Emboli filter

Abstract

An emboli filter for deployment in a body lumen to capture emboli entrained in a fluid flowing through the lumen includes a flexible elongated member sized to be passed through the lumen. A filter media is carried on and substantially surrounding the elongated member. The filter media has a first end secured to the elongated member adjacent the distal end. A second end of the filter media has a periphery movable toward and away from the elongated member. Opposing internal surfaces of the filter media define a volume into which emboli may flow through the second end when the periphery is moved away from the elongated member. The emboli are trapped within the volume when the periphery is moved toward the elongated member. An actuator moves the periphery toward and away from the elongated member. The actuator includes a plurality of elastic loops. The loops are biased to an open loop configuration with the loops urging the periphery away from the elongated member. The actuator is adapted to be manipulated by an operator to urge the loops against the bias to a closed position permitting movement of the periphery toward the elongated member without interference from the loops.

1 . A method of filtering emboli in a body lumen comprising: 
 providing a filter carried on a flexible elongated member sized to pass through the lumen, the filter having a filter media movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position and a plurality of resilient loops for moving the filter media from the collapsed position to the expanded position, the loops being spaced about a circumference of the elongated member and projecting radially outwardly from the elongated member when the filter media is in the expanded position, the loops including circumferentially adjacent loops, the circumferentially adjacent loops having portions that overlap when the filter media is in the expanded position, and wherein when the loops are in an open configuration, the loops define a plane and the plane is perpendicular to the elongated member;    advancing the filter through the body lumen while the filter media is in the collapsed position;    expanding the filter media in the body lumen from the collapsed position to the expanded position; and    filtering emboli from fluid flowing through the body lumen with the filter while the filter media is in the expanded position.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the loops are arranged in a symmetrical configuration about the elongated member.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media includes first and second ends spaced-apart along the elongated member, the first end being connected to the elongated member and the second end including a periphery that surrounds the elongated member, the periphery being configured to move radially away from the elongated member when the filter media is moved from the collapsed position to the expanded position, and the loops being connected to the second end of the filter media.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filter media has a generally conical configuration when in the expanded position.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each loop is resiliently flexible independent of a remainder of the loops.  
     
     
         6 . A method of filtering emboli in a body lumen comprising: 
 providing a filter carried on a flexible elongated member sized to pass through the lumen, the filter having a filter media movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position, the filter media including an open end and a closed end when in the expanded position, the filter further having a plurality of resilient loops for moving the filter media from the collapsed position to the expanded position, the loops being connected to the open end of the filter media at connection locations, each loop including first and second loop segments that extend from the connection location to the elongated body, the first and second loop segments of each loop extending across the open end of the filter media when the filter media is in the expanded position, the loops being spaced about a circumference of the elongated member when the filter media is in the expanded position, the loops including circumferentially adjacent loops, the circumferentially adjacent loops having loop segments that overlap when the filter media is in the expanded position, and wherein when the loops are in an open configuration, the loops define a plane and the plane is perpendicular to the elongated member;    advancing the filter through the body lumen while the filter media is in the collapsed position;    expanding the filter media in the body lumen from the collapsed position to the expanded position; and    filtering emboli from fluid flowing through the body lumen with the filter while the filter media is in the expanded position.    
     
     
         7 . A method of filtering emboli in a body lumen comprising: 
 providing a filter carried on a flexible elongated member sized to pass through the lumen, the filter having a filter media movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position and a plurality of resilient loop structures for moving the filter media from the collapsed position to the expanded position, each loop structure including a primary loop and a secondary loop located within the primary loop, and wherein when the plurality of resilient loop structures are in an open configuration, the plurality of resilient loop structures define a plane and the plane is perpendicular to the elongated member;    advancing the filter through the body lumen while the filter media is in the collapsed position;    expanding the filter media in the body lumen from the collapsed position to the expanded position; and    filtering emboli from fluid flowing through the body lumen with the filter while the filter media is in the expanded position.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the filter media is attached to each loop structure at the secondary loop.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the loop structures are spaced about a circumference of the elongated member and extend radially from the elongated member to the filter media.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each loop structure is flexible independent of a remainder of the loop structures.