Intravenous deep vein thrombosis filter and method of filter placement

摘要

A vascular filter system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the filter system comprises a dispensing needle releasably attached to a filter dispenser which stores a length of filter wire. The filter wire dispenser has a guide tube which guides the filter wire into the needle and then into a vein during surgical implantation. The filter wire is configured to coil into a predetermined shape as it is deployed from the needle. The shape of the filter wire captures blood clots in the blood stream. Once the filter wire is deployed, the needle may be removed and a portion of the filter wire may be left protruding from the patient's skin surface to allow the filter wire to be secured by a fixation device. A syringe may be used to draw blood to confirm that the needle is properly positioned within a vein before the filter wire is deployed.

主权项

1. A vascular filter system comprising:
a dispensing needle having a delivery end and a filter wire dispenser connection end; a filter consisting of:
a length of filter wire having residual stresses, surface tensions, or both that cause the filter wire when deployed in the vein to form a plurality of loops in a helix shape having a center axis that is generally parallel to a direction of the vein;wherein the helix shape has proximal, middle, and distal sections; andwherein the diameter of the filter at the proximal and distal sections is less than the diameter of the filter at the middle section; and a filter wire dispenser for storing a length of filter wire, wherein the filter wire dispenser comprises a guide tube and a spool having a user rotatable wheel or knob, the guide tube sized for connection to the filter wire dispenser connection end of the dispensing needle; and the filter wire being configured to (i) coil within or around the spool (ii) deploy from the filter wire dispenser to a vein of a patient, thereby filtering the vein, and (iii) completely retract percutaneously from the vein after filtering blood flow in the vein.