal and distal end. The waist band is formed of a plurality of members attached at a joint to an adjacent member such that the members lie substantially parallel in the closed state and form a “Z” pattern in the open state. A filter portion is attached to the waist band and configured to capture emboli in the expanded state.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/903,791, filed on Feb. 27, 2007, entitled “EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICE INCLUDING A Z-STENT WAIST BAND,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to medical devices. More specifically, the invention relates to detachable and retrievable embolic protection devices for the capture of emboli during a vascular procedure.
2. Description of Related Art
Embolic protection devices are often used during and after medical procedures involving the vasculature to capture blood clots or other emboli before they enter the brain, causing a stroke, or enter the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. These devices are usually introduced by, for example, a catheterization procedure. They often need to be retrieved from the vasculature after an appropriate period of time using a similar catheterization procedure. Various protection devices exist but all have disadvantages. For example, some existing devices may not properly maintain the shape of a filter portion of the device, or the device may exert inadequate radial pressure against a body vessel wall.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved emboli protection device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides an embolic protection device for capturing emboli in a body vessel. The device includes a frame having an expanded state and a collapsed state. The frame has a plurality of struts extending distally along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end. The struts are configured to open radially to define the expanded state of the device for capturing emboli and to fold along the longitudinal axis to define the collapsed state of the device for retrieval of the device. A waist band having an open and a closed state is attached to at least one of the plurality of struts of the frame. The waist band is formed of a plurality of members having proximal and distal tips. The proximal and distal tips of each member are alternatingly attached at a waist band joint to the respective proximal or distal tip of an adjacent member such that the members lie nearly parallel in the closed state and form a “Z” pattern in the open state. A filter portion is attached to the waist band and configured to capture emboli in the expanded state.
In some embodiments, a proximal stem extends longitudinally from the proximal end of the frame for deployment and retrieval of the device. The frame may also include at least two struts having proximal and distal sections that extend distally along the longitudinal axis. The proximal sections are connected together at the proximal end of the frame. The distal sections of the struts are connected together at the distal end of the frame such that the struts form an arc shaped portion. The distal arc shape portion may, for example, serve to provide shape and structure to the filter portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, the frame distally increases in width toward the waist band in the expanded state. In another example, each of the plurality of struts may be connected to at least one other strut at a frame joint. Each frame joint is configured to allow each of the struts to fold distally along the longitudinal axis from the expanded state to the collapsed state.
In another embodiment, the filter portion extends from the waist band to a distal filter end, the distal filter end is attached to the arc shape portion of the struts and configured to form a proximally facing concave shape.
In yet another embodiment, the filter portion is disposed about the waist band and further includes a proximal edge defining a filter opening when the device is in the expanded state for the capture of emboli.
In still other aspects of the present invention, the filter portion is a porous mesh cloth coated with a biocompatible polyurethane such as that marketed under the trade name THORALON. In some examples, the mesh cloth is made of nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and mixtures thereof. In another example, the filter portion is a porous mesh cloth made of a biocompatible polyurethane such as THORALON.
In another example, at least part of the device is made of shape memory material configured to open the frame into the expanded state at a first temperature and close the frame into the collapsed state at a second temperature. The shape memory material includes alloys of Ni—Ti (Nitinol).
One embodiment of the present invention includes an assembly for placing and retrieving any of the devices described above in a body vessel. The assembly includes an outer sheath having a tubular body. The tubular body extends from a proximal part to a distal part and includes a lumen therethrough. The assembly also includes an inner member having proximal and distal portions. The inner member is disposed within the lumen of the outer sheath and configured for axial movement relative to the outer catheter. The embolic protection device is coaxially disposed within the lumen of the outer catheter and removably coupled to the distal portion of the inner catheter. The device is deployable through the distal part of the outer sheath by means of the relative axial movement of the inner member.
The present invention also includes a method of filtering emboli from a body cavity. The method includes providing an embolic protection device including a z-stent waist band and a THORALON filter portion within the body cavity. It also includes positioning the embolic protection device in a desired location to capture emboli within the filter portion, and expanding the embolic protection device within the body cavity.
Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a retrievable filter device according to the present invention expanded in a body vessel;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the filter device of FIG. 1 collapsed within one embodiment of a delivery and retrieval assembly;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a retrievable filter device according to another embodiment of the present invention in an expanded state omitting a filter portion for clarity;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the retrievable filter device of FIG. 3 in a collapsed state;
FIG. 5A is a side view of another embodiment of the delivery and retrieval assembly for use with the filter device of the present invention;
FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the delivery and retrieval assembly of FIG. 5a; 
FIG. 6 is a flow-chart describing a method of filtering emboli using a device according to the present invention.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embolic protection device embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated therein and designated at 10. As its primary components, the device 10 includes a frame 12 having a plurality of struts 14 extending distally along a longitudinal axis 16 from a proximal end 18 to a distal end 20. A waist band 22 having an open and a closed state is disposed about the frame 12 between the proximal and distal ends 18 and 20. The waist band 22 is attached to at least one of the plurality of struts 14 and includes a filter portion 28. An optional proximal retrieval stem 30 extends from the proximal end 18 of the frame 12 for retrieval of the device 10.
The frame 12 has an expanded state for capturing emboli and a collapsed state for deployment and retrieval. As best shown in FIG. 1, the struts 14 are configured to open radially with respect to the longitudinal axis 16 to define the expanded state. As shown in FIG. 2, the struts 14 are also configured to fold along the longitudinal axis 16 to define the collapsed state for retrieval of the device 10 by, for example, a retrieval assembly 80. At least one strut 14 extends substantially along the longitudinal axis 16 and is joined to the waist band 22.
Returning to FIG. 1, the frame 12 distally increases in width toward the waist band 22 in the expanded state. Each of the plurality of struts 14 are connected to at least one other strut 14 at a frame joint 15. Each frame joint 15 is configured to allow each of the struts 14 to fold distally along the longitudinal axis 16 from the expanded state to the collapsed state. While the waist band 22 is shown disposed about the middle of the struts 14 of the frame 12, this is but one example of the present invention. In another example, the waist band 22 may be disposed within the struts 14. In still other examples the waist band 22 may be disposed elsewhere along the longitudinal axis 16 of the frame 12. For example, the waist band 22 may be disposed at the distal end 20 of the frame 12 such that each of the struts 14 end at the waist band 22 (not shown).
Turning to FIG. 3, the waist band 22 has a ring shaped open state and a reduced diameter closed state. The waist band 22 is formed of a plurality of members 24 having proximal tips 20 and distal tips 26. The proximal and distal tips 20 and 26 of each member 24 are attached at a plurality of waist band joints 25 to the respective proximal and distal tips 20 and 26 of an adjacent member 24. As a result, the members 24 lie nearly parallel to each other in the closed state, as best shown in FIG. 4, and form a “Z” pattern in the open state, as best shown in FIG. 3. Adjacent struts 14 have at least one, at least two, or three waist band joints 25 disposed therebetween in the open state. It should be noted that FIGS. 3 and 4 omit the filter portion 28 to more clearly show the structure of the waist band 22.
At least part of the device 10 may be made of any suitable material such as a superelastic material, stainless steel wire, cobalt-chromium-nickel-molybdenum-iron alloy, or cobalt-chrome alloy. It is understood that the device 10 may be formed of any suitable material that will result in a self-opening or self-expanding device 10, such as shape memory material. Shape memory materials or alloys have the desirable property of becoming rigid, i.e., returning to a remembered state, when heated above a transition temperature. A shape memory alloy suitable for the present invention is Ni—Ti available under the more commonly known name Nitinol. When this material is heated above the transition temperature, the material undergoes a phase transformation from martensite to austenite, such that material returns to its remembered state. The transition temperature is dependent on the relative proportions of the alloying elements Ni and Ti and the optional inclusion of alloying additives.
In one embodiment, the device 10 is made from Nitinol with a transition temperature that is slightly below normal body temperature of humans, which is about 98.6° F. Thus, when the device 10 is deployed in a body vessel and exposed to normal body temperature, the alloy of the device 10 will transform to austenite, that is, the remembered state, which for one embodiment of the present invention is the expanded state when the device 10 is deployed in the body vessel. To remove the device 10 it is cooled to transform the material to martensite which is more ductile than austenite, making the device 10 more malleable. As such, the device 10 can be more easily collapsed and pulled into a lumen of a catheter for removal.
In another embodiment, the device 10 is made from Nitinol with a transition temperature that is above normal body temperature of humans, which is about 98.6° F. Thus, when the device 10 is deployed in a body vessel and exposed to normal body temperature, the device 10 is in the martensitic state so that the device 10 is sufficiently ductile to bend or form into a desired shape, which for the present invention is the expanded state. To remove the device 10, the device 10 is heated to transform the alloy to austenite so that it becomes rigid and returns to a remembered state, which for the device 10 is a collapsed state.
The filter portion 28 extends from a proximal edge 34 to a distal filter end 38. The proximal edge 34 is joined to the waist band 22 and defines a filter opening 36. The proximal filter edge 34 (i.e. the proximal filter end) defines a “Z” pattern in the open state. The filter portion 28 is attached to the waist band 22 to allow emboli to enter the filter opening 36 and be captured within the filter portion 28. As shown at least in FIG. 1, the filter portion 28 is configured to form a proximally facing concave shape when in the expanded state. When introduced into a body vessel 40, the filter portion 28 may be oriented such that it faces into a direction of blood flow as indicated by the arrow 42.
The filter portion 28 includes a permeable mesh net or cloth made of any suitable material for capturing emboli while allowing blood and other fluids to flow past. In one embodiment, the mesh net or cloth may be made of nylon, biocompatible polyurethanes, polytetrafluoroethylene (known as PTFE or under the trade name TeflonTM), and mixtures thereof without falling beyond the scope or spirit of the present invention. In one example, the permeable mesh cloth may be made of one material and coated with another, such as the biocompatible polyurethane. In another example, the mesh cloth may be made from the biocompatible polyurethane. In still another example, the filter portion 28 may be made of connective tissue material including, for example, extracellular matrix (ECM).
One example of the biocompatible polyurethane is sold under the trade name THORALON (THORATEC, Pleasanton, Calif.). Descriptions of suitable biocompatible polyureaurethanes are described in U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2002/0065552 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,361, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, these publications describe a polyurethane base polymer (referred to as BPS-215) blended with a siloxane containing surface modifying additive (referred to as SMA-300). Base polymers containing urea linkages can also be used. The concentration of the surface modifying additive may be in the range of 0.5% to 5% by weight of the base polymer.
The SMA-300 component (THORATEC) is a polyurethane comprising polydimethylsiloxane as a soft segment and the reaction product of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,4-butanediol as a hard segment. A process for synthesizing SMA-300 is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,861,830 and 4,675,361, which are incorporated herein by reference.
The BPS-215 component (THORATEC) is a segmented polyetherurethane urea containing a soft segment and a hard segment. The soft segment is made of polytetramethylene oxide (PTMO), and the hard segment is made from the reaction of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and ethylene diamine (ED).
THORALON can be manipulated to provide either porous or non-porous structures. The present invention envisions the use of non-porous THORALON. Non-porous THORALON can be formed by mixing the polyetherurethane urea (BPS-215) and the surface modifying additive (SMA-300) in a solvent, such as dimethyl formamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethyacetamide (DMAC), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The composition can contain from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt % polymer, and different levels of polymer within the range can be used to fine tune the viscosity needed for a given process. The composition can contain less than 5 wt % polymer for some spray application embodiments. The entire composition can be cast as a sheet, or coated onto an article such as a mandrel or a mold. In one example, the composition can be dried to remove the solvent.
THORALON has been used in certain vascular applications and is characterized by thromboresistance, high tensile strength, low water absorption, low critical surface tension, and good flex life. THORALON is believed to be biostable and to be useful in vivo in long term blood contacting applications requiring biostability and leak resistance. Because of its flexibility, THORALON is useful in larger vessels, such as the abdominal aorta, where elasticity and compliance is beneficial.
A variety of other biocompatible polyurethanes/polycarbamates and urea linkages (hereinafter “—C(O)N or CON type polymers”) may also be employed. These include CON type polymers that preferably include a soft segment and a hard segment. The segments can be combined as copolymers or as blends. For example, CON type polymers with soft segments such as PTMO, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polycarbonate, polyolefin, polysiloxane (i.e. polydimethylsiloxane), and other polyether soft segments made from higher homologous series of diols may be used. Mixtures of any of the soft segments may also be used. The soft segments also may have either alcohol end groups or amine end groups. The molecular weight of the soft segments may vary from about 500 to about 5,000 g/mole.
Preferably, the hard segment is formed from a diisocyanate and diamine. The diisocyanate may be represented by the formula OCN—R—NCO, where —R— may be aliphatic, aromatic, cycloaliphatic or a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic moieties. Examples of diisocyanates include MDI, tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, trimethyhexamethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, dimer acid diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, metaxylene diisocyanate, diethylbenzene diisocyanate, decamethylene 1,10 diisocyanate, cyclohexylene 1,2-diisocyanate, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, xylene diisocyanate, m-phenylene diisocyanate, hexahydrotolylene diisocyanate (and isomers), naphthylene-1,5-diisocyanate, 1-methoxyphenyl 2,4-diisocyanate, 4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate, 3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-biphenyl diisocyanate and mixtures thereof.
The diamine used as a component of the hard segment includes aliphatic amines, aromatic amines and amines containing both aliphatic and aromatic moieties. For example, diamines include ethylene diamine, propane diamines, butanediamines, hexanediamines, pentane diamines, heptane diamines, octane diamines, m-xylylene diamine, 1,4-cyclohexane diamine, 2-methypentamethylene diamine, 4,4′-methylene dianiline, and mixtures thereof. The amines may also contain oxygen and/or halogen atoms in their structures.
Other applicable biocompatible polyurethanes include those using a polyol as a component of the hard segment. Polyols may be aliphatic, aromatic, cycloaliphatic or may contain a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic moieties. For example, the polyol may be ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, propylene glycols, 2,3-butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, dibutylene glycol, glycerol, or mixtures thereof.
Biocompatible CON type polymers modified with cationic, anionic and aliphatic side chains may also be used. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,664. Other biocompatible CON type polymers include: segmented polyurethanes, such as BIOSPAN; polycarbonate urethanes, such as BIONATE; and polyetherurethanes, such as ELASTHANE; (all available from POLYMER TECHNOLOGY GROUP, Berkeley, Calif.).
Other biocompatible CON type polymers can include polyurethanes having siloxane segments, also referred to as a siloxane-polyurethane. Examples of polyurethanes containing siloxane segments include polyether siloxane-polyurethanes, polycarbonate siloxane-polyurethanes, and siloxane-polyurethane ureas. Specifically, examples of siloxane-polyurethane include polymers such as ELAST-EON 2 and ELAST-EON 3 (AORTECH BIOMATERIALS, Victoria, Australia); polytetramethyleneoxide (PTMO) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polyether-based aromatic siloxane-polyurethanes such as PURSIL-10, -20, and -40 TSPU; PTMO and PDMS polyether-based aliphatic siloxane-polyurethanes such as PURSIL AL-5 and AL-10 TSPU; aliphatic, hydroxy-terminated polycarbonate and PDMS polycarbonate-based siloxane-polyurethanes such as CARBOSIL-10, -20, and -40 TSPU (all available from POLYMER TECHNOLOGY GROUP). The PURSIL, PURSIL-AL, and CARBOSIL polymers are thermoplastic elastomer urethane copolymers containing siloxane in the soft segment, and the percent siloxane in the copolymer is referred to in the grade name. For example, PURSIL-10 contains 10% siloxane.
These polymers are synthesized through a multi-step bulk synthesis in which PDMS is incorporated into the polymer soft segment with PTMO (PURSIL) or an aliphatic hydroxy-terminated polycarbonate (CARBOSIL). The hard segment consists of the reaction product of an aromatic diisocyanate, MDI, with a low molecular weight glycol chain extender. In the case of PURSIL-AL the hard segment is synthesized from an aliphatic diisocyanate. The polymer chains are then terminated with a siloxane or other surface modifying end group. Siloxane-polyurethanes typically have a relatively low glass transition temperature, which provides for polymeric materials having increased flexibility relative to many conventional materials. In addition, the siloxane-polyurethane can exhibit high hydrolytic and oxidative stability, including improved resistance to environmental stress cracking. Examples of siloxane-polyurethanes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2002/0187288 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, any of these biocompatible CON type polymers may be end-capped with surface active end groups, such as, for example, polydimethylsiloxane, fluoropolymers, polyolefin, polyethylene oxide, or other suitable groups. See, for example the surface active end groups disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,563, which is incorporated herein by reference.
As noted above, the mesh cloth is made from, for example, a solid non-porous sheet of the biocompatible polyurethanes described above. After forming the sheet, a plurality of holes are formed in the sheet. The holes are sized to allow the free passage of blood and other bodily fluids while preventing the passage of emboli such as blood clots.
In other embodiments, the holes are formed at the same time the non-porous sheet is formed. For example, a mandrel formed from or coated with an inert material (e.g., glass or stainless steel) may be employed to facilitate manufacturing a biocompatible polyurethane mesh cloth. The mandrel may be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol prior to use and may then be immersed in a solution of the polyurethane, or alternatively, the mandrel may be sprayed with a solution of the polyurethane. The concentration of polyurethane in the solution may be fine tuned to provide the desired viscosity. The viscosity of the polyurethane solution may not only influence the rate of application, by dipping or spraying, but may also affect the thickness of the applied layer. The thickness of the layer may also be increased by dipping or spraying the mandrel repeatedly, until the desired thickness is achieved.
The mandrel may include a plurality of holes of an appropriate size and pattern for the mesh cloth. While the polyurethane is still liquid, a small vacuum or positive pressure may be applied through the holes to prevent the polyurethane from accumulating over the holes. When the polyurethane cures, it will have the shape of the mandrel and include the plurality of holes, matching the pattern of the holes on the mandrel.
As noted above, the filter portion 28 may also be made of connective tissue material for capturing emboli including, for example, extracellular matrix (ECM). As known, ECM is a complex structural entity surrounding and supporting cells found within tissues. More specifically, ECM includes structural proteins (for example, collagen and elastin), specialized protein (for example, fibrillin, fibronectin, and laminin), and proteoglycans, a protein core to which are attached long chains of repeating disaccharide units termed glycosaminoglycans.
In one particular embodiment, the extracellular matrix is comprised of small intestinal submucosa (SIS). As known, SIS is a resorbable, acellular, naturally occurring tissue matrix composed of ECM proteins and various growth factors. SIS is derived from the porcine jejunum and functions as a remodeling bioscaffold for tissue repair. SIS has characteristics of an ideal tissue engineered biomaterial and can act as a bioscaffold for remodeling of many body tissues including skin, body wall, musculoskeletal structure, urinary bladder, and also supports new blood vessel growth. In many aspects, SIS is used to induce site-specific remodeling of both organs and tissues depending on the site of implantation. In practice, host cells are stimulated to proliferate and differentiate into site-specific connective tissue structures, which have been shown to completely replace the SIS material in time.
In another particular embodiment, the SIS may be used to temporarily adhere the filter portion 28 to the walls of the body vessel 40 in which the device is deployed. SIS has a natural adherence or wetability to body fluids and connective cells comprising the connective tissue of a body vessel wall. Due to the temporary nature of the duration in which the device 10 is deployed in the body vessel, host cells of the wall may adhere to the filter portion but will not differentiate, allowing for later retrieval of the device 10 from the body vessel 40.
Returning to FIG. 2, the catheter assembly 80 for introducing and retrieving the embolic protection device 10 includes an outer sheath 82 having a distal part 84 and a tubular body defining a lumen 86 extending threrethrough. An inner member 88 having a proximal portion 90 extending to a distal portion 92 is disposed within the lumen 86 of the outer sheath 82 and is configured for axial movement relative to the outer sheath 82. The inner member 88 may be any appropriate type of elongate pushing device including, for example, an inner catheter, a stylet, or a wire guide. The device 10 is disposed within the lumen 86 of the outer sheath 82 with, for example, the proximal retrieval stem 30 being releasably attached to a complementary retrieval snare 94 of the distal portion 92 of the inner member 88. In another example, the proximal end 18 of the device 10 may be inseparably attached to the distal portion 92 of the inner member 88 (not shown). The device 10 is deployable through the distal part 84 of the outer sheath 82 by means of relative axial movement of the inner member 88. In the embodiment shown, the relative axial movement is either the inner member 88 being advanced distally through the lumen 86 relative to the outer sheath 82, or the outer sheath 82 is retracted proximally relative to the inner catheter 88.
FIGS. 5A and 5B depict one embodiment of a delivery assembly 100 for introducing and retrieving the embolic protection device for capturing emboli in a body vessel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the delivery assembly 100 includes a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) introducer sheath 102 for percutaneously introducing an outer sheath 106 (equivalent to the outer catheter 82 above) into a body vessel. Of course, any other suitable material for the introducer sheath 102 may be used without falling beyond the scope or spirit of the present invention. The introducer sheath 102 may have any suitable size, for example, between about three-french to eight-french. The introducer sheath 102 serves to allow the outer sheath 106 and an inner member 114 to be percutaneously inserted to a desired location in the body vessel. The introducer sheath 102 receives the outer sheath 106 and provides stability to the outer sheath 106 at a desired location of the body vessel. The inner member 114 may be any appropriate elongate pushing device including, or example, a catheter, a stylet or a wire guide. For example, the introducer sheath 102 is held stationary within a common visceral artery, and adds stability to the outer sheath 106, as the outer sheath 106 is advanced through the introducer sheath 102 to a filtration area in the vasculature.
As shown, the assembly 100 may also include a wire guide 104 configured to be percutaneously inserted within the vasculature to guide the outer sheath 106 to the filtration area. The wire guide 104 provides the outer sheath 106 with a path to follow as it is advanced within the body vessel. The size of the wire guide 104 is based on the inside diameter of the outer sheath 106 and the diameter of the target body vessel.
In one example, when a distal end 108 of the outer sheath 106 is at the desired location in the body vessel, the wire guide 104 is removed and the filter device, having a proximal segment removably attached to a distal portion 116 of the inner member 114, is inserted into the outer sheath 106. The inner member 114 is advanced through the outer sheath 106 for deployment of the device through the distal end 108 to capture emboli in the body vessel during treatment of, for example, a lesion.
In another example, the wire guide 104 may be removed and a second wire guide inseparably attached to the filter device may be inserted and advanced through the outer sheath 106 for deployment of the device (not shown). In this example, the filter device remains attached to the second wire guide while, for example, an inner catheter is advanced along the second wire guide through the outer sheath 106 to treat the body vessel. As a result, the device may be removed immediately following treatment of the body vessel by simply withdrawing the second wire guide.
The outer sheath 106 further has a proximal end 110 and a hub 112 to receive the inner member 114 and device to be advanced therethrough. The size of the outer sheath 106 is based on the size of the body vessel in which it percutaneously inserts, and the size of the device.
In this embodiment, the device and inner member 114 are coaxially advanced through the outer sheath 106, following removal of the wire guide 104, in order to position the device to capture emboli in the body vessel. The device is guided through the outer sheath 106 by the inner member 114, preferably from the hub 112, and exits from the distal end 108 of the outer sheath 106 at a location within the vasculature where embolic protection is desired.
Likewise, this embodiment may also retrieve the device by positioning the distal end 108 of the outer sheath 106 adjacent the deployed device in the vasculature. The inner member 114 is advanced through the outer sheath 106 until the distal portion 116 protrudes from the distal end 108 of the outer sheath 106. The distal portion 116 is coupled to a proximal end of the device, after which the inner member 114 is retracted proximally, drawing the device into the outer sheath 106.
It is understood that the assembly described above is merely one example of an assembly that may be used to deploy the filter device in a body vessel. Of course, other apparatus, assemblies and systems may be used to deploy any embodiment of the embolic protection device without falling beyond the scope or spirit of the present invention.
Turning to FIG. 6, it provides a flow chart designated at 200 describing a method for of filtering emboli from a body cavity such as a blood vessel. The method includes, at box 202, providing an embolic protection device including a Z-stent waist band and a filter portion within the body cavity. Box 204 includes positioning the embolic protection device in a desired location to capture emboli within the filter portion. Box 206 includes expanding the embolic protection device within the body cavity.
As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of implementation of the principles this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.

## Claims

1. An embolic protection device for capturing emboli in a body vessel, the device comprising:
a frame having an expanded state and a collapsed state, the frame including a plurality of struts extending distally along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the struts being configured to open radially to define the expanded state of the device for capturing emboli and to fold along the longitudinal axis to define the collapsed state of the device for retrieval of the device;
a waist band having an open and a closed state being disposed about the plurality of struts and attached to a middle portion of at least one of the plurality of struts of the frame, the waist band being formed of a plurality of members each having a proximal tip and a distal tip, each of the proximal and distal tips being attached at a waist band joint to the respective proximal or distal tip of an adjacent member such that the members form a “Z” pattern in the open state and lie nearly parallel to each other in the closed state, wherein adjacent struts have at least one waist band joint disposed therebetween in the open state; and
a filter portion defining a proximal filter end attached to the waist band and a distal filter end attached to the distal end of the frame, the distal filter end defining a round shape when the frame is in the expanded state, the proximal filter end corresponding to the “Z” pattern of the waist band in the open state such that a portion of the proximal filter end is attached to the at least one waistband joint disposed between adjacent struts, the filter portion configured to capture emboli in the expanded state.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a proximal retrieval stem extending proximally from the proximal end of the frame for deployment and retrieval of the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes at least two struts having proximal and distal sections and extending distally along the longitudinal axis, the proximal sections being connected together at the proximal end of the frame and the distal sections being connected together at the distal end of the frame such that the struts form a distal arc shape portion at the distal end of the frame.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the filter portion extends from the waist band to a distal filter end, the distal filter end being attached to the distal arc shape portion to form a proximally facing concave shape.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the proximal sections are connected together at a frame joint to define a proximal arc shape at the proximal end of the frame, the proximal arc shape forming a distally facing concave shape.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the two struts each form a closed loop, and each of the closed loops are attached to diametrically opposed waistband joints.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame distally increases in width toward the waist band in the expanded state.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the waistband is disposed between the proximal and distal ends of the frame.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of struts are connected to at least one other strut at a frame joint, each frame joint being configured to allow each of the struts to fold distally along the longitudinal axis from the expanded state to the collapsed state.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter portion is a permeable mesh cloth including at least one of a biocompatible polyurethane, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, and mixtures thereof.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the permeable mesh cloth is coated with biocompatible polyurethane.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter portion is made of an extracellular matrix including small intestine submucosa.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter portion is attached to the waist band and further includes a proximal edge defining a filter opening when the device is in the expanded state.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least part of the device is made of shape memory material configured to open the frame into the expanded state at a first temperature and close the frame into the collapsed state at a second temperature.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the shape memory material includes alloys of Ni—Ti.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein adjacent struts have at least two waist band joints disposed therebetween in the open state.

17. An assembly for placing and retrieving an embolic protection device for capturing emboli in a body vessel, the assembly comprising:
an outer sheath having a tubular body, the tubular body including a lumen therethrough and having a distal part;
an inner member having a proximal and a distal portion, the inner member being disposed within the lumen of the outer sheath and configured for axial movement relative to the outer sheath;
an embolic protection device coaxially disposed within the lumen of the outer sheath and attached to the distal portion of the inner member, the device being deployable through the distal part of the outer sheath by means of the relative axial movement of the inner member, the device comprising:
a frame having an expanded state and a collapsed state, the frame including a plurality of struts extending distally along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the struts being configured to open radially to define the expanded state of the device for capturing emboli and to fold along the longitudinal axis to define the collapsed state of the device for retrieval of the device;
a waist band having an open and a closed state being disposed about the plurality of struts and attached to the frame between the proximal and distal ends to a middle portion of at least one of the plurality of struts, the waist band being formed of a plurality of members each having a proximal tip and a distal tip, each of the proximal and distal tips being attached at a waist band joint to the respective proximal or distal tip of an adjacent member such that the members lie nearly parallel in the closed state and form a “Z” pattern in the open state, wherein adjacent struts have at least one waist band joint disposed therebetween in the open state; and
a filter portion defining a proximal filter end attached to the waist band and a distal filter end, the proximal filter end defining a “Z” pattern corresponding to the “Z” pattern of the waist band such that a portion of the proximal filter end is attached to the at least one waistband joint disposed between adjacent struts in the open state, the distal filter end defining a round shape when the frame is in the expanded state, the filter portion configured to capture emboli in the expanded state.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the embolic protection device further includes a proximal retrieval stem extending proximally from the proximal end of the frame, the retrieval stem being removably attached to the inner member for deployment and retrieval of the device.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the frame includes at least two struts having proximal and distal sections and extending distally along the longitudinal axis, the proximal sections being connected together at the proximal end of the frame and the distal sections being connected together such that the struts form a distal arc shape portion at the distal end of the frame.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the filter portion extends from the waist band to a distal filter end, the distal filter end being attached to the distal arc shape portion to form a proximally facing concave shape.

21. The assembly of claim 17, wherein each of the struts are connected to at least one other strut at a frame joint, each frame joint being configured to allow the struts to fold distally along the longitudinal axis from the expanded state to the collapsed state.

22. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the filter portion is a permeable mesh cloth including a biocompatible polyurethane.

23. The assembly of claim 17, wherein at least part of the device is made of shape memory material including alloys of Ni—Ti.

24. An embolic protection device for capturing emboli in a body vessel, the device comprising:
a frame having an expanded state and a collapsed state, the frame including a plurality of struts extending distally along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the struts being configured to open radially to define the expanded state of the device for capturing emboli and to fold along the longitudinal axis to define the collapsed state of the device for retrieval of the device;
a waist band having an open and a closed state being attached to a middle portion of at least one of the plurality of struts of the frame, the waist band being formed of a plurality of members each having a proximal tip and a distal tip, each of the proximal and distal tips being attached at a waist band joint to the respective proximal or distal tip of an adjacent member such that the members form a “Z” pattern in the open state and lie nearly parallel to each other in the closed state, wherein adjacent struts have at least one waist band joint disposed therebetween in the open state; and
a filter portion defining a proximal filter end attached to the waist band and a distal filter end attached to the distal end of the frame, the proximal filter end corresponding to the “Z” pattern of the waist band in the open state such that a portion of the proximal filter end is attached to the at least one waist band joint disposed between adjacent struts, the distal filter end defining a round shape when the frame is in the expanded state, the filter portion configured to capture emboli in the expanded state.

25. A method of filtering emboli from a body cavity having body walls, the method comprising:
providing an embolic protection device including a frame having a plurality of struts and having an expanded state and a collapsed state, a “Z” pattern waist band having an open and a closed state being disposed about the plurality of struts and attached to the frame between the proximal and distal ends to a middle portion of at least one of a plurality of struts, and a filter portion, the waist band being formed of a plurality of members each having a proximal tip and a distal tip, each of the proximal and distal tips being attached at a joint to a respective proximal or distal tip of an adjacent member such that the members form a “Z” pattern in the open state and lie nearly parallel in the closed state, the filter portion defining a proximal filter end attached to the waist band a distal filter end, the proximal filter end defining a “Z” pattern in the open state corresponding to the “Z” pattern of the waist band in the open state, wherein adjacent struts have at least one joint disposed therebetween in the open state, the distal filter end defining a round shape when the frame is in the expanded state and a portion of the proximal filter end is attached to the at least one joint disposed between adjacent struts;
positioning the embolic protection device in a desired location to capture emboli within the filter portion; and
expanding the embolic protection device within the body cavity.