Support structures for embolic filtering devices

Abstract

An inner support structure for an embolic filtering device includes a tubular member having a first support region for supporting the proximal portion of a filter assembly and a second support region for supporting the distal portion of the filter assembly. The inner support structure facilitates rotation and restricts longitudinal movement of the embolic filtering device relative to a guide wire. Alternatively, the inner support structure includes a bushing coupled to the guide wire and a sleeve with a head on its proximal end positioned within a cavity in the bushing, thereby facilitating rotation and restricting longitudinal movement of the sleeve. The proximal portion of the filter assembly is supported on the sleeve. A sleeve for retaining the struts of an expandable cage of the embolic filtering device includes a central lumen for positioning the sleeve onto a guide wire and peripheral lumens for positioning and retaining the struts.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . A sleeve for coupling an embolic filtering device to a delivery device, the sleeve comprising: 
 a longitudinal member having a central lumen extending substantially longitudinally throughout the length of the longitudinal member, the central lumen being sized to receive a delivery device and being positioned substantially centered along a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal member; and    at least one peripheral lumen extending substantially longitudinally throughout the length of the longitudinal member and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal member, the at least one peripheral lumen being sized to receive and retain a strut of an embolic filtering device.    
   
   
       34 . The sleeve of  claim 33 , the sleeve including a substantially cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       35 . The sleeve of  claim 33 , the at least one peripheral lumen comprising four peripheral lumens substantially equally spaced about the central lumen and positioned a substantially equal distance from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.  
   
   
       36 . The sleeve of  claim 33 , the longitudinal member further comprising: 
 an outer sleeve having a substantially cylindrical shape and a lumen throughout its length, the lumen of the outer sleeve being positioned substantially centered along a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve; and    an inner sleeve having a substantially cylindrical shape and a lumen throughout its length, the outside diameter of the inner sleeve being sized to be secured within the lumen of the outer sleeve, the lumen of the inner sleeve being sized to receive a delivery device, the lumen of the inner sleeve being positioned substantially centered along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve, the inner sleeve including at least one slot extending longitudinally along the outside surface of the inner sleeve substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve;    wherein the outer surface of the inner sleeve is coupled to the lumen surface of the outer sleeve;    wherein the lumen of the inner sleeve forms the central lumen; and    wherein the at least one peripheral lumen is formed by the surfaces of the at least one slot on the outside surface of the inner sleeve and the lumen surface of the outer sleeve.    
   
   
       37 . The sleeve of  claim 36 , the at least one slot comprising four slots substantially equally spaced about the lumen of the inner sleeve.  
   
   
       38 . The sleeve of  claim 33 , the longitudinal member further comprising: 
 an outer sleeve having a substantially cylindrical shape and a lumen throughout its length, the lumen of the outer sleeve being positioned substantially centered along a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve including at least one slot extending longitudinally along the surface of the lumen of the outer sleeve substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve; and    an inner sleeve having a substantially cylindrical shape and a lumen throughout its length, the outside diameter of the inner sleeve being sized to be secured within the lumen of the outer sleeve, the lumen of the inner sleeve being sized to receive a delivery device, the lumen of the inner sleeve being positioned substantially centered along a longitudinal axis of the inner sleeve;    wherein the outer surface of the inner sleeve is coupled to the lumen surface of the outer sleeve;    wherein the lumen of the inner sleeve forms the central lumen; and    wherein the at least one peripheral lumen is formed by the surfaces of the at least one slot on the surface of the lumen of the outer sleeve and the outside surface of the inner sleeve.    
   
   
       39 . The sleeve of  claim 38 , the at least one slot comprising four slots substantially equally spaced about the lumen of the outer sleeve.  
   
   
       40 . A method of coupling a strut of an embolic filtering device to a delivery device, comprising: 
 providing a delivery device;    providing a sleeve, the sleeve including,    a longitudinal member having a central lumen extending substantially longitudinally throughout the length of the longitudinal member, the lumen being sized to receive a delivery device and being positioned substantially centered along a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal member, and    at least one peripheral lumen extending substantially longitudinally throughout the length of the longitudinal member and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal member, the at least one peripheral lumen being sized to receive and retain a strut of an embolic filtering device;    providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut;    inserting the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device into the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve;    coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve;    inserting the delivery device into the central lumen of the sleeve; and    coupling the sleeve to the delivery device.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut includes an end portion of the strut having smooth surfaces; and    inserting the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device into the at least one peripheral lumen includes advancing the strut through the peripheral lumen until an end of the strut is substantially flush with an end surface of the sleeve.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve includes bonding the strut to the peripheral lumen with an adhesive.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut includes an end portion of the strut having barbed surfaces; and    inserting the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device into the at least one peripheral lumen includes advancing the strut through the peripheral lumen until an end of the strut is substantially flush with an end surface of the sleeve and the barbs are positioned adjacent to walls of the peripheral lumen.    
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve includes bonding the strut to the peripheral lumen.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut includes an end portion of the strut having perforations; and    inserting the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device into the at least one peripheral lumen includes advancing the strut through the peripheral lumen until an end of the strut is substantially flush with an end surface of the sleeve.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve includes bonding the strut to the peripheral lumen with an adhesive and the adhesive filling the perforations in the end portion of the strut.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut includes an end portion of the strut having slots through edges of the strut; and    inserting the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device into the at least one peripheral lumen includes advancing the strut through the peripheral lumen until an end of the strut is substantially flush with an end surface of the sleeve.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve includes bonding the strut to the peripheral lumen with an adhesive and the adhesive filling the slots in the edges of the end portion of the strut.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein: 
 providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut includes an end portion of the strut having smooth surfaces; and    inserting the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device into the at least one peripheral lumen includes advancing the strut through the peripheral lumen until an end of the strut extends out of the peripheral lumen and beyond an end surface of the sleeve.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve includes bonding the strut to the peripheral lumen with an adhesive within the peripheral lumen and adding a bead of the adhesive between the end portion of the strut and the end surface of the sleeve.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein providing an embolic filtering device having at least one strut includes an end portion of the strut having an aperture on a side of the strut proximate the end of the strut.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein coupling the at least one strut of the embolic filtering device to the at least one peripheral lumen of the sleeve includes bonding the strut to the peripheral lumen with an adhesive within the peripheral lumen and adding a bead of the adhesive between the end portion of the strut and the end surface of the sleeve with the adhesive filling the aperture in the strut.