ANGIOPLASTY DEVICE WITH EMBOLIC FILTER AND FIXED FILTER HOUSING

摘要

An interventional catheter such as an angioplasty device has an embolic filter attached to the same catheter shaft as the angioplasty balloon. The filter includes a filter ring slidably attached to the catheter shaft adjacent the distal end of the catheter. An actuation wire is attached to the filter ring and extends to a location outside of the patient for manipulation by the physician. A filter frame supporting a filter mesh is mounted to the filter ring and has a shape memory that is normally expanded. A filter housing is attached to the catheter shaft. The filter housing has side walls spaced apart from the catheter shaft to define a space therebetween. When the filter ring is retracted into the opening between the filter housing and the catheter shaft, the filter frame is collapsed against the catheter shaft. Pushing on the actuation wire advances the filter ring out of the housing and permits the filter frame to expand, opening the filter.