Retrievable blood clot filter with retractable anchoring members

Abstract

Retrievable blood clot filter devices implantable within a blood vessel, including methods and apparatuses for retrieving such devices, are disclosed. The retrievable blood clot filter device can include an apical head, and a plurality of elongated filter legs configured to expand between a collapsed position and an expanded position within the blood vessel. A bendable anchoring member disposed on one or more filter support members can be used to secure the blood clot filter device along the inner wall of the blood vessel. The anchoring members can be configured to bend and retract into a number of filter tubes slidably disposed along the support members, allowing the blood clot filter device to be removed with a retrieval apparatus.

1 . A retrievable blood clot filter actuatable between a collapsed position and an expanded position within a blood vessel, comprising:
 an apical head defining a filter longitudinal axis;   a plurality of elongated filter legs each having a joined end section and a free end section, each filter leg including a support member having a first end coupled to the apical head, and a second end configured to expand outwardly away from the filter longitudinal axis and being coupled to an anchoring member configured to releasably secure the blood clot filter device to the inner wall of the blood vessel; and   a plurality of filter tubes each having a first end, a second end, and an inner lumen configured to slidably receive the support members therein, the first end of each filter tube being joined together at a hub.