Patent ID: 6991641

Claim:
A vascular filter system comprising: a) a guidewire having a predetermined diameter, a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal marker having a first diameter and a distal marker having a second diameter, the proximal and distal markers being attached to the distal end of the guidewire; b) a filter deployment and delivery system including an inner member having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner diameter and an outer diameter, and an outer member having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner member being coaxially disposable around the guidewire and the outer member being coaxially disposable around the inner member; c) a filter removably attached to the distal end of the inner member, the filter including a filter membrane support structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a permeable filter membrane attached to the distal portion of the filter membrane support structure, a proximal basket sleeve connected to the proximal portion of the filter membrane support structure, the proximal basket sleeve having a diameter less than or equal to the first diameter of the proximal marker, and a distal basket sleeve connected to the distal portion of the filter membrane support structure having a diameter greater than the first diameter of the proximal marker and less than or equal to the second diameter of the distal marker such that the distal basket sleeve passes over the proximal marker and is stopped at the distal marker, the proximal basket sleeve further comprising a tapered end having a circumferentially oriented indentation and the proximal marker comprising a tapered section and a protruding ridge operatively associated with the indentation thereby allowing rotational movement and limiting longitudinal movement therebetween, the filter having a diameter for insertion and a diameter for deployment; and d) a retrieval catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the retrieval catheter being coaxially disposable around the guidewire and the filter.