Patent ID: 8162970

Claim:
A vascular filter comprising: capture members for capturing thrombus passing through a blood vessel; support members for supporting the capture members relative to a wall of a blood vessel, the support members including: a proximal first support portion configured to extend circumferentially around a wall of a blood vessel; a distal second support portion configured to extend circumferentially around the wall of a blood vessel; a third support portion configured to extend along the wall of the blood vessel and comprising a plurality of struts connecting the first support portion to the second support portion; wherein a distal end of the first support portion is located proximally of a proximal end of the capture members and a proximal end of the second support portion is located distally of a distal end of the capture members; wherein the capture members are movable between a capturing configuration and an open configuration, the capture members being located between the plurality of struts of the third support portion when in the open configuration so that the vascular filter forms a tubular shape; wherein the filter comprises a holder member to hold the capture members in the capturing configuration; wherein the holder member is biodegradable and/or bio-absorbable; and wherein the holder member extends through openings in the capture members.