Patent ID: 6958074

Claim:
A guidewireless vascular filter system for insertion into a lumen of a vessel, said system comprising: a) a free standing, guidewireless filter support structure comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a plurality of struts extending therebetween, said struts further comprising proximal portions and distal portions, said filter having a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding to a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said lumen and to be placed in a generally sealing relationship with said lumen; b) a porous filter membrane connected to said filter distal portion and said plurality of struts; c) deploying and releasing means operatively associated with said filter support structure, said deploying and releasing means causing said filter to be positioned in said lumen of said vessel, and causing said filter to achieve said larger second diameter; d) anti-migration means associated with said filter support structure, said anti-migration means causing said filter to remain substantially stationary in said lumen of said vessel; and e) retrieving means operatively associated with said filter support structure, said retrieving means allowing recapture of said filter, causing said filter to achieve said smaller first diameter, and allowing removal of said filter from said lumen.