Apparatus for anchoring an intravascular device along a guidewire

Abstract

Anchoring mechanisms for releasably securing an intravascular device along an elongated member such as a guidewire or catheter. The anchoring mechanism may include an object that can be actuated between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the anchoring mechanism is slidably and rotationally disposed about the elongated member. In the locked position, the anchoring mechanism is releasably secured to the elongated member, preventing movement thereon. A placement mechanism such as a tubular member can be utilized to actuate the anchoring mechanism between the unlocked and locked positions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An anchoring mechanism for releasably securing an intravascular device to an elongated member disposed within a body lumen, said anchoring mechanism comprising: 
 an object actuatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the object is slidably and rotationally disposed about the elongated member in the unlocked position, and is releasably secured to the elongated member in the locked position; and    placement means for actuating said object between the unlocked position and locked position.    
     
     
         2 . An anchoring mechanism for releasably securing an intravascular device to an elongated member disposed within a body lumen, said anchoring mechanism comprising: 
 an object actuatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein, the object is slidably and rotationally disposed about the elongated member in the unlocked position, and is releasably secured to the elongated member in the locked position;    placement means for actuating said object between the unlocked position and locked position; and    retrieval means for disengaging the object from the locked position to the unlocked position.    
     
     
         3 . An intravascular device comprising: 
 an embolic protection filter slidably disposed on a guidewire; and    anchoring means for attaching the embolic protection filter to the guidewire, said anchoring means comprising an anchoring mechanism actuatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the anchoring mechanism is slidably disposed along the guidewire in the unlocked position, and is releasably secured to the guidewire in the locked position.    
     
     
         4 . An intravascular device comprising: 
 an embolic protection filter slidably disposed on a guidewire;    anchoring means for attaching the embolic protection filter to the guidewire, said anchoring means comprising an object actuatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the anchoring mechanism is slidably disposed along the guidewire in the unlocked position, and is releasably secured to the guidewire in the locked position; and    placement means for actuating said anchoring mechanism between the unlocked position and locked position.    
     
     
         5 . An anchoring mechanism for releasably securing an intravascular device to an elongated member disposed within a body lumen, said anchoring mechanism comprising an object actuatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the object is slidably and rotationally disposed about the elongated member in the unlocked position, and is releasably secured to the elongated member in the locked position.  
     
     
         6 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said elongated member is a guidewire.  
     
     
         7 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said elongated member is a catheter.  
     
     
         8 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a spring coil having a proximal portion and a distal portion.  
     
     
         9 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion of said spring coil extends proximally in a U-shape configuration such that when unconstrained radially, the spring coil is releasably secured to the elongated member.  
     
     
         10 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a split tube segment.  
     
     
         11 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises one or more leaf clamps.  
     
     
         12 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises one or more wires.  
     
     
         13 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a helical spring.  
     
     
         14 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a cam.  
     
     
         15 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises an elastomeric object.  
     
     
         16 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a shape memory tube.  
     
     
         17 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises an expandable balloon.  
     
     
         18 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises an O-ring.  
     
     
         19 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a plurality of deflectable radial tabs.  
     
     
         20 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a circular object disposable within several recesses.  
     
     
         21 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a collet.  
     
     
         22 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 21 , wherein said collet is a flared collet.  
     
     
         23 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 21 , wherein said collet is a threaded collet.  
     
     
         24 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises an offset block.  
     
     
         25 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a split jawed collet operatively coupled to a spring.  
     
     
         26 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a sleeve operatively coupled to a spring.  
     
     
         27 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a tubular member having one or more latches.  
     
     
         28 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a wedge.  
     
     
         29 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 28 , wherein said wedge is a threaded wedge.  
     
     
         30 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein said object comprises a slotted tube having at least one necked-down portion.  
     
     
         31 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , further comprising placement means for actuating said object between the unlocked position and locked position.  
     
     
         32 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 31 , wherein said placement means comprises a tubular member.  
     
     
         33 . The anchoring mechanism of  claim 5 , further comprising retrieval means for disengaging the object from the locked position to the unlocked position.  
     
     
         34 . An anchoring mechanism for releasably securing an intravascular device to an elongated member disposed within a body lumen, said anchoring mechanism comprising: 
 an object actuatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the object is slidably and rotationally disposed about the elongated member in the unlocked position, and is releasably secured to the elongated member in the locked position; and    placement device actuatable to move said object between the unlocked position and locked position.