Retrievable filter

1. A retrievable filter for filtering solid and semi-solid materials from a liquid moving axially in a generally tubular vessel of a mammal comprising:

a) a filter comprising an apical hub and a plurality of divergent legs including first and second ends, at least one of the plurality of divergent legs being secured at the first end to the apical hub;

b) a first attachment member separate from, but attached to the second end of at least one of the plurality of divergent legs;

c) a stent; and

d) a second attachment member separate from, but attached to the stent, the first and second attachment members being separate from, but attachable to one another to releasably attach the filter to the stent, wherein one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member comprises an attachment wire and wherein the attachment wire is positioned in a lumen of a tubular member.

2. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the stent is configured to engage a wall of the generally tubular vessel and become incorporated by endothelial tissue.

3. The retrievable filter of claim 1 further comprising a retention force capable of withstanding the liquid moving axially in the generally tubular vessel and a retrieval force to detach the filter from the stent, wherein the retention force is greater than the retrieval force.

4. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the filter is configured to maintain its structure when the filter is detached from the stent.

5. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the filter is configured to maintain its structure when the first attachment member is detached from the second attachment member.

6. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the filter is configured to avoid contact with the generally tubular vessel.

7. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member is configured to position the filter to avoid contact with the generally tubular vessel.

8. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member is configured to position at least one of the plurality of divergent legs to avoid contact with the generally tubular vessel.

9. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member is configured to avoid contact with the tubular vessel.

10. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the stent is a square stent.

11. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the stent is self-expanding.

12. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the first attachment member and the second attachment member form an interference fit.

13. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the attachment wire further comprises an extension of one of the filter and the stent.

14. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the attachment wire further comprises a bend.

15. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the attachment wire further comprises a ball and one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member further comprises a slot and a ball recess.

16. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the attachment wire comprises a Y-shaped adapter.

17. The retrievable filter of claim 16 wherein the Y-shaped adapter further comprises a Y-shaped prong.

18. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the attachment wire comprises a looped adapter.

19. The retrievable filter of claim 18 wherein the looped adapter further comprises a looped wire.

20. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the attachment wire comprises a coiled adapter.

21. The retrievable filter of claim 20 wherein the coiled adapter further comprises a coil.

22. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member further comprises a coiled attachment member, the coiled attachment member comprising at least one coil.

23. The retrievable filter of claim 22 wherein the at least one coil is formed from a shape memory alloy.

24. The retrievable filter of claim 1 wherein the retrievable filter is configured so that a user can decrease the force required to detach the filter from the stent to remove the filter.

25. The retrievable filter of claim 1 further comprising a retrieval connection member and at least one attachment wire attached thereto;

wherein the at least one of the plurality of divergent legs further comprises at least one cannula and at least one lumen;

wherein the at least one attachment wire extends from the retrieval connection member and through the at least one lumen;

wherein the retrieval connection member further comprises a hook;

wherein the hook is configured so that an upward motion applied to the hook disengages the at least one attachment wire of the first attachment member from the second attachment member.

26. The retrievable filter of claim 25 wherein the apical hub further comprises an apical hook.

27. The retrievable filter of claim 25 wherein the apical hub further comprises a locking ring.

28. A retrievable filter for filtering solid and semi-solid materials from a liquid moving axially in a generally tubular vessel of a mammal comprising:

a) a filter comprising an apical hub and a plurality of divergent legs including first and second ends, at least one of the plurality of divergent legs being secured at the first end to the apical hub;

b) a first attachment member separate from, but attached to the second end of at least one of the plurality of divergent legs;

c) a stent; and

d) a second attachment member separate from, but attached to the stent, the first and second attachment members being separate from, but attachable to one another to releasably attach the filter to the stent, wherein one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member comprises an attachment wire and wherein one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member comprises a cannula.

29. A retrievable filter for filtering solid and semi-solid materials from a liquid moving axially in a generally tubular vessel of a mammal comprising:

a) a filter comprising a plurality of divergent legs each having an upstream end and a downstream end, each of the plurality of divergent legs further comprising a cannula and a lumen;

b) an apical hub connecting each of the downstream ends of the plurality of divergent legs;

c) a first attachment member separate from, but attached to at least one of the plurality of divergent legs, the first attachment member including at least one attachment wire, the at least one attachment wire extends through at least one lumen of the plurality of divergent legs and is attached to a retrieval connection member;

d) a stent configured to engage a wall of the generally tubular vessel and become incorporated by endothelial tissue; and

e) a second attachment member separate from, but attached to the stent, the first and second attachment members being separate from, but attachable to one another to releasably attach the filter to the stent,

wherein an upward motion applied to the retrieval connection member disengages the at least one attachment wire of the first attachment member from the second attachment member.

30. A retrievable filter for filtering solid and semi-solid materials from a liquid moving axially in a generally tubular vessel of a mammal comprising:

a filter comprising an apical hub and a plurality of divergent legs including first and second ends, at least one of the plurality of divergent legs being secured at the first end to the apical hub;

a first attachment member separate from, but attached to the second end of at least one of the plurality of divergent legs;

a stent comprising a frame including a closed circumference, the frame having a plurality of sides interconnected by a series of bends, each bend including a coil;

a second attachment member separate from, but attached to the stent, the first and second attachment members being separate from, but attachable to one another to releasably attach the filter to the stent, at least one of the plurality of divergent legs of the filter being releasably secured at the second end to at least one of the plurality of sides of the stent by the first and second attachment members, wherein the filter and the stent are releasably secured to one another between an unattached position in which the first and second attachment members are not attached to one another and an attached position in which the first and second attachment members attach to one another; and

wherein one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member comprises an attachment wire and wherein the attachment wire is positioned in a lumen of a tubular member.