Flexible tube for cartridge filter
View Patent ↗Embolic protection filtering devices and methods of making and using the same. The present invention may include an embolic protection filtering device including a filter cartridge that is slidable over medical devices, for example, guidewires. The filter cartridge may have a filter coupled thereto and may have desirable flexibility and trackability characteristics, for example, imparted by manufacturing the cartridge to include notches or a spiraling groove, or a coil disposed along the length of the cartridge. The filtering device may be advanced through a blood vessel to a target location, and expanded followed by advancing a therapeutic device over the guidewire and filtering debris generated by the therepeutic device with the filter.
1. A medical device, comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal region and a distal region;
the shaft including one or more stops coupled adjacent the distal region;
a tubular cartridge slidably disposed over the shaft;
the tubular cartridge including one or more notches defined therein; and
a filter coupled to the cartridge.
2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is a guidewire.
3. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the guidewire includes one or more stops coupled thereto.
4. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein tubular cartridge comprises a polymer.
5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more notches include a spiral groove cut in the tubular cartridge.
6. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a deployment sheath slidably disposed over the shaft.
7. The medical device of claim 6 , further comprising a delivery sheath slidably disposed over the shaft.
8. An embolic protection filtering device, comprising:
an elongate guidewire;
a tubular filter cartridge slidably disposed over the guidewire, the cartridge having a length and a spiraling groove defined along at least a portion of the length; and
an embolic protection filter coupled to the filter cartridge.
9. The filtering device of claim 8 , wherein the tubular filter cartridge comprises a polymer.
10. The filtering device of claim 8 , wherein tubular filter cartridge includes a proximal region and a distal region, and wherein the distal region is more flexible than the proximal region.
11. An embolic protection filtering device, comprising:
an elongate guidewire;
a tubular filter cartridge slidably disposed over the guidewire, the cartridge having a length and including a coil disposed along at least a portion of the length; and
an embolic protection filter coupled to the filter cartridge.
12. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein the guidewire includes one or more stops coupled thereto.
13. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein the filter cartridge comprises polymer.
14. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein the filter cartridge comprises a metal.
15. The filtering device of claim 11 , wherein the filter includes a filter frame, and wherein the filter frame is defined by a portion of the coil.
16. A method of filtering embolic debris, comprising the steps of:
providing a guidewire;
providing a tubular filter cartridge having a filter coupled thereto, the filter cartridge including one or more notches defined therein to enhance the flexibility of the cartridge;
coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire;
advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel to a target location;
expanding the filter;
advancing a therapeutic device over the guidewire; and
filtering debris generated by the therapeutic device with the expanded filter.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire precedes the step of advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel to a target location.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire follows the step of advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel to a target location.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire includes sliding the filter cartridge over the guidewire to a suitable position and mechanically attaching the cartridge to the guidewire.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of coupling the filter cartridge to the guidewire includes sliding the filter cartridge over the guidewire to a position between two stops disposed on the guidewire.