Patent ID: 8252019

Claim:
A filter retrieval system for retrieving a previously implanted medical filter, comprising: a flexible shaft defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal and a distal end; the shaft having an opening positioned a distance from the shaft distal end; the shaft defining a first internal space and second internal space positioned proximally and distally of the opening, respectively; a handle affixed to the shaft near the shaft proximal end; an actuator coupled to the handle; a main fiber loop coupled to the actuator, and a snare affixed to the main fiber loop, wherein the shaft further comprises a guide for the main fiber loop in an internal space distal of the opening and a portion of the main fiber loop is distal of the snare, the snare being longitudinally movable among a range of positions, including the position of the shaft opening and the positions of the first internal space and the second internal space; wherein the actuator, main fiber loop, and snare are configured such that moving the actuator to a desired position causes the main fiber loop to move the snare to a corresponding position; such that when the actuator is in an initial position, the snare is located within one of the first and second internal spaces; such that when the actuator is moved to a ready position, the snare moves from the one of the first and second internal spaces to the shaft opening and protrudes from the shaft opening; such that the snare can be maneuvered to engage a portion of a filter, and then the actuator can be moved to a first or second capture position which pulls the filter through the shaft opening into a selected one of the first and second internal spaces, wherein the guide is selected from the group of a pin, a pulley and a U- shaped channel, and a distal portion of the main fiber loop extends around the guide.