Embolic protection filter having an improved filter frame

Abstract

An embolic protection filter having an improved filter frame and method of making the same. In at least some embodiments, the present invention includes an embolic protection filter coupled to an elongate shaft. The filter may include a filter frame assembly having one or more frame members. The frame members may include a filter mouth defining portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising: 
 a first frame member having a first shaft-engaging portion and a first mouth portion;    a second frame member having a second shaft-engaging portion and a second mouth portion;    wherein the first mouth portion and the second mouth portion define a filter mouth;    a filter material coupled to the first and second frame members adjacent the first and second mouth portions; and    an elongate shaft coupled to the first and second shaft-engaging portions and extending through the filter.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a guidewire.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a tube adapted and configured for being slidably disposed over an elongate wire.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mouth has a generally circular shape spanning 360 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second filter mouth portions includes one or more legs configured to span about 180 degrees of the filter mouth.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second filter mouth portions each span different proportions of the filter mouth.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a third frame member having a third shaft-engaging portion and a third mouth portion.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of first, second, and third mouth portions include one or more legs configured to span about 120 degrees of the filter mouth.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first, second, and third filter mouth portions span different proportions of the filter mouth.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mouth portion is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mouth portion is skewed at an angle relative to an axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the angle is acute relative to the axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mouth portions are connected by a bridging portion of the filter material disposed between the mouth portions.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame member includes a circular region having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a flattened region having a generally oval cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flattened region is disposed adjacent the first filter mouth portion.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flattened portion is split to include a first leg and a second leg.  
     
     
         17 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising: 
 a first frame member having a first shaft-engaging portion and a first mouth portion, the first mouth portion include a proximal end and a distal end;    a second frame member having a second shaft-engaging portion and a second mouth portion, the first mouth portion include a proximal end and a distal end;    wherein the first mouth portion and the second mouth portion define a filter mouth;    a filter material coupled to the first and second frame members; wherein a filtering portion of the filter material is coupled to and extends distally from the first and second mouth portions;    a first bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the first mouth portion and the distal end of the second mouth portion;    a second bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the second mouth portion and the distal end of the first mouth portion; and    an elongate shaft coupled to the first and second shaft-engaging portions.    
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft comprises a guidewire.  
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft comprises a tube adapted and configured for being slidably disposed over an elongate wire.  
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the filter mouth has a generally circular shape.  
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second filter mouth portions each span different proportions of the filter mouth.  
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first and second filter mouth portions includes one or more legs and are each have a semicircular shape.  
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the semicircular shapes of the first and second filter mouth portions are skewed relative to one another.  
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first mouth and second mouth portions are oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second mouths portions are skewed at an angle relative to an axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the angle is acute relative to the axis pointed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first frame member includes a circular region having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a flattened region having a generally oval cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the flattened region is disposed adjacent the first filter mouth portion.  
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the flattened portion is split to include a first leg and a second leg.  
     
     
         30 . An embolic protection filter assembly, comprising: 
 an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis and a perpendicular axis;    a first frame member having a first shaft-engaging portion coupled to the shaft and a first semi-circular portion, the first semi-circular portion being semi-circular in shape and including a proximal end and a distal end;    a second frame member having a second shaft-engaging portion coupled to the shaft and a second semi-circular portion, the second semi-circular portion being semi-circular in shape and including a proximal end and a distal end;    wherein the first and second semi-circular portions are skewed at an angle relative to the perpendicular axis;    a filter material coupled to the first and second frame members;    a filtering portion of the filter material coupled to and extends distally from the first and second semi-circular portions;    a first bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the first semi-circular portion and the distal end of the semi-circular mouth portion; and    a second bridging portion of the filter material extending between the proximal end of the second semi-circular portion and the distal end of the first semi-circular portion.    
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the shaft comprises a guidewire.  
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the shaft comprises a tube adapted and configured for being slidably disposed over an elongate wire.  
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein each of the first and second semi-circular portions includes one or more legs.  
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second frame members each includes a circular region having a generally circular cross-sectional shape and a flattened region having a generally oval cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein the flattened regions are disposed adjacent the first and second semi-circular portions.  
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the flattened portions is split to include a first leg and a second leg.