MEDICAL FILTER WITH PARTIAL BASKETS
A medical filter intended for placement inside a tubular body passage such as a blood vessel of a patient, the medical filter having a plurality of truncated baskets positioned along a spine. Each of the baskets is rotated about the axis of the spine to be out of alignment with adjacent baskets and the spine carrying a retrieval element such as a hook.
1 . An elongated medical filter which is radially expandable and compressible and is intended for placement inside a tubular body passage such as a blood vessel of a patient, the medical filter comprising in expanded form:
(A) a longitudinally extending spine with a retrieval element at one end thereof;
(B) a plurality of truncated filter baskets spaced longitudinally on said spine, each of truncated baskets defined by a plurality of individual arms extending radially outwardly from said spine, each of said truncated baskets being rotated about said longitudinal axis with respect to adjacent truncated filter baskets.
2 . The medical filter of claim 1 , wherein said arms of each truncated filter basket are radially spaced about 180 degrees about said longitudinal axis.
3 . The medical filter of claim 1 , wherein each of said arms has a free end extending generally axially and radially inwardly.
4 . The medical filter of claim 1 , wherein each of said arms extends radially inwardly at an angle approximately transverse to said longitudinal axis.
5 . The medical filter of claim 1 , wherein said spine is comprised of a flexible material.
6 . The medical filter of claim 1 , wherein said retrieval element is a hook.
7 . The medical filter of claim 1 , wherein said filter is comprised of Nitinol.
8 . The medical filter of claim 1 wherein said filter is comprised of stainless steel.
9 . The medical filter of claim 1 wherein said arms are comprised of wire.
10 . The medical filter of claim 1 wherein said arms are cut from tubing.
11 . In combination with a vessel of a human body, an elongated medical filter which is radially expandable and compressible and is intended for placement inside a tubular body passage such as a blood vessel of a patient, the medical filter comprising in expanded form:
(A) a longitudinally extending spine with a retrieval element at one end thereof;
(B) a plurality of truncated filter baskets spaced longitudinally on said spine, each of truncated baskets defined by a plurality of individual arms extending radially outwardly from said spine, each of said truncated baskets being rotated about said longitudinal axis with respect to adjacent truncated filter baskets.
12 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein said arms of each truncated filter basket are radially spaced about 180 degrees about said longitudinal axis.
13 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein each of said arms has a free end extending generally axially and radially inwardly.
14 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein each of said arms extends radially inwardly at an angle approximately transverse to said longitudinal axis.
15 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein said spine is comprised of a flexible material.
16 . The combination of claim 11 , wherein said filter is placed in the inferior Vena Cava above the renal veins.
17 . The combination of claim 1 , wherein said filter is placed in the Inferior Vena Cava across the renal veins.
18 . The combination of claim 1 wherein said filter is placed in the Inferior Vena Cava across the renal veins with a space between filter baskets to clear the renal arteries.