Intravascular filter with drug reservoir
View Patent ↗An intravascular filter can capture and eliminate emboli. In particular, an intravascular filter may include a plurality of filter legs extending from an apical head. The filter legs may be configured to capture emboli. A drug reservoir that includes or contains a therapeutic drug can be disposed near the apical head. The therapeutic drug, such as a thrombolytic or anti-coagulatory drug, may be eluted in response to a captured emboli.
1. An intravascular filter, comprising:
a plurality of filter legs, each of the filter legs having a free end and an opposite joined end;
an apical head, the joined end of each of the filter legs secured to the apical head, each of the filter legs radiating outwardly from the apical head; and
a drug reservoir disposed near the apical head, the drug reservoir comprising a drug dispersed only within poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene), wherein the drug reservoir comprises a cup having a hollow volume positioned inside the plurality of filter legs, the cup having an open end and a closed end, where the closed end is positioned closest to the apical head while the open end extends away from the apical head.
2. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic drug comprises a thrombolytic agent.
3. The intravascular filter of claim 2 , wherein the thrombolytic agent comprises a drug selected from the group consisting of reteplase, alteplase, urokinase, prourokinase, anisoylated streptokinase activator complex, and streptokinase.
4. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic drug comprises an anti-coagulant.
5. The intravascular filter of claim 4 , wherein the anti-coagulant comprises one of heparin or coumadin.
6. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) is configured to permit the therapeutic drug to elute from the poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene).
7. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filter legs comprise stainless steel.
8. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the apical head comprises stainless steel.
9. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filter legs comprise nitinol.
10. The intravascular filter of claim 1 , wherein the apical head comprises nitinol.
11. A method of dissolving embolic debris within a vasculature, comprising steps of:
providing an intravascular filter having an apical head and a drug reservoir positioned at or near the apical head, the drug reservoir comprising a thrombolytic drug dispersed only within poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene), wherein the drug reservoir comprises a cup having a hollow volume positioned inside the plurality of filter legs, the cup having an open end and a closed end, where the closed end is positioned closest to the apical head while the open end extends away from the apical head;
deploying the intravascular filter within the vasculature; and
eluting a thrombolytic drug from the drug reservoir in response to an emboli contacting the drug reservoir, thereby dissolving the embolic debris.