Thrombectomy filter and method for performing a thrombectomy

Abstract

A vascular filter system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the filter system comprises a dispensing needle, a guidewire and a catheter releasably attached to a filter dispenser which stores a length of filter wire. The filter wire dispenser has a guide tube which guides the filter wire into the catheter and then into a vein during surgical implantation. The filter wire is configured to form into a predetermined shape as it is deployed from the needle. The shape of the filter wire captures blood clots in the blood stream. The filter wire may be configured with a perforated section and a non-perforated section. Perforations are in fluid communication with an inner hollow lumen in the filter wire.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thrombectomy filter wire comprising:
 a length of wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the length of wire being configured to deploy through a thrombectomy catheter, the proximal end being configured to manipulate the length of wire when the length of wire is deployed; and   a filter portion disposed on the distal end of the length of wire, the filter portion comprising residual stresses, surface tensions, or both that cause the filter portion to form a predetermined shape when the filter portion exits from a distal end of the thrombectomy catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The thrombectomy filter wire of  claim 1 , further comprising a beaded element disposed towards a distal end of the length of wire proximally from the filter portion. 
     
     
         3 . The thrombectomy filter wire of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined shape comprises one of a helix shape, a vortex shape, a nested shape, and a tangled web shape. 
     
     
         4 . The thrombectomy filter wire of  claim 1 , wherein the filter portion comprises a lumen and a permeable wall. 
     
     
         5 . A thrombectomy filter wire and catheter system comprising:
 a thrombectomy catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a leur lock with a side passage configured provide vacuum aspiration to the thrombectomy catheter; and   a thrombectomy filter wire comprising:
 a length of wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the length of wire being configured to deploy through the thrombectomy catheter, the proximal end being configured to manipulate the length of wire when the length of wire is deployed; and 
 a filter portion disposed on the distal end of the length of wire, the filter portion comprising residual stresses, surface tensions, or both that cause the filter portion to form a predetermined shape when the filter portion exits from the distal end of the thrombectomy catheter. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the thrombectomy filter wire further comprises a beaded element disposed towards a distal end of the length of wire proximally from the filter portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined shape comprises one of a helix shape, a vortex shape, a nested shape, and a tangled web shape. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the filter portion comprises a lumen and a permeable wall. 
     
     
         9 . A method of performing a venous thrombectomy comprising:
 deploying a guidewire within a blood vessel from an upstream side of a blood clot so that a distal end of the guidewire reaches a downstream side of the blood clot;   inserting a thrombectomy catheter over the guidewire, a thrombectomy catheter comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end comprising a leur lock with a side passage;   removing the guidewire while the catheter is in place;   deploying a thrombectomy filter wire through the catheter, the thrombectomy filter wire comprising:
 a length of wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the length of wire being configured to deploy through the thrombectomy catheter, the proximal end being configured to manipulate the length of wire when the length of wire is deployed; and 
 a filter portion disposed on the distal end of the length of wire, the filter portion comprising residual stresses, surface tensions, or both that cause the filter portion to form a predetermined shape when the filter portion exits from the distal end of the thrombectomy catheter. 
   positioning the filter portion of the thrombectomy filter wire downstream from the blood clot;   applying a vacuum to the side passage to remove the blood clot through the thrombectomy catheter; and   removing the thrombectomy filter wire through the catheter including the filter portion and then removing the thrombectomy catheter.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the thrombectomy filter wire further comprises a beaded element disposed towards a distal end of the length of wire proximally from the filter portion; and the method further comprises pulling portions of the clot into the thrombectomy catheter via the beaded element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined shape comprises one of a helix shape, a vortex shape, a nested shape, and a tangled web shape. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the filter portion comprises a lumen and a permeable wall.