Catheter-based apparatuses and methods

Abstract

Blood flow into vascular tissue is filtered in a manner that can also be useful for trapping particulates while allowing the flow of blood. Consistent with one or more embodiments, a filter apparatus includes a filter, an outer delivery sheath such as a catheter, and one or more shafts that are operable to manipulate the shape of the filter for positioning within vascular tissue. The filter conforms to various types of vascular tissue, and filters blood flow passing through openings in the vascular tissue. In some implementations, the filter is used to trap particulates that have been collected on the filter, and collapses to trap and draw the particulates into the outer delivery sheath.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end;   a shaft extending in the catheter from the proximal end to the distal end and being configured and arranged to move within the catheter; and   a filter component connected to the shaft and configured and arranged to retract within the distal end, the filter component including
 a mesh sheet having first and second opposing surfaces, 
 a frame coupled to a perimeter of the mesh sheet and configured and arranged to conform the first surface of the mesh to a wall of vascular tissue. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter component is configured and arranged with the shaft and catheter to
 expand the mesh sheet in a first state in response to the filter component being extended out of the distal end of the catheter, the mesh sheet having a dimension in the first state that is wider than a cross-sectional area of the catheter, and   collapse the mesh sheet in a second state in response to the filter component being retracted into the catheter.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh sheet has a perimeter edge connected to the frame, and the frame is configured and arranged to stretch the mesh sheet by spreading the perimeter edge. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fame is configured and arranged with the shaft and catheter to seal the first surface of the mesh around an opening in the wall of vascular tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the shaft and catheter are configured and arranged to apply a force to the frame for sealing the first surface of the mesh around the opening in the wall. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes opposing members that form a perimeter of the frame, with each of the members extending between first and second ends of the frame, the first end of the frame being connected to the end of the shaft, the respective members being connected to the mesh sheet and configured and arranged for applying pressure to the mesh sheet for sealing the mesh sheet around an opening in the wall of the vascular tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the members are configured and arranged to expand the mesh sheet to an expanded state, in response to movement of the shaft, by spreading portions of the respective members that are between the first and second ends away from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the members are cantilevered out from the first end in a direction away from the distal end of the catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the members are configured and arranged apply the pressure to the mesh sheet while extending in an arc from the first end to the second end, forming an oblong shape having a major axis extending between the first and second ends, and a minor axis extending perpendicular to the major axis. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a backbone structure extending between a first end of the frame connected to the shaft and a second end of the frame extended away from the catheter, the backbone structure being configured and arranged to shape the mesh sheet in an oblong dome, with a centerline of the dome supported by the backbone structure, the oblong dome being configured and arranged to conform to the wall, where the wall is a curved inner wall of the vascular tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is an isotropic drive shaft configured and arranged to move in a direction along the length of the catheter, and the mesh sheet is an anisotropic sheet configured and arranged to move and provide a flat or curved surface. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is an oval frame connected to the shaft at a first end of the frame with a major axis extending from the first end and away from the end of the shaft and the catheter. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured and arranged with the shaft and the mesh sheet to, in response to movement of the shaft, collapse the mesh sheet and trap particles therein, and retract the collapsed mesh sheet within the catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is configured and arranged with the shaft, the mesh sheet and the catheter to seal the mesh sheet around an opening in the wall of the vascular tissue with the catheter extending from the proximal end to the distal end within the vascular tissue and along the wall. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the frame has a first end connected to the shaft and a second end cantilevered away from the shaft, the first and second ends being connected by perimeter members of the frame; and   the frame is configured and arranged with the shaft, the mesh sheet and the catheter to translate a force applied to the first end of the frame to the mesh sheet via the perimeter members, therein sealing the mesh sheet around an opening in the wall of the vascular tissue.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 inserting a catheter into vascular tissue, the catheter extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including:
 a shaft extending in the catheter from the proximal end to the distal end and being configured and arranged to move within the catheter; and 
 a filter component connected to the shaft and configured and arranged to retract within the distal end, the filter component including a mesh sheet having first and second opposing surfaces, and a frame coupled to a perimeter of the mesh sheet; and 
   conforming the first surface of the mesh to a wall of the vascular tissue.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein conforming the first surface of the mesh to a wall of the vascular tissue includes expanding the mesh sheet in a first state in response to the filter component being extended out of the distal end of the catheter, the mesh sheet having a dimension in the first state that is wider than a cross-sectional area of the catheter; and   further including collapsing the mesh sheet in a second state in response to the filter component being retracted into the catheter, trapping particles in the collapsed mesh sheet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein conforming the first surface of the mesh to a wall of the vascular tissue includes sealing the first surface of the mesh around an opening in the wall of vascular tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein conforming the first surface of the mesh sheet to a wall of the vascular tissue includes spreading opposing members of the frame, with the frame cantilevered from an end of the shaft in a direction away from the distal end of the catheter, and pressing the opposing members against the mesh sheet and the wall around an opening in the wall of the vascular tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein conforming the first surface of the mesh to a wall of the vascular tissue includes expanding the frame in an oblong shape having a major axis extending from the end of the shaft away from the catheter and a minor axis extending perpendicular to the major axis.