Vascular filter device

Abstract

A vascular filter device ( 1 ) has a support frame ( 2 ) and filter elements ( 4 ). The filter elements ( 4 ) extend from the support frame towards filter element ends forming an on-axis apex ( 5 ) at which they are interconnected by a holder ( 6 ). The filter elements ( 4 ) are biased such that if unconnected the filter element ends are located between the support frame and said central axis when the vascular filter device is unconstrained. The filter element unconnected positions are provided by the filter element shapes and the angles at which they extend from the support frame, and in one example this is achieved by laser cutting tubing and heat setting the material.

1 . A vascular filter device comprising a support frame and filter elements,
 the filter elements extending from the support frame towards filter element ends forming an apex at which they are interconnected,   wherein said apex is located at or near a central axis of the vascular filter device; and   wherein the filter elements are biased such that if unconnected the filter element ends are located between the support frame and said central axis when the vascular filter device is unconstrained.   
     
     
         2 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support frame and the filter elements are formed integrally. 
     
     
         3 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support frame and the filter elements are formed from NiTi. 
     
     
         4 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element unconnected positions are provided by the filter element shapes and the angles at which they extend from the support frame. 
     
     
         5 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter elements have positions if unconnected such that the filter element ends are located approximately 10% to 50% of the distance from the central axis to the support frame. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the vascular filter device has an indicated vessel size range, and wherein the filter elements are biased to have positions if unconnected such that:
 a. when the device is constrained in a vessel which lies in an upper sub-range of said indicated range, the filter element ends are between the central axis and the support,   b. when the device is constrained in a vessel which lies in a central sub-range of said indicated range the filter element ends are approximately on the central axis, and   c. when the device is constrained in a vessel which lies in a lower sub-range of said indicated range the filter element ends extend through said central axis.   
     
     
         8 . A vascular filter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the filter elements have similar maximum strains in situations (a) and (c) when the filter element ends are interconnected. 
     
     
         9 . A vascular filter as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the filter elements have approximately equal maximum tensile strains in situations (a) and (c) when the filter element ends are interconnected. 
     
     
         10 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support frame comprises a proximal hoop, a distal hoop, and interconnecting struts. 
     
     
         11 . A vascular filter as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the proximal hoop has peaks and the filter elements are connected to the support at or adjacent distal peaks of the proximal hoop. 
     
     
         12 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element ends, the filter elements, and the support frame are formed integrally from one piece. 
     
     
         13 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element ends are formed integrally to provide an integral apex. 
     
     
         14 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter element ends are interconnected by a holder. 
     
     
         15 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein at least some filter elements have eyelets and the holder is trained through the eyelets. 
     
     
         16 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter elements are interconnected by interlocking features. 
     
     
         42 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter elements are magnetically interconnected. 
     
     
         43 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filter elements extend towards two or more filter apices. 
     
     
         59 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . A vascular filter device comprising a support frame and filter elements, the filter elements extending from the support frame towards filter element ends connected to form an apex,
 wherein the support frame comprises a proximal hoop, a distal hoop, and interconnecting struts extending between the proximal and distal hoops, and   wherein the distal hoop comprises an array of unconnected V-shaped or m-shaped struts.   
     
     
         72 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein interconnecting struts comprise an array of proximal connector struts and distal extension struts and,
 wherein filter elements are connected to the support frame between the distal extension struts.   
     
     
         73 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein filter elements are connected to the support frame between the interconnecting struts. 
     
     
         74 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein the interconnecting struts comprise an array of twin connector struts. 
     
     
         75 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 74 , wherein an opening is formed between each twin connector strut separating the proximal support hoop into an array of the v-shaped or m-shaped struts. 
     
     
         76 . A vascular filter device as claimed in  claim 71 , wherein
 the apex is located at or near a central axis of the vascular filter device, and   wherein the filter elements are biased such that if unconnected the filter element ends are located between the support frame and the central axis when the vascular filter device is unconstrained.   
     
     
         77 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . A method of manufacturing a vascular filter device comprising a support frame and filter elements,
 the filter elements extending from the support frame towards filter element ends forming an apex at which they are interconnected, wherein said apex is located at or near a central axis of the vascular filter device; wherein the filter elements are biased such that if unconnected the filter element ends are located between the support frame and said central axis when the vascular filter device is unconstrained,   wherein the method comprises:
 cutting a tubing, and expanding the tubing. 
   
     
     
         98 - 108 . (canceled)