Patent ID: 8043324

Claim:
An intravascular filter assembly for fragmenting a thrombotic or atherosclerotic occlusion and capturing thrombotic or atherosclerotic debris within a blood vessel, the vascular filter assembly comprising: an elongate shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a distal region and a proximal region; an expandable filter coupled to the distal region of the elongate shaft, the filter including a support hoop forming a proximal mouth and a filter mesh attached to the support hoop; one or more piezoelectric elements secured to the elongate shaft at a location proximal of the expandable filter; and a conducting wire attached to the one or more piezoelectric elements and extending toward the proximal end of the elongate shaft; wherein the one or more piezoelectric elements are configured to generate ultrasonic waves to fragment a thrombotic or atherosclerotic occlusion within a blood vessel.