Embolic protection device with an elongated superelastic radiopaque core member

Abstract

An elongated core member and an expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body lumen. The expandable frame also includes a filtering element. A nickel-titanium alloy is used to form the frame, the elongated core member, or both the frame and the elongated core member. The nickel-titanium alloy includes at least one ternary element, such as iridium, platinum, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, or hafnium, so that the frame and/or elongated core member is also radiopaque.

1 . An embolic protection device comprising: 
 an elongated core member having a proximal core section and a distal core section, said elongated core member comprising a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy wherein said superelastic nickel-titanium alloy comprises at least one ternary element, such that at least a portion of said elongated core member exhibits radiopacity.    
   
   
       2 . The embolic protection device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one ternary element is chosen from iridium, platinum, palladium, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, hafnium, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The embolic protection device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one ternary element is present in said superelastic nickel-titanium alloy in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to about 20 atomic %.  
   
   
       4 . The embolic protection device of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one ternary element is chosen from platinum, palladium, tungsten, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The embolic protection device of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one ternary element is platinum.  
   
   
       6 . The embolic protection device of  claim 1 , wherein said radiopacity is limited to said distal core section.  
   
   
       7 . The embolic protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the level of radiopacity of said nickel-titanium alloy comprising at least one ternary element is greater then the radiopacity of a binary superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.  
   
   
       8 . The embolic protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the embolic protection device comprises an expandable filter assembly having an expandable frame and a filter element coupled to the expandable frame.  
   
   
       9 . The embolic protection device of  claim 8 , wherein said expandable frame at least partially covers said elongated core member in an unexpanded state.  
   
   
       10 . A medical device comprising: 
 an elongated core member having a proximal core section and a distal core section, said elongated core member comprising a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy, wherein said superelastic nickel-titanium alloy comprises at least one ternary element, such that at least a portion of said elongated core member exhibits radiopacity; and    a filter coupled to the distal core section of said elongated core member.    
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one ternary element is chosen from iridium, platinum, palladium, gold, rhenium, tungsten, palladium, rhodium, tantalum, silver, ruthenium, hafnium, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one ternary element is present in said superelastic nickel-titanium alloy in an amount ranging from greater than 0 to about 20 atomic %.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one ternary element is chosen from platinum, palladium, tungsten, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one ternary element is platinum.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said radiopacity is limited to said distal core section.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the level of radiopacity of the nickel-titanium alloy comprising at least one ternary element is greater then the radiopacity of a binary superelastic nickel-titanium alloy.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said filter comprises an expandable frame and a filter element coupled to the expandable frame.  
   
   
       18 . A medical device comprising: 
 an elongated core member having a proximal core section and a distal core section, wherein said elongated core member comprises a superelastic nickel-titanium alloy having a radiopaque material coated thereon; and    a filter coupled to the distal core section of said elongated core member.    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the filter comprises an expandable assembly having an expandable frame and a filter element coupled to the expandable frame.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said expandable frame at least partially covers said distal core guiding member in an unexpanded state.  
   
   
       21 . An embolic protection device comprising: 
 an elongated core member having a proximal core section and a distal core section, wherein said elongated core member comprises a ternary superelastic nickel-titanium-platinum alloy such that at least a portion of said elongated core member exhibits radiopacity; and    a filter coupled to the distal core section of said elongated core member, wherein said filter comprises an expandable assembly having an expandable frame and a filter element coupled to the expandable frame.