In vivo filter assembly

1. An assembly for filtering debris flowing in an in vivo fluid stream, the assembly comprising:

i) at least one balloon configured to volumetrically expand and to contract following said expansion, said at least one balloon comprising an outer wall having a distal end and a proximal end and an inner wall defining a lumen, said lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end;

ii) a filter configured to operatively connect with said at least one balloon during at least a portion of said volumetric expansion of said at least one balloon, such that said filter expands during said operative connection in order to filter debris from a fluid flowing in a fluid stream within which said expanded filter is disposed, wherein at least a portion of said filter is configured to remain removably connected to a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream during contraction of said at least one balloon; and

iii) at least one cord operatively associated with said filter and configured to disconnect at least a portion of said filter from said luminal aspect when tension is applied to said at least one cord, wherein at least a portion of said at least one cord is configured to slidingly pass through said lumen.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one balloon comprises at least one angioplasty balloon.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said filter is configured to removably connect to a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream, in response to pressure of between at least about one atmosphere and no more than about 20 atmospheres.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one balloon is configured to sequentially pass through at least two sequences of said expansion and contraction of said at least one balloon.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of said filter is configured to remain removably connected to a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream during at least a portion of said at least two sequences.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to disconnect from said luminal aspect in response to tension applied to said at least one cord of at least about one Newton.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to disconnect from said luminal aspect in response to tension applied to said at least one cord of no more than about 20 Newtons.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said filter includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive having an affinity for a tissue associated with an in vivo luminal aspect.

9. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said adhesive is an adhesive from the group of adhesives comprising fibrin, biological glue, collagen, hydrogel, hydrocolloid, collagen alginate, and methylcellulose.

10. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to removably connect to said luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream, in response to pressure by said at least one balloon of between at least about one atmosphere and no more than about 20 atmospheres.

11. The assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one balloon is configured to sequentially pass through at least two sequences of said expansion and contraction of said at least one balloon.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to remain removably connected to said luminal aspect during at least a portion said at least two sequences.

13. The assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to disconnect from said luminal aspect in response to tension applied to said at least one cord of at least about one Newton.

14. The assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to disconnect from said luminal aspect in response to tension applied to said at least one cord of no more than about 20 Newtons.

15. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one cord is configured to pull at least a portion of said filter into contact with said distal end of said at least one balloon.

16. The assembly according to claim 1 , including a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end and a lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end, wherein said at least one balloon proximal end is operatively associated with said distal end of said catheter.

17. The assembly according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one balloon lumen is substantially continuous with said catheter lumen.

18. The assembly according to claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of said at least one cord additionally extends through said catheter lumen.

19. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said filter includes a distal portion, a proximal portion, an opening to said filter associated with said proximal portion and at least one strut operatively associated with said proximal portion.

20. The assembly according to claim 19 , including at least one cord operatively associated with said at least one strut, such that at least a portion of said opening is configured to contract radially inwardly in response to tension applied to said at least one cord.

21. The assembly according to claim 20 , wherein said at least one strut comprises at least two struts, at least one first strut and at least one second strut, said at least two struts being operatively associated with said at least one cord.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said at least two struts are configured to resiliently flex outward with respect to a longitudinal axis passing through a center of said filter during at least a portion of said volumetric expansion of said at least one balloon.

23. The assembly according to claim 20 , wherein said at least one strut comprises at least six struts operatively associated with said at least one cord.

24. The assembly according to claim 20 , wherein said at least one cord comprises at least two cords and said at least one strut comprises at least two struts.

25. The assembly according to claim 20 , wherein said at least one cord comprises at least six cords and said at least one strut comprises at least six struts.

26. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one balloon includes an inflation channel in fluid communication with an interior portion of said at least one balloon, wherein said channel is configured to inflate at least a portion of said at least one balloon by introduction of a fluid through said inflation channel.

27. The assembly according to claim 26 , including a catheter comprising a curved wall extending proximally from said at least one balloon and said inflation channel comprises a curved wall surrounding at least a portion of said catheter.

28. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one balloon comprises a material from the group consisting of: rubber, silicon rubber, latex rubber, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride.

29. An assembly for filtering debris flowing in an in vivo fluid stream, the assembly comprising:

i) at least one balloon configured to volumetrically expand and to contract following said expansion, said at least one balloon comprising an outer wall having a distal end and a proximal end and an inner wall defining a lumen, said lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end;

ii) a filter comprising a material having tissue connective properties for a portion of luminal tissue associated with an in vivo fluid stream, said filter positioned to operatively connect with said at least one balloon during at least a portion of said expansion and removably connect to least a portion of said tissue and remain so connected during said contraction of said at least one balloon; and

iii) at least one cord operatively associated with said filter and configured to disconnect at least a portion of said filter from a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream when tension is applied to said at least one cord, wherein at least a portion of said at least one cord is configured to slidingly pass through said lumen.

30. The assembly according to claim 29 , wherein said at least one balloon comprises at least one angioplasty balloon.

31. The assembly according to claim 29 , wherein at least a portion of said filter is configured to removably connect to a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream, in response to pressure of at least about one atmosphere and no more than about 20 atmospheres.

32. The assembly according to claim 29 , wherein said at least one balloon is configured to sequentially pass through at least two sequences of said expansion and contraction of said at least one balloon.

33. The assembly according to claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of said filter is configured to remain removably connected to a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream during at least a portion of said at least two sequences.

34. The assembly according to claim 29 , wherein at least a portion of said filter is configured to disconnect from a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream when said applied tension to said at least one cord is between at least about one Newton and no more than about 20 Newtons.

35. The assembly according to claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of said filter includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive having an affinity for a tissue associated with an in vivo luminal aspect.

36. The assembly according to claim 35 , wherein said adhesive is an adhesive from the group of adhesives comprising fibrin, biological glue, collagen, hydrogel, hydrocolloid, collagen alginate, and methylcellulose.

37. The assembly according to claim 35 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to removably connect to a luminal aspect associated with said fluid stream, in response to pressure of between at least about one atmosphere and no more than about 20 atmospheres.

38. The assembly according to claim 37 , wherein said at least one balloon is configured to contract following said expansion and said at least a portion of said filter is configured to remain removably connected to said luminal aspect during said at least one balloon contraction.

39. The assembly according to claim 38 , wherein said at least one balloon is configured to sequentially pass through at least two sequences of said expansion and contraction of said at least one balloon.

40. The assembly according to claim 39 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to remain removably connected to said luminal aspect during at least a portion said at least two sequences.

41. The assembly according to claim 38 , including at least one cord operatively associated with said filter and configured to disconnect said at least a portion of said filter from said luminal aspect when tension is applied to said at least one cord.

42. The assembly according to claim 41 , wherein said at least a portion of said filter is configured to disconnect from said luminal aspect in response to tension applied to said at least one cord of between at least about one Newton and no more than about 20 Newtons.