Filter retrieval catheter
View Patent ↗Methods and devices for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel are disclosed. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate shaft and a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof. A tip member is slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the tip member is configured such that the housing is substantially centered about the guidewire. In another preferred embodiment, the tip member is slidingly disposed within the housing, and the tip member may be moved between a first position and a second position.
1. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel, comprising:
an elongate shaft;
a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof, the housing including a wire defining a cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the filter therein;
a tip member slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing; and
wherein the tip member is configured such that the guidewire is substantially centered within the housing.
2. The catheter of claim 1 , further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member.
3. The catheter of claim 1 , further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member; and
wherein the inner tubular member extends through a shaft lumen defined by the elongate shaft.
4. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent that is generally greater than an outer radial extent of the inner tubular member.
5. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the tip member has an outer diameter that is generally greater than an outer diameter of the inner tubular member.
6. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent comprising an outer diameter; and
the outer diameter of the tip member is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the cavity defined by the housing.
7. The catheter of claim 2 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member.
8. The catheter of claim 2 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member; and
the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the guidewire.
9. The catheter of claim 2 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member; and
the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guidewire.
10. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the tip member includes a distal portion having a generally tapered shape.
11. The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises the wire forming a plurality of turns.
12. The catheter of claim 11 , wherein adjacent turns of the wire contact each other across substantially their entire length.
13. The catheter of claim 11 , wherein the wire turns are configured such that the housing has a high level of longitudinal pushability and a high level of a lateral flexibility.
14. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel, comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough;
a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the housing including a wire defining a cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the filter therein;
a tip member slidingly disposed within a cavity defined by the housing;
the tip member having a first position and a second position; and
wherein a tapered portion of the tip member extends distally from the housing when the tip member is in the first position.
15. The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the housing and the tip member are configured such that the housing may accept the filter when the tip member is in the second position.
16. The catheter of claim 14 , further including a first stop means for stopping the movement of the tip member and an inner tubular member when the tip member is in the first position.
17. The catheter of claim 16 , further including:
a shaft hub disposed about the elongate shaft proximate a proximal distal end thereof;
an ancillary hub disposed about the inner tubular member proximate a proximal end thereof; and
wherein the second stop means comprises a distal surface of the ancillary hub and a proximal surface of the shaft hub.
18. The catheter of claim 14 , further including a second stop means for stopping the movement of the tip member and an inner tubular member when the tip member is in the second position.
19. The catheter of claim 18 , wherein the second stop means comprises a trailing surface of the tip member and a mating surface of the housing.
20. The catheter of claim 14 , further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member.
21. The catheter of claim 14 , further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member; and
wherein the inner tubular member extends through the lumen defined by the elongate shaft.
22. The catheter of claim 20 , wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent that is generally greater than an outer radial extent of the inner tubular member.
23. The catheter of claim 20 , wherein the tip member has an outer diameter that is generally greater than an outer diameter of the inner tubular member.
24. The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent comprising an outer diameter; and
the outer diameter of the tip member is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the cavity defined by the housing.
25. The catheter of claim 20 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member.
26. The catheter of claim 20 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member; and
the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the guidewire.
27. The catheter of claim 20 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and the inner tubular member; and
the guidewire lumen has a guidewire lumen diameter that is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guidewire.
28. The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns.
29. The catheter of claim 28 , wherein adjacent turns of the wire contact each other across substantially their entire length.
30. The catheter of claim 28 , wherein the wire turns are configured such that the housing has a high level of longitudinal pushability and a high level of lateral flexibility.
31. A catheter for retrieving a filter fixed to a guidewire disposed within a blood vessel, comprising:
an elongate shaft;
a housing fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof, wherein the housing comprises a wire forming a plurality of turns and defining a cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the filter therein;
and a tip member slidably disposed within the cavity defined by the housing, and wherein the tip member is configured such that a guide wire is substantially centered within the housing.
32. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member.
33. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , further including an inner tubular member fixed to the tip member wherein the inner tubular member extends through a shaft lumen defined by the elongate shaft.
34. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent that is generally greater than an outer radial extent of an inner tubular member.
35. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the tip member has an outer diameter that is generally greater than the outer diameter of the inner tubular member.
36. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the tip member has an outer radial extent including an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the tip member being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cavity defined by the housing.
37. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and an inner tubular member.
38. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending through the tip member and an inner tubular member, the guidewire lumen having a guidewire lumen diameter that is similar to an outer diameter of the guidewire.
39. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the catheter includes a guidewire lumen extending to the tip member and an inner tubular member, the guidewire lumen having a guidewire lumen diameter that is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the guidewire.
40. The catheter in accordance with claim 31 , wherein the tip member includes a distal portion having a generally tapered shape.