A vessel filter comprising a mounting section having first and second ends and a first and second filtering section. The filter is movable between a collapsed position for delivery to the vessel and an expanded position for placement within the vessel. In the expanded position a first end of the first filtering section converges to form a first converging region and a second end of the second filtering section converges to form a second converging region. The first converging region is positioned radially and axially inwardly of the first end of the mounting section and the second converging region is positioned radially and axially inwardly of the second end of the mounting section.
1. A vessel filter comprising a tubular member having a distal portion and a proximal portion, a longitudinal axis and a plurality of elongated cutouts formed therein extending along the longitudinal axis and forming a series of elongated spaced apart struts separated by the cutouts, the filter movable between a first insertion configuration and a second deployed configuration, each of the spaced apart struts in the deployed configuration forming longitudinally extending linear struts extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter to form a mounting section and each including a first inwardly bent region at a first end bending towards a center of the filter to transition to a first filter section and a second inwardly bent region at a second end bending towards a center of the filter to transition to a second filter section, the first inwardly bent region transitioning into a linear strut region, the linear strut region transitioning into a first curved region curving away from the center of the filter, and the second inwardly bent region transitioning into a linear strut region, the linear strut region transitioning into a second curved region curving away from the center of the filter, the first curved region extending into an inner portion of a first tubular portion and the second curved region extending into an inner portion of a second tubular portion, the inner portion of the first and second tubular portions being the portions closer to the center of the filter, the first bent region positioned distal of the first tubular portion and the second bent region positioned proximal of the second tubular portion such that a first imaginary line tangent to the first bent region of the struts and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis does not intersect the first tubular portion and a second imaginary line tangent to the second bent region of the struts and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis region does not intersect the second tubular portion such that the first imaginary line is distal of the first tubular portion and the second imaginary line is proximal of the second tubular portion.
2. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal struts include roughened surfaces to engage the vessel wall to increase retention.
3. The vessel filter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vessel engaging members with pointed ends extending from the longitudinally extending struts to engage the vessel wall to increase retention.
4. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the filter is composed of shape memory material.
5. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein opposing ends of at least one of the longitudinally extending struts are out of phase.
6. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending struts are spaced circumferentially about 60 degrees apart.
7. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the struts has varying widths along its length, the strut having an angled portion, a portion of the strut substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter having a first width and the angled portion of the strut having a second width less than the first width.
8. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending struts include a plurality of vessel engaging members extending therefrom to engage the vessel wall to increase retention.
9. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein end portions of at least one of the longitudinally extending struts are twisted out of phase.
10. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the struts have a length exceeding a diameter of the filter.
11. The vessel filter of claim 1 , further comprising curved ribs extending from adjacent struts.
12. The vessel filter of claim 11 , wherein the curved ribs terminate in a joined region.
13. The vessel filter of claim 1 , wherein the struts at the first filter section originate from an inner end of the first tubular portion and at the second filter section originate from an inner end of the second tubular portion.